EAGLES History and Statement
Origin and organisation of EAGLES
EAGLES was set up through the initiative of members of the European
Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). EAGLES arose from conversations
between the President of the EFB with Prof. Huanming Yang, Director
of the Beijing Genomics Institute and other members of EFBIC, and
with members of the European Group on Life Sciences (EGLS) set up
by Commissioner Busquin. An ad hoc group supported by EFB met in
Brussels during the EGLS conference "Towards sustainable agriculture
for developing countries: options from life sciences and biotechnologies"
30-31 January 2003. EAGLES aims and strategy were defined and new
members were invited to join, many from developing and emerging
countries.
It was established as a Task Group of EFB, which provides advice
and support, as well as an administrative structure and its large
network.
Dr. Serageldin, the Director of the Library of Alexandria, is Chairman
of EAGLES. He was formerly Vice-President of The World Bank and
Chairman (1993-2000) of the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Prof. Huanming Yang who led the Chinese
human genome initiative is Co-Vice Chairmen.
Prof. David McConnell, as Co-Vice Chairman of EAGLES, chairs the
Task Group on EAGLES, which coordinates the efforts of all the consortium
members to develop and fund the programme.
EAGLES and Scientists' Global Responsibilities
The OECD countries have dominated the development and application of life sciences over the last 25 years – lacking a global perspective they have defined the economic, commercial, legal and ethical frameworks for biotechnology without taking any significant account of the needs of the developing world
Developing World problems pose huge humanitarian challenges for life scientists. Distinguished Third World scientists, who are making very significant contributions to international science, are in a position to give powerful advice on the development of life sciences. Europe has a duty to listen to them.
A new dialogue is required in which the needs, the voices and the opinions of the emerging and developing countries should be clearly identified, heard and heeded. EAGLES will serve as a platform for achieving this dialogue between scientists from the DECs and European politicians, policy makers, members of the media and other leaders of public opinion.
The EAGLES declaration
The members of EAGLES are determined to ensure that the skills
and resources of European life sciences are properly used for the
benefits of mankind. The members of EAGLES believe:
- That the greatest humanitarian challenges for the life sciences
lie in the problems of illness, starvation and environmental degradation
which are faced by hundreds of millions of people in our world
today, and will be faced by millions more in the coming decades.
- That life scientists everywhere have a responsibility to address
these global challenges.
- That European life scientists could and should make a much greater
contribution to meet these challenges.
- That European policies should facilitate the life sciences in
meeting these challenges.
- In addressing these challenges that the people of Europe and
their leaders should pay careful attention to the knowledge and
advice of distinguished life scientists and humanists from the
developing and emerging countries.
|
