[Antrium]

Category: Repeal
Resolution: #2
Proposed by: Jey

Description: UN Resolution #2: Scientific Freedom (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Mild) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: The General Assembly of the United Nations,

COMMENDING Resolution #2 for its intent to bring forth increased freedoms,

CONSIDERING that simply stating that a country "has long stood for Scientific Freedom", as seen in this resolution, does not require anything of UN Members, nor does it urge UN Members to bring forth initiatives or commissions to promote Scientific Freedom,

ALSO CONSIDERING that Resolution #2 neither lists a clear definition or explanation as to what constitutes Scientific Freedom, nor does it provide any clear framework or plans to bring about its cause,

CONCERNED that this resolution overlooks the harmful effects of unrestricted Scientific Freedom, which would lead to numerous painful, deadly, unsafe, and unethical scientific practices being forcibly legal in all UN Member nations,

CONCLUDING that Resolution #2 does not meet the desirable standards of UN resolutions for its disregard for potentially harmful and unjustifiable scientific practices and failure to provide any clear structure in bringing about necessary Scientific Freedom,

UNDERSTANDING that the freedom of safe and ethical scientific practices should be protected for numerous purposes,

REPEALS Resolution #2: Scientific Freedom.

[Lloegr-Cymru]

Now that this is up before the United Nations, I'd like to know how my fellow IDUers feel about this repeal?

[Antrium]

Idea: I'm going to start pinning the resolution at vote.

[Grosseschnauzer]

This may be one of those repeals that ought to wait until the replacement is enacted first.
The draft replacement we've been discussing in the other thread, especially if it avoids the use of "freedom of science" or "scientific freedom" as such, but use something like "freedom of research and inquiry" would convey the same protection implied by the resolution this proposal seeks to repeal, but in a much more meaningful form.
I haven't decided whether to vote for or against repeal without a replacement in place. but I suspect that is the real question we need to address.

[Jonquiere-Tadoussac]

While I agree that this resolution needs to be repealed, I agree with GS about trying to get a replacement in place first. As such, I am against this repeal at this time.

[Mikitivity]

Groot Gouda mentioned a possible replacement in the UN forum. Even without the replacement, my government fully supports this repeal.

[Sausage Arabia]

Not a UN member, so not voting, my tuppence:

Look at Resolution 2. It doesn't define its terms. That means one of the following possible scenarios is possible.

1. The definition of "peaceful and responsible" falls to the home nation. I can then send out scientists to anywhere in the world to research dangerous, explosive, toxic, radioactive chemicals. I can in fact deliberately send scientists whose work will cause massive damage to another country - so long as I define them as "responsible".

2. So, you say "they're not responsible" - that the definition falls to the host nation. Fine. In which case all scientific research can be banned.

Replacement or no, "Scientific Freedom" is a bungling, misshapen heap of a resolution that needs to be killed.

[Groot Gouda]

I'm mildly in favour of repeal, but would prefer an extension first which could also work without #2. As this resolution doesn't do a lot, that should be possible.

Otherwise, we'll try my replacement.

[Federalist]

I vote for repeal, though the replacement resolution is still in the works , I don't see why we shouldn't repeal the resolution right now. I agree with Groot, the resolution doesn't do a whole lot as it is.

[Xtraordinary Gentlemen]

I'm voting for. I agree that UNR2 should be replaced first, but we may or may not have that luxury if we vote the repeal down now. Delegates will be less inclined to support a failed resolution on its second attempt, and I think General Assembly members will be less inclined to vote for a previously failed resolution. It still has a couple days, but it's pretty close to dead even right now. At present I honestly think that having to suffer a second approval phase and second vote would kill it, and thereby cripple UNR2's replacement resolution by leaving open UNR2's loopholes and ambiguities.

[Antrium]

This proposal has passed, resolution #2 is repealed.

I would have cast the region's vote for the proposal today, but I missed the update by an hour and a half Sorry. I'll cast my vote a few days early next time, so I'm sure to get the vote in. I waited this time because I thought I could get ALL the votes and vote in time for the update, but that didn't happen. I won't let it happen again.

[Fonzoland]

If it had failed by 5 votes I would have killed you. Since it didn't, forget about it.