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WHAT'S NEW IN INES? |
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No.44/2001 |
Dateline: November 9, 2001 |
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This is the weekly electronic information service of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility
Editor: Tobias Damjanov, e-mail:
WNII is archived at: http://inesglobal.org/archive.htm
INES homepages: http://inesglobal.org http://www.inesglobal.com/
INES International Office
INES Chair: Prof. Armin Tenner [Please note that the first "1" in q18 is the number one, while the last "l" is an "L"]
CONTENTS of WNII No. 44/2001
MEMBERSHIP AND PROJECTS' NEWS
Berlin Appeal "For Civilisation Not Retaliation - Only justice will bring lasting peace"
The German INES member organisation Scientists' Initiative Responsibility for Peace and Sustainability was one of the sponsoring organisations* of the Conference "Against Terror - Against War. Non-violent Alternatives to the Chain of Violence", which took place at Berlin on 3 October. The outcome of this conference is outlined in the above-mentioned Berlin Appeal which, after identifying six "traps of terror", elaborates eight "Principles for Peace, the Future and Security". The document is available in English or in German from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment.
*The other organisations are the German sections of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), as well as the Institute for Peace and Democracy "Pax Forum" for the Culture of Peace.
Military Uses of Microsystem Technologies: Dangers and Preventive Arms Control (Münster: agenda, 2001 [ISBN 3-89688-119-1]) http://www.ep3.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/bvp/fonassr2.html
This is the title of a new book written by Jürgen Altmann, member of the German INES member organisation Scientists' Initiative Responsibility for Peace and Sustainability.
Microsystem technologies (MST) are similar to microelectronics, but use mechanical, optical, chemical etc. principles, providing sensors, actuators, and information-processing capabilities. Research and development is underway for implants in the human body and for autonomous mini/micro robots. High-technology armed forces want to use MST in many ways: from smart materials and sensor nets, via centimetre-size power engines and guidance systems for munitions, to micro robots and electronically controlled insects for surveillance and attack.
The book applies the concept of preventive arms control to MST. Military applications of MST are presented. Dangers which they would entail - for international treaties, military stability, civilian society - are discussed. Considering civilian benefits of MST, preventive limits are recommended in certain areas.
Chapters: Introduction / Overview of Microsystem Technologies / Military Efforts for MST / Potential Military Applications of Microsystem Technologies / Some Strategic Considerations / Assessment of Military Applications under Criteria of Preventive Arms Control / Possibility and Design of Limitations / Conclusions and Recommendations
USA: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF), The Sunflower, No. 54, November 2001
Back issues: http://www.wagingpeace.org/sf/backissues.html Events are listed at: http://www.wagingpeace.org/calendar/events_current.html
The November issue of The Sunflower covers the following:
To read "The Sunflower", please send an email to Carah Lynn Ong, Director of Research and Publications: < >
or goto: http://www.wagingpeace.org/sf/index.html (The newsletter is also now available in pdf format online)
SPECIAL SECTION ON US MISSILE DEFENCE POLICY
Draft proposal: World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons
The US-based Institute for Cooperation in Space (ICIS) has recently published a draft proposal for a World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons which you can find at: http://www.peaceinspace.com/WORLDTREATY.htm
Additionally, ICIS has made available very useful and informative "Frequently Asked Questions and Talking Points" on the issue in general which are available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment. (You can also find them through ICIS' website: http://www.peaceinspace.com )
These publications are politically linked to US Senator Kucinich's legislative initiative to introduce a Congressional Bill to Ban Space-based Weapons the Space Preservation Act of 2001 HR 2977 - which you can find at: http://www.house.gov/kucinich/action/peace.htm
(The text of this Bill is also available from the WNII Editor as a PDF-formatted email attachment.)
Abolition 2000 homepage: http://www.abolition2000.org Grassroots News: http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/news/
Nuclear Weapons in a Changed World: The Hidden Dangers of the Rush to War
This is the title of the "Emergency Information Bulletin" (Fall 2001) of the US-based Western States Legal Foundation (WSLF). It contains the following sections:
The Bulletin is directly downloadable in PDF format at: http://www.wslfweb.org/dos/nukesincontext.pdf or from the WSLF homepage: http://www.wslfweb.org link to Document Library (left side of page) or Documents and Publications (right side of page)
"Equity for a Small Planet"
On 12 and 13 November, the UK-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) hosts a major international conference 'Equity for a Small Planet'. In preparation for the event, IIED has produced the second booklet in 'The Future is Now' series, which focuses on preparations for the Johannesburg Summit.
