CHALLENGES; Peace, Environment and Responsibility Congress
Dietmar Seifert
International Congress of Scientists and Engineers
C H A L L E N G E S
Science and Peace in a Rapidly Changing Environment
Berlin (Germany), 29. November - 1. December 1991
Program (Status 10. July 1991)
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Statement of Intent and Invitation
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The rapid changes in our environment and our societies are forcing us to
become more conscious of our role on this planet. Science and technology
are fueling a worldwide competition for military and economic power. The
effects of this competition have reached global dimensions. We have
entered a phase in which global human developments are in conflict with
basic requirements for human survival. Large stocks of weapons for mass
destruction, the overuse of common resources and a heavily unbalanced
world economy endanger the survival of many people or even humankind in
general. The arms race, hunger, poverty and environmental destruction are
the reasons for growing conflicts and wars throughout the world.
The roots of these developments point to deeper causes:
- the role of aggression and consciousness in the evolution of life
- the difficulties of balancing competition with cooperation
- the role of religions and perceptions.
Scientists and engineers are trained to look for rational answers and
solutions. They take their pride in the excellence of their work and in
the optimisation of results in their special fields. It is the aim of this
Congress to go beyond the professional specialisation and to explore some
of the callenges, which we face as a species, challenges originating from
the arms race and environmental problems.
We have to learn how to
- avoid using wars for solving conflicts
- understand and support the delicate balancing mechanisms of the
biosphere
- deal with unforessen consequences of technology and to make a
responsible use of scientific knowledge.
Many of the problems we are faced with in the application of science and
technology are connected to an inadequacy or conflict of values. This
Congress will try to address profoundly the aspects of morality and ETHICS
IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Ethics is seen here as an invitation to work
together towards common survival on earth. It respects the rights of
others and acknowledges different cultural perspectives.
Finally this International Congress will provide directions and
encouragement for practical steps. The Congress will bring together
experts of the issuses raised as well as scientists and engineers from
many fields, woh primarily want information for further engagement. It is
the multidisciplinary approach the Congress will foster that the synergy
of different approaches bears fruit.
The Congress stands in the tradition of two international congresses "Ways
out of the arms race" (Hamburg 1986, London 1988). It is the rapid change
in our environment which has led to the broadening of scope.
We invite you to join us in Berlin.
Prof. Ferdinand Hucho (co-chairmen of the International
Prof. Hartwig Spitzer Program Committee)
Friday, November 29
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16:00 - 18:00 Plenary Session
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Opening and welcome addresses
Manfred Erhardt, Senator for Science and Research, Berlin
Wolfgang Neef, Vicepresident of the Technical University, Berlin
Science, innovation, and arms proliferation
John Holdren, USA
The ability and limits of ecosystems to bounce back after
catastrophes
Wolf-Dieter Grossmann, Germany
Science and ethics
Christiane Floyd, Austria
20:00 Public event
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The Soviet Union and Europe in transition
Anatoly Sobtchak, Major of Leningrad, USSR
The development of Africa
Julius Nyerere, Tanzania (not yet confirmed)
The military burden of the world and global priorities
Eduard Schewardnadse, Former Foreign Minister, USSR
Sustainable development and environmental challenges
Maneka Gandhi, India (not yet confirmed)
Moderator: Ernst-Ulrich von Weizsaecker, Germany
Saturday, November 30
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9:00 - 12:30 Working groups (see attached list)
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13:30 - 15:00 Poster session
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Research groups and initiatives present themselves
15:00 - 16:30 Continuation of working groups
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17:00 - 18:00 Parallel presentations "From vision to action" on topics
of sections A - C
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A: Contribution of independent analysts and activists to disarmament
and conversion of military resources
Frank von Hippel, USA
B: Projects of the alternative Nobel Prize
Jakob von Uexkull, UK
C: Between chaos and order - interdisciplinary and sciency policy
challenges in view of the critical state of biosphere
Guenter Altner, Germany
19:00 Multicultural event
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in the main building of the Humboldt University
Literary Evening "Science and Responsibility",
Concert "One World - or nothing",
Classical Concert,
"Das Mandelbaumtor" (Berliner Companie)
"Jazz Makers"
Disco
Sunday, December 1
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9:00 - 12:30 Closing session
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Science and society
Sergej Kapitza, USSR
Elements of a new world order
Johan Galtung, Norway
Global environmental priorities
N.N.
