Call to Set Up a Nanotech Arab Body

Summary posted by Meridian on 5/21/2009
Source: Gulf Times
Author: Bonnie James

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 (http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12784&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html). 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.

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our team contact us site map	Call to Set Up a Nanotech Arab Body Summary posted by Meridian on 5/21/2009 Source: Gulf Times Author: Bonnie James 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 (http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12784&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html). 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... As tagged by Meridian Institute: Health And Medical: Diseases Implications: Human Enhancement, Military Applications, Human Health Risks, Worker Safety, Governance, Environmental Risks, Ethics, Socio-Economic Effects Nanomaterials: Carbon Nanoparticle, Metal Nanoparticle, Naturally Occurring Regions: Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) Stakeholders: Government, Industry, NGO, Academia, International Institutions Water And Sanitation: Quantity Related Forums: Health and Medical Water and Sanitation Human Health Risks and Worker Safety Environmental Risks Socio-Economic Governance Ethics print format	NDN Home Subscribe Manage Subscription Search News Archives Understanding Public Debate on Nanotechnologies: Options for Framing Public Policy -- The Innovation Society (2/8/2010) The Governance and Ethics Unit of the Directorate General for Research (DG Research) of the European Commission (EC) has published an overview paper on options for framing public policy on nanotechnologies. [More] UN Patent Filings Dropped for 1st Time Since 1978 -- ABC news (2/8/2010) The United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an entity through which a company can, for a fee, file a request for patent protection in any or all of the 142 countries that have subscribed to the U.N.'s Patent Cooperation Treaty, reported that the number of international patent filings dropped last year for the first time since 1978. [More] TECHNOLOGY: Science Panel Probes Renewable Energy's Current Use of China's Rare Metals -- Environment & Energy Daily (2/8/2010) A United States House of Representatives Science and Technology subcommittee this week will hold a hearing on rare earth mineral production and the resource's role in the growing clean energy industry. [More] Nanofood for Thought -- Nature Nanotechnology (2/5/2010) This editorial, in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, is in response to the recent report, "Nanotechnologies and Food", released in January by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, United Kingdom, that criticized the food industry for failing to be transparent about its research into the uses of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. [More] More News... Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here. Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.