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| Stephen Hawking, science and boycotts | Stephen Hawking, science and boycotts |
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| The conference to which Stephen Hawking was invited, along with Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and hundreds of others, is not an academic meeting and his decision to decline the invitation does not constitute an academic boycott of Israel (Chomsky told Hawking to boycott conference in Israel, activists reveal, 11 May). A scientist of Hawking's eminence will certainly know that the international code that governs the conduct of all scientists requires them to refrain from discrimination "based on such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political or other opinion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age" (statute 5 of the International Council for Science). This professional code forbids academic boycotts on grounds of nationality. Michael Yudkin Denis Noble Oxford | The conference to which Stephen Hawking was invited, along with Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and hundreds of others, is not an academic meeting and his decision to decline the invitation does not constitute an academic boycott of Israel (Chomsky told Hawking to boycott conference in Israel, activists reveal, 11 May). A scientist of Hawking's eminence will certainly know that the international code that governs the conduct of all scientists requires them to refrain from discrimination "based on such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political or other opinion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age" (statute 5 of the International Council for Science). This professional code forbids academic boycotts on grounds of nationality. Michael Yudkin Denis Noble Oxford |
| • I suggest that a boycott by UK academics of an official meeting in Israel be avoided. It would only worsen the isolation of the Israeli government, which already borders on insanity. Instead, a meeting should be arranged in Israel of UK academics opposed to Israel's policies, inviting similarly thinking Israeli and Arab academics. A resolution could then be drawn up and published, suggesting alternative policies. Dr Robert Dourmashkin London | • I suggest that a boycott by UK academics of an official meeting in Israel be avoided. It would only worsen the isolation of the Israeli government, which already borders on insanity. Instead, a meeting should be arranged in Israel of UK academics opposed to Israel's policies, inviting similarly thinking Israeli and Arab academics. A resolution could then be drawn up and published, suggesting alternative policies. Dr Robert Dourmashkin London |
| • You comment (Business analysis, 8 May) that the drop in G4S profit level to 6.5% is "the worst outcome since 2006 and has arrived out of the blue". Might not part of the explanation be, as the Financial Times recently noted, that G4S is the subject of increasing levels of protest, divestment activity and "reputational damage" across Europe and the Middle East as a result of its continuing involvement in the security apparatus of Israel's illegal settlements in the Palestinian West Bank? Michael French Wolverhampton | • You comment (Business analysis, 8 May) that the drop in G4S profit level to 6.5% is "the worst outcome since 2006 and has arrived out of the blue". Might not part of the explanation be, as the Financial Times recently noted, that G4S is the subject of increasing levels of protest, divestment activity and "reputational damage" across Europe and the Middle East as a result of its continuing involvement in the security apparatus of Israel's illegal settlements in the Palestinian West Bank? Michael French Wolverhampton |
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