InterPore Statement on war in Ukraine

InterPore Statement on war in Ukraine
 
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Statement on war in Ukraine

Dear all,

These are worrying times. In response to the horrific events in Ukraine, I would like to ask your attention for the following. First, we have a statement from InterPore. Next, a letter denouncing the violence, published by our Russian colleagues and friends, followed by a statement from the International Science Council (ISC).

Stay safe and look after each other,

Matthijs de Winter
Editor-in-Chief
InterPore News


InterPore Statement

Dear Friends,

It is with great disbelief, disgust, and horror that we have watched the unfolding news of the army of the Russian Federation invading the sovereign country of Ukraine. Disbelief that in the year 2022 a few men from a safe, luxurious palace can order such death and destruction. Disgust from the bombardments and shelling of densely populated areas, followed by tanks and military units roaming around. And the horror of watching burning corpses from Ukrainian citizens and servicemen, and Russian servicemen alike. As scientists, we promote a peaceful and prosperous planet, with enough food and housing and a safe climate for everyone. Under such circumstances, it is natural that InterPore supports all efforts to achieve immediate peace in the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. We are not alone in this quest, as exemplified in this newsletter which reproduces messages from ISC, the open letter from Russian scientists.

We will continue to publish information and call for action with the indomitable hope that peace and freedom will eventually prevail.

InterPore

To our fellow scientists in Ukraine: We understand that your current focus is solely on taking care of your relatives, friends, and yourself. We hope that peace will be restored soon, and when it does, that you will be able to resume your scientific work. We can imagine that doing science and giving lectures in an university in a torn up country will be very difficult. Please contact us when you’re in need and we as a community will do whatever we can to support you.


Letter signed by more than 700 Russian scientists

We, Russian scientists and scientific journalists, declare a strong protest against the hostilities launched by the armed forces of our country on the territory of Ukraine. This fatal step leads to huge human losses and undermines the foundations of the established system of international security. The responsibility for unleashing a new war in Europe lies entirely with Russia.

There is no rational justification for this war. Attempts to use the situation in Donbass as a pretext for launching a military operation do not inspire any confidence. It is clear that Ukraine does not pose a threat to the security of our country. The war against her is unfair and frankly senseless.

Ukraine has been and remains a country close to us. Many of us have relatives, friends and scientific colleagues living in Ukraine. Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought together against Nazism. Unleashing a war for the sake of the geopolitical ambitions of the leadership of the Russian Federation, driven by dubious historiosophical fantasies, is a cynical betrayal of their memory.

We respect Ukrainian statehood, which rests on really working democratic institutions. We treat the European choice of our neighbors with understanding. We are convinced that all problems in relations between our countries can be resolved peacefully.

Having unleashed the war, Russia doomed itself to international isolation, to the position of a pariah country. This means that we, scientists, will no longer be able to do our job normally: after all, conducting scientific research is unthinkable without full cooperation with colleagues from other countries. The isolation of Russia from the world means further cultural and technological degradation of our country in the complete absence of positive prospects. War with Ukraine is a step to nowhere.

It is bitter for us to realize that our country, which made a decisive contribution to the victory over Nazism, has now become the instigator of a new war on the European continent. We demand an immediate halt to all military operations directed against Ukraine. We demand respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. We demand peace for our countries. Let’s do science, not war!”

Source (in Russian)


Statement ISC

The ISC expresses its deep dismay and concerns regarding the military offenses being carried out in Ukraine. This conflict has already generated a grave humanitarian crisis.

Science has proven to act as a platform for dialogue even in times of war, and therefore is a resource on which to capitalize to avoid further loss of life and disruption including that to scientific research and infrastructures. The ISC counts members in all countries involved in this conflict.

At a time when the demand and the potential for science to provide actionable knowledge to our global challenges on multiple fronts – climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and growing inequalities – are greater than ever, the current conflict in Ukraine and its consequences will hamper the power of science to solve problems when we should be harnessing it.

The ISC also warns against the severe outcomes that conflict will have on the research and academic community. Our capacity to work collaboratively on global challenges, and on cutting edge research such as Arctic and space research, is only equal to our capacity to maintain strong collaboration amidst geopolitical turmoil. Ultimately the isolation and exclusion of important scientific communities is detrimental to all.

The ISC and its partners are committed to assisting the global scientific community in welcoming and protecting scientists who have been placed at-risk or become displaced by this conflict by providing them opportunities to continue their work.

The ISC is committed to continue advancing the equal participation and collaboration between scientists in all countries in its activities and the principle of the free and responsible practice of science which is enshrined in its statutes.

Source


More statements against the war are being made, for example by the AGU, which includes ways of helping the local people of Ukraine and from the president of the Max Planck Society (Germany). If you are aware of similar/complimentary statements within science communities that we can put forward, please send an email to the Newsletter team. Feel free to forward this email to colleagues, family, friends, local representatives or news outlets, as calls for peace must be heard!

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Imprint

InterPore News, www.interpore.org
Published in electronic form by International Society for Porous Media (InterPore)
Circulated free of charge to members and non-members of InterPore.

Articles and news items on the study and characterization of porous media,
especially when relevant to other types of porous media,
are welcomed for publication in this newsletter, issued twice a month.

Contact us via newsletter@interpore.org.

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Editors

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