Appeal to Support an International Einstein Year 2005
In the year 2005, scientists throughout the world will be celebrating the centenary of the theory of special relativity and the light-quantum hypothesis, both developed by Albert Einstein in 1905. The celebrations will also honour the 50th anniversary of Einstein’s death in 1955.
Einstein was not only an extraordinary scientist, but also a scientist who faced his social responsibilities, intervened in political affairs and stood up and fought for civil rights. Throughout his life, he was committed to social justice, disarmament and peace.
As Einstein repudiated nationalistic attitudes and meaningless social rituals, the International Einstein Year 2005 should therefore reflect his universal and cosmopolitan stance.
The future of democratic societies rests on the comprehensive education and training of all its citizens. Scientific results must therefore be accessible to everyone. Education should not remain a privilege for the chosen few. The future of the citizens of all countries depends on the willingness of those who are prepared to commit themselves to a principle of solidarity whereby fair cultural and social services and economic trading, as well as an ecologically sound use of ressources, are indispensable.
The future of humankind lies in the peaceful and tolerant cooperation between all countries and cultures. The elimination of atomic weapons and other means of mass destruction must therefore be the first and most important step in creating a world in which war as a means of solving conflicts no longer plays a role. To put it in Einstein’s words:
„War cannot be humanized. It can only be abolished.“
Scientists from all over the world are called upon to face up to their social responsibilities and to commit themselves to making scientific results the cultural heritage of all people. In doing so, poverty, under-development, and ecological destruction can be counteracted in a peaceful manner. In an interview in 1929, Einstein expressed his notion of a peaceful and commercially impartial world with the following words:
„Think of what a world we could build if the power unleashed in war were applied to constructive tasks! One tenth of the energy that the various belligerents spent in the World War, a fraction of the money they exploded in hand grenades and poison gas would suffice to raise the standard of living in every country and avert the economic catastrophe of world wide unemployment. We must be prepared to make the same heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war. There is no task that is more important or closer to my heart. Nothing that I can do or say will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice, I can help the greatest of all causes – good will among men and peace on earth.“
We, the initiators of this appeal in support of the International Einstein Year 2005, aim to realize this vision of the future in the spirit of the great scientist and call on all peoples of the world for their support.
This appeal has been initiated by the following organizations:
International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility; www.inesglobal.com.
Berlin Information-Centre for Transatlantic Security; www.Einstein.bits.de.
With the support of GlobalGreen-Green Cross, Germany.
For more information, see the Einstein Project homepage at www.Einstein.bits.de.
