[MLB-WIRELESS] Ok guys, here's one I reckon is worth signing, so feel free :)

[Matt Pearce]

The last thing we need on this list is politics, its gets bad enough already
!!

Matt.

ps.  How did this make it onto our list ??


----- Original Message -----
From: "wenster lollipop" <w_lollipop at yahoo.com>
To: "Adam - Tiller of the land" <adamt at PsychCentre.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 11:18 AM
Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] Ok guys, here's one I reckon is worth signing, so
feel free :)


>
>
>
>
> "Protest against call for European boycott of academic
> and cultural ties with Israel
>
> On April 6, The Guardian published an open letter
> signed by 120 University professors (90 from the UK)
> calling for a moratorium on cultural and research
> links with Israel at a European or national level
> "unless and until Israel abides by UN resolutions and
> opens serious peace negotiations with the
> Palestinians, along the lines proposed in many peace
> plans..."
>
> We, the undersigned, hereby unequivocally condemn this
> call for a European boycott of research and cultural
> links with Israel.
>
> Whereas we hold diverse political views with respect
> to the past and current policies of the Israeli
> government, and whereas we recognize the right of
> individuals and concerned citizens in Israel and
> abroad, to openly express their opinions regarding the
> tragic and devastating events of recent months, we are
> united in our condemnation of this unprecendented call
> by European scholars to suspend European-Israeli
> academic and cultural ties.
>
>
> Our reasons for opposing the proposed initiative
> include:
> A moratorium on scientific and cultural cooperation
> with any group of scholars is diametrically opposed to
> the concept of freedom in the conduct of science, one
> of the most basic principles of scientific ethics.
> Restricting academic ties between European and Israeli
> scholars to advance particular political goals
> diminishes the spirit of open collaborative scientific
> scholarship. Science and research become hostages to
> political agendas or moral outrage and the human value
> of both endeavors is belittled.
> The proposed boycott is an improper and immoral act of
> collective punishment, unworthy of colleagues in
> European academic communities.
> A unilateral boycott of Israeli academics unfairly
> identifies Israel as the only party responsible for
> the violent shift in Israeli-Palestinian relations and
> ignores ongoing attacks against innocent Israeli
> citizens. Such an one-sided perspective is contrary to
> academic standards of truth-seeking.
> Many European-funded programs have explicitly aimed at
> enhancing scientific cooperation between Israelis,
> Palestinians and Arab scholars. Joint research
> projects -- for example, in water resource management,
> cancer treatment, desalination, and regional disease
> eradication -- have continued undeterred throughout
> the months of the Intifada. Other European programs
> have provided important frameworks for Middle East
> scholars to meet in "neutral" settings outside the
> region, to discuss academic topics of mutual interest,
> and to build informal interpersonal ties, thus helping
> to counter years of accumulated misunderstanding and
> animosity. Freezing Israeli access to, and
> participation in, such programs would neither end the
> violence nor promote meaningful dialogue. It would
> damage these important frameworks and undermine the
> benefits to research.
> Democratic academic communities around the world,
> especially in Israel, consist of individuals who
> openly question and challenge the world-views of
> governments and their representatives. To boycott
> Israeli academics would endanger the democratic values
> and respect for human rights this community works hard
> to foster. The moratorium would castigate the very
> people whose contributions are so needed during these
> troubled times.
>
> In short, we think that the call to place a moratorium
> on scientific and cultural relations between Israel
> and Europe diminishes our ability and common
> responsibility to promote collaboration between the
> two peoples and to further the cause of knowledge,
> progress and peace. "
>
>
> To read more or to sign the petition, checkout
>
> http://euroisrael.huji.ac.il/
>
>
>
> For those not currently affiliated with a "tertiary"
> institution, or even (the shock! the horror!) without
> that little bit of paper known as a 'degree' or hisher
> school certificate, if you would like to sign the
> petition, perhaps put "The Universal Institute of
> Generalised Studies, Australia", or some such.
>
> I am slightly annoyed that the petition seems to be
> oriented towards 'academics' only, although it feels
> good to for once be treated as someone 'in the world'
> rather than the ususal 'Why don't you get into *the
> real world*'. (!)
>
> I feel it would have been appropriate to provide two
> lists which could be signed - one for those who
> consider themselves to be "practising" academics with
> current 'university' ties, and another for those who
> fully support the petition, but who are otherwise
> occupied.
> This way it is clear that on the one hand that since
> it is a call for an "academic" boycott, that it is
> first and primarily those who consider themselves
> 'academics' who must take responsibility for it, but
> on the other hand, it also allows the many many others
> who may see this is an important and  relevant issue
> to provide support. Anyway that's my 2 cents.
>
> lmkwyt   (let me know what you think)
>
> Wendy
>
>
>
> I am sending a comment to this effect to the helpful
> "comments and letters of support" link. (hehe dunno
> where I would send a letter of dis-support, but hey!)
>
>
> =====
> -the lord is my shepherd, I shall not want - aum namah shivayam -
> allah akhbar -
>           - in memoriam for the people of all nations killed in Bali -
>
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> - Send your seasons greetings online this year!
>
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