For science

1995/10/01 Aizpurua Sarasola, Joxerra Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia
• Ingurumena

According to the statements of the French Prime Minister on television, the nuclear programs being carried out in Mururo only seek the accumulation of scientific data. In addition, it indicated that the trials will end with the satisfaction of scientific curiosity.

Under this argument, a direct statement can be added to most scientists, that is, “theoretical developments in science require practical trials that not only allow it to affirm theories, but can lead to changes in theory or unexpected results.”

I am also of that opinion, that is, I believe that the theoretical and practical sciences must be as parallel as possible. But what is happening in Mururo, is it a scientific essay?

Many of the advances we currently have in Western society have been achieved through the development of science. Sometimes, scientific projects have been driven by human needs, but in most cases the reason for being has been another; in short, the improvement of States' defense systems has been the engine of research. The most important technological advances have focused on wars and armaments. But what seems contradictory is that from this science that has sought to destroy, control or dominate enemies, products and systems have been used in many occasions to make the living conditions of the human being more comfortable.

Mururo's nuclear tests should be placed in the aforementioned context. For the French government, what is endangered in these trials is very small next to the benefit that can be obtained. France will get to know nuclear technology better and the rest of the world will learn about France's defensive and attacking capabilities. It is evident that this knowledge will have consequences in international political and economic relations. Comparing these achievements with the wake of an area of square kilometers in a lost place in the world is ridiculous for the French government and the rest of Europe, because we must not forget that in the current general policy Europe works more and more in a compatible way.

The death capacity of the nuclear industry in nuclear tests is evident and for many it is sufficient reason to claim its disappearance. I too, in the conditions in which we are, am of that opinion and I do not want in the name of science to develop projects involving death.

However, in a hypothetical human-oriented scientific environment, the nuclear industry would have many benefits for humans in fields as diverse as disease treatment, energy progress, materials manufacturing, space research, etc.

Today, to think that the human being will be the goal of science is nothing more than a dream, since more than one will say that it is impossible to change the sense of the science of death to the human being. I am aware of the difficulty of this work, but those who believe in human beings cannot accept disability at all.

Examples should always be taken as an example, but did you know that today the famous INTERNET, which offers a fluid way of communication among the people of the world, was born as a communication tool of the U.S. military?