The Heidelberg Appeal
The Heidelberg Appeal was publicly released at the 1992 Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro. By the end of the 1992 summit, 425 scientists and
other intellectual leaders had signed the appeal. Since then, word of
mouth has prompted thousands more scientists to lend their support.
Today, more than 4,000 signatories, from over 100 countries have signed
it, including more than 70 Nobel Prize winners. In spite of this
spontaneous and growing support from the world's scientific community,
the Heidelberg Appeal has received very little media attention.
Neither a statement of corporate interests nor a denial of
environmental problems, the Heidelberg Appeal is a quiet call for reason
and a recognition of scientific progress as the solution to, not the
cause of, the health and environmental problems that we face. The appeal
expresses a conviction that modern society is the best equipped in human
history to solve the world's ills, provided that they do not sacrifice
science, intellectual honesty and common sense to political opportunism
and irrational fears.
We want to make our full contribution to the preservation of our
common heritage, the Earth.
We are, however, worried at the dawn of the twenty-first century, at
the emergence of an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific
and industrial progress and impedes economic and social development.
We contend that a Natural State, sometimes idealized by movements
with a tendency to look toward the past, does not exist and has probably
never existed since man's first appearance in the biosphere, insofar as
humanity had always progressed by increasingly harnessing Nature to its
needs and not the reverse. We fully subscribe to the objectives of a
scientific ecology for a universe whose resources must be taken stock
of, monitored and preserved.
But we herewith demand that this stock-taking, monitoring and
preservation be founded on scientific criteria and not on irrational
preconceptions.
We stress that many essential human activities are carried out either
by manipulating hazardous substances or in their proximity, and that
progress and development have always involved increasing control over
hostile forces, to the benefit of mankind.
We therefore consider that scientific ecology is no more than an
extension of this continual progress toward the improved life of future
generations.
We intend to assert science's responsibility and duties toward
society as a whole.
We do, however, forewarn the authorities in charge of our planet's
destiny against decisions which are supported by pseudoscientific
arguments of false and nonrelevant date.
We draw everybody's attention to the absolute necessity of helping
poor countries attain a level of sustainable development which matches
that of the rest of the planet, protecting them from troubles and
dangers stemming from developed nations, and avoiding their entanglement
in a web of unrealistic obligations which would compromise both their
independence and their dignity.
The greatest evils which stalk our Earth are ignorance and
oppression, and not Science, Technology, and Industry whose instruments,
when adequately managed, are indispensable tools of a future shape by
Humanity, by itself and for itself, overcoming major problems like
overpopulation, starvation and worldwide diseases.
**************
Signatories of the Heidelberg Appeal to Heads of States and
Governments 3,082 signers from 106 countries including 72 Nobel Prize
Winners:
Mr. Bruce N. Ames- Dir. of Nat. Inst. of Environmental Health
Sciences Center, Berkeley- Biochemistry- USA *Mr. Phillip W. Anderson-
Nobel Prize (Physics), Princeton University- Physics- USA *Mr. Christian
B. Anfinsen- Nobel Prize (Chemistry)- Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore- Biology- USA Mr. Henri Atlan- Pr., Head Nuclear Medicine
Department, Hotel Dieu- Paris- Nuclear Medicine- France *Mr. Julius
Axelrod- Nobel Prize (Medicine)- Lab. of Cell Biology, Nat. Inst. of
Mental Health- Cell Biology- USA Mr. Etienne Baulieu- Inserm, Ac. of
Sciences, France, National Ac. of Sciences, USA, Lasker Prize-
Endocrinology- france *Mr. Baruj Benacerraf- Nobel Prize (Medicine),
National Medal of Science, President. Dana- Farber, Inc.- Cancerology-
USA *Mr. Hans Albrecht Bethe- Nobel Prize (Physics), em. Pr., Cornell
University, Ithica, NY- Nuclear Physics- USA *Sir James W. Black- Nobel
Prize (Medicine), Pr. of Analytical Pharmacology, King's College,
London- Pharmacology- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Nicolaas Bloembergen- Nobel
Prize (Physics), Harvard University- Physics- USA Sir Hermann Bondi- Em.
