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[td]Professor Stephen Hawking is backing the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
Hawking, 71, the world-renowned theoretical physicist and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, had accepted an invitation to headline the fifth annual president's conference, Facing Tomorrow, in June, which features major international personalities, attracts thousands of participants and this year will celebrate Peres's 90th birthday.
Hawking is in very poor health, but last week he wrote a brief letter to the Israeli president to say he had changed his mind. He has not announced his decision publicly, but a statement published by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine with Hawking's approval described it as "his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there".
Hawking's decision marks another victory in the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions targeting Israeli academic institutions.[/td]
[td][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/52SJXBN.jpg?1[/IMG][/td]
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[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/stephen-hawking-israel-academic-boycott[/url]
Good.
I wish we could help Hawking to get better. He's one of the few people I would agree with getting "special treatment" over others, because even from entirely pragmatic view, he has shown his worth quite a few times.
I like your usage of tables, btw.
How is an academic boycott even remotely helpful?
While academic institutions in Israel are funded partially by the state of Israel, they are some of the biggest centers of pluralism and diversity there are in the country. They're also a hub for a lot of left-wing supporting individuals who actively object the treatment of Palestinians in the west bank and in Gaza. The vast majority of academics and students in universities in Israel object Israel's actions in the occupied territories.
An academic boycott against them is a clear dumb, knee-jerk reaction that serves absolutely nothing (except maybe leading to academics leaving Israel, leaving only the right-wing nationalists in charge). You might as well boycott [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B'Tselem]B'Tselem[/url] while you're at it.
We should boycott the entire country.
Build walls around it and put severe sanctions on them so that no goods, including food and medical supplies can't flow in and out of the country.
oh wait, that kinda sounds like... nvm.
[QUOTE=Stalk;40569325]We should boycott the entire country.
Build walls around it and put severe sanctions on them so that no goods, including food and medical supplies can't flow in and out of the country.
oh wait, that kinda sounds like... nvm.[/QUOTE]
If shit goes wrong, just get Snake Plissken.
[QUOTE=Stalk;40569325]We should boycott the entire country.
Build walls around it and put severe sanctions on them so that no goods, including food and medical supplies can't flow in and out of the country.
oh wait, that kinda sounds like... nvm.[/QUOTE]
this is either a bad joke or a stupid false equivalency.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569287]How is an academic boycott even remotely helpful?
While academic institutions in Israel are funded partially by the state of Israel, they are some of the biggest centers of pluralism and diversity there are in the country. They're also a hub for a lot of left-wing supporting individuals who actively object the treatment of Palestinians in the west bank and in Gaza. The vast majority of academics and students in universities in Israel object Israel's actions in the occupied territories.
An academic boycott against them is a clear dumb, knee-jerk reaction that serves absolutely nothing (except maybe leading to academics leaving Israel, leaving only the right-wing nationalists in charge). You might as well boycott [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B'Tselem]B'Tselem[/url] while you're at it.[/QUOTE]
I think the political message is what's important. The risk of a stagnating academic system might force political leaders to shift their stance or at least nudge the public and raise their awareness of what's going on.
[QUOTE=Lazor;40569353]this is either a bad joke or a stupid false equivalency.[/QUOTE]
None really. Either you will find it funny, reject it or get a tiny bit wiser.
Can you figure out which two ideologies that have to a "varying extent" done this and are doing it right now?
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569399]I think the political message is what's important. The risk of a stagnating academic system might force political leaders to shift their stance or at least nudge the public and raise their awareness of what's going on.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, like how the blockade on Gaza stopped rockets from going into Israel, or how the economic sanctions and boycotts on Iran caused it to completely halt its nuclear program.
Boycotts are an act of revenge that serves nothing than to further antagonize the civilian population, and especially this one. I mean, your'e targeting institutions that are in charge of [b]education[/b] for crying out loud. What results do you expect other than an uneducated population?
71 years old, not bad for someone with his disabilities.
