今年のことですが1月 、5月 (資
料１）の2度ほどHarvard大学関係の活動に参加しました。
1月の会議は何か出版されたわけではありませんが、5月の会議 の報告はChatham House Rule で参加者内部の文書として作成されました。参加者の一人の栗原さんが「黒川教授の話で笑ってしまった、、」（p.3 の左カラム） と書いていますが、私にとっては「うれしい名誉」なことです。
この部分の短い記述がありますのでここで以下に紹介します。
Session 2: Biotech Models for Development
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‘Panelist Kiyoshi Kurokawa, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Japan, addressed the issue of biotechnology by first delineating some key issues related to its development ? globalization, food and water, environment, and biodiversity ? and then discussing some of the challenges facing countries interested in advancing biotech. Citing Ghana and Botswana as examples, Kurokawa argued that developing countries have little need for the newest and most scientifically intricate technologies, like genetic recombination. Rather, they need simple technologies that can be used to improve the quality of life for local people.
Kurokawa advocated the deployment of existing technology to address the most severe of world crises, like food and water shortage. Such use of technology could also result in bottom-up growth and benefit social entrepreneurs. Again emphasizing the local, Kurokawa further argued that biotech enterprises should also consider how “indigenous knowledge” might propel new developments in biotechnology. Local remedies, like the use of bark to treat malaria in China or of aspirin, have the potential to help biotechnology better address the “big needs” of the world today.’
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‘In the discussion that followed, Kurokawa re-emphasized his position that while frontier science contributes important discoveries, these discoveries should be shared and there should be a collective effort to apply new advancements to the betterment of the human condition.’
もうひとつは、Harvard Asia Center の発行する「Harvard Asia Quarterly」 に依頼された原稿で友人のWilliam Saitoさん と書いた以下のタイトルとサマリーのCommentaryです。
Global Climate Change:
The Interconnection with Medical Technology and Health Care
Medicine, along with culture and technology, can both cause and resolve the problem of climate change. Medicine has helped reduce infant mortality and increase longevity, thus contributing to overpopulation which results in excessive pollution and resource consumption. But it can also help solve these problems by providing better forms of contraception and education.
原稿の全体は約7,000 wordsとちょっと長いですが、時間のあるときにでも読んでいただければ幸甚です。
