NationStates Jolt Archive

Just submitted repeal of #2 "Scientific freedom" and a new proposal "Scientific Security Act". FInd cited below the #2 to be repealed, the repeal argument, and the new proposal. Please comment. Delegates, please approve.

**************************************************************************************************** ****

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION #2
Scientific Freedom

A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild

Proposed by: Genius

Description: The people of Genius have long stood for Scientific freedom. By ensuring that peaceful and responsible scientists can research by their own accord, and in any nation they please, technology will move forward, and trade will increase.


Presented to the Assembly of the United Nations on twenty-second day of November in the year two thousand and two, Common Era. By the representative and leader of Genius:

Chris Meyers
The Aboolot
Protector of Genius
Defender of Freedom
Friend of the Free Realms

Votes For: 3,075
Votes Against: 1,336

Implemented: Thu Dec 26 2002

**************************************************************************************************** **

Repeal "Scientific Freedom"

A proposal to repeal a previously passed resolution

Category: Repeal
Resolution: #2

Proposed by: Tarnak-talaan

Description: UN Resolution #2: Scientific Freedom (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Mild) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: "Scientific Freedom" strives to eliminate all barriers, including moral and ethic ones, from the development and spread of science. In our opinion, there should be limitations to the forwarding of science, especially where sensitive matters such as nuclear technology, genetic manipulation, time travel and so on are concerned.

Furthermore, by establishing "Scientific Freedom" as law in all UN member states, the souvereignity of said member states, regarding intellectual property rights, are endangered.

****************************************************************************************************

NEW PROPOSAL:

Scientific Security Act

A resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets.

Category: International Security
Strength: Significant

Proposed by: Tarnak-talaan

Description: CONSIDERING the vast potential of scientific development

OBSERVING that in the past, said potential was frequently invoked to promote developments ultimately leading to desastreous consequences

RECOGNIZING the immense pressure of responsibility for all parties involved in the development of science that could potentially lead to said consequences

RECALLING equivalent concerns already adressed in UN resolution #75 "The Nuclear Terrorism Act" and in the repeal of UN resolution #2 "Scientific Freedom"

the United Nations resolve to impose sensible limitations to the spread of sensitive-matter scientific development.

Definitions:

The United Nations acknowledge the following subjects of scientific development to fall into the category of "sensitive-matter" developments:

- weapons and other means of mass destruction
- genetic manipulation, cloning and breeding of sencient species
- manipulation of and travelling in time

All member nations are encouraged to submit further subjects of scientific development they deem "sensitive-matter"

The United Nations impose the following restrictions upon the spread of sensitive-matter scientific developments as defined above:

1. To ensure transparency in current developments, relevant information shall be exchanged between nations exclusively at officially called professional conferences, fairs, congresses etc. under the chairmanship of the UN and with public access.

2. Nations involved in relevant developments report to a specialized UN commitee on a regular basis and under the warranty of non-disclosure to any third parties.

3. Exemptions from article 1 have to be sanctioned by said commitee.

4. Under no circumstances may relevant information or technology be transfered to a nation which by the UN has been defined as a "rogue nation"

When this was last brought up my objections were the same as they are now. The current resolution says there is no limit on what science can research. The suggested replacement does not say there are no limits - it only places limits on sensative subject matter for research.

It does not mention other research, and it does not protect it or prohibit it.

So in the case of some medical research, research that could show that the government of a specific nation is maltreating it's people and so on, the government could easily forbid this research and continue to abuse it's people.


And some research that seems dangerous can lead to very useful things. In TilEnca the x-ray was discovered by accident - an accident in a labratory. But now it is used a lot.

I can't deny there are somethings I think my scientists should not be investigating - that they can easily be used for ill as well as for good. But that is the same for every discovery. If I start restricting what they can and can't do because I think it is dangerous, or because any nation thinks it is dangerous, then science will be set back to the dark ages and we might as well stop researching anything at all.

Dude... remove some of those asterisks... yer breaking mah page...

People keep missing this - the original resolution simply says "By ensuring that peaceful and responsible scientists can research by their own accord, and in any nation they please, technology will move forward, and trade will increase."

Note that only the freedoms of "peaceful and responsible" research are protected - if your government deems research to be irresponsible (perhaps ethically irresponsible) or non-pacifistic, it is free to prohibit that research.

In fact, the wording of the original resolution means it doesn't even force you to protect the freedom to research of peaceful and responsible scientists. It says what will happen if we protect those freedoms, and reads as a recommendation to member nations, not an order.

Therefore, it isn't a problem.

People keep missing this - the original resolution simply says "By ensuring that peaceful and responsible scientists can research by their own accord, and in any nation they please, technology will move forward, and trade will increase."

Note that only the freedoms of "peaceful and responsible" research are protected - if your government deems research to be irresponsible (perhaps ethically irresponsible) or non-pacifistic, it is free to prohibit that research.

In fact, the wording of the original resolution means it doesn't even force you to protect the freedom to research of peaceful and responsible scientists. It says what will happen if we protect those freedoms, and reads as a recommendation to member nations, not an order.

Therefore, it isn't a problem.

Sorry - I am a bit of a loss here. Are you suggesting we don't repeal the scientific freedom proposal, because it doesn't really do anything?

My problem with the new proposal is that it limits scientific development, and it attempts to make moral judgements as to what can and can not be researched.

My problem with the new proposal is that it limits scientific development, and it attempts to make moral judgements as to what can and can not be researched.
We agree. You do not have our support.

Lady Desdemona of Merwell,
Senior UN representative,
The Black New World,
Delegate to The Order of The Valiant States

We agree. You do not have our support.

Lady Desdemona of Merwell,
Senior UN representative,
The Black New World,
Delegate to The Order of The Valiant States

(smirk)
I take it you mean the proposal, and not me?

Don't make me wipe that smirk of your face, dear.

Lady Desdemona of Merwell,
Senior UN representative,
The Black New World

Don't make me wipe that smirk of your face, dear.

Lady Desdemona of Merwell,
Senior UN representative,
The Black New World

My apologies Lady.

I think I can forgive you. Providing you bring refreshments to my next party.

Lady Desdemona of Merwell,
Senior UN representative,
The Black New World

Sorry - I am a bit of a loss here. Are you suggesting we don't repeal the scientific freedom proposal, because it doesn't really do anything?

I'm saying keep it, because it basically says the UN endorses scientific freedom in general, but doesn't force any unreasonable action. So yes, effectively you are correct.

Sorry everyone, that I could not reply earlier. As to the intentions of our Proposal:

First: the repeal is necessary in our estimation, since #2 says absolutely nothing about how it can be ensured that scientific development in sensitive areas are not distributed wildly and uncontroled, and yes, we propose that a certain amount of control is necessary for SOME matters.

Second: It is the intention of the replacement proposal NOT to put any restrictions on scientific research EXCEPT that on sensitive matters which are explicitely defined by the resolution itself. It is also NOT the intention to prohibit research on any matter at all in any one nation. What SHALL be restricted is the widespread distribution of research results between nations, because sensitive-matter research is exactly what the name implies: of a SENSITIVE (i.e. potentially dangerous) matter. This is also in NO CASE any moral judgement upon the matters at hand. The matters explicitely defined possess - objectively - the inherent potential of danger. If anyone cares, I can explain said potential for any of the three types of scientific matter defined as sensitive by the proposal.

By ensuring that peaceful and responsible scientists can research by their own accord, and in any nation they please, technology will move forward, and trade will increase.

In ANY nation they please?

Of course, peaceful and responsible are rather subjective terms, so we could probably get out of this resolution too :-P