The Middle East situation and the challenges of nonviolence
Abdul Aziz Said, USA
Summary
Hans-Peter-Duerr, Germany
Working Groups
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The working groups are meant to provide in depth topical information
and a forum for discussion and mutual exchange. We therefore aim at
ralatively small group sizes (15-30 participants on the average).
A) Disarmament and Conversion of Military Resources
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a) Prospects for disarmament
A1) Towards a comprehensive nuclear test ban
Convenor (C): Rebecca Johnson, UK
A2) Towards a verified total ban of biological and chemical weapons
C: Dieter Meissner, Germany
A3) Remote sensing for arms control and environmental monitoring
C: Patricia Lewis, UK
A4) Ongoing weapons programs and the goal of general and complete
disarmament
C: Frank Barnaby, UK
A5) New cooperative ways of verification of arms reductions
C: Juergen Altmann, Germany
b) Conversion and disposal
A6) Conversion of military industries and research
C: Josephine Stein, USA; Gunnar Bengtsson, Sweden
A7) Disposal of military equipment, conversion of military sites and
reintegration of demobilized military personnel
C: Petra Opitz, Germany; Eduard Jakovlev, USSR
A8) Problems of disposal of spent reactor fuel and fissile material
from nuclear weapons
C: Frank von Hippel, USA
c) Challenges - old and new
A9) Mechanisms and risks of nuclear proliferation and the future of the
Non-Proliferation-Treaty
C: Mario Vadacchino, Italy; IANUS-group, Germany
A10) Arms export and local conflicts
C: Paul Walker, USA
A11) Missile proliferation and missile arms control
C: Goetz Neuneck, Germany; Juergen Scheffran, Germany
A12) Multifunctional technologies as a problem of military research and
development, arms control and verification
C: Angelika Brinkmann, Germany
A13) Computerized and electronic warfare
(organized by FIFF)
C: Helga Genrich, Germany; Joseph Weizenbaum, USA
d) Towards common security
A14) The future security architecture of Europe
C: Peter Deak, Hungary
A15) Prospects of arms control in the Mideast
C: Ezmat Ezz, Egypt; N.N., Israel
A16) Towards common security - world wide
C: Corinna Hauswedell, Germany; Lazlo Valki, Hungary
B) Environmental Problems and Ways towards a Sustainable Development
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a) Ecological sustainability as a guiding principle for economies
B1) An ecologically sustainable economy: strategy and implementation
C: Wolf-Dieter Grossmann, Germany
B2) How can we make traffic compatible with social and environmental
needs?
C: Hans-Peter Duerr, Germany
B3) Wasteful and careful use of energy
C: N.N.
B4) Appropriate technology and ecological sustainability
C: Goeran Bryntze, Sweden
B5) The situation of the Third World and the challenge of a fair world
economic and social order
C: Claudia von Braunmuehl, Germany
b) Conflict potentials of environmental storm centers
B6) The water problem: resources and pollution conflicts
C: N.N.
B7) Scientists and the public in the struggle against environmental
catastrophes
C: Ewgeni Podolski, USSR; Vladimir Markov, USSR
B8) Conflict potential of environmental crises and of massive migration
C: Andras Patkos, Hungary
B9) Transboundary air pollution and acid rain
C: N.N.
B10) The international waste problem
C: Michael Braungart, Germany
B11) The loss of genetic diversity
C: Sergej Inge-Vechtomov, USSR
B12) a) Environmental problems of the use of space
b) Pollution of the upper atmosphere and stratosphere
C: Sergej Zvenigorodsky, USSR
B13) Environmental and human consequences of the Gulf-War - what are
the lessons?
C: Alexander Ginzburg, USSR
B14) The chemical echo of wars
C: Kiril Babievsky, USSR
c) Towards an international ecological security and culture
B15) Ecology as a dimension of international security
C: Knut Krusewitz, Germany
B16) Ecological crisis and security in Latin-America - a view
from the South
C: Virgina Gamba-Stonehouse, Argentina
B17) Population growth, ecological crisis and security in Africa
C: Ababukar Jauro, Tchad
B18) Population growth, ecological crisis and security in Asia
C: N.N.
