Marla Conehead’s note: “Canada is dismantling the nation’s entire ocean contaminants program as part of massive layoffs at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.”
Among the scientists terminated are ones who have conducted landmark research about global pollutants for decades: Peter Ross, who is among the world’s leading experts on marine mammals and contaminants, Gary Stern, a mercury expert whose work focuses on the Arctic, Michel Lebeuf, who studies the highly contaminated St. Lawrence belugas and Michael Ikonomou, who researches flame retardants and other endocrine-disrupting contaminants in salmon and other ocean life. Ross told EHN that his main concern is the “wholesale axing of pollution research” that will leave Canada, and much of the world, without the scientific knowledge to protect whales, seals, fish and other marine life — as well as the indigenous peoples who rely on them for their traditional foods. Many scientists say the purpose of the move by the Canadian government is not just cost-cutting but to eliminate environmental rules and protect the oil and gas industry. The following is an essay that Ross wrote Thursday for EHN
Click here for a whinge by Peter Ross that he will no longer have a perpetual nature tour at the taxpayers’ expense. EHN
Hey Pete, GET A JOB!
These irrelevant jobs were at risk from the very beginning.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
You know, they talk about scientists, and then parade list list of accomplishments that are almost entirely junk scares worthy of the National Enquirer.
Now, if they were researching better methods of sewage digestion, potable water systems, oil/water recovery systems, or actually helping the environment instead of self-perpetuating “research” that tells us nothing about the environment or helping it, they might still have their jobs.
Much cheaper to buy Big Mac’s for the starving indigenous whale eaters than to support all these scientists.