Tobacco Documents Online

18/03 "es 18:01 Qa2 2 287808s P.M.C.S BRUSSELS +++ FTR Neuchatel CH fbO0s/012 HLIDEr.BERG ANYHAL TO EIEADS OF STATES AND GOVFJMMEN'i'S on the ctosure q/ the Rfo SWS7m3t, sba f*IlowAPpeat was signed by d25 membsrs of rAs iaiaitiJtrc and tntaAeetwrl eomnuntt,y. Ths t mattar „alnd by Me Hetdetberg Appeal and the fruitAel debate it has argsndered are prompt3hg the innoluenent of a nrunber of seientuts and iRtellertuaLr. The values embroced by the Appead rei„a#u a tople of oagoin,g iatcre st. We want to maka uur full contribution to the preservation of uur common h,eritage, the Rarth. We are however worried, at the dawn of the twenty-8rst century, at tlue amergenee of an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and iAdustrial progress and, i,upedr.,y economic and social development. We contend that a Natural State, sometisates idealized by movements with a tgndaney to look toward the past, doos nut exist and has probably never existed since man's first appearance in the biosphere, insofar as humanity has always progressed by increasingly harnessing Nature Lu its needs and not the reverse. W e fully subscribe to the objeetives of a scientific ecology for a universe whose resources must be taken stock of, monitored and preserved. lSut we herewith demand that this stoetc- taking, monitoring and preservation be founded on 6tientiQc criteria and not on irrational pre-canceptfions. W u stress that many essential human activii,ies urc earried out either by manipulating hasardous subatancea or in their proximity, and that progres6 and dovclopmcnt have always involved increasing cuntrol over hostile forces, to the lx:ncfit of mankiad. We intend to assert science's re~spansibility and duties tow~d society as a whd. . We do however forewnrn the authorities in c"e of our planet's destiny against decisions which are supported by prtudo- seientii3ic arguments or false and non relevant data. W e draw everybody's atteution to the absolute• necessity of helping poor countries attain a level of sustainabte development which matches that of the rest of the plap_et, 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 ignorance and oppression, and not Science. Technology and Industry whoae instrumenta, whean adequately managed, are indispensable tools of a future sha~ed by Humanity, by itaelf and for itself, overcoming major problems like overpopulation, starvation and worldwide diaeOses. We thr.refnre consider that scientific ecology is 1io lnuee thai! Ati extknsion of this wutiuuaL prugras toward the improved life of future generations. 1 K w*r /'tM yvvr nome Zo be blClrsded ola .4twtw'e list, pbraw twtw n a..r Lvpy 4 thr Appsul duty s,igaedc wat stntNft.-uvr aoair++s+c Wln orul/ ur prafenwnal po:ttia,e, to : Dr 1K Salom+on. coordinator (f the IleidelDerg Appeol. !0. auewye de Mcssiae 7SOtJ8 Pori s. Frarcc, b ax (33) 14? R9 0 59. Mw+wlLrrj ANrd 14 (Yrd rr.ui.rinnJ