Environmentalists Slam CSIR Over Turton’s Suspension

Local and international environmental activists have handed over a petition calling on the government to investigate the suspension of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) water expert, Anthony Turton.

The petition argues that Turton’s suspension is an assault on academic freedom. In a document containing 1 463 signatures from civil society, scientists and political parties addressed to president Kgalema Motlanthe, activists are also demanding that the CSIR drop all punitive action against Turton.

The decision to suspend Turton on November 21, just four days after his scheduled keynote address, Science Real and Relevant, on SA’s water situation, was withdrawn from a CSIR conference because of concerns that some pictures used would offend delegates, has prompted heated debate among the scientific community.

To read the article titled, “Environmentalists demand probe into silencing of Turton,” click here.