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 ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of Annie Simpson [[email protected]] Sent: 10 May 2012 23:23 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [tdwg] tdwg 2012 in inappropriate venue 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 <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Date: 22/04/2012 15:22 Subject: [tdwg] tdwg 2012 in inappropriate venue Sent by: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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 [email protected] 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... **************************************************************************
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