** European Seminar on Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies being
held on June 11th in Brussels - European Parliament. **
***REGISTER NOW***
On 11 June 2003 you are invited to join leading civil society experts
as well as a cross-party group of MEP's for a groundbreaking conference
in the European Parliament in Brussels to address the societal, ethical,
health and environmental implications of Nanotechnology.
Please find below the latest details of this European Seminar on
Nanoetchnology and Converging Technologies, including an agenda and some
background on the speakers. This conference is free to public, civil
society groups, policymakers and the media however, due to the security
requirements of the European parliament is essential that you register
beforehand. If you decide that you would like to register please send
the following information to [log in to unmask]:
- your name
- your date of birth (this is neccessary in order to obtain a security
pass for the Parliament)
- your home address (this is neccessary in order to obtain a security
passfor the Parliament)
- Your job title / area of work
- any special access or language needs you have
- contact details including email.
About Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology, the manipulation of atoms and molecules, is set to
become the defining technology of the new century. By rebuilding nature
atom by atom and exploiting the properties of quantum physics,scientists
are
engineering novel materials and biomechanical devices placing
unprecedented industrial power in the hands of some of the worlds
largest companies and the military.
Current global spending on nanotech (public and private) is in excess of
US$4 billion and rising. Over 30 national governments have now launched
nanoscience initiatives, with Europe, USA and Japan competing for the
lead.
An estimated five hundred nanotech companies are active throughout
Europe, North America and Asia including leading transnationals such as
BASF, L’ Oreal, Bayer, Exxon, IBM and Hewlett Packard. Their nanotech
particles are
already used in cosmetics, clothing, windows, sports goods and
amunitions.By 2015 global nanotech-related sales are predicted to exceed
$1 trillion per year (US National Science Foundation) with all sectors
of the economy being
affected - from electronics and computing, defence and weaponry to
energy,agriculture, pharmaceuticals, fabrics and cosmetics.
Like nuclear power, computing and genetic engineering before it, the
ability to atomically modify matter - both living and non-living - will
alter our societies, our economies and even our sense of ourselves. The
nanotech
revolution, however, is currently evolving quietly beneath the radar
screens of government regulators and the public alike. No regulatory
body has taken the lead to ensure that nanotech applications are safe
and many of the hard
questions have not yet been asked: Who will control nanotechnology? Who
will determine the research agenda and who will benefit from nano-scale
technologies? What mischief can synthetic nanoparticles create floating
around in our ecosystem, our food supply and in our bodies? What happens
when human-made nanoparticles are small enough to slip past our immune
systems and enter living cells? What might be the socioeconomic impacts
of
this new industrial revolution? How will countries in the South be
affected? How will the poor, excluded and disabled be affected? Should
governments apply the Precautionary Principle?
About the conference:
On June 11, 2003 a range of parliamentarians and expert speakers will
describe the current state of nanotechnology, examine its risks and
promises and propose steps toward regulating this powerful new
technology. Speakers
at this groundbreaking seminar will include well known Indian ecologist
and physicist Dr Vandana Shiva, leading UK toxicologist Dr Vyvyan
Howard, arms control expert Dr Jurgen Altmann and civil society speakers
from Greenpeace and ETC Group including Right Livelihood Award winner
Pat Mooney. The seminar is intended for policy makers and civil servants
from European institutions and national governments as well as for
representatives of
civil society and the media. It is sponsored by ETC Group, Greenpeace,
Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Genewatch UK, Clean Production Action and
The Greens in the European Parliament.
On June 12 there will also be a smaller private meeting for civil
society organisations only to discuss the implications of
nanotechnology. if you represent a civil society group and are
interested in attending this second day contact [log in to unmask]
When and Where:
Wednesday June 11th 2003 - Draft Agenda
10.30 am - Press Conference in The European Parliament.
Room ASP 1E2 of the European Parliament, Rue Wiertz (Metro: Trone or
Maelbeek) in Brussels. To begin at 1.45 p.m.
Agenda:
13:45 Registration at the European Parliament ASP building rue Wiertz,
Brussels
14:00 Welcome and introductory remarks by Dr Yves Pietrasanta MEP
(Greens, France, Vice Chair ITRE committee of EP)
PANEL I chaired by MEP Eryl McNally
14.15 What is Nanotechnology - an overview. Hope Shand (ETC Group)
14.55 Nanoparticles, nanomaterials and toxicity concerns - Dr Vyvyan
Howard (University of Liverpool)
15.15 The current approach of the European Union to Nanotechnology
Research and Development - Dr Renzo Tomellini (European Commission - DG
Research)
15.30 Implications for the Developing World - Dr Vandana Shiva (Research
Foundation on Science and Technology, India)
15.50 Questions
16.00 - Coffee break
PANEL II chaired by MEP tba.
