'How a Canadian scientist became the voice of the anti-Harper movement' diff viewer (2/3)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on October 02, 2015 16:48 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/02/canadaman-protest-song-harperman-stephen-harper

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Previous version 1 2 3 Next version

Previous version 1 2 3 Next version

Version 2	Version 3
How a Canadian scientist became the voice of the anti-Harper movement	How a Canadian scientist became the voice of the anti-Harper movement
2015-10-02 18:00:05 UTC	2015-10-02 18:35:04 UTC (35 minutes later)
Related: Canada's prime minister wants to make it harder for people to vote against him \| Caroline Konrad	Related: Canada's prime minister wants to make it harder for people to vote against him \| Caroline Konrad
As protest songs go, it wasn’t exactly Pussy Riot. Harperman is a jaunty folk song with acoustic guitars, an amateur choir, and a chorus politely telling Canada’s prime minister Stephen Harper, “It’s time for you to go.”	As protest songs go, it wasn’t exactly Pussy Riot. Harperman is a jaunty folk song with acoustic guitars, an amateur choir, and a chorus politely telling Canada’s prime minister Stephen Harper, “It’s time for you to go.”
But the five-minute protest song became a viral hit, got its mild-mannered creator suspended from his job at the country’s environment department – and gave voice to the pent-up frustrations of Canada’s public servants who say they have found themselves at the receiving end of Harper’s policies.	But the five-minute protest song became a viral hit, got its mild-mannered creator suspended from his job at the country’s environment department – and gave voice to the pent-up frustrations of Canada’s public servants who say they have found themselves at the receiving end of Harper’s policies.
Over the last nine years, the prime minister has often clashed with the public service, cutting monitoring stations, pulping research libraries, slow-walking studies that would trigger protections for endangered species such as sharks, and banning scientists from discussing their work with other scientists or journalists, even after its publication.	Over the last nine years, the prime minister has often clashed with the public service, cutting monitoring stations, pulping research libraries, slow-walking studies that would trigger protections for endangered species such as sharks, and banning scientists from discussing their work with other scientists or journalists, even after its publication.
Harperman’s composer, Tony Turner, was told to stay at home from his job at Environment Canada in July after his employers told him they were investigating whether he had breached the public service’s code of ethics.	Harperman’s composer, Tony Turner, was told to stay at home from his job at Environment Canada in July after his employers told him they were investigating whether he had breached the public service’s code of ethics.
Now, in his first interview since he was sidelined by Environment Canada eight weeks ago, Turner has said he will end his seclusion and take his protest song on the campaign trail ahead of the country’s general election on 19 October.	Now, in his first interview since he was sidelined by Environment Canada eight weeks ago, Turner has said he will end his seclusion and take his protest song on the campaign trail ahead of the country’s general election on 19 October.
Turner officially quit his job on Thursday evening, after his employers said the song breached protocol calling on public servants to remain impartial. Turner and his union vigorously dispute the finding.	Turner officially quit his job on Thursday evening, after his employers said the song breached protocol calling on public servants to remain impartial. Turner and his union vigorously dispute the finding.
The songwriting public servant had been scheduled to retire in November.	The songwriting public servant had been scheduled to retire in November.
Turner will perform Harperman at a Green party rally in Vancouver on Saturday, and intends to sing at other election events around the country. Then he’s hoping to release a CD of love songs in January.	Turner will perform Harperman at a Green party rally in Vancouver on Saturday, and intends to sing at other election events around the country. Then he’s hoping to release a CD of love songs in January.
Public servants’ Harper problem	Public servants’ Harper problem
“I have never been that political but I feel I have to speak out. I am in a unique position now where people know my situation, know my name, and know my song. I feel I have to do something even though it’s not in my nature to be outspoken in political matters,” Turner said.	“I have never been that political but I feel I have to speak out. I am in a unique position now where people know my situation, know my name, and know my song. I feel I have to do something even though it’s not in my nature to be outspoken in political matters,” Turner said.
“Canadians have one opportunity every four years to really demonstrate their democratic rights and that is during election time,” he said. “This prime minister has taken almost absolute political control – without consultation, without using parliament that way it was intended to be used. If we want democracy to be continually undermined, then that’s what we will get with another four years of the Harper government.”	“Canadians have one opportunity every four years to really demonstrate their democratic rights and that is during election time,” he said. “This prime minister has taken almost absolute political control – without consultation, without using parliament that way it was intended to be used. If we want democracy to be continually undermined, then that’s what we will get with another four years of the Harper government.”
