Thaks Anne this is great, exactly what we should do. C'mon every body let's do this!!! I've forwarded it to the list. At 01:01 AM 12/5/98 -0330, you wrote: >An interesting bit of mail >canlob is usually moribund >anne > >---------- Forwarded message ---------- >Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 13:16:58 -0700 (MST) >From: Manuel Hulliger <[log in to unmask]> >To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: URGENT New lobby campaign: CIHR > > >SUBMISSION: CAN / CANLOB Message >TOPIC: Can launches new lobby campaign: CIHR >DATE: Nov 30, 1998 >FROM: Andrew Bulloch, President, CAN >REPLY TO: [log in to unmask] > >Dear Canadian Neuroscientists > >On behalf of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience I would like to >enlist your help in a lobby campaign in support of increased funding for >biomedical, clinical and health neuroscience research through the >funding of a Canadian Institute for Health in Neuroscience, CIHR. > >In joining this campaign you will be assisting a broad effort underway >by organisations such as CBHR (Executive Director: Dr Clement Gauthier) >which have initiated a letter-fax campaign regarding the CIHR proposal. > >Letters (without postage) and faxes should be sent ASAP to the House of >Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A OA6 for: > > The Rgt Hon. Jean Chretien, Prime Minister > (Fax: 613-941-6900) > The Hon. Paul Martin, Minister of Finance > (Fax: 613-995-5176) > The Hon. Allan Rock, Minister of Health > ( Fax:613-952-1154) > The Hon. John Manley, Minister of Industry > ( Fax:613-992-0302) > The Hon. Ronald Duhamel, Secretary of State for Science > (Fax 613-990-4056) > Your local MP. > >If you would rather use email the email addresses for ministers can be >found at www.net-efx.com/faxfeds. This very helfull site turns your >email into a fax that goes directly to the minister! > >I have provided a form letter below...amend this and/or replace it as >you see fit. > >If possible please send me an email stating how many letters you have >sent. > >With thanks for your help in this very important venture! > >Sincerely > >Andy Bulloch >President >Canadian Association for Neuroscience >[log in to unmask] >_______________________________________________________________________ > >DRAFT LETTER >_______________________________________________________________________ > > >Dear Minister X > >On behalf of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience I would like to >lend my support for the creation of the Canadian Institutes for Health >in Neuroscience. This support is based on the following considerations: > >1. The Canadian neuroscience community has a worldwide reputation for >excellence. > >2. Infrastructure is provided by the Canadian Association for >Neuroscience (CAN) and the Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences >(CCNS). Recently these and a number of non-government voluntary health >organisations and private sector groups with neuroscience core business >capacity were embraced in a CCNS Partners Program initiative. This >partnership provides a united voice for neuroscience in Canada. > >3. The burden of neurological diseases in Canada is staggering. At a >cost of at least $30 billion annually disorders of the nervous system >result in more hospitalisations than any other disorder including cancer >and heart disease. > >4.Our primary weapon to defeat neurological disorders is knowledge >derived from basic research. > >5. Whereas basic research is the foundation of progress in the biomedical >sciences, the translation of new knowledge along the pathway from the >laboratory to the population at large requires creation of opportunities >in areas such as technology transfer, clinical trials and population >health studies .Another focus will be evidence based health services >delivery to ensure that resources for neurological services, education >and research remain prioritized and optimal. The Neuroscience Institute >should therefore be an inclusive and integrated organisation that provides >significant new funding at all these levels. > >6. Although its primary goal is in the acquistion of new knowledge and >treatments for neurological disorders, the Neuroscience Institutes (in >common with other institutes) will stimulate economic development (jobs >and wealth) and reverse the exodus of talented neuroscientists from Canada. > >7. Through the CIHR initiative the federal goverment has the opportunity >to implement bold new changes to build an internationally competitive >biomedical, clinical and health research capacity. Despite much appreciated >additional funding for research in the 1998 federal budget Canada is still >losing ground to our international competitors, especially those in the USA. > >For the considerations listed above I urge you support the CIHR concept and >to prioritise Neuroscience in its initial stages. Realistically an allocation >of at least $150 million is required in the 1999 federal budget and this >should increase to $500 milion as soon as possible. > >Yours sincerely >etc etc > > >