Re: Chemicals in Sweden guilty until proven innocent

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Wed Dec 13 2000 - 06:40:21 MST


phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu (Damien Raphael Sullivan) writes:

> >From _Science_: 1 Dec 2000:
>
> Sweden has new rules; persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals will
> be presumed dangerous until proven otherwise, and banned from use.
> This rules will be applied to chemicals in use, not just old ones.

Hmm, this might have interesting effects on the sale of fat food ;-)

> Seems pretty reasonable to me, actually. But then I spent the day
> learning about milk-based paint and low-impact household cleansers
> (hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt
> (abrasive)).

When formulated as above, the precautionary principle isn't entirely
stupid. If something is persistent and tends to accumulate in living
tissue, then we better make sure it is safe. Past experiences with
pesticides show that this can be a very bad thing.

What worries me is that the precautionary principle is being applied
indiscriminately, even when there is no or very weak reasons to think
that there is any risk. It is a favorite tool of the technocrats and
reactionaries/luddites, the former because it gives them the chance to
regulate things, the later because it is a simple, powerful way of
blocking anything new using the fear button ("But you don't *know* if
GM food will have long term effects!"). Also, by accepting it in one
area it can be more easily applied in other areas too (have you
checked that your new software doesn't cause ergonomic or social side
effects?).

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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