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Call to Set Up a Nanotech Arab Body (5/21/09) |
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June 06, 2009 |
Participants at an expert meeting on ethics of nanotechnologies in the Arab region, which was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Cairo and Doha offices and took place from May 18-19 in Doha, Qatar, called for the creation of an Arab council and for the topic to become part of the international political agenda. Forty participants from different regions of the world were invited to provide answers and exchange views on the ethical dimensions of nanotechnology and the implications on Arab states
. Mukhles Sowwan of Al-Quds University, set forth a proposal for establishing an Arab Council on Nanotechnology (ACON), saying that "[T]he mission of ACON should be to raise awareness of the benefits and dangers of molecular nanotechnology, and assist in the creation and implementation of comprehensive balanced plans for responsible use of this technology." Sowwan discussed the many potential benefits of nanotechnology such as solutions for water shortages and infectious diseases, but added that the risks "...include unstable arms race on account of horrifically effective weapons, criminal and terrorist use because of small and hard to detect equipment, environmental damage or health risks from unregulated products, black market in molecular nanotechnology, and economic and social problems due to cheap products, inflated prices and change of lifestyle." Other experts called for military use of nanotechnology to be put on the international political agenda. The article can be viewed online at the link below.
The original article may still be available at www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=291882&a...
http://www.merid.org/NDN/more.php?id=1922
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