This may of interest to folks on the list, if they haven't seen it already.
Forwarded on behalf of Erik Swyngedouw.

Best,
Farhana


*re**:**No dismissal for reseacher Barbara Van Dyck! Geen ontslag voor
onderzoekster en activiste Barbara van Dyck! please sign and spread.*

/On Friday June 3th 2011, the Catholic University of Leuven sacked
researcher Barbara Van Dyck because of her public support for the
actions of Field Liberation Front in the context of an action against a
genetically modified potato field in Wetteren, Belgium on Sunday May
29^th . Whether one agrees with the aim and tactic of this action, the
sanction is isproportionate and a breach of academic freedom and freedom
of speech. We appeal to academics worldwide to resist this dismissal and
to sign this open letter. /

*No dismissal for reseacher Barbara Van Dyck!*

On Friday June 3th we learned that Barbara Van Dyck was sacked because
of her solidarity with the activists of the Field Liberation Movement in
the context of an action against a test field with genetically modified
organism's (gmo's), in this case potato's, in Wetteren on May 29^th . We
are shocked by this sanction, because it is disproportionate and a
breach of labour law and the principle of academic freedom and freedom
of speech.

Barbara Van Dyck participated in the action in Wetteren during her
private time (on a Sunday) and not during service. Moreover she is not
discharged for committed actions or trespassing, but because of her
solidarity with the activists and her public support for their actions.
We question the reasons of the University to dismiss her.

With this disproportionate sanction, which boils down to /Berufsverbot/,
the University breaches one of the core values that are central in her
own mission statements: academic freedom. We like to remind the
authorities that academic freedom does not only imply the possibility to
do independent research, but also the individual freedom of the academic
to 'take a critical stance towards certain tendencies or parts of
society. This individual freedom is the corner stone of our academic
identity' (rector speech opening academic year 2003[iii]
<#1305ab0d23b757e7__edn3>[i]). A similar reasoning we find in the UNESCO
recommendations, par. 26: 'all higher-education teaching personnel
should enjoy freedom of thought, conscience (.) They should not be
hindered or impeded in exercising their civil rights as citizens,
including the right to contribute to social change through freely
expressing their opinion (.). They should not suffer any penalties
simply because of the exercise of such rights.'[iv]
<#1305ab0d23b757e7__edn4>[ii]

Moreover the university breaches the democratic basic right that is
foundational to our society: freedom of speech. By discharging a
researcher for her sympathies with this action, the K.U/Leuven inscribes
itself in a new climate of criminalisation of activism and even the
criminalisation of sympathy for activism. She is sanctioned for her open
sympathies and solidarity with the Field Liberation front, not for her
deeds.

One has not to agree with the target and tactics of the action to
recognize its broader social relevance: what is socially just and
ecologically sustainable agriculture? Which role gmo's play in this and
how do we spread research finances in a equitable way over different
options? The narrowing down of this action as a deed of violence, shifts
the attention from a most necessary social debate. The presence of
scientists in both camps proves that also within the scientific
community there is no consensus on the necessity and value of gmo's.

We call on the university authorities to keep its trust in critical
reflection and the social commitment of its researchers. We request this
dismissal to be withdrawn. We call upon the personnel of the KULeuven
and the international academic community tot protest against this
discharge. This case has ramifications that surpass the individual case
of Barbara Van Dijck, as it is about the future of science (and its link
with industry), the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech.

/Please sign the petition at:/

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/petitie-tegen-ontslag-barbara-van-dyck/



/or send a mail with name, title and affiliation to : /

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[i] <#1305ab0d23b757e7__ednref1>[i] Openingstoespraak Rector Oosterlinck
Academiejaar 2003-2004

[ii] <#1305ab0d23b757e7__ednref2>[ii] Recommendation concerning the
Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, UNESCO, 11/11/97

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[iii] <#1305ab0d23b757e7__ednref3>[i] Rector Oosterlinck Opening speech
2003-2004

[iv] <#1305ab0d23b757e7__ednref4>[ii] Recommendation concerning the
Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, UNESCO, 11/11/97