The Kristi Miller Fund: already $6,000 raised
The Kristi Miller Fund
Last January a study by Dr. Kristi Miller, a scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, was published in the journal Science. Her research has identified a genomic signature which may link the decline of the Fraser sockeye to a viral infection.
In particular, her candidate virus may account for the high levels of salmon mortality observed in the Fraser before spawning. Her study is said to be one of the most important to come from DFO in years.
Yet the federal government has cut Dr. Miller’s funding, undermining her ability to continue her critical research. In particular, while she was on the witness stand at the Cohen Commission, Dr. Miller said that she put forward a proposal to test farmed salmon for her virus.
But her funding request – which only amounted to $18,750 – was denied by DFO.
To complicate the matter, Dr. Miller testified that the Prime Minister’s office in Ottawa barred her from talking to the media about her research into the sockeye salmon decline.
These curious actions by government have not gone unnoticed by Wild Salmon People, and have sparked suspicion of blatant political interference. Once again, it’s up to the people to rise to the task. Together, we will raise the money that DFO denied to Dr. Miller to test farmed salmon for the salmon leukemia virus.
The monies donated by concerned citizens for this urgent and critical research will be presented to DFO. By doing this, we will send an uncompromising message that the public will take no further excuses to stall Dr. Miller’s research, and that the federal government must allow those critical tests to take place without further delay.
And if DFO refuses to take the money, then we will use it to conduct disease tests independently of government and industry. Those tests will focus on the alarming pre-spawn mortality, the exotic ISA virus and possible jaundice epidemic currently affecting the 2011 Fraser River salmon run.
A jaundiced pink salmon found last week in the Fraser, apparently killed by liver disease
You have a chance to be a part of a direct action that can make an ocean of a difference.
No gift is too small. Whether you can afford to give $10 or $1000, help us send a message to government, and support good people working hard for the preservation of our wild salmon for generations.
Visit the Salmon Are Sacred website and click on their PayPal button. *Please add a note (in PayPal’s “Add special instructions for the Recipient” box) indicating that your donation is for the “Kristi Miller Fund”
If you send a cheque [att: Pacific Coast Wild Salmon Society or PCWSS - Box 399, Sointula BC V0N 3E0], please add that mention as well.
