Summary of Discussions
Forgotten or suppressed issues. The topic of the discussions in working
group 5 was New Technologies for Human Development and Security.
In the first session it was suggested that the topic of the working
group be changed to Risks and Threats of New Technologies: Identifying
Crucial Forgotten and Suppressed Issues. The argument behind this
suggestion was that the working group title left out a crucial issue:
that technologies can be a source of new problems.
Downside impact of nanotechnology. The commissioned paper on nanotechnology
recommended that Pugwash consider endorsing the call of other groups
and organisations for a moratorium on certain types of research into
molecular and atomic engineering, specifically research into self-replicating
and self-assembling "nanomachines," to allow for adequate
reflection and debate. The call for such a moratorium was motivated
by a range of concerns about the possible social, health and environmental
impacts of such technology, most importantly, in terms of Pugwash
tradition, the potential emergence of a new category of weapons of
mass destruction.
The paper gave rise to a vigorous discussion. Some participants contested
the description of the present and potential nature of these technologies.
The adequateness of the proposed moratorium was questioned.
The grassroots scientist. Three presented papers discussed the links
between science, technology and grassroots issues. A clear distinction
between science and technology was emphasised. Science differs from
technology with regard to the norms guiding its practitioners. Also
the driving forces behind science and technology are different. Science
is curiosity driven. Special -- commercial or military -- interests
are usually the impulse to technological production. It was believed
that grassroots problems currently seem forgotten by mainstream science
and technology. The idea of the grassroots scientist emerged. This
concept refers to a person who uses the scientific approach to grassroots
issues. It was mentioned that scientists should be better trained
in analysing complex systems and thinking in new ways.
GMOs and food security. A paper presented on the effects of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) on food security of developing countries
stated that more attention should be paid to international attempts
to regulate and mitigate the risks of GMO-technologies following the
example of the Cartagena protocol on biosafety and the International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
It was argued that the role of profit oriented research and development
on techno-scientific 'progress' and its ability to address human security
issues be addressed.
AIDS as a security issue. A presented paper advanced the argument
that the already known characteristics of the present (southern African)
and impending waves of HIV/AIDS pandemic indicated novel and grave
threats to global security. Noting the unsatisfactory record to date,
it explained how this situation had come about and suggested that
there was a precise and urgent task of definition and analysis that
was prerequisite to more successful policy to combat the pandemic.
Security consequences for the "next waves" of HIV/AIDS countries
were outlined, and concrete scenarios regarding Nigeria, Ethiopia,
Russia, India and China given. Most immediately, Nigeria and Ethiopia
will be the hardest hit with the social and economic impact, as they
have the highest 2010 estimates of adult prevalence rates: 18 - 26
% for Nigeria and 19-27 % for Ethiopia. Both countries are key to
regional stability, have important geo-strategic implications
(west African oil, for example) and the rise of HIV/AIDS will strain
their governments, as that of Zimbabwe already is being strained.
Health and sustainable development. A paper dealing with the complexity
of nutrition in health, disease and sustainable development was put
forward. It dealt largely with two of the top-10 world health risks,
malnutrition and obesity, and aimed at providing some insight into
and understanding of these pathologies. The paper concluded that health
is not an isolated problem, but one of environmental, societal and
global concern; humans need healthy environments in which to live
in order to be healthy themselves. Robbing communities and nations
of their greatest wealth -- the health of their people -- drains the
human and institutional capacities that fuel sustainable development.
Myths of ICTs. Two papers on information and communication technologies
(ICTs) were presented and discussed. Myths related to ICTs were pointed
out, e.g. that the use of mobile phones per se offer the poor in developing
countries crucial information that will help them or that information
transmitted through the internet (e-newspapers etc.) helps us make
more rational choices.
Concerns were raised about the 'scientific positivism' currently
surrounding ICTs inside and outside scientific communities. It was
generally agreed that ICT does have impacts, of course, but that their
depth as well as their nature was still not well analysed, and gave
no grounds for complacent assumptions such as the presented paper
challenged. In discussion, some argued that the manner in which the
two-edged sword of ICT might cut depended less upon the technology,
more upon the context in which these technologies are used. It was
suggested that this is a common feature of all technologies.
Of positive effect of ICT, it was put forward that ICTs might potentially
facilitate the rise and / or growth of social movements and hence
promotion of their aims (e.g. public awareness of the nuclear threat).
The life-saving roles of modern telecommunications, for example in
surgery, were described. On the downside of ICTs the group was alerted
by the potential risks that accidental disclosure or surveillance
pose to human security and privacy, in particular as a consequence
of the war against terrorism. This was in turn countered by noting
the reassurance which comes from a capacity to track individuals in
circumstances of criminality.
Recommendations to Pugwash
An important theme underlying the paper-discussions was recommendations
for future Pugwash activities related to new technologies. Many potential
areas of concern for Pugwash emanate from the application of new technologies.
Even though many of these issues have implications for human development
and security, Pugwash cannot take on all of them. The group considered
criteria that could be used to select the issues for Pugwash to take
up. It concluded that Pugwash must be able to add value to or 'tip
the balance' on such issues. Meeting the security criterion is axiomatic
in selecting issues for action by Pugwash. Some specific guidelines
were identified:
a) If science or technology creates a circumstance that poses potential
threats to global / human security then we, as scientists, have a
responsibility to do something about it.
b) If a complex problem is emerging, or a simple problem has to be
looked at in a complex context, and engagement with it is not possible
without thinking in a new way.
c) If new technologies are required to deal with a problem.
d) If issues are systematically forgotten or suppressed.
The issue of what constitutes the target group of Pugwash endeavours
was raised. There was general agreement on the principle: "horses
for courses;" a principle historically well rehearsed. Pugwash's
audience is, for some causes, decision-makers; for other causes the
general public is the target group.
Based on a careful consideration of the various issues raised in
the papers presented, followed by the application of the guidelines
mentioned above, the group made three recommendations:
1) A Pugwash focussed study group entitled "Threats without
enemies: security implications of 21st century health problems"
should be established. Pugwash will set up an expert forum where the
visibility and potential impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic upon global
security will be analysed by experts from different disciplines, who
will then formulate policy support advice for decision-makers. The
model in mind is that of the successful series of focussed meetings
on intervention and sovereignty.
This recommendation fulfils criteria b), c) and d). Health issues
are very complex, and connected to environmental, societal and global
concerns. The fact that no one else is doing something similar supports
setting up the proposed Pugwash focussed study group.
2) A working group at the next year's Pugwash conference in South
Korea on the topic "Early warning and preventive action on emerging
technologies" should be established. Topics within such a working
group could be: the character of the early warning institutions, and
the scientific analysis of examples of potential threats from emerging
technologies - downside consequences of nanotechnology, biomedical
technology etc., and security and privacy issues related to ICTs (Echelon
etc.). The analysis should include contextual aspects (commercial,
religious, and ideological etc.) surrounding emerging technologies,
as well as account for the epistemological and historical meta-assumptions
on which they are built.
There was agreement in the group that this recommendation fulfils
criteria a), b), and d).
3) Put on the Pugwash agenda a consideration of "a new relation
between science and grassroots."
This recommendation fulfils criteria b), c), and d). Understanding
of and solutions to grassroots problems were considered forgotten
issues within mainstream science and technology. Discussions of this
topic need to be initiated.
