Greetings from Beijing ... this is just an observation ... not an opinion.
Frustrated that the entire content of the Biodiversity Heritage Library is blocked, here in the Chinese Academy of Sciences - the issue is being 'escalated up the chain of command', but I'm not holding my breath ... :-)
Paul
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: |
|
|
Date: |
22/04/2012 15:22 |
|
Subject: |
[tdwg] tdwg 2012 in inappropriate venue |
|
Sent by: |
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
--
Robert A. Morris
Emeritus Professor of Computer Science
UMASS-Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd
Boston, MA 02125-3390
IT Staff
Filtered Push Project
Harvard University Herbaria
Harvard University
email: morris.bob@gmail.com
web: http://efg.cs.umb.edu/
web: http://etaxonomy.org/mw/FilteredPush
http://www.cs.umb.edu/~ram
===
The content of this communication is made entirely on my
own behalf and in no way should be deemed to express
official positions of The University of Massachusetts at Boston or
Harvard University.
_______________________________________________
tdwg mailing list
tdwg@lists.tdwg.org
http://lists.tdwg.org/mailman/listinfo/tdwg
P
Think Green - don't print this email unless you really need to
************************************************************************
The information contained in this e-mail and any files transmitted with it is confidential and is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient please note that any distribution, copying or use of this communication
or the information in it is prohibited.
Whilst CAB International trading as CABI takes steps to prevent the transmission of viruses via e-mail, we cannot guarantee that any e-mail or attachment is free from computer viruses and you are strongly advised to undertake your own anti-virus precautions.
If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by e-mail at cabi@cabi.org or by telephone on +44 (0)1491 832111 and then delete the e-mail and any copies of it.
CABI is an International Organization recognised by the UK Government under Statutory Instrument 1982 No. 1071...
**************************************************************************