German research institute pulls out of Canadian tar sands project

[Joe Shlabotnik]

EXCLUSIVE / Germany’s largest and most prestigious research institute has pulled out of a Canadian government-funded $25 million research project into sustainable solutions to tar sands pollution, citing fears for its environmental reputation.

As many as 20 scientists at the world-famous Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres have ceased involvement in the Helmholtz Alberta Initiative (HAI), after a moratorium on contacts was declared last month.

“It was seen as a risk for our reputation,” Professor Frank Messner, Helmholtz UFZ’s head of staff said stiffly over the phone from his offices in Leipzig.

Meanwhile back in Canada:

Hundreds of scientists have lost their jobs, and those that remain have been forbidden from talking to the media without a government minder present.

more at:
http://www.euractiv.com/science-policymaking/german-research-institute-pulls-news-518608#.UUio7Eai2KJ.twitter

Looks like some scientists wish to retain their credibility and distance themselves from this Tar-baby!

[limpyhobbler]

1. k/r

[KT2000]

2. Wow! This restores my faith in scientists!

I was starting to view most of them as paid shills for industry.

UL (Underwriters Laboratory) is now taking on consumer goods in addition to the electrical. I hope they make a committment to keeping their reputation too.

[Berlum]

3. Not just their reputations, Tar Sands is a threat to the whole planet

[rurallib]

4. " government minder " - shades of China and North Korea

[PDJane]

5. And Harper would be quite happy to make Canada into a dictatorship.