Now Scientists are Being Gagged in Canada Too

NASA Scientists have been gagged in the US in the past–now Canadian scientists are complaining that their vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed.

On BBC News, Pallab Ghosh quotes university scientist Thomas Pedersen as saying, "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."

A 2008 media protocol introduced by the new government shortly after it was elected says that all interview requests for scientists employed by the government must first be cleared by officials. These requests are often refused. Ghosh quotes environmental scientist Andrew Weaver as saying that the protocol is "’Orwellian’. The information is so tightly controlled that the public is left in the dark."

So far, nobody’s been able to gag US–in fact, lots of people just wish we’d SHUT UP–but we’re not going to: We’re going to keep on bringing you vital news about the environment (and everything else!) The only thing that will kill US off is neglect, and believe it or not, THAT CAN HAPPEN if more of you don’t make the important decision to subscribe today.

NOBODY is gagged at our extraordinary annual Dreamland Festival–we let everybody say whatever they want to (because we think our readers and listeners are smart enough to ask questions about what they don’t understand and disagree if they want to). We always have an intellectually-intensive great time, so join us!