C) A responsible Use and Perception of Science and Technology
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a) Can we assess technological risks sufficiently?
C1) Technology assessment, a historical perspective: Power engines
and industrial revolution, the NH3 synthesis, nuclear energy
C: Roland Kreibich, Germany
C2) Technology assessment, new attempts: computerscience
C: Ferdinand Hucho, Germany; Wolfgang Wahlster, Germany
C3) Technology assessment: genetic engineering
C: Peter Herrlich, Germany
b) Ethical decisions
C4) Ethical decisions in science and technology
C: Guenter Altner, Germany; Wolfgang Hirschwald, Germany
C5) Computer science and ethics - guidelines for human-oriented
systems design
(organized by FIFF)
C: Rafael Capurro, Uruguay; Christiane Floyd, Austria
C6) Peace education and peace ethics
C: Wilhelm Quitzow, Germany
C7) A new approach to science ethics: discovering the seeds of
destruction and synthesis in yourself
C: Franz Moser, Austria
c) The production process of science and technology
C8) a) Secrecy and openness in science
b) How to control the military use of science?
C: Annegret Falter, Germany; Elmar Schmaehling, Germany
C9) Mechanisms of political control of science in different countries
C: Cornelius Froemmel, Germany
C10) a) How to make science understandable to nonexperts?
b) How to make scientists listen to the public?
C: Denes Berenyi, Hungary; Gyoergy Marx, Hungary
C11) Science and society: How do we want science to be organized to
meet the problems of a complex and endangered world?
C: Guenther Graumann, Germany; Friedemann Schmithals, Germany
C12) The interdependence of science and economy
C: N.N.
C13) Curricula and research efforts in informatics - Meeting the
callenges of the 21th century
(organized by FIFF)
C: Gerry Chapman, USA; Fanny Michaela Reisin, Germany;
Reinhard Keil-Slawik, Germany
D) Competition and cooperation in a complex interdependent world
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D1) Options for a fragile and finite world (vulnerability of
industrial civilizations)
C: Gerhard Knies, Germany
D2) Social change and conflict resolution in the Mid-East
C: Abdul Aziz Said, USA
D3) Social and economic roots of conflicts and ways towards conflict
prevention
C: Marc Ollivier, France
D4) Evolution, aggression and consciousness
C: N.N.
D5) Computer technology - an appropriate means to overcome poverty
in the Third World?
(organized by FIFF)
C: Guenther Cyranek, Switzerland; Judith Sussmann, Uruguay
E) Program in German
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E1) Menschengerechte Strukturen - Wandel in den Industrielaendern
als Entwicklungsvoraussetzung fuer die dritte Welt
C (Leitung): Wieland Ratz, Germany
E2) Interdisziplinaere Forschung und Lehre - Lernen aus Erfahrung
C: Martina Merz, Germany
E3) Umweltfreundliche Landwirtschaft
C: N.N.
E4) Kleidung und Waschen aus oekologischer und entwicklungspolitischer
Sicht
C: Reiner Griesshammer, Germany
E5) Sparsamer Umgang mit Rohstoffen
C: Dorothea Mezger, Germany
E6) Grundlagenforschung der Physik - Hilfe fuer vernetztes Denken
und komplexe gesellschaftliche Entscheidungsprozesse?
C: Klaus-Stephan Otto, Germany
E7) Gefahren der Gentechnologie
C: Volker Rother, Germany
E8) Hippokratischer Eid fuer Naturwissenschaftler
C: Guntolf Herzberg, Germany
E9) Friedenserziehung
C: Annelie Stompe, Deutschland
E10) Wissenschaft in Ostdeutschland - A challenge to society
C: Max Klein, Germany
E11) Informatik in den neuen Bundeslaendern
(organisiert von FIFF)
C: Jan Grabowski, Germany
E12) Informatik in der Schule
(organisiert von FIFF)
C: N.N.
E13) Kredit-Kartenzahlung im Lichte von Daten- und Verbraucherschutz
(organisiert von FIFF)
C: Herbert Kubicek, Germany
Youth Congress:
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A special "Jugendkongress fuer Frieden und Umwelt" will be arranged
parallel to the main congress (in German).
