Tobacco Documents Online

1S/00 '9J 17:54 $32 2 2878069 P.M.C.S BRUSSELS ®00J/012 HEIDELIBE$G AYt'k:AL TO HEADS Ok' STATES AND GOVERNMENTS On the elosurs oVf t/te Rio Su/emtt, tbe 1aLawe.tig Appeal nw.a signed by 425 members ef the seienttJts awd fntelieetaal mme+unity. 4Y~e auf~/act matter .oised by the lfeidelberg wppea1 and tl.e ftuit}Li debate it Aas engendered are prosapting the tbuolaamant of a number of scientists and tntelleetaa/s. The aaGus entbraeed by the Appeal remain a topic o/'ongoina iaterewt. We want to mekn.our full contribution ta thee p~_ ation of uur common heritage, thee i'We are however worried, at the dawn of the Ewenty-Hrst century, at the.emergence of an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and induatsial progress and, impudes economirand scdal development. We contend that at Natural State, sometimes idealised by movements with a tendeney to look toward the past, does nut exist and has probably never existed since man's first appearance in the bie8phere, insofar as humanity has always progressed by increasingly harnessingNalure to its nesds and not the reverse. We fully subscribe to the objectives of a scientific ecoingy for a universe whosa resouroes must be taken stnck of, monitored and preserved. But we herewith demand that this stodc- talung, monitoring and preservation be founded on scientific criteria and not on irrational pre-rooceptions. W e ntress that many essential human activitios uro carried outt either by manipulating hazardous substances or in their proximity, and that progress and development have always involved intrrcasiug wnJtol over hostile fpras, to the bcacBt of maaleind We therefore consider that scientific ecology is no moee th21f rl11 6xtension of this cuntiuuul pragresss toward the improved life of lirtute generations. We intend to assert soence's responsibility and duties toward society as a whole - We do however forewarn the authorities in charge of our planet's destiny against decisions which are snpported by pseudo- scienti5c arguments or fayaa and non raLvantdata W e draw everybody's atteutinn to the sbsolutsnecessity of helping poor countries attain a lavd of sustainable development which marrbes that of the rest of the plapet, protecting them from troubles and dangers stemming from developed nations, and avoiding their entanglement in a web of unrealistic obligations which would compromise both their independence and their dignity. The greatest evils which stalk our Earth are gaor anee and opprescion, and not Soence,. Technology and Industry whose instruments, when adequately managed, ara indiepensable tools of a future shaped by Hnmanity, by itself and foritself, overcoming major problems like oaerpopulatfon, starvation and worldwidee diaessesi te.vJs (er yan eu/ee es bs i.elyded es dRwetw.li.e, p'ee.. erty. n w.r mq.,/rhr Appeal daly.fpat sadylrca'rke rwr uunlxauc /ffJee wd/wpreksrwmi panbmt tD : . Dr dL Salnwmt mordinatnrryf tl.rlteidd&3 AppesS to; am.w ds 1lfarinr 7500U 1ro.~i., Franre, Yar (JS) 142119 0059 I Nr..IdL.,s AWA 14 LYrd muaios/