-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fwd: Physics researcher refuses to review for American journals] Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 19:24:09 -0500 From: Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> To: Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu>
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Physics researcher refuses to review for American journals Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:53:59 -0700 From: Phil Gasper <pgasper at NDNU.EDU> Reply-To: Science for the People Discussion List<SCIENCE-FOR-THE-PEOPLE at LIST.UVM.EDU> To: SCIENCE-FOR-THE-PEOPLE at LIST.UVM.EDU
This is the exchange of correspondence between Dr. Daniel Amit and
Dr. Martin Blume of Physical Review E regarding the former's reasons
for boycotting his services from Physical Review, the premier journal
of physics research. Dr Amit has encouraged spreading his position
widely.
____________________________________________________________________
> Dr. Daniel Amit
> Univ. di Roma
> La Sapienza
> Ple Aldo Moro 2
> 00185 Roma, ITALY
>
> Electronic URL-Download Referral from Physical Review E
>
> Code: EA8932
> Title: Transitions in oscillatory dynamics of two connected
> neurons with excitatory synapses
>
> Received 08 January 2003
>
> Dear Dr. Amit:
>
> We would appreciate your review of this manuscript, which has
> been submitted to Physical Review E. This message is the
> COMPLETE REFERRAL. No hardcopy will be sent unless requested.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: "Daniel Amit" <daniel.amit at roma1.infn.it>
> To: "Physical Review E" <pre at ridge.aps.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 6:11 PM
> Subject: Re: Review_request AMIT EA8932 Roudi
>
>
> I will not at this point correspond with any american institution.
>
> Some of us have lived through 1939.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: "martin blume" <blume at aps.org>
> To: <daniel.amit at roma1.infn.it>; <damita at green.fiz.huji.ac.il>
> Subject: your email to the American Physical Society
> Date: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 10:31 PM
>
> Dear Dr. Amit,
>
> We have received your email with your decision not to review a paper for
> us in light of American actions in the middle east. We recognize that
> reviewing manuscripts is a voluntary activity, one that you perform as a
> service to the physics community, and we thank you for your efforts.
> Given the voluntary nature of your participation we of course respect
> your decision to cease, and have made an indication in our database so
> that no further papers will be sent to you for review until you inform
> us otherwise.
> We ask, however, that you consider the following in hopes that in the
> not too distant future you will decide to review for us again. We regard
> science as an international enterprise and we do our best to put aside
> political disagreements in the interest of furthering the pursuit of
> scientific matters. We have never used other than scientific criteria in
> judging the acceptability of a paper for publication, without regard to
> the country of origin of the author. We have done this even in cases
> where some of us have disagreed strongly with the policies of that
> country, and we will continue this practice. We believe it is essential
> that all parties involved make every effort to separate social and
> political differences from their participation in scientific research
> and publication. The pursuit of scientific knowledge needs to transcend
> such issues.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Martin Blume
> Editor-in-Chief
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Dr Blume, Editor in Chief
> American Physical Society
>
> 09.04.2003
>
>
> Thank you for you letter of April 8. I would have liked to be able
>to share the honorable sentiments you express in your letter as well
>as your optimism in the future role of science and the scientific
>community. To be frank, and with much sadness and pain, after 40
>years of activity and collaboration, I find very little reason for
>such optimism.>
>
> What we are watching today, I believe, is a culmination of 10-15
>years of mounting barbarism of the American culture the world over,
>crowned by the achievements of science and technology as a major
>weapon of mass destruction. We are witnessing man hunt and wanton
>killing of the type and scale not seen since the raids on American
>Indian populations, by a superior technological power of inferior
>culture and values. We see no corrective force to restore the
>insanity, the self-righteousness and the lack of respect for human
>life (civilian and military) of another race.
>
> Science cannot stay neutral, especially after it has been so
>cynically used in the hands of the inspectors to disarm a country
>and prepare it for decimation by laser guided cluster bombs. No,
>science of the American variety has no recourse. I, personally,
>cannot see myself anymore sharing a common human community with
>American science. Unfortunately, I also belong to a culture of a
>similar spiritual deviation (Israel), and which seems to be equally
>incorrigible.
>
> In desperation I cannot but turn my attention to other tragic
>periods in which major societies, some with claims to fundamental
>contributions to culture and science, have deviated so far as to be
>relegated to ostracism and quarantine. At this point I think
>American society should be considered in this category. I have no
>illusions of power, as to the scope and prospect of my attitude.
>But, the minor role of my act and statement is a simple way of
>affirming that in the face of a growing enormity which I consider
>intolerable, I will exercise my own tiny act of disobedience to be
>able to look straight into the eyes of my grandchildren and my
>students and say that I did know.
>
> With regard
>
> Daniel Amit
>
> PS I intend to distribute our exchange as much as possible. I
>authorize and pray that you do the same.