The Write2Know Project is a letter-writing campaign that gives you the opportunity to ask federal scientists and Ministers about the results of the Canadian government’s environmental monitoring and scientific research programs. Write2Know is an activist-research initiative formed out of a collaboration among academics, scientists, activists, NGOs, and members of the public.

Over 4500 letters have already been signed by people from around the world!

Did you know? The federal government has… Cancelled over a hundred Canadian federal research programs? Fired thousands of federal scientists conducting environmental monitoring? Prevented scientists from talking to the public and the media about their research? Image of scientists protesting. Still from “Issue Of Muzzled Canadian Scientists Headed To Bargaining Table,” The Canadian Press, 12/03/2014Issue Of Muzzled Canadian Scientists Headed To Bargaining Table, Yet national policies on oil sands, climate change, Aboriginal health, water, toxics, and more, impact people around the world. Muzzling Canadian scientists makes it difficult for us to gain answers to important questions about our health and well-being.

Write2Know Questions What are the effects of endocrine disruptors like BPA on the health of our bodies and waterways? Is the government monitoring the effects of contaminants generated by uranium mining on northern communities? What is Health Canada doing to respond to research that shows that there is no safe level of exposure to lead? Where other jurisdictions have classified low- frequency radiation from cell phones and wireless devices as a carcinogen, what research is the government doing to monitor long term effects among Canadians?

Write2Know Questions What are the impacts of marine plastics on our food chain? How are the oil sands affecting water quality? How are development and research initiatives in the Far North addressing the effects of high concentrations of contaminants on Aboriginal communities? Given recent cuts to Aboriginal health research, how does the government plan to include Aboriginal expertise, opinions, lived realities, values, and traditional practices in public health research?

Write2Know Questions Where’s the data? What was removed from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries? What research is the government conducting to address the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls? Why, in this time of climate change, is the Canadian government promoting increased resource extraction from our forests? Why is Canada killing wolves to protect threatened caribou herds, when evidence shows that resource extraction from industries like the oil sands has the biggest impact on their survival? You can also write your own letter!

How it Works 1.Go to write2know.cawrite2know.ca a.Choose from a list of questions about public health and safety. b.Read the background on that question and the pre-written letter. c.Add your name to the letter, and click send! It just takes seconds! 1.Share on Facebook 1.Tweet it! #Write2Know

Write2Know Week September 28-October 2, 2015 By October 2, 2015 we aim to get thousands of signatures on our letters, and get members of the public to write new letters. The Write2Know Project, will extend beyond Write2Know Week, allowing people to continue to write letters and ask new questions. Updates on new stages of the project will be posted on the website. Write2Know is already a success. Members of Parliament have already responded to our first campaign! Thank you for participating in this important project!