Yes, the worldwide military establishment is probably the largest emitter of 
greenhouse gases, toxic chemicals, and nuclear waste.  It is also the greatest 
threat to human security and civil liberties.  The corruption of academia is 
part of this threat.

John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Langley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 7:05 AM
Subject: Defence Technology Strategy - 2006



Dear members of Crisis Forum

I should like to add my small voice to that of Steve Wright - I wonder if a 
rather more relevant topic might bring the attention of those going to Crisis 
Forum to just where the crises today actually reside?  Is not climate change and 
its impact a crisis deserving the attention of us in the science and engineering 
community? It's surely not in the minutae of angels on a pin's head and the talk 
of the last several postings on science education surely, but in thinking about 
what science should be directed at?  Perhaps the little item below might trigger 
some interesting observations?

This week saw the launch of the Ministry of Defence's Defence Technology 
Strategy (DTS) which was set in train by the Defence Industrial Strategy of 
2005.  The DTS was launched by the Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord 
Drayson, and sadly continues the tradition of basing the national security 
agenda of the UK on high technology weapons systems and their support platforms. 
The DTS comprises 192 pages of managementspeak and glossy pictures which sets 
the scene for some new 'initiatives' including more military sector involvement 
with universities, more military-based training of science and technology 
students including a doctoral research scheme to be run in partnership with the 
Defence Science & Technology Laboratory and military corporations with 
'interested' universities - to start in summer 2007 and the MoD working with the 
Royal Society to offer doctoral support for those keen to pursue military 
research,  the scheme to be in train by the winter of 2006.



All in all the DTS drives military R&D evermore into the universities, with a 
nod to civilian utility and technology transfer somewhere down the line.  This 
without a second glance at understanding conflict, climate change or 
biodiversity loss or reducing the global reliance upon weapons of mass 
destruction.  The military corporations voice is heard throughout the majority 
of the 192 pages.  Let's use crisis forum to look at places like this to make a 
difference?



The DTS is available on the web at the following address.



http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/ScienceandTechnologyPublications/SITDocuments/DefenceTechnologyStrategy2006.htm



 All the best



Chris Langley