Dear Fellow TDWG members:
Often the discussions on TDWG lists can overwhelm due to number of responses and depth of content. I am therefore astounded that there have been no replies to Bob Morris' well-thought-out and convincingly-delivered argument of 22-April (copied here below) about our 2012 meetings. I did not answer sooner under the assumption that there was discussion going on behind the scenes by the TDWG Executive. So far, crickets.
I'd like to go on the record with a personal but hesitant response that does not reflect the views of my employer.
I share Bob's concerns. What do the rest of you think?
Annie Simpson
From:
Bob Morris morris.bob@gmail.com
To:
tdwg@lists.tdwg.org
Date:
22/04/2012 15:22
Subject:
[tdwg] tdwg 2012 in inappropriate venue
Sent by:
tdwg-bounces@lists.tdwg.org
Dear fellow TDWG members,
As I said publicly at TDWG 2011, I feel that it is inappropriate for an organization devoted to the open exchange of scientific data and information to hold a meeting in a country where there is routine governmental suppression of internet connectivity on political grounds. I personally would attend any scientific meeting in such a country except one by an organization like TDWG which should be taking a position about openness of access to information, and I hope others will join me in this position and publicly decline to attend TDWG 2012.
Sometimes an argument is made in such cases that participation is a way to support the hosting organization, which in this case is eminent. But often just the opposite can result: the authorities will proudly say to themselves: "See, they come anyway."
Bob Morris