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With friends like Tony Blair, science doesn't need enemies. Blair defines science in terms of political positions. So far as he is concerned if you worry about Genetically Modified organisms and the government's cavalier approach to the planting and dissemination of GM organisms, you are anti science. This approach will further deepen young people's distrust of science. He bundles all sorts of points of view together. On the contrary, you can be a scientist, support animal experimentation where it is of real benefit to humanity and oppose the planting of more GM crops. If he wants more young people to take up maths, physics and engineering, then he and his ministers will stop attacking Higher Education and start keeping their promises. Abolishing fees and restoring grants wouldn't be a bad start. Getting rid of SATS (testing) for 8 year olds (and the rest) would also help. And by the way, you don't need to use GM organisms to produce 'Frankenstein Foods'. Just wander down the high street into a fast food chain. Malcolm Povey _________________________ Malcolm JW Povey Reader in the Physics of Food Procter Department of Food Science University of Leeds LEEDS LS2 9JT tel: +44 (113) 343 2963 fax: +44 (113) 343 2982 http://www.food.leeds.ac.uk/mp.htm __________________________ |-----Original Message----- |From: psci-com: on the public understanding of science |[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Boddington |Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 10:13 AM |To: [log in to unmask] |Subject: Blair condemns protesters who thwart science | | |An article in yesterday's Times newspaper gave Tony Blair's |views on a number of science issues. In brief, Blair: | |* promises to break down the "anti- science fashion" in Britain |* claims he will never give way to misguided protesters who |stand in the way of medical and economic advance |* says "It is time to speak up for science" |* says it is time to end to the air of suspicion and mistrust |that sometimes surrounded the work of scientists and the |misplaced fears and ignorance it often generated |* promises to continue increasing investment in research and |development |* he wants to persuade more young people to take up |mathematics, physics and engineering at school and university | |The Times noted: "The Prime Minister is privately furious at |the actions of protesters which have resulted in work being |held up on research into genetically modified foods, and at |disruption that could threaten a neurological research project |in Cambridge aimed at helping sufferers of Alzheimer's |disease. He is angry over the regular description of GM foods |as "Frankenstein foods", and at the way science was blamed for |the BSE emergency. "BSE was not caused by bad science but by |bad practices," he said." | |Full article at |http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-|301724,00.html | |but you will need to register | |=== |Evaluation Associates |Elms Court, Botley, Oxford, UK, OX2 9LP |Tel: +44 (0) 1865 727070 Fax: +44 (0) 8700 561464 |Email: [log in to unmask] Web: www.evaluation.co.uk | |********************************************************************** | |1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for |example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the |following message: | |set psci-com nomail | |2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: | |set psci-com mail | |3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] |with the message: | |leave psci-com | |4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, |including list archive, can be found at the list web site: |http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html | |5. The psci-com |gateway to internet resources on science communication and |science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk |********************************************************************** | ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: set psci-com mail 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk **********************************************************************