Canadian Scientists Mourn Death of Evidence

[Finished Business]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/cana...-funeral-march-parliament-hill-204432008.html

Scientists to protest research cuts with funeral march on Parliament Hill


Members of Canada's scientific community are taking to the streets of Ottawa on Tuesday, staging a funeral procession — complete with a coffin, black-clad mourners and a scythe-wielding grim reaper — to mourn the "death of evidence" in what organizers say is the federal government's war on science.

"Science in Canada is under attack," notes the group's website.

"It's clear that the Harper government does not value science or evidence and is systematically trying to reduce the flow of scientific information to Canadians. We have seen this through the cuts to federal science programs, changes to legislation in Bill C-38, and the muzzling of government scientists."

The scientists accuse the Harper government of ideological cuts to critical research programs in Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, Statistics Canada, through the closure of Experimental Lakes Area, the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory and the First Nations Statistical Institute, and through the elimination of the National Science Adviser and National Round Table on Environment and Economy.

Rally co-organizer Scott Findlay says while it would be easy to say that scientists are upset because some of them might be losing their jobs, the issues are much more fundamental than that.

"Every Canadian must surely be of the view that if you're going to make a decision, especially if you're a government making a decision, it should be based on evidence. Sound evidence. And it's important that all the evidence be presented," he told Postmedia News.

"And science is the best method that we have for assembling and collecting the evidence and bringing it forward into the public domain, relatively untainted by political agendas and ideology.

"I think it's important for the public to understand that scientists are getting increasingly concerned about this. I'm hugely concerned."


Those that are unable to attend the Death of Evidence Rally in Ottawa in person can still take part by participating in a "virtual candlelight vigil."

"Use your cell phone or a digital camera to take photo of you holding a candle. If possible, incorporate a science-related tool or symbol in your photo (calculator, test tube, graduated cylinder, periodic table, magnifying glass, compass, goggles, etc.)" notes the group's website.

"Photos can be uploaded to the Candlelight Vigil: Death of Evidence group on Flickr."

For those that can attend, the funeral procession begins at 12:00 noon at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

 

[Finished Business]

How the gov't gets away with muzzling the brightest minds in the country leaves me at a loss.

 

[Cuba Libre]

Well? How many letters have been sent. Lets remind these clowns that the next election is in a few years away and they are toast

 

[Seafever]

Harper is arrogant.

He's rubbing our faces in it because he thinks there is nothing we can do about it.

But there's that old biblical proverb:- "Pride goeth before a fall"............(as Christy Clark is finding out fast as well).

 

[Englishman]

Harper's attacks on science and evidence based research is the modern equivalent of the imprisonment of Galileo and the 19th century attacks on Darwin. In Harper you have a fundementalist conservative agenda underpinned by bizzare religious beliefs including the delusion the earth is only 6000 years old and "god will not allow man to damage the envionment". The latter is another twist on the fatalistic religious idea that "god will provide". As a friend of mine said we have free will and so most definately can and will screw up the environment, including fisheries, without the appropriate checks and balances in place. The sooner Harper is gone the better for Canada, and for that matter, the world!

 

[GDW]

How quickly everyone forgets the reason Harper is in is because the last government was also terrible. For example Harper did not bring in fish farms.

I'm not a Harper fan just saying its a lose lose maybe if we got the green party in our focus on the environment would improve. Unfortunately something else would probably suffer and everyone would find a reason to hate them too.

The conservatives suck, the liberals suck and nobody else has a real chance. Are we as a nation ready to try NDP?

 

[bushwackin]

.

Pretty much all politicians are losers

 

[lorneparker1]

I am so happy I never voted for his party......total suckers......Now look what we have.

I hear yah!! Not next time!!

Lorne

 

[Seafever]

There is clearly something wrong with the elective process in this country, when you are forced to make a choice between 3 or 4 perennial parties, none of which you want.

There is no party that represents the will of the people. There are only parties that "profess" to represent the people...that is until they they are voted in on a platform of brain-candy lies, then proceeding to cut silent backroom deals galore while furthering their unspoken REAL agenda.
When the Supreme Court rules that is pefectly allright for a poltician to lie.......that says something about what Joe Average is up against.

Nowadays when I vote....I don't go looking for the party that will further my expectations.........I go looking for the party that will do me the least damage.

The longer a party stays in power....the more it will move to self-destruction until it will force itself out of office by it's own actions. Just a matter of how long it takes to self-destruct.