[Fdu] Fwd: Scientists for the Right to Know

[Peter Fitting]

Scientists for the Right to Know

Dear colleagues;

The federal government  is in the process of destroying basic science in 
Canada. To give just a few examples, as of now, the National Research 
Council is to serve as the concierge for industry. According to its 
current head John MacDougal, “scientific discovery is not valuable 
unless it has commercial value.” The Department of Fisheries and Oceans 
not only screens every article _before_ it can be submitted for peer 
review, but can also pull articles_ after_ they have successfully passed 
peer review. Employees of Libraries and Archives Canada and of 
Statistics Canada had a Code of Conduct imposed on them that requires 
them to “show loyalty” to the elected government and prohibits them from 
criticizing the government on _and off_ work. The interesting thing is 
that the Codes of Conduct are not publicly available. (If you go to our 
website and check the timeline under January 2013, you will find a 
hyperlink to a leaked copy of the document.)


We are a new organization, born of the anguish of watching how our 
government scientists are muzzled, data collection is undermined (the 
abolition of the long census form being the most extreme example), 
world-class research facilities are closed in the name of saving money, 
media and public access to government scientists is severely impeded, 
access of government scientists to other scientists is restricted.

Our mandate is:
*To advocate for the free conduct, communication, publication, and 
archiving of research and to resist the muzzling of science and of 
scientists.

*We are planning a series of events that will draw public attention to 
what is happening. What we present will be based on careful research, 
and will be conveyed through the medium of various arts, including 
theatre, music, multi-media presentations, and so on. We will share the 
research on which the dramatizations are based on our website: 
http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org 
<http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org/> <http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org 
<http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org/>>
In order to do all of this we need funds. One hundred paid up members 
paying $50 each will give us $5,000, two hundred members will give us 
$10,000 – enough to organize a number of events.

As a member, you will of course be informed of any event we organize. 
You will also receive electronic copies of any background research we 
produce, and any products that come out of events that can be 
distributed electronically.

Our MEMBERSHIP fees are as follows:
Individuals: $50.-
Organizations: $100.-
Sustaining memberships:           $200.-
Student/unwaged: $10.-
and we accept donations in any amount!

Payment can be made either by cheque or by PayPal. If you choose to pay 
by cheque, please make it out to Scientists for the Right to Know and 
mail to our Treasurer, Phyllis Creighton, 12 Glenview Ave, Toronto, ON 
M4R 1P6. If you choose this avenue, please include your e-mail so that 
we can enter you into our database and you will receive periodic (but 
not too frequent) updates.

Alternatively, you can pay electronically via PayPal. Go to our website 
(which is still in the process of being constructed) at 
*http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org 
<http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org/>* <http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org 
<http://scientistsfortherighttoknow.wildapricot.org/>> and click on 
“join us”. You do not need to be a member of PayPal in order to use this 
means.

We look forward to welcoming you as a member.

Thank you!
Margrit Eichler
President, Scientists for the Right to Know



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