National Pumpkin Day

Social Media Action Toolkit

October 26, 2023

Background

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day! Pumpkins rely on bees for pollination, without bees we wouldn’t have pumpkins. Unfortunately, bee populations have been declining at an alarming rate. This rise in bee deaths has largely been linked to the explosive increase and ubiquitous use of the systemic pesticide, neonicotinoids (“neonics”). To protect the bees, environment, and public health from this toxic pesticide, the NYS Legislature passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act which bans certain uses of neonics that provide no benefit to users but pose the highest risk to bees. Now the bill is waiting to be signed by NYS Governor Kathy Hochul. Join us on National Pumpkin Day in calling on Governor Hochul to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act!

Take Action

• Post a photo of your own or use a graphic below to your social media. Engage with Governor Hochul by tagging her on social media platforms with a corresponding message about National Pumpkin Day, pollinators, and the Birds and Bees Protection Act.

• Share posts as often as you’d like on October 26th. The more posts we share, the more opportunity we have to reach Governor Hochul.

Target

• Governor Kathy Hochul

Sample Social Media Posts

Feel free to copy and post these samples to your social media pages. Pair them with an image or graphic for a more powerful post.

• .@GovKathyHochul, celebrate National Pumpkin Day by signing the Birds & Bees Protection Act! Pumpkins rely on bees for pollination, without them we will lose this seasonal crop! Neonics are responsible for bee die offs; it’s time NY bans them.  #SaveTheBees #NationalPumpkinDay

• Over 45% of NY honeybee colonies were lost last year alone. We need to protect bees from toxic neonics or risk losing a seasonal favorite, the pumpkin! Today is #NationalPumpkinDay & @GovKathyHochul it’s time to #SaveTheBees, sign the Birds & Bees Protection Act into law!

• Happy #NationalPumpkinDay! All pumpkins are highly dependent on bees and insects for pollination. But with bee populations declining we may see a future without pumpkins. @GovKathyHochul it's time to #SaveTheBees and our pumpkins, sign the Birds & Bees Protection Act into law!

• Today is #NationalPumpkinDay! @GovKathyHochul, if you enjoy pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, then you need to #SaveTheBees and sign the Birds & Bees Protection Act. Pumpkins are dependent on bees for pollination and neonics are killing bees at an alarming rate. NY must ban neonics!

• Our bees are dying because of neonics. Without bees we risk having a future without pumpkins, which depend on bees for pollination. Today is #NationalPumpkinDay and it’s time for @govkathyhochul to take action by signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act!

• Both honeybees & wild bees are essential for the pollination of pumpkins. Declining pollinator populations threaten food production, this is particularly true for pumpkins. For #NationalPumpkinDay, we are calling on @GovKathyHochul to #SaveTheBees by banning toxic neonics!

• It’s pumpkin season! Whether you’re carving them, roasting seeds, or cooking with them, remember we wouldn’t have pumpkins without bees. @GovKathyHochul must take to #SaveTheBees and sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act into law! #NationalPumpkinDay

• Happy #NationalPumpkinDay @GovKathyHochul! Please sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act. Bees are the most important species and are essential for pollinator limited crops such as pumpkins. #SaveTheBees

Tips and Tricks

• Make sure you tag Governor Hochul by mentioning her in your post or tagging her in your picture.

• Like, retweet and share other posts about National Pumpkin Day and the Birds and Bees Protection Act.

• You can use one of the sample posts above or graphics below!

• Post on as many social media platforms as you can - X, Facebook, Instagram, just to name a few.

Graphics

Feel free to download and use any of these linked graphics in your social media posts. You can also use your own photos to show support for the Birds and Bees Protection Act and your love of pumpkins and pollinators!

2016 Connecticut Post-Session Legislative Recap

Wednesday, May 4th marked the last day of the 2016 regular legislative session in Connecticut.  It was a difficult year for many in our state, as deep cuts to critical government programs are being implemented across virtually every sector.  Over the last few weeks, we've seen the executive and legislative branches clashing repeatedly over budget negotiations in an effort to mitigate a projected $900 million deficit in FY 2017.  The final budget agreement will be finalized and voted on this coming Thursday, May 12, when the entire CT General Assembly will return for a special budget session. While we will not know the extent of the cuts and how they will impact Connecticut's health and environment for another week, there were some significant legislative victories this year to celebrate!  Victories include:

• Passage of first of its kind legislation to protect pollinator's health by restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that are toxic to bees and other pollinators. The law also establishes a pollinator health task force to study the decline of pollinators in Connecticut and take steps to promote and develop pollinator-friendly habitat.

• Legislation to reduce the amount of unnecessary and wasteful consumer-based packaging used in manufacturing every day consumer goods.

• The legislature approved $6 million in virtual net metering credits for municipalities seeking to increase clean solar development in their communities.

• New legislation to require greater transparency and oversight during the removal of trees on private property.

There were a number of good environmental bills that unfortunately did not get a vote before the midnight end-of-session deadline.  Important legislation that did not pass in 2016 included a bill that would eliminate toxic flame retardants in children's products and household furniture, legislation to reduce pollution from single-use disposable shopping bags, and a resolution to enact a referendum vote on a constitutional amendment to preserve State-owned lands (the resolution passed the Senate and House but unfortunately did not receive the two-thirds vote needed in the House to put the amendment on the ballot for a vote this November).

These losses came as a disappointment to many advocates and members of the public who fought hard for these pro-environment measures in 2016, but the bills also garnered a growing body of bipartisan support that advocates hope to build on in 2017.

CCE would like to extend a special thanks to Rep. James Albis, Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., Sen. Dante Bartolomeo, Rep. Diana Urban,  Sen. Beth Bye, Rep. Phil Miller, Sen. Bob Duff, Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, Rep. Roberta Willis, Rep. Mary Mushinsky, Sen. Clark Chapin, Rep. John Shaban, Rep. Kim Rose, Rep. Noreen Kokoruda, Rep. Russ Morin, Rep. Michael D'Agostino, Rep. Joe Gresko, Sen. Tony Hwang, Rep. Jon Steinberg, Rep. Fred Camillo, Rep. Roland Lemar, Rep. Matt Lesser, Rep. John Hampton, Sen. Joe Markley, and the countless others who worked tirelessly on these critical environmental issues in 2016.  We appreciate your efforts and look forward to working with you to continue fighting for Connecticut's environment during next year's CT legislative session!