From: miguel@CAOS.CONICIT.VE (Miguel Octavio)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.mexican
Subject: <none>
Date: 3 Sep 92 15:48:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnewse.1992Sep3.154814.10323
Reply-To: Multiple recipients of list MEXICO-L <MEXICO-L@TECMTYVM.BITNET>
Organization: CONICIT Netnews Service

Estimados Colegas:

	Adjunto les envio una propuesta del Prof. Leon Lederman de Fermilab para la
 creacion
de una fundacion panamericana para el financiamiento de la Ciencia. En la
 reunion de Carta-
gena se acordo tratar de discutir el documento de la forma mas amplia posible en
 todos los
paises de la region y con la participacion de cientificos de todas las
 disciplinas. Yo
acepte coordinar la discusion enviando el mensaje al mayor numero de cientificos
 posibles
y recibir sugerencias, modificaciones y en general cualquier comentario sobre el
 documento y
la idea que contiene.

Agradezco entonces a los interesados el que me envien por correo electronico
 estas
sugerencias , comentarios etc. a la siguiente direccion Internet:

cartagen%caos@ivic.ivic.ve

NO TRATE DE HACER "reply" A ESTE MENSAJE, ya que no me llegara. Indique en su
 mensaje si
quiere continuar recibiendo informacion del proyecto y/o si desea particpar en
 el futuro en
un grupo de discusion sobre la idea. Igualmente se agradece la distribucion del
 mensaje
a redes electronicas de cientificos que puedan ayudar en la discusion.

Atentamente

Miguel Octavio
Centro de Fisica
IVIC
Caracas, Venezuela
tlf: 582-5011473
e-mail: miguel@ivic.ivic.ve  (Internet)
        octavio@rsj.harvard.edu  (Internet)

Dear Colleague:

	What follows is a proposal made by Prof. Leon Lederman from Fermilab to create
 a Pan
american Foundation for Science. At the meeting in Cartagena, it was agreed
that the document would be discussed among a wide range of scientists from the
 region
including not only geographical distribution but also with the participation of
 scientists
from all disciplines. I agreed to coordinate this discussion attempting to send
 this message
to as many scientists from the region as possible and gathering all possible
 suggestions,
modifications and any other comments about the document and the idea behind it.

I would appreciate that all of you who are interested send their comments to the
 following
internet address:

cartagen%caos@ivic.ivic.ve


PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO a "reply" of this message, it will probably not
 reach me. Please
indicate in your response whether you would like to continue receiving
 information
about the project and/or if you would like to be part of a discussion group on
 this subject.
It would also be appreciated if you could distribute the message to other
 electronic networks
to make sure that it is widely distributed.

Sincerely

Miguel Octavio
Centro de Fisica
IVIC
Caracas, Venezuela
tlf: 582-5011473
mail: miguel@ivic.ivic.ve    (Internet)
        octavio@rsj.harvard.edu  (Internet)




				CARTEGENA MANIFESTO:

		PAN AMERICAN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION


The Fifth Pan American Symposium on Collaboration in Physics met in Cartagena,
Colombia, August 17-21, 1992.  As with the previous symposia, the goal was to
foster communications among the scientists of some 20 nations, mainly in the
Western hemisphere, but with important contributions from Europe.  The exchange
of information as to the state of science in each country is essential to the
progress of each nation since this progress will increasingly depend on regional
collaboration.

Many experiences in collaboration were shared at the meeting.  Typically these
were between small groups in Latin America and groups and facilities in the U.S.
or in Europe.  However, here and there, the growth of collaborations between
Latin American groups were described.

As a general statement, in each country there is an increasing recognition of
the importance of scientific research to sustainable development.  The
traditional excitement in the doing of good science, whether basic or applied,
was well demonstrated in Cartagena.  The new factor has to do with global and
local environmental problems which not only profit from regional collaboration
but absolutely require such collaboration.  Issues of science education and of
the public understanding of science were also discussed.

Inspired by the report of the establishment of a bilateral US-Mexico Science
Foundation, this Symposium discussed the idea of the creation of a Pan American
Science and Technology Foundation (PASTF).

This independent Foundation would have an initial goal of raising an endowment
of $100M, the income of which would be used to support research in the Pan
American hemisphere with emphasis on furthering fundamental knowledge.
Potential sources of endowment funds would be the member nations, World Bank,
B.I.D., large foundations and governments around the world who would benefit
from the development and environmental consequences.

As an example of how one might organize PASTF, a governing Board, nominated by
the member nations, could appoint a Director General who would assemble a small
staff remembering that bureaucracy must be held to the minimum consistent with
responsible administration.  Peer review of new proposals and assessment of the
progress of on-going programs would be carried out with the help of the world
scientific community at large.

Criteria for approval of proposals would involve scientific and technical merit,
primarily, but would also encourage regional collaboration and see to the
balance between research designed for development, for environment and for
fundamental knowledge.

Such a venture, specifically focussed on the support of scientific and
technology in the Americas could also have the support of the world
organizations, whose important work we must continue to support.  It is also
important to note that it is far easier to get attention if our goals are
ambitions and our vision is unlimited.

The Cartagena assembly generally agreed to begin the process of creating such a
unique institution by holding discussions of the idea among their colleagues,
both physicists and non-physicists, and government officials.  One possible
mechanism for consolidating ideas is to aim for a more formal planning group to
be organized at the December meeting of the Federation of Associations for the
Advancement of Science in Miami.  This group has the advantage of representing
all disciplines.  By this Manifesto, the organizers of this Fifth Symposium are
encouraged to coordinate the efforts to achieve the goal of creating PASTF.  It
was further agreed that CLAF, under Professor Juan Jose Giambiagi would provide
administrative assistance and that the Venezuelan representative to CLAF, Prof.
Miguel Octavio (Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas,
Venezuela) would serve as temporary communications secretariat to receive ideas
and comments.


								Leon M. Lederman
								August 1992