[QUOTE=Stalk;40569428]None really. Either you will find it funny, reject it or get a tiny bit wiser.
Can you figure out which two ideologies that have to a "varying extent" done this and are doing it right now?[/QUOTE]
military blockades aren't even remotely comparable to boycotts
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569524]Yeah, like how the blockade on Gaza stopped rockets from going into Israel, or how the economic sanctions and boycotts on Iran caused it to completely halt its nuclear program.
Boycotts are an act of revenge that serves nothing than to further antagonize the civilian population, and especially this one. I mean, your'e targeting institutions that are in charge of [b]education[/b] for crying out loud. What results do you expect other than an uneducated population?[/QUOTE]
I dunno, the rest of the world have tried telling them to stop being dicks and they didn't listen to that, so a academic boycott wouldn't make any difference.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569524]Yeah, like how the blockade on Gaza stopped rockets from going into Israel, or how the economic sanctions and boycotts on Iran caused it to completely halt its nuclear program.
Boycotts are an act of revenge that serves nothing than to further antagonize the civilian population, and especially this one. I mean, your'e targeting institutions that are in charge of [b]education[/b] for crying out loud. What results do you expect other than an uneducated population?[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but last I checked developing new technologies required scientific breakthroughs.
What technologies Israelis excel at developing would be anyone's guess.
[QUOTE]In the four weeks since Hawking's participation in the Jerusalem event was announced, he has been bombarded with messages from Britain and abroad as part of an intense campaign by boycott supporters trying to persuade him to change his mind.
Hawking's decision met with abusive responses on Facebook, with many commentators focusing on his physical condition, and some accusing him of antisemitism.[/QUOTE]
So basically he got a shitload of hatemail either way
congrats everybody
[QUOTE=Van-man;40569606]I dunno, the rest of the world have tried telling them to stop being dicks and they didn't listen to that, [b]so a academic boycott wouldn't make any difference.[/b][/QUOTE]
Except it might make the situation even worse. So we effectively have nothing to gain here.
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569657]I'm sorry but last I checked developing new technologies required scientific breakthroughs.
What technologies Israelis excel at developing would be anyone's guess.[/QUOTE]
"Science and technology in Israel is one of the country's most developed sectors. The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D) in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), is amongst the highest in the world. Israel ranks fourth in the world in scientific activity as measured by the number of scientific publications per million citizens. Israel's percentage of the total number of scientific articles published worldwide is almost 10 times higher than its percentage of the world's population. Israel boasts the highest number of scientists, technicians, and engineers per capita in the world with 140 scientists, technicians, and engineers per 10,000 employees. In comparison, the same is 85 per 10,000 in the United States and 83 per 10,000 in Japan.
Israeli scientists have contributed to the advancement of agriculture, computer sciences, electronics, genetics, medicine, optics, solar energy and various fields of engineering. Israel is home to major players in the high-tech industry and has one of the world's most technologically-literate populations. In 1998, Tel Aviv was named by Newsweek as one of the ten most technologically influential cities in the world.[7] Since 2000, Israel has been a member of EUREKA, the pan-European research and development funding and coordination organization, and holds the rotating chairmanship of the organization for 2010–2011.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Israel[/url]
Yeah, lets reduce Israel's scientific literacy! That would help things, right?
Also, how is that related to anything I said?
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569524]Yeah, like how the blockade on Gaza stopped rockets from going into Israel, or how the economic sanctions and boycotts on Iran caused it to completely halt its nuclear program.
Boycotts are an act of revenge that serves nothing than to further antagonize the civilian population, and especially this one. I mean, your'e targeting institutions that are in charge of [b]education[/b] for crying out loud. What results do you expect other than an uneducated population?[/QUOTE]
What came first. The stealing of land or the rockets?
Nuclear weapons is not the reason why there are sanctions on Iran. The nuclear program itself is there so that Iran can become more independent.
The true reason behind the sanctions & fear/hate mongering is because they are selling their oil in other currencies and not the dollar.
