[Passed] GA Resolution: Access To Scientific Knowledge

[Markanite]

Access To Scientific Knowledge

A resolution to promote funding and the development of education and the arts.

Category: Education and Creativity

Resolution: Educational

Proposed by: Hulldom

The General Assembly,

Recognizing the ever-present imbalance in the growth of states, especially when it comes to scientific development; and

Believing the solution to that imbalance presents itself in the public dissemination of scientific knowledge throughout all member states;

Hereby:

Defines “sciences” for the purpose of this resolution as the academic study of natural phenomena and processes, social functions and relationships, and thought about those categories.

Establishes the Council for Scientific Dissemination (CSD).

Mandates that member states provide the CSD with data and research in the sciences, published in peer-reviewed journals and meeting appropriate standards for replicability - barring that which is classified for the purposes of national security, defense, or represents a proprietary trade secret.

Requires that member states additionally provide the CSD with any government-funded research and data in the sciences - barring that which is classified for the purposes of national security, defense, or represents a proprietary trade secret.

Obligates all member states to provide the CSD with sufficient reasoning for the classification and thus withholding of materials as per Articles 3 and 4. The CSD shall determine the sufficiency of any arguments provided by member states in accordance with the following criteria:

Whether the dissemination of materials would result in a threat to national security, and/or

Whether the dissemination of materials would result in severe, potentially irrecoverable damage to a member state’s economy.

States that the CSD shall:

Coordinate with member states to ensure that all research and data received meets the standards of peer review and replicability.

Coordinate with other offices and bureaus established by this august World Assembly to provide them with research and data relevant to their mandates.

Establish a easily searchable database of the received data and research in the sciences that is available to the general public.

Co-authors: Greater Cesnica, Thousand Branches

This is the discussion thread. To cast your vote, go HERE

[Vivolkha]

While I'm fully supportive of a resolution on this topic... this is not it.

The General Assembly,

Recognizing the ever-present imbalance in the growth of states, especially when it comes to scientific development; and

Believing the solution to that imbalance presents itself in the public dissemination of scientific knowledge throughout all member states;

This is just blatantly false. The imbalance in the growth of states largely depends how competently a nation (and its economy) is run by its government, including its regulation of the economy, the guarantee of political stability, and the provision of quality education to its citizens. This introduction also seems supportive of "bottom-up" development, which is simply impossible: without the above preconditions described, sustaniabe economic growth and development is flat-out impossible, full stop. This is why all real-life nations have developed in a top-down manner and continue to do so today, and also the reason why World Bank attempts at bottom-up development have resulted in nothing but the growth of loan sharks in countries like Cambodia.

But whatever, at the end of the day this is just an introduction that doesn't actually do anything, so I wouldn't vote Against because of that. But then comes this:

5. Obligates all member states to provide the CSD with sufficient reasoning for the classification and thus withholding of materials as per Articles 3 and 4. The CSD shall determine the sufficiency of any arguments provided by member states in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Whether the dissemination of materials would result in a threat to national security, and/or
2. Whether the dissemination of materials would result in severe, potentially irrecoverable damage to a member state’s economy.

This is an extreme attack on national sovereignty. The WA can not decide what information can a nation classify for its own security or economic stability. This clause alone precludes any support I might give to this proposal.

Against.

[Xanthorrhoea]

I find myself rather convinced by Wally’s arguments about privacy agreements. While I generally support a resolution addressing this, it needs to be more explicit about data de-identification.

[Markanite]

Access to Scientific Knowledge was passed 12,969 votes to 3,307.