Govts slammed for spending on arms rather than research<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
International scientists lashed out on Tuesday at governments
\naround the world for their lack of commitment to supporting
\nscience and technology programs for sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Instead of spending on scientific or technological research,
\nwhich could significantly contribute to sustainable development,
\nthe governments preferred to pour their budgets into armaments
\nspending.<\/p>\n
It was ironic, as the preference clearly threatened
\nsustainable development, said the international scientists.<\/p>\n
\"The total cost of four annual global programs on science and
\ntechnology by the International Council for Science is the same
\nas the cost of the 10 cruise missiles used by the warring parties
\nin the Gulf War, which they used for merely one hour,\" said
\nDirector of the Center for Resource and Environment Studies at
\nthe Australian National University Robert Wasson.<\/p>\n
The discussion, which was held at Putri Bali hotel here, was a
\nparallel meeting to the ongoing preparatory committee meeting for
\nthe World Summit on Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n
Wasson said it was ridiculous for developed countries to spend
\nhuge amounts to finance their weaponry.<\/p>\n
Military expenditure by the world's governments is running at
\nmore than US$2 billion a day.<\/p>\n
Outside the U.S., India and Pakistan were among countries that
\nspent huge funds on armaments instead of using them to finance
\nresearch and technology, Wasson told The Jakarta Post on the
\nsidelines of a science discussion here.<\/p>\n
Senior adviser for science for sustainable development with
\nthe International Council for Science Gisbert Glaser said
\nspending on research and development was very small in most
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
\"Developed countries merely allocate 4 percent to 5 percent
\nof their annual budget for research in science and technology.
\nThe figure is worse in developing countries, as the government
\nonly allocates zero point something of their annual budgets for
\nscience and technology development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Glaser, the lack of commitment by governments
\nmight be caused by their narrow interests or short-term
\ndevelopment goals, which science and technology did not reflect,
\nas the activities of the latter in those fields needed time and
\noften produced unexpected or unwelcome results.<\/p>\n
\"Governments must change their frame of thinking, for by
\npouring money into research and technology, they are investing in
\nfuture development, including sustainable development,\" said
\nGlaser.<\/p>\n
The lack of commitment from governments in science and
\ntechnology could impede sustainable development, given the
\nimportant role of science and technology in sustaining
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Another scientist, Matthew Wheeler, from the Bureau of
\nMeteorology Research Center in Melbourne said in discussion that
\nscience and technology could prevent the worst consequences of
\nflooding in big cities, such as in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Wheeler said that the catastrophic flooding in Jakarta a few
\nmonths ago could have been prevented if the authorities had
\nemployed advanced technology to predict weather changes.<\/p>\n
Science and technology could also be used to tackle the
\ndeforestation problems plaguing the country.<\/p>\n
Daniel Murdiyarso, from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture,
\nsaid that science could help sustainable forest management by
\nquantifying the positive environmental contribution that tropical
\nforests could offer.<\/p>\n
Having done so, science could help reduce the rate of
\ndeforestation, which has reached an alarming level in Southeast
\nAsia, including Indonesia. In the 1980s, the rate of
\ndeforestation in Indonesia reached 600,000 hectares (ha) per
\nyear, but currently it had hit 1.6 ha per year, he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govts-slammed-for-spending-on-arms-rather-than-research-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}