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569657]
What technologies Israelis excel at developing would be anyone's guess.[/QUOTE]
uh
not really
unless you're just deliberately ignorant
More fuel for the FP anti-Israel bandwagon bonfire
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569672]Also, how is that related to anything I said?[/QUOTE]
[quote]your'e targeting institutions that are in charge of [b]education[/b] for crying out loud. What results do you expect other than an uneducated population?[/quote]
Education is a means to an end, and technology is bound to application. In this case the application is quite obvious.
A nation is bound to use its resources to make sure it continues to thrive. That nation currently thrives on the slow death of another.
Hawking has been to Israel four times previously, and visited other countries with appalling Human Rights records despite similar protest - what's changed?
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569816]Education is a means to an end, and technology is bound to application.[/QUOTE]
Did you just use the "Technology leads to death" argument? Seriously?
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569816]A nation is bound to use its resources to make sure it continues to thrive. That nation currently thrives on the slow death of another.[/QUOTE]
What do you think this is, fucking starcraft?
[b]Israeli Universities and academic institutions are actively attempting to stop Israeli activities in the occupied territories.[/b] What possible benefit do you get from going against them other than fulfilling your revenge fantasies?
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569891]Did you just use the "Technology leads to death" argument? Seriously?[/QUOTE]
No, but handing a loaded gun to sadistic bastard is a bad idea.
[quote]What do you think this is, fucking starcraft?
[b]Israeli Universities and academic institutions are actively attempting to stop Israeli activities in the occupied territories.[/b] [/quote]
Even if that's true, it's certainly not working.
[QUOTE]What possible benefit do you get from going against them other than fulfilling your revenge fantasies?[/QUOTE]
Revenge fantasies?
[QUOTE=voodooattack;40569956]No, but handing a loaded gun to sadistic bastard is a bad idea.[/QUOTE]
That's it. I'm done.
If you seriously compare a liberal, scientific institution that promotes equality and education to a "loaded gun" you're clearly either an idiot or extremely biased. Either way, i'm wasting my time by continuing to argue with you.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569996]That's it. I'm done.
If you seriously compare a liberal, scientific institution that promotes equality and education to a "loaded gun" you're clearly either an idiot or extremely biased. Either way, i'm wasting my time by continuing to argue with you.[/QUOTE]
I'm extremely biased against injustice.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569287]How is an academic boycott even remotely helpful?
While academic institutions in Israel are funded partially by the state of Israel, they are some of the biggest centers of pluralism and diversity there are in the country. They're also a hub for a lot of left-wing supporting individuals who actively object the treatment of Palestinians in the west bank and in Gaza. The vast majority of academics and students in universities in Israel object Israel's actions in the occupied territories.
An academic boycott against them is a clear dumb, knee-jerk reaction that serves absolutely nothing (except maybe leading to academics leaving Israel, leaving only the right-wing nationalists in charge). You might as well boycott [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B'Tselem]B'Tselem[/url] while you're at it.[/QUOTE]
I know that the boycotts by Australian institutions are based around disagreements with Israeli institutions that have satellite campuses on occupied territories, ones which individual university schools would have to engage with if they decided to work together on research.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40569851]revenge is stupid[/QUOTE]
Yeah it is really damn stupid. But it is a natural reaction when somebody comes into your life and fucks shit up.
Both sides are throwing rockets. firecrackers vs missiles.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40569851]also it's stupid to generalize the entire history of israel as "land theft", quit falling for ultra-liberal buzzwords and pick up a history book. at least skim through the wikipedia article for christs sake.[/QUOTE]
Stop using buzzwords like ultra-liberal you ultra-nationalistic freak. You are only defending this because you feel proud over a little delusion that have been planted in your mind since birth. - ( Did that sound fair? no. )
It is not a generalization, It is the very thing that is happening.