Pr. of Mathematics, King's College Un., Master of Churchill College
Cambridge- Mathematics- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Norman E. Borlaug- Nobel
Prize (Peace), Sc. Consult. Cimmyt, Mexico, Pdt. Sasakawa African Ass.-
agriculture- USA Mr. Pierre Bourdieu- College de France, Paris-
Sociology- France *Mr. Adolph Butenandt- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Hon
Pres. Max-Planck Institute- Chemistry- Allemagne *Mr. Thomas R. Cech-
Nobel Prize (Chemistry), University of Colorado- Chemistry- USA Mr.
Carlos Chagas- Academia Pontificia, WIS- Medicine- Bresil *Mr. Owen
Chamberlain- Pr., Nobel Prize (Physics), Em. Pr., Un. of California,
Berkeley- USA *Mr. Stanley Cohen- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Distinguished
Pr., Dept. of Biochem., Vanderbelt Un.- Biochemistry- USA *Sir John
Warcup Corniforth- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), School Chemistry and
Molecular Sciences, Brighton- Chemistry- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Jean
Dausset- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Ac. of sciences, France, Pres.
U.M.S.R.,W.I.S., Paris- Immunology- France *Mr. Gerard Debreu- Nobel
Prize (Economy), Em. Pr. of Economics and Mathematics, Un. of
California- Economy- USA *Mr. Johan Deisenhoffer- Nobel Prize
(Chemistry), Un. of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas-
Biochemistry- USA Sir Richard Doll- Em. Pr. of Medicine, Radcliffe
Infirmary, Oxford- Epidemiology- Grande- Bretagne *Mr. Christian de Duve-
Nobel Prize (Medicine), Biology- Belgique *Mr. Manfred Eigan- Nobel
Prize (Chemistry), President of Max Plank Institut, Gottingen-
Chemistry- Allemagne *Mr. Richard R. Ernst- Nobel Prize (Chemistry),
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich- Chemistry- Suisse *Mr.
Pierre de Gennes- Nobel Prize (Physics), Ac. of Sciences, Pr., College
de France, Paris- Physics- France *Mr. Ivar Giaever- Nobel Prize
(Physics), Institute Pr. R.P.I.- Physics- USA *Mr. Donald A. Glaser-
Nobel Prize (Physics), Pr. of Physics, Un. of California- Physics- USA
Mr. Francois Gros- Pr., College de France, Ac. of Sciences, France,
Vice-President W.I.S., Paris- Biology of development- France *Mr. Roger
Guillemin- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Whittier Institute, La Jolla-
Medicine- USA *Mr. Herbert a. Hauptman- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pres.
Med. Found. of Buffalo, Pr. of Biophysics Sc.- Biophysics- USA Mr.
Harald zur Hausen- Pr., Dir., Dir. of German Cancer Research Center,
Heidelberg- Cancerology- Allemagne Mrs. Francoise Heritier-Auge- Pr.,
College de France, Pres. Cons. Nat. du Sida, Dir., EHESS- Anthropology-
France *Mr. Dudley R. Herschbach- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Baird Pr. of
Science, Harvard University, Cambridge- Chemistry- USA *Mr. Gerhard
Herzberg- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), National Research Council of Canada-
Chemistry- Canada Mr. Benno Hess- Pr., Dr., Honorary Senator and former
Vice Pdt. of the Max-Planck Society, W.I.S.- Biophysics- Allemagne *Mr.
Anthony Hewish- Nobel Prize (Physics), Pr. Cavendish Laboratory,
Cambridge Un.- Physics- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Roald Hoffman- Nobel Prize
(Chemistry), Pr. of Chemistry, Cornell University- Chemistry- USA *Mr.
