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Canadian Government is 'Muzzling its Scientists'
Topic Started: Feb 18 2012, 01:45 AM (731 Views)
Brewster
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Why I Will Not Vote for Harper in Spite of his Excellent Economic Record

BBC News
 
By Pallab Ghosh, Science correspondent, BBC News, Vancouver

Posted Image
Government experts tracked a new ozone hole, but were not allowed to give interviews

The corruption of science?

The Canadian government has been accused of "muzzling" its scientists.

Speakers at a major science meeting being held in Canada said communication of vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed.

But one Canadian government department approached by the BBC said it held the communication of science as a priority.

Prof Thomas Pedersen, a senior scientist at the University of Victoria, said he believed there was a political motive in some cases.
Quote:
 
The Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) is keen to keep control of the message, I think to ensure that the government won't be embarrassed by scientific findings of its scientists that run counter to sound environmental stewardship, I suspect the federal government would prefer that its scientists don't discuss research that points out just how serious the climate change challenge is.
The Complete Story

Some accuse Climate Scientists of "politicizing" their findings, with the attendant implication that doing so somehow corrupts the process, in spite of the fact that not one of them, in Canada or elsewhere, has ever been found guilty of the practice.

But these scientists are also citizens of their country, and the world. Should they not have the right to speak out?
Edited by Brewster, Feb 18 2012, 01:49 AM.
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Chris
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"Some accuse Climate Scientists of "politicizing" their findings, with the attendant implication that doing so somehow corrupts the process..."

As a skeptic, I accuse some scientists, and you, and others, of politicizing science, but without the attendant implication you draw. --Not saying that some deniers don't imply that.

"But these scientists are also citizens of their country, and the world. Should they not have the right to speak out?"

That depends. In the case cited in the article the person was "due to give evidence to a judicial inquiry". Why is that inferred as suppression? Her work was published, was it not? And on the 15th of this month she testified and spoke out--something your story, published today, omits:

Scientist claims early evidence of salmon virus, feared lab would be closed
Quote:
 
A Canadian scientist testifying in front of a commission on the collapse of the Fraser River salmon fishery says that tests done as far back as 2002 did find indicators of the Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) virus in pacific salmon and that her lab had discovered evidence of the virus from fish gathered in 1986.

Dr Kristi Miller, Head of Molecular Genetics in Nanaimo for the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Ocean, testified in Vancouver, B.C., that Canada's food inspection agency was not happy with her doing the tests.

She said there was a general feeling she should not be looking at viruses or diseases. She was fearful that all samples would be taken from her lab and was also very concerned that samples from her genomics program, also based in the lab, would be removed.

When asked by commission lawyer Brock Martland if there was any indication of a virus, Dr Miller testified, "there is a virus here very similar to ISA."

Miller added that it has not been established if the virus causes any disease. She is continuing to test for the virus. She said she also tested fish samples stored in her lab from 1986 and found evidence of ISA. It is not yet known what strain of the virus may exist in the Pacific salmon....
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Brewster
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You are correct Chris, I politicize the science every chance I can get, and encourage as many others as I can to do the same. Global Climate Change is the most serious political problem facing our planet - it is an existential issue.

I especially encourage those who understand and accept the science to "politicize" it even harder in areas where Deniers like yourself post.

Yes, Chris, you are a Denier, a person who claims to be a skeptic but rarely questions any source that claims to have info that "falsifies" the concensus, and in fact defends that questionable source even when the source's obvious bias / lack of expertise is made evident.

And like any good Denier, you refuse to admit errors, and continue to repost data that has been shown to prove exactly the opposite of what you want, or to be internally inconsistent if not flat out wrong.

On edit: Enough time wasted - Deny away.

Edited by Brewster, Feb 18 2012, 02:57 AM.
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Chris
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Brewster
Feb 18 2012, 02:31 AM
You are correct Chris, I politicize the science every chance I can get, and encourage as many others as I can to do the same. Global Climate Change is the most serious political problem facing our planet - it is an existential issue.

I especially encourage those who understand and accept the science to "politicize" it even harder in areas where Deniers like yourself post.

Yes, Chris, you are a Denier, a person who claims to be a skeptic but rarely questions any source that claims to have info that "falsifies" the concensus, and in fact defends that questionable source even when the source's obvious bias / lack of expertise is made evident.

And like any good Denier, you refuse to admit errors, and continue to repost data that has been shown to prove exactly the opposite of what you want, or to be internally inconsistent if not flat out wrong.

On edit: Enough time wasted - Deny away.

"Deniers like yourself"

Why do you need to lie?

"rarely questions any source..."

As has been shown you, with no expertise, disqualified formally trained and experienced and recognized experts, simply because they are skeptics who you disagree with. Curry.




Let us note you failed to respond to my post in any way whatsoever and chose instead to simply attack me personally with your usual bluster.
Edited by Chris, Feb 18 2012, 03:07 AM.
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campingken
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Who is the "us" that you are speaking of?

Chris it must be difficult being you. Here you are marching in the parade of life with the absolute conviction that everyone, save you, is out of step....
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jackd
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Why I Will Not Vote for Harper in Spite of his Excellent Economic Record:
* His pulling out the Kyoto protocol, in spite of Canada's signature
* His recent axing of the long-gun registry,
* His newly found religion reinstating monarchist symbols across the country and expecially in Quebec and the Maritime provinces,
* His stupid and costly crime bill in times when crimes have been at its lowest in history,
* Having won at the last election does not give him the green light to do and impose his religious views to the world.

...and his economic record (if there is really one) would have been a total fiasco if the previous liberal government had not left him with relatively strong economic situation, budget surplusses ($13billion when the Liberal took a dive) a well regulated financial and banking system when Harper took the throne
He will certainly be recognized by history as having been the worst PM Canada in the last century, the one that has tried to chage some of the basic values of Canadians to fullfill his religious and right wing aspirations.
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Chris
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"Who is the "us" that you are speaking of?"

Readers and me.


"Chris it must be difficult being you. Here you are marching in the parade of life with the absolute conviction that everyone, save you, is out of step.."

Why do you make things up?
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Sea Dog
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Jack, perhaps you should explain to our American friends how your
feelings as a Quebecois may differ from those of Canadians in other provinces.
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Chris
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Jack seems as liberal if not socialist as Brewster, so what is this difference, Hank?
Edited by Chris, Feb 18 2012, 04:07 AM.
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Sea Dog
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I do not wish to speak for Jack.
Suffice to say that many residents of Quebec view politics and the Monarchy differently
than do most other Canadians.
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