Student Program:
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A Student Program will be offered. Workshop subjects: Freedom of
science, The conflict between study and responsibility,
The responsibility of scientists working for the industry (in German).
Childrens Program:
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From Friday, Nov 29th, onwards a Kindergarten area will be established
in the main office of the Humboldt University (free of charge).
Annual Meeting of FIFF:
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Meeting of computer scientists for peace and social responsibility
(FIFF) on Saturday, 16:45. The working groups organized by FIFF are
part of the FIFF annual meeting.
Excursions:
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We offer the following excursions:
- Sightseeing Tour of Berlin
- Visiting Tour of Potsdam (Caecilienhof, Sanssouci)
- Visit to the former Nazi Concentration Camp in Sachsenhausen
- Visit of places of resistance against the Nazi-despotism
- Visit to centres of science and research in Berlin-Dahlem on the
traces of Planck, Einstein, Hahn and Meitner
- The alternative "Kreuzberg" - ecological attempts in an
inner-city neighbourhood
- Visiting of Humboldt University and Charite. Discussion about
the role of scientists in the former GDR
The excursions will take place on Nov. 29th, 1991 between 10:00 and
15:00 and/or on Dec. 1st, 1991, 13:00 and 16:00. A nominal fee for
transportation and ticket costs will be charged.
Supporters:
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The International Congress will be suported in Germany by the following
organisations:
- Forum Informatiker/innen fuer Frieden und gesellschaftliche
Verantwortung (FIFF)
- Vereinigung deutscher Wissenschaftler (VDW)
- Naturwissenschaftler-Initiative Verantwortung fuer den Frieden
Financial help will be given by: Senat von Berlin; Berghof-Stiftung,
Berlin; Deutsche Stiftung fuer internationale Entwicklung, Bonn;
McArthur-Foundation, Chicago; Condat, Berlin.
Organizational Information
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1) Addresses:
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Congress Office, CHALLENGES, Clausewitzstr. 4, D-1000 Berlin 12, Germany
Tel.: +49 30 8823398, Fax.: +49 30 8824524
Verantwortung fuer den Frieden, Naturwissenschaftler-Initiative e.V.,
Tegetthoffstr. 7, D-2000 Hamburg 20, Germany, Tel.: +49 40 4911647,
Fax.: +49 40 4905290
Bank account: Prof. Dr. Hubert Kneser, Stadtsparkasse Koeln,
Bank-Code 37050198, Acc.no. 115513178, Keyword "International Congress 1991"
2) Registration:
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Congress fee: professors 150 DM, other scientists/engineers/teachers
with full time position 80 DM, university students 20 DM, high school
students 7 DM, all others according to income between 20 and 80 DM.
Day ticket at half price. For participants from the Third World,
Eastern Europe and East Germany the fee will be arranged with the
congress secretary on an individual basis.
PLEASE REGISTER AND SEND YOUR REGISTRATION FEE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS
WAY YOU HELP MAKING THE CONGRESS HAPPEN.
3) Location of the congress:
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The congress will take place at Berlin, Technische Universitaet,
Strasse des 17. Juni Nr. 135
4) Accomodation:
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Please contact directly: Verkehrsamt Berlin, EuropaCenter, D-1000 Berlin 30,
Germany, Tel.: +49 30 21232306, 21232393. Free private accomodation and
"sleeping bag" accomodation will be available and can be booked through the
congress office until November 14th, 1991.
5) Information and Catering:
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There will be stands inside the university.
6) Congress Office:
The office will be open on Friday, November 29th, 1991. Booking and
distribution of the congress material will also be possible on Saturday,
Nov. 30th, 1991 and Sunday, December 1st, 1991 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m..
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Please send to: Congress Office, CHALLENGES, Clausewitzstr. 4,
D-1000 Berlin 12, Germany
--
Dietmar Seifert, Karlsruhe, Germany. Member in FIFF (Computer Scientists
for Peace and Social Responsibility, Forum Informatiker/innen fuer Frieden
und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung), IKOE,..
E-Mail: die...@fiff.ka.sub.org, in Germany also: d.se...@oln.zer