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| ZERO EMISSIONS RESEARCH INITIATIVE (ZERI) |
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The Cost of Scientific and Technological Ignorance "I have read the message contained in this contribution with great interest. The case studies that have been presented convey a powerful message. Time is ripe for our African Governments to make a bold, unwavering, serious commitment towards allocating more budgetary resources to science and technology (S &T) and research and development (R & D). We cannot afford to wait any longer. The study on the Kalahari desert truffle mushroom, and on the need for enhancing our people’s knowledge on its global value; the enlightenment on the need for transforming the regional water hyacinth weed problem into an economic opportunity for people’s sustainable development; the idea on the need for using Africa’s rich body of indigenous knowledge as a basis for promoting the development of modern sustainable industrial production systems based on our continent’s rich biodiversity; the need for Africa to take a greater control on the development of her rich natural resources heritage through catalyzing appropriate, mutually beneficial investment partnerships; and the need for promoting the establishment of regional centres of excellence through which we could mobilize Africa’s scientists for rapid socio-economic development in Africa, based on our continent’s comparative advantages, are skillfully, convincingly, and systematically articulated and illustrated. Concise, informative, appealing, and timely, the booklet is a must reading to top leaders in Government, policy makers, senior leaders in various agencies within the UN system, educational planners at various levels, private sector foundations and entrepreneurs, and the general public at large. I see the illuminating message conveyed in the booklet playing its role in helping to lead our continent’s poverty-stricken communities out of the vicious cycle of poverty. I commend the message contained in the booklet has been published; and I appeal for full support on its message, and on its recommendations." |
