[E-rundbrief] Info 260 - Nanotechnology and NanoGeoPolitics
Matthias Reichl
mareichl at ping.at
Fr Jul 29 00:39:11 CEST 2005
E-Rundbrief - Info 260 - ETC-Group: Press release on Nanotechnology and
NanoGeoPolitics at the G8-Summit. Civil society proposal to create a UN
International Convention for the Evaluation of New Technologies (ICENT).
Strategies against New Nano Economic Order. ETC-Brochure on Nanotechnology.
Additional Informations see also E-Rundbrief-Infos 198, 216 and 250!
Bad Ischl, 29.7.2005
Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
www.begegnungszentrum.at
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Nanotechnology and NanoGeoPolitics at the G8-Summit
Thursday, 28 July 2005
News Release
www.etcgroup.org
ETC Group today releases a new 48-page report on the geopolitics of
nanotechnology. NanoGeoPolitics, offers an in-depth survey of the current
state of nanotechnology policy debates ranging from regulatory initiatives
to social dialogues and from G8 statements to CSO activism (civil society).
ETC describes three main approaches being adopted by nano players: the
so-called optimists, realists, and skeptics. Seven current issues/areas of
rapid change and ample controversy are also discussed, including efforts to
develop nanotech standards, safety protocols, the role of nano-ethicists
and public relations firms, and more. In conclusion, ETC Group puts forward
a civil society proposal to create a UN International Convention for the
Evaluation of New Technologies (ICENT).
The full text of the 48-page report, with original cartoons by Reymond
Page, is available on the ETC Group website in PDF format: www.etcgroup.org
Summary:
At the Gleneagles Summit earlier this month, the G(whiz)8 saw 'More
Science' as the South's solution to poverty and global warming. Behind the
scenes, the leading nano nations are rushing to set the rules for global
nanotechnology governance.
Issue: Fearful that nanotech may face the same fate as biotech crops, the
G8 used their Gleneagles summit to promote "new technologies" (including
nanotech and biotech) as the magic bullet to "make poverty history" and to
neutralize global warming. By hinting at the possibility of billions for
science capacity-building in the South, the North hopes to make allies of
South governments, scientists, development NGOs, and environmentalists.
Meanwhile, the real action is behind the scenes where various
government/industry and scientific institutions are rushing to negotiate
what the EU hopes will become a nanotech "code of conduct"(but, in light of
US opposition may turn into a "framework of shared principles") and lay
down the global standards, regulations, and market modus operandi for the
greatest industrial revolution society has ever (not) seen coming. Social
policy is being replaced by science policy. In this Communique, ETC Group
reviews the emerging nanogeopolitics landscape.
Impact: According to industry, nanotechnology will contribute to a
commercial market exceeding $1 trillion by 2011 and $2.6 trillion (15% of
global manufacturing output) by 2014 - 10 times biotech and equaling the
combined informatics and telecom industries. OECD countries - convinced
that technological convergence at the nano-scale is the "future" - are in
an all-out race to secure economic advantage: health and environmental
considerations are secondary; socioeconomic impacts will have to wait;
regulations, if they can't be avoided, must be voluntary to keep the train
speeding from lab to marketplace on track. By some industry estimates, the
die will have been cast for the strategic shape of a New Nano Economic
Order within the next 12 to 24 months.
Fora: In keeping with the G8's pro-poor science push, the European
Commission in Brussels hosted a second meeting to consider a draft Code of
Conduct / Framework of Shared Principles for nanotechnology. In march-step,
the OECD is conducting meetings in Paris to hammer out a global regulatory
approach to address nano's unresolved (and increasingly worrisome) health
and environmental issues. Only the Macro-South (i.e., Brazil, China,
India, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, etc.) usually
attend these closed-door nano policy-setting meetings. To date, the UN and
its specialized agencies have been sidelined. If all South governments hope
to have a say in this technological upheaval, the role of converging
technologies should be discussed during the Millennium Development Goals
Assessment in New York Sept. 14-16 and by each of the specialized UN
agencies as soon as possible.
Policies: With public confidence in both private and government science at
an all-time low, full societal dialogue on nano-scale technological
convergence is critical. It is not for scientists to "educate" the public
but for society to determine the goals and processes for the technologies
they finance. There is no need for a sui generis (and inevitably voluntary)
code of conduct for nanotech, but there is need for a much broader and
legally-binding International Convention for the Evaluation of New
Technologies (ICENT). South governments negotiating commodity and
manufacturing trade-offs at the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong in December
will be asked to give away sovereignty in exchange for market access for
raw materials or finished goods that may quickly become irrelevant with
nanotechnology's development.
For more information:
Pat Mooney: etc at etcgroup.org Ottawa, ON (Canada) +1 613 241-2267
Hope Shand: hope at etcgroup.org Carrboro, NC (USA) +1 919 960-5767
Kathy Jo Wetter: kjo at etcgroup.org Carrboro, NC (USA) +1 919 960-5223
Silvia Ribeiro: silvia at etcgroup.org Mexico City (Mexico) +52 5555 6326 64
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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Bad Ischl,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX
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