Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Book Launch and Hot Debate Today...

Nano-Scale Technologies and the Implications for the Global South

By: Zak Bleicher, Programme Associate, NGLS

Proponents of nano-scale technologies believe that nanotech will usher in a new industrial revolution and play an important role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Worldwide, industry and governments spent $11.8 billion on nanotech R&D in 2007. Current research on energy and water are often mentioned as prime areas for nanotechnologies' potential contributions to environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity and human development. Given the current world food crisis, these would seem to be laudable benefits.

However, civil society organisations have also expressed concern as regards to the economic, societal, political, environmental and health impacts of nanotech and the risk of creating a "nano-divide" between Southern and Northern countries.

Giving voice to these concerns, the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) has commissioned a book by the ETC Group entitled, “Downsizing Development: An Introduction to Nano-scale Technologies and the Implications for the Global South” which it will release today. As part of the book launch, a multi-stakeholder panel discussion will be held on the theme ‘Nanotechnologies and Their Implications for the Global South’ today, Wednesday, 14 May, from 1:15pm to 2:45pm in Conference Room 7 at UN HQ in New York.

The release of the book is timed with the start of the Ministerial Segment of the 16th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16) which is addressing important issues relating to food, agriculture and land use – all the more important given the current world food crisis.

“The nanotech market is estimated to surpass US$1 trillion by the year 2015 and hundreds of products containing unregulated and unlabeled nano-scale particles are commercially available, indeed, no government has developed a regulatory regime that addresses the nano-scale,” said Ms. Elisa Peter, Acting Coordinator of NGLS. “Nanotechnology has the potential to be a part of solving many problems - such as food quantity - however, this enthusiasm should be tempered by serious research into the long-term implications of nanotechnologies particularly for developing countries.”

Downsizing Development: An Introduction to Nano-scale Technologies and the Implications for the Global South is available for NGOs who request it from NGLS and will also be made available for sale at the event and in the UN Bookshop. One of the authors of the book, Ms. Hope Shand, will be a part of the panel, along with representatives of the French Ministry of Industry, Third World Network and Friends of the Earth.

NGLS promotes dynamic partnerships between the United Nations and civil society organisations. By providing information, advice, expertise and support service, NGLS is part of the United Nations efforts to strengthen multistakeholder dialogue and to win support for the economic and social development agenda of the United Nations. The ETC Group is an international civil society organisation based in Canada and dedicated to the conservation and sustainable advancement of cultural and ecological diversity and human rights.