A “Scientists March On Washington” is in planning stages as a response to gag orders emanating from Trump. Canada had similar gag orders under the Conservative Harper and the backlash lead to the current liberal Trudeau government presently seated. (For more info on Canada’s past problems with anti-Science, Corporate rule link here www.vice.com/...)
This March is not just for Scientists. It’s for anyone who believes in empirical science. And that discussion could help move a long overdue conversation about facts, fake news and reality forward. Also, there’s a graphic of Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydw included here… since Republicans are trying to kill off NPR, NEA and Big Bird/
Several scientists are reportedly planning a march on Washington and have taken to social media to garner support for the movement. A Twitter account that started on Monday has periodically sent out updates and requests for people to get involved.
The idea began from a subreddit, The Washington Post reported, where scientists discussed a way to respond to the Trump administration’s skepticism of climate change and other science-focused policy issues.
Seeing the size of the Women’s March on Washington following President Trump’s inauguration, someone suggested a “Scientists’ March on Washington."
”Please arrange this. it won't change trump-mans mind, but by all that is sacred, it needs to be done. Show the governing body you won't just do nothing,” one Reddit user said "I'd go in a heartbeat,” said another.
thehill.com/...
One participant in the exchange, University of Texas Health Science Center postdoctoral fellow Jonathan Berman, took the conversation to heart. In short order, the march had a Facebook page (which currently has more than 200 more than 48,000 more than 150,000 members), a Twitter handle, a website, two co-chairs, Berman and science writer and public health researcher Caroline Weinberg, and a Google form through which interested researchers could sign up to help.
Right now, that's all it has. But, as the women's march on Saturday demonstrated, social movements have started with less.
Weinberg said that the news Tuesday that scientists with some federal research agencies were barred from communicating with the public “lit a fire under us.”
“We were inspired (well, infuriated) by the current attacks on science from the new administration,” she wrote in an email. “Slashing funding and restricting scientists from communicating their findings (from tax-funded research!) with the public is absurd and cannot be allowed to stand as policy.”
Weinberg, Berman and others who have expressed interest will meet (virtually) this weekend to develop a more robust plan. They're looking to team up with other proponents of a scientists' march — since they're not the first people to float the idea. And "sister marches" in other cities, including Boston and Seattle, also appear to be in the works.
According to the group's website, the march is aimed not just at scientists. "Anyone who believes in empirical science [can participate]," the site reads. "That's it. That's the only requirement." Apparently aware of the conflicts over inclusion of minorities the Women's March, organizers pledged to establish a diversity committee and to ensure that the steering committee is diverse.
The group tweeted Wednesday that the date of the march will be announced next week.
www.washingtonpost.com/...