Gain-of-function research harbors great risks. This is because organisms modified and released in the laboratory can not only trigger pandemics, but also endanger humanity as a whole. Studies confirm that the larger the number of GoF laboratories, the more dramatic the probability of a serious incident - not to mention deliberately staged attacks and use as a weapon of war.

Gain-of-function is not the responsibility of individual countries, says Professor Roland Wiesendanger. Together with three other international scientists, he is therefore calling for the establishment of a supranational supervisory authority to regulate and control gain-of-function research into dangerous pathogens with global pandemic potential.

In light of new findings about the origin of the current pandemic, but also the current state of knowledge of American authorities and some scientists from the very beginning (e.g. the HIV discoverer and Nobel Prize winner Luc Montagnier from France), a control mechanism seems highly urgent.

Pandemics are neither localized nor can they be limited by subsequent measures - and therefore affect every single person on our planet. Similar to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, on issues that can have a highly dangerous impact on all states and their people, we need an international institution that enjoys the trust of ALL states, not just the United States of America or China or Russia.

We believe that everything that endangers humanity internationally should be placed under international control. Cross-national bodies enable rapprochement in the event of any differences of opinion and the possibility of intervening more quickly through personal networks.

There may also be problems with the fair treatment of all states. In the case of the atomic bomb, however, we must note that control at least did not prevent one from being used against another country after the Japanese bombing.

Many experts have long been calling for something similar in artificial intelligence research and development. Elon Musk: "Artificial intelligence is many times more dangerous than nuclear bombs."

We agree and hope that governments will prioritize this issue properly in the near future. In terms of weapons technology, we have reached a level of danger where humanity and all living beings could be wiped off the face of the earth.

It is now about the existential questions of our humanity. Only peacefully and with respect and mindfulness for the interests of others, without forgetting our own, will humanity survive this time. A great opportunity to develop a different form of education and experiential/theoretical knowledge about the connections between physics - nature - mankind and the all-encompassing consciousness in a field of particles smaller than quarks.

Theoretical physics and the experiential knowledge of, for example, thousands of years of Indian meditation experience on energy and consciousness can help to resolve this muddled situation of science and politics. We hope that these approaches will also be reflected upon and experienced in the committees in order to comprehend new approaches to conflict resolution and the understanding of the whole body of humanity and other living beings. We are not separate from what is happening in other countries, other living beings, in space. The reasons for this factual connection with everything outside of us have long been explained, most of it even proven in the last century by "objective/external science".

How about the following scenario: Politicians elected by more conscious people begin to consistently promote programs according to these findings that consider peace, happiness and conscious life for all beings as the ultimate goal ...

Links

The call: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363891113_Call_for_a_UN_International_Agency_to_regulate_and_control_research_on_pathogens_with_pandemic_potential

Current interview with Prof. Wiesendanger at Tichys Einblick: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hVR3et1wwc

Editorial team: DS
Photo: pixabay.com