Comments on: Two more case studies, an article, and a message http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/ "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed." - UNESCO Constitution Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:15:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: United States of America http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-51 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:34:00 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-51 The USA agrees with Sweden. Money is obviously a big motivator but we can turn it to our advantage. Why not reap the benefits of all parties, by which we mean, let those who do the research conduct it and maybe offer incentives to motivate them even further. We can turn this into an unstoppable entity, but a safe one at that. We are the ones that have the possibility to make this possible. We need cooperation but let those who are already doing the work continue, just make sure that it is in a practical,, ethical, efficient, productive manner. The USA agrees with Sweden. Money is obviously a big motivator but we can turn it to our advantage. Why not reap the benefits of all parties, by which we mean, let those who do the research conduct it and maybe offer incentives to motivate them even further. We can turn this into an unstoppable entity, but a safe one at that.

We are the ones that have the possibility to make this possible. We need cooperation but let those who are already doing the work continue, just make sure that it is in a practical,, ethical, efficient, productive manner.

]]> by: Sweden http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-50 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:57:31 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-50 Sweden would like agree with the U.S. and U.K. that money is, indeed, a prime motivator for many private and state-sponsored enterprises. However, this does not ensure ethical behavior. On the contrary, money often results in egregous digressions from moral standards. So, yes, the products will undoubtedly be beneficial (as proved in the Rosy Periwinkle case study), but will will the means justify the ends (once again, referring to the treatment of the indigenous people in the case study)? That is an important facet of the committee that seems to be overlooked here. Sweden would like agree with the U.S. and U.K. that money is, indeed, a prime motivator for many private and state-sponsored enterprises. However, this does not ensure ethical behavior. On the contrary, money often results in egregous digressions from moral standards. So, yes, the products will undoubtedly be beneficial (as proved in the Rosy Periwinkle case study), but will will the means justify the ends (once again, referring to the treatment of the indigenous people in the case study)? That is an important facet of the committee that seems to be overlooked here.

]]> by: Germany http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-48 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:51:37 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-48 The Rosy Periwinkle case treads into the realm of indigenous knowledge preservation, which really does pertain to the first topic. It is not only their genetic data that is of concern, but also their knowledge of local resources that would be a valuable commodity to the rest of the world. The importance of such resources undermines the fact that the indigenous peoples are usually excluded from most intellectual property rights law. It is difficult to conduct benefit-sharing effectively due to communication barriers and lack of understanding of intellectual property rights by some indigenous peoples because some communities feel that the knowledge is meant for the community and cannot be owned. The Rosy Periwinkle case treads into the realm of indigenous knowledge preservation, which really does pertain to the first topic. It is not only their genetic data that is of concern, but also their knowledge of local resources that would be a valuable commodity to the rest of the world. The importance of such resources undermines the fact that the indigenous peoples are usually excluded from most intellectual property rights law.

It is difficult to conduct benefit-sharing effectively due to communication barriers and lack of understanding of intellectual property rights by some indigenous peoples because some communities feel that the knowledge is meant for the community and cannot be owned.

]]> by: United Kingdom http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-47 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:33:03 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-47 United Kingdom agrees that money is a big motive for both improvements and wrongdoings such as unfair commendation to then indigenous people of a race or nation. The first article stresses this very important point and it should be important that the indigenous people of a race receive credit for their genetic contribution to a study or finding. There are many places throughout the world that provide information on the genetics or a certain race or culture and companies are given access to these sources of information and use them to their own advantage. In order to allow the indigenous people of a race to receive compensation for their contributions to medicine and science, companies should have restricted acess to their genetic information in the first place. United Kingdom agrees that money is a big motive for both improvements and wrongdoings such as unfair commendation to then indigenous people of a race or nation.

The first article stresses this very important point and it should be important that the indigenous people of a race receive credit for their genetic contribution to a study or finding. There are many places throughout the world that provide information on the genetics or a certain race or culture and companies are given access to these sources of information and use them to their own advantage.

In order to allow the indigenous people of a race to receive compensation for their contributions to medicine and science, companies should have restricted acess to their genetic information in the first place.

]]> by: United States of America http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-45 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:24:52 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/11/two-more-case-studies-an-article-and-a-message/#comment-45 Of course, the United States of America wants people to go for quality of quantity or in this case, money, however, we do see potential in the money aspect. Researchers will be encouraged to create better products that they can patent so they can make more money, but, their carelessness or disregard for safety may also result. We see potential in having this sort of competition, assuming we can monitor it from a distance and make sure that nothing dangerous is coming out of their research. Researchers will be motivated by the money aspect to one-up each other and try to make better products, which would result in better medicine among other things. We just need to make sure that their are no negative side effects and that researchers are not getting careless. This problem can solve itself with a little bit of help, as long as we keep a distance but are not to far away. Of course, the United States of America wants people to go for quality of quantity or in this case, money, however, we do see potential in the money aspect. Researchers will be encouraged to create better products that they can patent so they can make more money, but, their carelessness or disregard for safety may also result.

We see potential in having this sort of competition, assuming we can monitor it from a distance and make sure that nothing dangerous is coming out of their research. Researchers will be motivated by the money aspect to one-up each other and try to make better products, which would result in better medicine among other things. We just need to make sure that their are no negative side effects and that researchers are not getting careless.

This problem can solve itself with a little bit of help, as long as we keep a distance but are not to far away.

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