16.15 Implications of Nanotechnology for Security and Disarmament. Dr
Juergen Altman (University of Dortmund)
16.35 Are there policy lessons from previous technology controversies?:
Nuclear, Chemicals, GMO's. Dr Doug Parr (Greenpeace)
16.55 Implications of technological convergence for trade, economies and
employment. Pat Mooney (ETC Group)
17.15 Questions
17.30 Implications for Policymakers - Reflections on the presentations
by Anders Wijkman MEP (EPP, Sweden), Caroline Lucas MEP (UK, Greens),
Eryl McNally MEP (UK, Labour) and panel discussion with all speakers.
Chaired by Caroline Lucas MEP
18.15 pm Closing remarks by Dr Yves Pietrasanta MEP.
About the speakers:
Patron: Dr Yves Pietrasanta, MEP - Greens/EFA - Dr Pietrasanta is a
chemist by training and also one of France’s leading environmentalists,
founder of l’ Institut Francais de l’Environnement (IFEN) of which he is
Honorary
President. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Industry,
External Trade, Research and Energy in the European Parliament.
Eryl McNally, MEP ? UK Labour/Socialist ? Eryl Mc Nally is senior
Vice-President of the Scientific and Technological Options Assessment
(STOA) panel within the European Parliament. She is also a full member
of the
Committee for Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy,
co-ordinator on this committee for the Party of European Socialists as
well as substitute Member of the Committee for Women's Rights and Equal
Opportunities. She
takes a leading in interest on questions of technology, renewable energy
and the environment within the Parliament and is President of the
European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources.
Dr Anders Wijkman, MEP - Christian Democrats - Dr Wijkman is currently
Vice Chairman of the Committee on Development and Cooperation and sits
on the Committee for Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy. He
is a former Secretary General of the Swedish Society for Nature
Conservation, Swedish Red Cross and was Assistant UN Secretary-General,
Head of Policy at the UN Development Programme and a member of the
influential Club of Rome. He is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of
Sciences.
Dr Caroline Lucas, MEP - Greens/EFA - Dr Lucas is an expert in trade and
development issues. She is a member of the Committee for Industry,
External Trade, Research and Energy, the Environment Committee and the
Committee for Regional Policy and Transport as well as Intergroups on
Peace Issues and Consumer Affairs.
Dr Renzo Tomellini is head of the unit responsible for Nanosciences and
Nanotechnologies in the European Commission (DG Research) that is a
priority area within the 6th Framework Programme. He is a person of
contact
concerning nanotechnology research in the European Union. A Chemist by
training, he has deposited 4 patent applications, published some 45
articles, drafted 4 standards on analysis and measurements, edited 11
books,
created one newsletter and 2 webpages, and realised 2 films (a third one
is currently in realisation) on science and research issues.
Pat Roy Mooney - ETC Group. Pat Mooney is Founder and Executive Director
of ETC Group and past recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (the
"alternative Nobel Prize"). He has written extensively on the impact of
converging
technologies on society, culture and democracy.
Dr Vandana Shiva - Internationally renowned ecologist and physicist from
India. Dr. Shiva is also a former Right Livelihood Award recipient. Dr
Shiva is Founder and Executive Director of The Research Foundation On
Science and
Technology, which offers a Southern perspective on new technologies and
development.
Dr Juergen Altman - University of Dortmund. Dr Altman is an
international expert on disarmament policy and the leading commentator
on the implications for peace and security of military nanotech
applications, present and
future.
Dr Vyvyan Howard - University of Liverpool. Dr Howard is a toxicologist
and immediate past president of the Royal Microscopy Society (UK). He is
co-editor of the first collection of scientific papers to address the
toxicity of nanoparticles and a leading worldwide expert on the matter.
Dr Doug Parr - Greenpeace. A chemist by training Dr Parr is chief
scientific advisor to Greenpeace UK. He has had a long involvement in
science and technology policy issues including nuclear power, chemicals
policy and GM
foods. He is responsible for Greenpeace’s tracking of nanotechnology
issues.
Hope Shand - ETC Group. Research Director and principal author of "The
Big Down" ? a recent civil society report providing an introduction to
nanotechnology.
Accommodation:
Delegates are asked to book their own accommodation for the duration of
the conference. However, we are currently looking into affordable and
well-situated options and will send a list of hotels as soon as
possible.
We are looking forward to what will be a dynamic and important event in
terms of understanding this emerging technology and its implications. We
already have about half of spaces filled with delegates from across
Europe and from a wide range of civil society, governmental and policy
perspectives. If you know of any other individuals or organisations that
you think might be interested in participating, please let me know, or
feel free to forward this email.
This event is free however it is necessary to register in advance.
Please send the information mentioned at the top of this email in order
to register fully. If you represent a civil society organization that is
unable to
afford travel or find accommodation in Brussels there is a very small
budget available for travel assistance. Please do contact me for more
information about this.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Rosie Harford and Jim Thomas
European Programme, ETC Group
(Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration)
www.etcgroup.org
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
ETC Group
c/o The Ethical Property Company,
9 Park End Street
Oxford, Oxfordshire
OX1 1HH,
England.
phone: +44 (0)1865 207818
mobile:+44 (0)7752 106806
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