SAVE THE DDO

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SAVE THE DAVID DUNLAP OBSERVATORY

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SavetheDDO.org is run by people from across the GTA who care about the fate of the David Dunlap Observatory. If you would like to help out be sure to visit this site regularly for news and information about how to get involved.

OUR MISSION

The mission of "Save the DDO” is to ensure the preservation of the David Dunlap Observatory as a historic landmark, an operating observatory for scientific research, and a natural landscape for the people of the GTA to enjoy. It would be an incredible loss to this province and this country to see these amazing buildings, filled with history and the site of numerous scientific discoveries, demolished for the sake of urban sprawl.

**Note From Administrator - 27/11/09**

I would like to express my apologies to all of those who frequent this site as it has not been updated since October and a number of events have been missed. This is largely due to the fact that I have been out of the country for the last little while and did not have consistent online access to update the site. Over the next few days I will be bringing the website back up to date so please visit frequently to get caught up on anything that you might have been missed. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

**Update from Administrator - 30/11/09**

"In the press" section has been updated, the rest of the site should be done in a day or two.

NEW EVENTS!!

THIS JUST IN ------RICHMOND HILL TOWN COUNCIL PASSES DUNLAP DESIGNATION BYLAW - SEE "LATEST NEWS" FOR DETAILS.

SIGN THE BRYON WILFERT PETITION

Bryon Wilfert, Member of Parliment for Richmond Hill has begun an online petition to request the property owner Metrus to allow the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board to evaluate the property for designation as a National Historic Site. To sign the petition please follow the links below:

http://www.petitiononline.com/rh200908/petition.html

If the link above does not work you can access the petition through Mr. Wilferts website by clicking on the David Dunlap Observatory Icon on the bottom left of the page:

http://www.bryonwilfert.ca/?q=content/welcome

LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN

From The David Dunlap Observatory Defenders:
If you believe the David Dunlap Observatory and Park should be saved as a natural park, heritage site and a working observatory for research and public education, please write a short letter to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Culture, and other Members of Provincial Parliament at the addresses below.
The time is critical as we await the decisions and recommendations from The Conservation Review Board (CRB) of Ontario.
Please send your letters as soon as possible via email, fax, mail. It is imperative the provincial government receive as many letters as possible indicating the wishes of the people regarding this urgent situation affecting our local community, our province and our country.
We must act NOW before it's too late.
This land and these buildings are our cultural heritage, Ontario's cultural heritage and Canada's cultural heritage. They must be protected as part of the history of our young country and the culture of York Region.
The Ontario provincial government must designate 100 per cent of this land as a Significant Cultural Heritage Landscape to protect it from any development.
This urban green space is our natural heritage and necessary for the health and well being of the area, surrounding Southern York Region and GTA. It consists of 189 acres that serve as a natural air purifier and carbon sink for Richmond Hill and the wider GTA area. It should be included in the Green Belt Expansion similar to Boyd Park in Woodbridge.
The tone of your letter should be forceful but respectful and no longer than one page.

Please share this request with at least 4 other people you know and ask them to write their own letters to the addresses below and have them share it with 4 others - this will ensure the circle continues to widen.
Thank you,
Karen Cilevitz – Chairperson.

ADDRESSES
Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier,
Legislative Building,
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Fax: 416-325-3745
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture,
900 Bay St., 5th Floor,
Mowat Block,
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2
Fax: 416-325-1726
acarroll.mpp@liberal.ola.org

For a complete list of MPP’s, click on link below – you may send your letter to any and/or all MPPs you wish:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en

Some specific possibilities:

Andrea Horwath MPP, Leader of NDP,
101 Richmond St. East,
Toronto, ON   M5C 1N9
Fax: 416-599-4820
ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca

Julia Munro MPP, PC Critic of Culture and Heritage,
Legislative Building,
Queen's Park,
Toronto, ON   M7A 1A1
Fax: 416 325 3392
julia.munro@pc.ola.org

Hon. John Gerretson MPP, Minister of Environment,
12th floor, 135 St. Clair Ave West,
Toronto, ON M4V 1P5
Fax: 416-314-7337
minister.moe@ontario.ca

Hon. Stephen Harper, Office of the Prime Minister,
80 Wellington St.,
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
pm@pm.gc.ca

DONATE TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND!!!!!

The Richmond Hill Naturalists are fighting the good fight and they need more that courage in this effort.....they need legal advice.....and legal advise means money. Savetheddo.org has donate $100.00 to date and we are asking that everyone donate whatever they can to help out the RHN. Please follow the link below and make a donation.

LINK: http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/save-the-observatory/donate/

WHAT THE DDO COULD BE!

Savetheddo.org supports the idea of the DDO becoming a community observatory....what does this mean? Luckily we don't have to explain it because there a number of examples from around the world that could show us what an incredible asset to the community the DDO could be if our leaders have the will to make it happen. Please visit the links below and feel free to dream.

The Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

http://www.griffithobs.org/

The Cincinnati Observatory Center

http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/

The Stardom Observatory, New Zealand

http://www.stardome.org.nz/

The Observatory Science Centre, England

http://www.the-observatory.org/default.html

****TOM BOLTON'S VISION*****

Directly from our successful rally at the DDO on February 9th, 2008, here is a video of Tom Bolton's vision of what the DDO should become.

LINK:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7acKj-DB2Ak

Sign the Online Petition

The Richmond Hill Naturalists continue to collect e-signatures on their online petition. We at SavetheDDO.org encourage you to show your support and sign online!

Also, you can do more than just put your name, you can post comments, stories about the DDO, and share with everyone why you think we should save this landmark.