The story of how a mild-mannered, church-going, happily married geographer with a professional interest in migratory song birds became a folk-singing hero is an unusual one – but Turner is not alone.	The story of how a mild-mannered, church-going, happily married geographer with a professional interest in migratory song birds became a folk-singing hero is an unusual one – but Turner is not alone.
Thirty-five members of the public service are running in these elections – including a former prosecutor who was denied leave and later sacked for seeking office.	Thirty-five members of the public service are running in these elections – including a former prosecutor who was denied leave and later sacked for seeking office.
The surge in political activity indicates a bureaucracy at odds with the prime minister on a host of issues from freedom of speech to climate change to census gathering to fisheries, research libraries and national parks. Most of the 35 are running for the opposition Liberal and New Democratic parties.	The surge in political activity indicates a bureaucracy at odds with the prime minister on a host of issues from freedom of speech to climate change to census gathering to fisheries, research libraries and national parks. Most of the 35 are running for the opposition Liberal and New Democratic parties.
Emilie Taman, a crown prosecutor who is running for the NDP in central Ottawa, accused the Harper government of limiting public servants’ rights to political expression.	Emilie Taman, a crown prosecutor who is running for the NDP in central Ottawa, accused the Harper government of limiting public servants’ rights to political expression.
Taman was denied a leave of absence to campaign and was later sacked for leaving her post. “I don’t disagree impartiality is important, but that is why you put conditions in place including taking a leave,” she said. “Basically, this amounts to a blanket prohibition … It’s very disenfranchising.”	Taman was denied a leave of absence to campaign and was later sacked for leaving her post. “I don’t disagree impartiality is important, but that is why you put conditions in place including taking a leave,” she said. “Basically, this amounts to a blanket prohibition … It’s very disenfranchising.”
Meanwhile, government scientists have chafed at a government ban on discussing their research. The prohibition covered a growing list of research topics including snowflakes, the ozone layer, salmon and previously published work about a 13,000-year-old flood.	Meanwhile, government scientists have chafed at a government ban on discussing their research. The prohibition covered a growing list of research topics including snowflakes, the ozone layer, salmon and previously published work about a 13,000-year-old flood.
After dozens of run-ins, Harper switched to flattery on Thursday,releasing an open letter to bureaucrats offering reassurances on payand conditions and adding: “Our Conservative government has been proudof the good work done by Canada’s public servants.”	After dozens of run-ins, Harper switched to flattery on Thursday,releasing an open letter to bureaucrats offering reassurances on payand conditions and adding: “Our Conservative government has been proudof the good work done by Canada’s public servants.”
~~Related: Bad timing: how Canada’s prime minister walked into his own electoral trap \| Heather Mallick~~
Steve Campana, a scientist who quit his job at Fisheries and Ocean Canada in protest last May, said the crackdown on information was getting in the way of research. “All forms of communication even on the most trivial topics are being stymied,” he said. “This is not just a muzzling issue. This is an anti-science issue.”	Steve Campana, a scientist who quit his job at Fisheries and Ocean Canada in protest last May, said the crackdown on information was getting in the way of research. “All forms of communication even on the most trivial topics are being stymied,” he said. “This is not just a muzzling issue. This is an anti-science issue.”
Those kinds of confrontations, from science to free speech rights, had left the public service badly demoralised, said Peter Bleyer, an official with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) union which represents Turner.	Those kinds of confrontations, from science to free speech rights, had left the public service badly demoralised, said Peter Bleyer, an official with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) union which represents Turner.
“There has just been a fundamental lack of respect for the role and importance of an independent professional public service and its role, particularly when it comes to providing evidence for policy making,” he said.	“There has just been a fundamental lack of respect for the role and importance of an independent professional public service and its role, particularly when it comes to providing evidence for policy making,” he said.
“The challenge we have right now in the runup to the elections is that on the one hand we have that fear. On the other we have a degree of desperation of folks who are thinking: how could we possibly survive another four years?”	“The challenge we have right now in the runup to the elections is that on the one hand we have that fear. On the other we have a degree of desperation of folks who are thinking: how could we possibly survive another four years?”
That was where Turner came in. In his 19-year public service career, Turner oversaw research projects, such as monitoring song bird habitat in the vast, boreal forests. Most of his work was unseen by the public.	That was where Turner came in. In his 19-year public service career, Turner oversaw research projects, such as monitoring song bird habitat in the vast, boreal forests. Most of his work was unseen by the public.
