Social Movements Social movements have throughout history inspired new ideas, values, policies, and norms that have been adopted rapidly by large groups of people, and given time have changed culture. As the crises of environment, economy and society, take hold across Europe, the thirst for lifestyles that support the universal values that underpin humanity is rising.
Case 8: Taking Care of Bees in Cities Bees are threatened around the world, weakened by modern agricultural practices, new diseases, and other environmental changes. The number of bee colonies has dropped in Europe from about 21 million to 16 million between 1970 and 2007. During the same period, there has been a 27 % rise in bee keepers with a rising number in cities. Away from the exposure of pesticides, cities are becoming a safe haven for bees, where they are supplied with a diversity of pollen from parks and gardens allowing them to thrive. Inspired by Parisian Jean Paucto, who has kept bees on the roof of the Paris OpĂŠra for almost 20 years, cities such as Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Madrid, and Vienna are now dotted with bee hives leading to an environmental movement across Europe.
Urban beehive in London
It is estimated that honey bees are the most valuable pollinators of crops worldwide. For example, a plum tree will provide around 50 % more fruit, and apple and pear trees around 70 % more fruit if pollinated by bees. A recent study published by FAO calculated that the economic benefit of the work bees do, even in a small country such as Denmark, is estimated at between â‚Ź 100 and 400 million annually.
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Voices from Europe - Worldwatch Institute Europe