Sedmega junija je Evropska agencija za varnost hrane (EFSA) v Parmi prejela paket z eksplozivom, ki je bil naslovljen na znanstvenika, ki je za EFSA opravljal neodvisne znanstvene raziskave. EFSA je bila ustanovljena leta 2002, da s pomočjo ekspertnih panelov, v katerih sodelujejo neodvisni strokovnjaki, analizira različna tveganja, ki se pojavljajo v prehranski verigi. Znanstveniki so na osnovi referenc imenovani v posamezne EFSA panele za dobo štirih let. S čim vse se ukvarja Evropska agencija za varnost hrane in zakaj je njena dejavnost pomembna, si lahko ogledate v kratkem filmu:
Pismo z eksplozivom prejel znanstvenik, ki se je ukvarjal s presojo varnosti gensko spremenjenih organizmov (GSO) in je tudi član panela EFSA za presojo varnosti GSO. Gre za napad tako na znanstvenika, ki v dobro vseh državljanov članic EU izvaja neodvisne raziskave, kot tudi na znanstveni proces in odprto družbo. Na incident se je odzvalo veliko število znanstvenikov iz številnih organizacij, ki so pripravili odprto pismo predsedniku Evropskega parlamenta, s katerim pozivajo k spodbujanju družbe k priznavanju neodvisnega znanstvenega svetovanja in obsodbi fizičnih napadov na znanstvenike. Odprto pismo, ki je dostopno tudi na spletni strani http://www.epsoweb.org/respect-science-advice je podpisalo 35 znanstvenih organizacij, med drugim tudi Slovensko društvo za biologijo rastlin.
Iz pisma:
“We feel that publicly-funded scientists are experiencing an increasing number of threats in Europe and the rest of the world. In the last few years experimental programmes have been attacked at several locations in Europe, many of them conducting EU-funded research. Similar incidents have occurred in the US, Australasia and the Philippines, and at least four life-threatening attacks have occurred on researchers and research facilities in Latin America over the last year. Threats to publicly funded scientists are threats to a society which relies on their independent evidence. We see these attacks as resulting from a science-hostile trend that is spreading and inspiring such extremist acts. What is at stake is the independence of science and its essential role in the democratic system of decision-making.
We can no longer remain silent. These violent acts demonstrate a dangerous intolerance of openly expressed expert opinions and of democratic, social and scientific development. We believe in reason and dialogue. Through our work we aim to stimulate innovation, improve livelihoods, minimise environmental impact and provide for a better future. Furthermore, independent scientific advice is crucial to informed debate and appropriate decision-making on complex issues. We are convinced that such acts of aggression not only impede progress, but also destabilise society and undermine democracy.”