Robert Huber- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Max-Planck Institut for Biochemie-
Biochemistry- Allemagne *Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley- Nobel Prize
(Medicine), Formerly President of the Royal Society of London- London-
Grande-Bretagne Mr. Eugene Ionesco- Literature- France Mr. Serguei
Petrivich Kapitza- Pr., Ac. of Sciences, Institut for Physical Problems,
W.I.S.- Physics, electrodynamics- Russie *Mr. Jerome Karle- Nobel Prize
(Chemistry), Chief Scientist, Lab. for Structure of Matter- Chemistry-
USA *Sir John Kendrew- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pr., The Old Guildhall,
Cambrdige- Molecular Biology- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Klaus Von Klitzing-
Nobel Prize (Physics), Pr., Max-Planck Inst. Solid State Research,
Stuttgart- Physics- Allemagne *Mr. Aaron Klug- Nobel Prize (Chemistry),
M.R.C. Lab. of Molecular Biology, Cambridge- Chemistry- Grande-Bretagne
*Mr. Edwin G. Krebs- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., Em., Dep. of Pharm.
& Biochem., Un. of q Washington- Biochemistry- USA *Mr. Leon
Lederman- Nobel Prize (Physics), Director Emeritus, Fermi Natl.
Accelerator Laboratory- Nuclear Physics- USA *Mr. Yuan T. Lee- Nobel
Prize (Chemistry), Pr. of Chemistry, Un. of California, Berkeley-
Chemistry- USA *Mr. Jean-Marie Lehn- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pr.,
College de France, W.I.S.- Chemistry- France Mr. Pierre Lelong- Pr., Ac.
of Sciences, W.I.S.- Mathematics- France *Mr. Wassily Leontief- Nobel
Prize (Economy), Pr., New York University- Economy- USA *Mrs. Rita Levi-Montalcini-
Nobel Prize (Medicine), Ac. Lincei, Ac. Pontificia, W.I.S.-
Neurosciences- Italie Mr. Andre Lichnerowicz- Pr., Ac. of Sciences,
France, Ac. lincei, Ac. Pontificia, President of W.I.S.- Mathematical
Physics- France Mr. Richard S. Lindzen- Pr., US National Academy of
Sciences, M.I.T., W.I.S.- Meterology- USA *Mr. William N. Lipscomb-
Nobel Priuze (Chemistry), Pr. Em., Harvard University, Cambridge-
Chemistry- USA *Mr. Harry M. Markowitz- Nobel Prize (Economics), Speizer
Pr. of Finance, Baruch College- USA *Mr. Simon van der Meer- Nobel Prize
(Physics), Geneva- Nuclear Physics- Suisse *Mr. Cesar Milstein- Nobel
Prize (Physiology), Dr., Cambridge- Physiology- Grande-Bretagne *Sir
Nevill F. Mott- Nobel Prize (Physics), Em. Pr., Cambridge University-
Physics- Grande- Bretagne *Mr. Joseph E. Murray- Nobel Prize (Medicine),
Pr., Dr., Surgery, Harvard Med. School- Cell Biology- USA *Mr. Daniel
Nathans- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., John Hopkins Un., School og Med.,
Baltimore- Molecular Genetics- USA Mr. Daniel W. Nebert- Pr., Dir.,
Center for Environmental Genetics, Un. of Cincinnati- Genetics- USA *Mr.
Louis Neel- Nobel Prize (Physics)- Physics- France *Mr. Erwin Neher-
Nobel Prize (Medicine), Dr., Dir. Max-Planck Institute, Biophysics,
Goettingen- Biophysics- Allemagne *Mr. Marshall W. Nirenberg- Nobel
Prize (Medicine), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda- Medicine- USA
*Mr. George E. Palade- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., Division of Cellular
& Molecular Med.- Cell Medicine- USA *Mr. Linus Pauling- Nobel Prize
(Chemistry, Peace), Pr., Linus Pauling Institute Science and Med.-
Chemistry- USA Mr. Jean-Claude Pecker- Pr. Hon., College de France, Ac.
of Sciences, Royal Ac. of Belgium, W.I.S.- Astrophysics- France *Mr.
