Fifth B.I.O. International Conference, Istanbul, May 1992

RESOLUTIONS

At the end of the Fifth B.I.O. International Conference, the following resolutions were unanimously accepted by all participants, who first and foremost pledged complete support to the B.I.O. goals:

- the International University for the Bio-Environment constitutes the primary effort of the B.I.O. and needs to be used as the tool to implement the goals of the B.I.O. as stated in all previous conferences and resulting publications, since those include the commitment of representatives from 54 countries

- the biopolitics vision must be urgently implemented. This includes the sensitisation of all media, communications, educational institutions, representatives from industries and governments and decision makers in all levels of vertical responsibility on the need to place in the core of action and learning the respect for the bio-environment as a new value system

- this reform should be an on going process contributing to the harmonious coexistence of all forms of life and shifting from anthropocentric to biocentric values (bio-economics, bio-culture, bio-ethics, bio-legislation, bio-architecture, bio-theology)

- since in a consumer society money constitutes a value system which needs to be revised, it was resolved to consider as a priority a new definition of profit. Today's society equates value with the quantity of money. This understanding may evolve to include also the dimensions of quality of life.

- the active participation of women and youth in the decision making process is of utmost importance for the preservation of the bio-environment. In view of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, it was proposed that the following be included as

As previously published and recommended, a World Referendum could provide the expression of opinion by every individual of our Planet on the wish “to support the bio-environment and the continuation of bios.”

Bio-diplomacy may serve as a new pathway of international co-operation. Bio-diplomacy substitutes the policies of fragmentation and division with a far-sighted unifying vision of interdependence. Since all people belong to the body of humanity, differentiation in culture, colour, tradition, religion may be viewed as an enrichment of bios rather than reason for division. In addition, all living species belong to the body bios and the protection of bio-diversity and harmonious coexistence of all forms of life constitute the basis of bio-diplomacy.

Conference themes and participants

The Bio-Environment and International Co-operation

Greece: Bios in the Next Millennium: Reversing the Crisis of Values, Dr. Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis, President and Founder, Biopolitics International Organisation

Turkey: The Responsibility of Universities, Professor Necdet Serin, President, Ankara University; A Responsibility for the Bio-Environment, Professor Rusen Keles, Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University; Biopolitics and International Co-operation, Professor Nurettin Sozen, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University; Planning for the Bio-Environment, Hayri Kozakcioglu, Governor of Istanbul; The Bio-Environment: Central and Local Policy, Ismet Sezgin, Minister of Interior; Bio-Environment and Development, Abdulkadir Ates, Minister of Tourism; Biopolitics and Governmental Policy, Dogancan Akyurek, Minister of Environment

Bio-Diplomacy

Sweden: The Art of Bio-Diplomacy, Ambassador Kai Falkman, General Consul of Sweden in Istanbul

Greece: The Unfinished Symphony, Andreas Politakis, Honorary Doctor, Founder of the Ipekci Peace and Friendship Prize

Russia: Valerij Grishin, Head of Information, Council of Ministers of Russia

Bio-Assessment of Technology

Sri Lanka: Needed Educational Revision on the Impact of Technology, Kumaran Fernando, Secretary General, UNA

USA: Technological Imperatives – Challenges and Solutions, Professor Nicholas Ashford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Turkey: Preservation of Environmental Problems for the Future, Dr. Adnan Aydin, Director, Environmental Research Center , Marmara University

Czechoslovakia: Anthropo-Ecological Approach of Technology, Dr. Jaroslav Stoklasa, Chairman of the Commission, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences

Bio-Ethics and Bio-Legislation

Yugoslavia: Bioethics, Survival and Global Drama, Professor Dusan Kanazir, President, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

France: Legal System of Fauna and Flora Protection in France, Professor Michel Despax, Honorary President, University of Social Sciences, Toulouse, Professor William Coulet, University of Social Sciences, Toulouse

Greece: Bios Rights – Legal Dimensions Related to the Preservation of the Bio-Environment, Dr. Angelos Tsichrintzis, Attorney at Law

Russia: Bio-Ethics and the Role of Women's Organisations, Dr. Alexandra Momdjan, President, International Women's Center, Vice President, Academy of Creative Endeavours

Turkey: Biopolitics in the Light of Bio-Ethics, Professor Yaman Ors, Ankara University Medical School

The Role of Bio-Education

Russia: Biopolicy and the Training of Engineers: Biotechnologies in Russia, Professor Michael Manakov, Member of the Academy of Sciences and Head of Department, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Professor Pavel Sarkisov, Rector, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology

Turkey: The Role of Education and Technology for Efficient Environmental Policy, Professor Nur Sozen, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara University; Environment and Adult Education, Professor Cevat Geray, Director, Ernst Reuter Center of Urban Studies, Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University; Environmental Education in Turkey, Mehmet Tuncer and Memet Erol, University of Ankara; Co-operation between Universities and Industry in Environmental Protection, Professor Ahmet Samsunlu and Professor Veysel Eroglu, Istanbul Technical University

Nigeria: The Need for the Integration of Environmental Concept in University Teaching – The Role of the I.U.B.E African Dimension, Tina Uwechue, Vice-President, UNA

Japan: Bio-Diversity, Professor Jiro Kondo, President, Science Council of Japan

The Philippines: The Role of the I.U.B.E. in Natural Disasters, Dr. Liduvina Senora, Executive Secretary, UNA

Greece: International Exchange Programmes in Bio-Education – A New Perspective for Youth, Christos Efthimiopoulos, University of Athens, B.I.O. Member

Bio-Policy and Bio-Economy

Germany: Toward a Houston Protocol – How to Allocate CO₂ Emission Reductions Berween North and South, Professor Udo Simonis, Director, International Institute for the Environment and Society, Science Center Berlin; Poverty, Environment and Development, Deonanan Oodit, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations, New York

Hungary: Contradictions of Technical Improvement in the Transition Time from Planned to Market Economy in Hungary, Professor Gyula Bora, Vice-Rector, Budapest University of Economics

The Netherlands: Bio-Environmental Imperatives for Decision Making, Albert ten Houten, Milieu and Organisatie B.V. The Netherlands; Business and Bio-Environment, W.L. van Oyen, Consultant, Ministry of Environment

Turkey: Ecotourism and Education, Mehmet Arif Demirer, Industrialist; Man, Environment, Technology and Universities, Professor Aykut Kence and Professor Meral Kence, Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara

Romania: The Implementation of Biopolitics in Romania, Dr. Pia Elena Mihnea, Institute for Marine Research Technology and the Preservation of the Environment