Scientist Silenced; 15 Kyoto Programs Axed--Toronto Star, CANADA

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

AND 5 story summaries in my Journal

1//The Toronto Star, Canada Apr. 13, 2006. 08:26 PM

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1144965013707&col=96



SCIENTIST SILENCED; 15 KYOTO PROGRAMS AXED



OTTAWA (CP) — A scientist with Environment Canada was ordered not to launch his global warming-themed novel Thursday at the same time the Conservative government was quietly axing a number of Kyoto programs.



The bizarre sequence of events on the eve of the Easter long weekend provided an ironic end-note to the week in which Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced his first piece of legislation — aimed at improving accountability and transparency in government.



The day began with what was supposed to be the low-key launch of an aptly titled novel, Hotter than Hell.



Publisher Elizabeth Margaris said that Mark Tushingham, whose day job is as an Environment Canada scientist, was ordered not to appear at the National Press Club to give a speech discussing his science fiction story about global warming in the not-too-distant future.



"He got a directive from the department, cautioning him not to come to this meeting today," said Margaris of DreamCatcher Publishers.



"So I guess we're being stifled. This is incredible, I've never heard of such a thing," she said.

MORE

[madeline_con]

1. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

The author needs to shop around for a publisher.

[Erika]

2. Global warming is not corporate friendly

and W is the corporate king. Corporatism would much prefer the rich lead a good comfort life now, rather than worry about what they will leave their children and grandchildren.

[truthisfreedom]

3. it's as if they WANT to create hell on earth and don't want anyone to stop

them.

[shadowknows69]

11. I keep having flashbacks

to the cheesy (but pretty good concept) charlie sheen sci fi movie "The Arrival". Although in this case I doubt its aliens trying to do this, just stupid, greedy humans.

[Lisa]

18. I'm expecting Bush and Harper to remove their human suits anytime now

Maybe the reason why Bush is so clumsy on bikes, Segways, etc., is due to his legs actually bending the other way (like those aliens).

[Lorien]

16. Our generation will be a casualty of climate change; it's not just

our "children" who will suffer horribly. Just ask anyone in Katrina's path last year.

[HuffleClaw]

4. keep it up harper !!!

these bush-bootlicking moves are only going to make yer coming election loss that much sweeter! hahahahhhahhaa

canadians are NOT going to be impressed by this bushco.-brand silencing of dissent.

[reprobate]

7. Forgive me for not being aware, but when IS the election up there?

[arikara]

12. We just had one in December

but its a minority government and therefore could fall at any time. However its unlikely to happen for at least another 18 months unless Harper pulls something extremely stupid. The Liberal party hasn't elected a new leader yet; and the country certainly isn't in the mood for another costly election so soon and would likely "punish" whoever was responsible for bringing down the government for frivolous reasons.

[hatrack]

15. And this doesn't qualify as "extremely stupid"?

I hope y'all give him unshirted hell over this crap - he's most definitely earned it.

[reprobate]

19. Thanks for the reply, Arikara. My hopes are that sanity returns to both

countries and a liberal or progressive agenda takes hold on both sides of the border. Of course if I had my 'druthers we'd both have a parliamentary system. I think it's far more responsive to the people and less likely to be taken over by the corporate bottom feeders as ours has been.

[tsuki]

5. I don't think that this will go over to big in Canada. nt

[corporatemedia]

6. Global Warming is GOOD FOR BUSINESS! Just read the article...............

Why global warming is good for business

Climate change isn't all bad news. In fact, there may well be money in it.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/13/technology/business2_futureboy0413/index.htm

How do you make money?

"1) Consumer guilt. Growing concern about global warming - and the urge to do something about it - is a boon for startups..."

See, don't worry, be happy!

[Trillo]

8. I got a feeling there's a LOT more of the censorship

of fiction occurring than TPTB would care to admit. It's much easier for them to pretend novel publishing is a fair, albeit flawed, system of reward for word artists.

I'm not going to get all charged up about this. I've seen too much fiction rejected in my days (not mine) to believe it's not business as usual.

How much longer till they shut down the Internet? With all the operatives, they might not need to.

[rfkrfk]

9. take the fight to the provinces

some provinces must be more progressive than others

[mom cat]

10. So much for moving to Canada. We have to fight the beast here.

Sounds like the Bushbots are influncing policies North of the border.

[rodeodance]

13. Lets hope the Canadian people wise up faster than we did.

[applegrove]

14. Just when you thought Harper was going to try and be normal...

at least while in minority government...

[Lisa]

17. pretty brazen, for a guy with a minority government, eh?

I was talking with my landlord, who is currently working on a provincial climate change policy. He was NOT impressed. Neither is my ex-roomie, who was laid off from her job at NRCAN, developing carbon sequestration policies.