Govts slammed for spending on arms rather than research
Govts slammed for spending on arms rather than research
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
International scientists lashed out on Tuesday at governments
around the world for their lack of commitment to supporting
science and technology programs for sustainable development.
Instead of spending on scientific or technological research,
which could significantly contribute to sustainable development,
the governments preferred to pour their budgets into armaments
spending.
It was ironic, as the preference clearly threatened
sustainable development, said the international scientists.
"The total cost of four annual global programs on science and
technology by the International Council for Science is the same
as the cost of the 10 cruise missiles used by the warring parties
in the Gulf War, which they used for merely one hour," said
Director of the Center for Resource and Environment Studies at
the Australian National University Robert Wasson.
The discussion, which was held at Putri Bali hotel here, was a
parallel meeting to the ongoing preparatory committee meeting for
the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Wasson said it was ridiculous for developed countries to spend
huge amounts to finance their weaponry.
Military expenditure by the world's governments is running at
more than US$2 billion a day.
Outside the U.S., India and Pakistan were among countries that
spent huge funds on armaments instead of using them to finance
research and technology, Wasson told The Jakarta Post on the
sidelines of a science discussion here.
Senior adviser for science for sustainable development with
the International Council for Science Gisbert Glaser said
spending on research and development was very small in most
countries.
"Developed countries merely allocate 4 percent to 5 percent
of their annual budget for research in science and technology.
The figure is worse in developing countries, as the government
only allocates zero point something of their annual budgets for
science and technology development," he said.
According to Glaser, the lack of commitment by governments
might be caused by their narrow interests or short-term
development goals, which science and technology did not reflect,
as the activities of the latter in those fields needed time and
often produced unexpected or unwelcome results.
"Governments must change their frame of thinking, for by
pouring money into research and technology, they are investing in
future development, including sustainable development," said
Glaser.
The lack of commitment from governments in science and
technology could impede sustainable development, given the
important role of science and technology in sustaining
development.
Another scientist, Matthew Wheeler, from the Bureau of
Meteorology Research Center in Melbourne said in discussion that
science and technology could prevent the worst consequences of
flooding in big cities, such as in Jakarta.
Wheeler said that the catastrophic flooding in Jakarta a few
months ago could have been prevented if the authorities had
employed advanced technology to predict weather changes.
Science and technology could also be used to tackle the
deforestation problems plaguing the country.
Daniel Murdiyarso, from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture,
said that science could help sustainable forest management by
quantifying the positive environmental contribution that tropical
forests could offer.
Having done so, science could help reduce the rate of
deforestation, which has reached an alarming level in Southeast
Asia, including Indonesia. In the 1980s, the rate of
deforestation in Indonesia reached 600,000 hectares (ha) per
year, but currently it had hit 1.6 ha per year, he said.