what you do to get people to listen ...

"We've tried everything to raise awareness about endangered ecosystems, but they won't listen to the scientists and they won't listen to the people," said Penn, 40, who has a doctorate in geography.

or this:

A magnetic fundraising personality?
publiceyeonline.com / April 17

Did you know federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion is an environmentalist? Well, given Mr. Dion's seemingly inability to speak about little else in the way of policy issues, you likely do. And, in keeping with that theme, the Liberal constituency association in Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam has organized a $75 per ticket fundraiser dinner featuring Simon Fraser University biological sciences professor John D. Reynolds - the Tom Buell BC Leadership Chair in Salmon Conservation. According to the advertisement for that dinner, his talk - "Things Change: Oceans, Climate, and Environmental Policy" - will be "non-partisan. His participation does not indicate support for, or affiliation with, the Liberal Party of Canada." Fair enough. But, regardless of Prof. Reynold's intentions, couldn't it be argued his presence at that event is inadvertently assisting the Grits in their partisan fundraising efforts?

In response to that argument, Prof. Reynolds - an internationally recognized expert on biodiversity and fish ecology - explained, "My approach is that I'm happy to talk to anyone who wants to hear about marine conservation issues - regardless of their party affiliation. I take the position that if I start discriminating against this group or for that group or whatever and get political than I'm just going to be on a road that I don't really want to travel down. I'm involved in advising (the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans). I've been advising the province as well. And these are all totally non-partisan." The following is a complete copy of the aforementioned advertisement for that fundraiser.

***

Fundraising Dinner, Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam
Come and enjoy a dinner hosted by the Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam Federal Liberal Riding Association.

When:
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Reception 6:30 pm, Dinner 7:30 pm

Where:
Empire Greek Taverna
2232 McAllister St.
Port Coquitlam

Special Guest Speaker:
"Things Change: Oceans, Climate, and Environmental Policy"
Professor J. D. Reynolds
Tom Buell BC Leadership Chair in Salmon Conservation
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University

(Professor Reynolds' talk will be non-partisan. His participation does not indicate support for, or affiliation with, the Liberal Party of Canada)

Tickets:

$75 (Cheque or Credit Card) Payable to Federal Liberal Agency of Canada #821
Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam
Proceeds go to the Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam Federal Liberal Riding Association.