May 17, 2000 / PA News / Charlotte Gapper and Padraic Flanagan
Environmental campaigners were cited as today welcoming the Prince of Wales's warning about the perils of tampering with nature researchers criticised his message.
Charles says in a Reith lecture to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 tonight that a world which ignores the "essential unity" of the living and spiritual universes is doomed.
The story says that the forthright tone of his lecture, which also takes a swipe at biotechnology, may also prompt a further rift between St James's Palace and the Government, which continues to support genetically modified food.
Friends of the Earth policy and campaigns director Tony Juniper was cited as saying it was an important speech, adding, "While most mainstream commentators have lost the plot, the Prince of Wales has hit the nail firmly on the head. The big issues are simply not being addressed in policy and thank goodness someone in the establishmet is prepared to say what those issues are. Science and technology have limits and are not meeting the needs of people or the environment, and we are pleased that he is prepared to say that. The Prince of Wales's continuing contribution to the sustainable development debate is vitally important and we welcome it."
Charles wrote the 2,300-word essay, extracts of which are published in several newspapers today, during his recent pilgrimage to a remote Greek monastery.
The story says that Charles welcomes a "precautionary approach" to scientific advances and mocks those who portray it as a sign of weakness or an attempt to halt progress, saying: "I believe it to be a sign of strength and wisdom."
Professor of medical genetics at Cambridge University Martin Bobrow was quoted as saying, "I think it is extremely unhelpful to convey a general attitude of being antagonistic to a scientific process. Science is about inventing things and understanding what we do know and what we don't know. I believe there could be great benefits. I believe there are potential dangers and I think it is important that we should concentrate on both but keep a balance rather than just presenting a general impression of antagonism."
John Burn, professor of clinical genetics at Newcastle University and a member of the Human Genetics Commission was quoted as saying, "I think that he is reflecting an unease with the pace of change and I think that is understandable, but we must resist the tendency to say everyone has to stop changing. What we are looking at now is a revolutionary change in our understanding of life in every respect."
Executive director of Greenpeace UK Lord Melchett was quoted as saying, "My view is that it is about time somebody pointed out how bereft of humanity and human values it is for people to claim that they can take decisions simply on the basis of what they call 'sound science.' I think that approach is a denial of civilised human values, whether those values are religious or beliefs or emotions. These things matter to people."
(posted without permission)