You won't learn much by "Skimming" through wikipedia.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40569851]and nobody wants iran to be independent because they're a rouge dictatorship that publicly hangs civilians and is actively oppressing their own citizens. the country is an unstable mess of corruption, dissent and oppression, throwing nuclear capability into the mix is literally taking a pile of shit and throwing it against a fan.[/QUOTE]
Almost every nation in that area is a "rouge state", such a simplified word and concept... Isreal is one of them is just as "rougish" as its neighbours. They are just using diffrient badboy methods.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40569851]no stop it with this nonsense. there is no "true reason", the EU and US tightened sanctions because they did not believe iran was developing nuclear capability for the sake of 'peace', and they're absolutely right.[/QUOTE]
It is the truest of truths.
WDMs that, dicatorships this. All of that is the finest pile of shit ever constructed by western media. The real cause is fiat currency and debt mixed with oil.
Don't want to become a slave under the petrodollar? yep were gonna totally fuck you up with sanctions, proxy war, invasions and lies.
[QUOTE=Lonestriper;40570155]I know that the boycotts by Australian institutions are based around disagreements with Israeli institutions that have satellite campuses on occupied territories, ones which individual university schools would have to engage with if they decided to work together on research.[/QUOTE]
Fine, then they should stop collaborating with the affiliated institutions on those matters. But to outright boycott [b]all[/b] of the academic institutes in Israel is an insult to the contribution and effort the people in them put into changing the Israeli policy towards the Palestinians.
Also, what scientific institutions do some of the Australian ones refuse to cooperate with?
I personally think that the reason he is not attending the conference is because of ill-health and nothing else really.
He has been to Israel several times in the past and his health has been deteriorating recently. If you look at the source that says he's 'boycotting' it, it doesn't look to trustworthy - Whats more likely is that they found out he was not going (for an unspecified reason) and then decided to try to push for publicity for their cause.
[url]http://www.bricup.org.uk/[/url]
The key phrase is 'We understand', to me it implies no direct knowledge but more assumptions. Though if anyone can find a direct source from (Stephen Hawking or his publicists) him saying otherwise I assume that they made it up.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;40569287]How is an academic boycott even remotely helpful?
While academic institutions in Israel are funded partially by the state of Israel, they are some of the biggest centers of pluralism and diversity there are in the country. They're also a hub for a lot of left-wing supporting individuals who actively object the treatment of Palestinians in the west bank and in Gaza. The vast majority of academics and students in universities in Israel object Israel's actions in the occupied territories.
An academic boycott against them is a clear dumb, knee-jerk reaction that serves absolutely nothing (except maybe leading to academics leaving Israel, leaving only the right-wing nationalists in charge). You might as well boycott [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B'Tselem]B'Tselem[/url] while you're at it.[/QUOTE]
Boycotts aren't always completely fair, but there always still reasons to commit to one. I think the deciding factor on this one is that conference was being hosted by Shimon Peres.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40570537]no it isn't. do you have any idea how many different civilizations and ethnicities ruled a patch of land called Israel over the centuries?[/QUOTE]
I am well aware of this. But what really matters is what nation was there before UN gave green light for the creation of Isreal.
[QUOTE=Retardation;40570537]yeah ok buddy it's a good thing you're "enlightened" to all the realpolitik going on behind our backs, it's all about that oil and the media got us all tricked[/QUOTE]
enlightned no. sceptical yes.
They are doing a really good job at it. Mainstream media never even mentions the connection between oil and the dollar. For a good reason of course. If they did, people would quickly understand the reasoning behind every conflict in the middle east that have been going on during the past few decades. People would also realize what it is that truly defines what power is in this time and age is. It is the very lack of media coverage, that makes is the strongest evidence for this.
We humans have on a global scale built an entire civilization and economy based around oil. What would you be able to control, if you had all the oil?
Dictators, WDMs, chemical weapons, religion and red lines means nothing, other then promoting an agenda.
Why are the West supporting arabic dictatorships and monarchies who also opress their people? Why is Iran, Syria, and former Iraq the bad boys? because they refused to use the dollar to trade their oil with. Everyone is the bad guy.
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