Einstein on bees

[Bonnie Taylor-Blake]

Recent (and not-so-recent) press reports include an observation said to have
been made by Einstein on the importance of bees to man.  It appears in
various forms, but here's the basic long structure:

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only
have four years of life left.  No more bees, no more pollination, no more
plants, no more animals, no more man."

Blogger Mark Turner recently contacted Walter Isaacson, whose _Einstein: His
Life and Universe_ was just published.  Isaacson says he's unfamiliar with
this supposed Einstein saying.

The earliest (mis)attribution I've been able to find goes back to early 1994
(examples below).  The quotation and a linking to Einstein appear to have
been used on some brochures handed out in Brussels by the National Union of
French Apiculture in January of that year.

Anyone know anything more about this?

-- Bonnie


(1) [From Paul Ames's report for the Associated Press, "Life's Not So Sweet
for Europe's Embattled Beekeepers," 24 January 1994.]

The beekeepers' warnings had some heavyweight expert support. A pamphlet
distributed by the National Union of French Apiculture quoted Albert
Einstein.  "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would
have no more than four years to live," Einstein was quoted as saying. "No
more bees, no more pollination ... no more men!"


(2) [From Chris Mclaughlin, "Fearful Beekeepers Plead for Curbs on Honey
Imports," *The Scotsman*, 25 January 1994.]

A pamphlet distributed by the National Union of French Apiculture quoted
Albert Einstein.  "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man
would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more
pollination ... no more men!"


(3) [From Mark Milner's "GATT Deal Stirs up Hornet's Nest on Cheap Honey
Imports," *The Guardian*, 25 January 1994.]

For those whose instinctive response is to wonder if beekeepers' claims are
strictly for the birds, French honey-producers have combed the works of
Albert Einstein to find support for their contention. A pamphlet distributed
by the National Union of French Apiculture quoted the great scientist as
saying: "No more bees, no more pollination . . . no more men!"

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