Beekeeping in Slovenia is a signal of concern for the environment and nature preservation, and Cankarjev dom – Cultural and Congress Centre (CD), the biggest Slovenian congress centre, recognised this some time ago. As a contribution to increasing Ljubljana’s biodiversity, beehives have been installed on the building’s rooftop. Approximately 500,000 buzzing Carniola bees are now pollinating city plants and providing honey as a unique CD product. With urban beekeeping on its terrace, the CD is extremely proud of being a pioneer of this kind of Slovenian initiative. Thus, on the World Bee Day on 20th May 2019, at 12pm and 4pm, CD provides a guided tour to the beehives that are contributing to Ljubljana and Slovenia’s biodiversity and sustainable stability. The visitors will also be able to taste the CD’s own honey.
Photo credit: Cankarjev dom/Mare Vavpotič
Later in the day, CD will host a special book presentation. At 6pm, in Club CD, a presentation of a book More than Honey, based on the award-winning documentary will take place. Markus Imhoof, author of the book and director of the documentary, will join presentation together with Claus-Peter Lieckfeld, journalist and writer.
Photo credit: Cankarjev dom/Mare Vavpotič
The book takes on a global tour of the world of bees, introducing along the way people who live with honeybee in an idyllic Alpine valley, laboratory, in endless monocultures and in areas where bees are not even available for pollination anymore. Markus Imhoof and Claus-Peter Lieckfeld examine both the history and current status of our relationship to and reliance on bees and expose the human behaviours that are contributing to the decline of the bee population – a decline that could ultimately contribute directly to a world food problem.
The authors intersperse information about the intricate social structure of the bee world and the problems faced by bees—ranging from the ubiquitous Varroa destructor to overuse of pesticides and an ever-shrinking natural landscape—with conversations and interviews with beekeepers and bee experts from across the world, balancing the views of those who see bees as simply a valuable source of income with the views of those who see bees as undervalued, misunderstood creatures that need our help to survive. The end result is a fascinating, accessible overview of a species that is crucial to our survival.
