People inside and outside Britain might be interested in the following statement
made by the British Academy. I guess this can be taken either as an attempt to
allow equal opprtunities for all, or perhaps to prevent campaigns that support
the struggle of discriminated people in certain countries. Archaeologists have
in the past been actively involved in this particular debate - think for
example of WAC in Southampton and the boycott towards Southafrican academics. I
suppose there will be lots of different opinions but I find it interesting that
the Brit Ac feels the need to make an official statement. Sounds either very
noble or very suspect.
Cheers,
Umberto
12th June 2007
British Academy restates opposition to academic boycotts
Academic boycotts inimical to the research enterprise
For more than twenty years the British Academy has made clear its opposition
to academic boycotts. It supports free academic interchange, global
collaboration and participation in scholarly activity, without regard to
race, religion, political philosophy, ethnic origin, citizenship, language
and sex.
The Academy, as a member of the HYPERLINK
"http://email.britac.ac.uk/_act/link.php?mId=A815779761610100141686&tId=1117
303"International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies
(IHRNASS) , indicates its full support of the Network’s statement published
in the scientific journal 'Nature' on 13 June 2002.
The text of the statement includes the following:
"The International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies
was created to address grave issues of science and human rights throughout
the world. It aims to put into practice the professional duty of scientists
and scholars to assist those colleagues whose human rights have been - or
are threatened to be - infringed and to promote and protect the independence
of academies and scholarly societies worldwide. The basis of the network's
activities is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The network seeks to promote the free exchange of ideas and opinions among
scientists and scholars in all countries and, thereby, to stimulate the
development of collaborative educational, research and human-rights
endeavours within academies and the institutions with which they are
affiliated.
Moratoria on scientific exchanges based on nationality, race, sex, language,
religion, opinion and similar factors thwart the networks goals. They would
deny our colleagues their rights to freedom of opinion and expression;
interfere with their ability to exercise their bona fide academic freedoms;
inhibit the free circulation of scientists and scientific ideas; and impose
unjust punishment. They would also be an impediment to the instrumental role
played by scientists and scholars in the promotion of peace and human
rights.”
----- End forwarded message -----
--
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
For Archaeologists for Global Justice (AGJ) see:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/global-justice.html
"There is no way to peace. Peace IS the way".
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