At home, Reeves, a retired archivist and librarian, was the political one, canvassing for the NDP and campaigning for a switch to proportional representation. Turner, who picked up his interest in music when he reached his 40s, conducted band practice in his living room on Friday evenings, and performed in Ottawa clubs. He wrote a song included in an important folk canon, and recorded two CDs.	At home, Reeves, a retired archivist and librarian, was the political one, canvassing for the NDP and campaigning for a switch to proportional representation. Turner, who picked up his interest in music when he reached his 40s, conducted band practice in his living room on Friday evenings, and performed in Ottawa clubs. He wrote a song included in an important folk canon, and recorded two CDs.
Those two worlds never intersected, Turner said, until he entered a local song contest.	Those two worlds never intersected, Turner said, until he entered a local song contest.
The rise of a folk-singing hero	The rise of a folk-singing hero
It took four or five days to write Harperman, using as inspiration a pamphlet put out by a local campaign group. But Turner said the feelings had been bubbling up for some time. “For my whole adult life, the whole time I was able to vote, I was always optimistic about the future. I always felt Canada was doing the right thing in the world,” he said.	It took four or five days to write Harperman, using as inspiration a pamphlet put out by a local campaign group. But Turner said the feelings had been bubbling up for some time. “For my whole adult life, the whole time I was able to vote, I was always optimistic about the future. I always felt Canada was doing the right thing in the world,” he said.
“There is a line in my song that says: ‘makes us feel the future is bleak’. That is the line in my song that resonates with me the most … I don’t think that is what Canada is about. I think Canada has strong ideals. They are just not coming to the fore right now.”	“There is a line in my song that says: ‘makes us feel the future is bleak’. That is the line in my song that resonates with me the most … I don’t think that is what Canada is about. I think Canada has strong ideals. They are just not coming to the fore right now.”
The song won, gaining Turner a chance to perform at a May Day singalong hosted by local impressario Chris White.	The song won, gaining Turner a chance to perform at a May Day singalong hosted by local impressario Chris White.
Then White and a videographer, Andrew Hall, thought to bring Harperman to a wider audience, putting out a call to local choirs to gather at a local spiritual center.	Then White and a videographer, Andrew Hall, thought to bring Harperman to a wider audience, putting out a call to local choirs to gather at a local spiritual center.
The video of the performance – produced in five takes – showed Turner leading a group of about 50 barefoot and smiling amateur choristers in a rousing rendition of Harperman, a catalogue of what he saw as the misdeeds of the current prime minister.	The video of the performance – produced in five takes – showed Turner leading a group of about 50 barefoot and smiling amateur choristers in a rousing rendition of Harperman, a catalogue of what he saw as the misdeeds of the current prime minister.
For Dianne McIntyre, who sang one verse in the video, the song gave voice to the growing alarm of a professional class at Harper’s policies – without falling into despair.	For Dianne McIntyre, who sang one verse in the video, the song gave voice to the growing alarm of a professional class at Harper’s policies – without falling into despair.
“It had a joyful upbeat way of summarising very concisely many of the issues that we have been facing under the Harper regime,” she said. “It gave Canadians a way of easily saying : ‘oh yeah, that too’.”	“It had a joyful upbeat way of summarising very concisely many of the issues that we have been facing under the Harper regime,” she said. “It gave Canadians a way of easily saying : ‘oh yeah, that too’.”
White and Hall uploaded the song to the Harperman website, where the video racked up 50,000 views over a few weeks – and then Turner’s employers saw him sing.	White and Hall uploaded the song to the Harperman website, where the video racked up 50,000 views over a few weeks – and then Turner’s employers saw him sing.
On 31 July Environment Canada wrote to Turner, directing him to stay home, with pay, pending the results of an investigation into Harperman. The focus of the investigation was openly political.	On 31 July Environment Canada wrote to Turner, directing him to stay home, with pay, pending the results of an investigation into Harperman. The focus of the investigation was openly political.
“The refrain includes lines such as ‘no respect for the environment’, ‘won’t buy into climate change’, ‘dirty oil, dirty plan’,” a subsequent letter from the investigating official said. “The site shows and identifies you by name openly criticising elected officials’ actions and policies while an Environment Canada employee.”	“The refrain includes lines such as ‘no respect for the environment’, ‘won’t buy into climate change’, ‘dirty oil, dirty plan’,” a subsequent letter from the investigating official said. “The site shows and identifies you by name openly criticising elected officials’ actions and policies while an Environment Canada employee.”