Science and the European Elections
sciencepunk | June 5, 2009The REACHforLIFE campaign has appealed for incoming MEPs to ensure science takes centre stage during their five year term. The organisation, comprising of chemical companies Albemarle, Chemtura and ICL-IP, has a stated aim to tackle mistrust of science and move toward a balanced approach in applying sound scientific evidence in the EU decision-making process. Spokesman Willem Hofland said:
Sound science, particularly when obtained through the EU's official risk assessments, should be paramount in any forthcoming EU legislation. Hence, whils we look to congratulate all new and returning…
sciencepunk | June 1, 2009Holford Watch, the esteemed health blog praised by the Guardian, Telegraph, Private Eye and House of Commons amongst others, have released a long and detailed examination of the Green Party's health policies, from concerns over mercury fillings to dependence on the NHS:
A number of aspects of the manifesto are strikingly flawed, to the point of being offensive. Many people rely on the NHS - and for a serious party to come up with a health policy this bad is frankly insulting.The manifesto insists (HE103) that
Health services can create dependence on the part of users, which is itself…
sciencepunk | June 1, 2009The Guardian Science blog were kind enough to allow Martin of LayScience.net and myself to write up an article on science and the European elections:
On Thursday, millions of us will go to the polls to decide how Britain is represented in the European Parliament, but few will have the faintest idea where the candidates stand on issues that affect the food we eat, the air we breathe, the energy in our homes and the chemicals in our environment.Science is at the heart of our modern world, and it deserves to be at the heart of political discussion too.
Link
sciencepunk | June 1, 2009Science blogger and researcher Gimpy has been unravelling the thought process behind the Green's proposal to ban the import / export of all genetically modified organisms:
For those readers unfamiliar with modern biological research, much work involves the use of cells, bacteria or higher organisms whose DNA has been modified to remove, add or mutate genes. Researchers regularly exchange these genetically modified organisms between labs, across borders and continents, as science is essentially a collaborative activity. Preventing the use and exchange of these organisms would effectively end…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009Reader romunov has made an excellent observation about support of science in their native Slovenia:
If you look at the budget for 2009 of Slovenia (only in Slovenian) you will notice that there is little (ok, no) mention of scholarships for natural sciences by responsible Ministries. There are, however, predicted 50.732,00 ⬠for scholarships for study of law by the Faculty of law. I fail to see how we need to encourage study of law, given that this faculty receives a lion's share of new souls each year.
How do you think the UK compares against this? How do scholarships available for the…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009
The European Elections are taking place this week, when millions of people will go to the polls to decide how they are represented in Europe. The European Parliament is a stage on which countless battles are played out, influencing aspects of our economy, law, judiciary, technology, environment, trade, culture, immigration, research, education, and many more. However, in the lead up to the elections, European politics have been eclipsed by the furore over our own MPs' expenses. Those who with an appetite for political debate over Europe have been forced to subsist on the amuse-bouches of…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009This entry is part of the Science and the European Election series, a collaboration between SciencePunk and the Lay Scientist blog to encourage public discussion of the science policies of the major parties standing at the forthcoming European elections.
In 2007, The REACH act came into force, addressing the potential harm to humans and the environment of all chemicals imported to and manufactured in the EU. Critics point out that this will require a significant increase in animal testing. How will you balance these concerns with the need to assess the safety of chemicals in our food and…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009This entry is part of the Science and the European Election series, a collaboration between SciencePunk and the Lay Scientist blog to encourage public discussion of the science policies of the major parties standing at the forthcoming European elections.
It has been said that there are serious incompatibilities between member states on regulations governing stem cell research. How will you work to resolve these differences?
Tim Worstall, UKIP:
We wouldn't work to resolve such differences. The balancing of moral issues involved in something like embryonic stem cell research is properly a…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009This entry is part of the Science and the European Election series, a collaboration between SciencePunk and the Lay Scientist blog to encourage public discussion of the science policies of the major parties standing at the forthcoming European elections.
Although the EU distributes billions in research funding, the results are often locked in pay-for-access journals. How will you improve open access to publicly-funded research findings?
Tim Worstall, UKIP:
A typical result of the EU's misguided thinking. Public subsidies for research are justified on the basis that science itself is a public…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009This entry is part of the Science and the European Election series, a collaboration between SciencePunk and the Lay Scientist blog to encourage public discussion of the science policies of the major parties standing at the forthcoming European elections.
Currently the EU imports over half of its energy. Recent disputes between Russia and it neighbours have highlighted Europe's precarious dependency on these imports. What are your proposals for increasing energy security?
Tim Worstall, UKIP:
Supply security of any product or input is achieved by widening the network of suppliers. We achieve…
sciencepunk | May 31, 2009This entry is part of the Science and the European Election series, a collaboration between SciencePunk and the Lay Scientist blog to encourage public discussion of the science policies of the major parties standing at the forthcoming European elections.
Recently a ship chartered by the British offices of a Dutch petroleum company illegally dumped tonnes of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast. The European Commission has proposed the creation of criminal sentences for "ecological crimes" - do you support this action?
Tim Worstall, UKIP:
Absolutely not. We've been told endlessly that the European…