Arno A. Penzias- Nobel Prize (Physics), Pr., Bell Laboratories, Murray
Hill- Physics- USA *Mr. Max Ferdinand Perutz- Nobel Prize (Chemistry),
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge- Biochemistry- Grande-Bretagne
Mr. Julian Peto- Pr., Head, Section of Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer
Research, London- Epidemiology- Grande-Bretagne Mr. Richard Peto- Pr. of
Medical Statistics & Epidemiology, Un. of Oxford- Epidemiology-
Grande-Bretagne *Mr, John Charles Polanyi- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pr.
of Chemistry, University of Toronto- Chemistry- Canada *Lord George
Porter- Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pr., Chariman, Photomolec. Sc.,
Imperial College, London- Chemistry- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. I. Prigogine-
Nobel Prize (Chemistry), Pr., Dir. Inst. Intern. de Phys. et de Chim.,
Bruxelles- Chemistry- Belgique Mr. A. Prochiantz- Pr., Dir. of Research,
CNRS, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, W.I.S.- Pharmacology- France Mr.
Ichtiaque Rasool- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena- Physics- France
*Mr. Tadeus Reichstein- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr. Em., Org. Chemistry,
Un. of Basel- Organic Chemistry- Suisse *Mr, Heinrich Rohrer- Nobel
Prize (Physics), IBM Research Laboratory- Physics- Suisse
*Mr. Bert Sakmann- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., Max-Planck Inst. fur
Med. Forschung, Heidelberg- Cell Physiology- Allemagne *Mr. Abdus Salam-
Nobel Prize (Physics), International Centre for Theoretical Physics-
Italie Mr. Jonas Salk- Distinguished Pr., Dr., International Health
Sciences- Biology- USA Mr. Evry Schatzman- Pr., Ac. of Sciences, France-
Astrphysics- France *Mr. Arthur L. Schawlow- Nobel Prize (Physics),
Stanford University- Physics- USA Mr. G. Schettler- Pr., Dr., Former
President, Academy of Sciences, Heidelberg- Cardiology- Allemagne Mr.
Elie A. Shneour- Pr. Dir., Biosystems Research Institute, San Diego,
California- Biochemistry- USA *Mr. Kai Siegbahn- Nobel Prize (Physics)-
Physics- Suede Mr. S. Fred Singer- Pr. of Environmental Sciences, Un. of
Virginia, Dir. of the Washington S.E.P.P.- Environmental Sciences- USA
*Mr. Richard Laurence Millington Synge- Nobel Prize (Chemistry)-
Biochemistry- Grande- Bretagne Mr. G. P. Talwar- Pr. of Em., Nat. Inst.
of Immunology, Ac. of Science, India, W.I.S.- Immunopathology- Inde *Mr.
Jan Tinbergen- Nobel Prize (Economics)- Economics- Pays-Bas *Lord
Alexander R. Todd- Nobel Prize (Chemistry)- Chemistry- Grabde-Bretagne
Mr. Alvin Toffler- Author, Futurist- Futurology- USA *Mr. Charles H.
Townes- Nobel Prize (Physics), W.I.S., Pr. Em of Physics, University of
California, Berkeley- Physics- USA Mr. Rene Truhaut- Pr., Pharmacology,
Faculte des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Paris- Toxicology- France *Sir
John R. Vane- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., Chairman of William Harvey
Research Inst., London- Endocrinology- Grande-Bretagne *Mr. Harold E.
Varmus- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr. of Microbiology, Un. of California,
San Francisco- Microbiology- USA *Mr. Thomas Huckle Weller- Nobe Prize
(Medicine), Pr. Em., Harvard- Medicine- USA *Mr. Elie Wiesel- Nobel
Prize (Peace), University of Boston- Literature- USA *Mr. Torsten N.
Wiesel- Nobel Prize (Medicine), Pr., Lab. of Neurobio., Rockefeller
University, New York- Neurobiology- USA *Mr. Robert W. Wilson- Nobel
Prize (Physics), Head, Radio Physics Res. Dept., AT&T Bell
Laboratories- Physics- USA
* Denotes Nobel Prize Winner Environmental Genetics, Un. of
Cincinnati- Genetics- USA
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