The subjects tackled in this booklet outline some of the most significant contexts for sustainable development. They address particular situations, but have more generally applicable lessons and questions. And they raise a number of critical challenges which should underpin whatever comes out of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The booklet is available online at: http://www.iied.org/pdf/tfin_Volume2.pdf
Dashboard of Sustainability http://esl.jrc.it/dc/
Agenda 21 was at the origin of this Dashboard, which was also presented at the UN CSD-9 in April 2001. It offers to you about 50 Sustainable Development indicators for over 100 countries.
The current version includes:
* http://www.weforum.org created by the WEF Global Leaders for Tomorrow Environment Task Force (CIESIN): http://www.ciesin.org/indicators/ESI/
Feedback and links to the site are welcome. We are also working on the implementation of urban and regional indices - if you are interested, and have a data set, contact me.
Jochen Jesinghaus < > European Commission, Joint Research Centre
Disarmament Diplomacy No. 60, September 2001 http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd60/index.htm
UNIDIR "disarmament forum" three/2001
"Education for Disarmament" is the subject of this year's third issue of"disarmament forum" which is published by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research. It carries the following articles:
Articles are published in English and French. UNIDIR "disarmament forum" four/2001 is available online at: http://www.unog.ch/unidir/e-df1-3.html The texts are available in PDF format. For a print copy: mailto:
UNIDIR "disarmament forum" four/2001
"Revolution in Military Affairs" is the subject of this year's last issue of "disarmament forum" which is published by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research. It carries the following articles:
Articles are published in English and French. UNIDIR "disarmament forum" four/2001 is available online at: http://www.unog.ch/unidir/e-df1-4.html . The texts are available in PDF format. For a print copy: mailto:
Sunshine Project USA: Sign letter to change US bioweapons policy
From: Edward Hammond < >
This is a call for citizen action to encourage sensible US policy on biological weapons control. The events of September 11th and their aftermath have dramatically underscored the need for better international controls on biological weapons. International negotiations to achieve this are at a critical juncture.
US diplomats are presently rejecting international measures to verify compliance with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The US is not only refusing to cooperate, but as the agreement approached consensus the US began to actively block the rest of the world from adopting it.
The Bioweapons Convention is the world's best treaty protection against development of biological weapons. Without a verification agreement, the Bioweapons Convention will remain toothless and the world a more dangerous place.
So far, international diplomatic protests have not been effective. Public pressure is urgently needed to bring the Bush administration to its senses. Biological weapons control cannot be a secretive concern of elite government officials. Policy failures require citizen involvement. A new e-mail action at the Sunshine Project website enables anyone to write US Secretary of State Colin Powell and members of the US Congress to urge them to immediately send diplomats back to the bioweapons negotiating table with clear orders to quickly complete the Verification Protocol.
Take action! You can make a difference. To send your letter, please visit: http://www.sunshine-project.org/action/powell.nclk
Call for a Ban on the Genetic Alteration of Pathogens for Destructive Purposes (From Francis A. Boyle , Professor of International Law at University of Illinois College of Law, USA < >)
The recent use of the US Postal Service to disseminate anthrax-contaminated mail underscores a more general threat to people worldwide brought about by the perversion of the biological sciences to cause harm through the deliberate spread of disease.* This is the moment to outlaw all destructive applications of genetic engineering.
We call on the United States to immediately halt all projects designed to genetically modify naturally occurring organisms for military purposes.
We call on the States Parties to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention to extend the Convention's ban to cover all genetic modification of biological agents for military purposes. Since the line between offense and defense in this context is thin to non-existent, there should be no loopholes for "defense." Genetic modification of pathogens for development of vaccines or other medical purposes should be carried out in civilian laboratories and under strict international controls.
Finally, we call on the United States to support a Protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention to assure strict compliance with the terms of the Convention both by states and by individuals and sub-state organizations.
Initially signed by:
*Several developed countries, including the United States, have initiated projects aimed at genetically engineering pathogenic and other microbes for military purposes. Military-sponsored projects include:
These projects are being justified under the terms of the Biological Weapons Convention as necessary for "defense." Far from providing defense, these projects open up the possibility of more dangerous forms of biological warfare against which there is no defense. They also undermine the Convention both because the actual motives for these projects are highly ambiguous (if a country were to withdraw from the Biological Weapons Convention, their projects would have direct offensive applications) and because they will stimulate similar projects elsewhere in the world.
No new or changed email or web addresses in this issue. All INES e-mail addresses and homepages are available upon request from:
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