A revista New Scientist fez uma coletânea dos principais pronunciamentos de Barack Obama sobre as questões científicas. Eles publicaram ainda uma outra matéria com o título Obama promete uma nova era de inovação científica (sic).

Eu fiz um Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V completo, porque há pouco a se dizer a respeito, a idéia é monitorar a prática que irá se seguir a esse discurso bem progressista. Vou deixar os comentários para quando as coisas começarem a acontecer.

Eu queria traduzir (vou tentar ainda), mas o aquecimento global está tendo efeitos nefastos sobre os meus afazeres, além de encolher meu tempo. No ritmo atual, em 2100 meu dia não terá nem um único segundo - e as coisas tendem a piorar.

Obama on science, in his own words

16:47 05 November 2008
NewScientist.com news service
Catherine Brahic

Climate change

"We know that our oil dependency is jeopardizing our planet - that the fossil fuels we burn are setting off a chain of dangerous weather patterns that could condemn future generations to global catastrophe. We see the effects of global climate change in our communities and around the world in record drought, famine, and forest fires."

"To fully combat global climate change, we'll need a stringent cap on all carbon emissions and the creation of a global market that would make the development of low-carbon technologies profitable and create thousands of new jobs."

Energy

"A clean, secure energy future will take another American miracle. It will require a historic effort on the scale of what we saw in those factories during World War II. It will require tough choices by our government, sacrifice from our businesses, innovation from our brightest minds, and the sustained commitment of the American people."

"We'll also need to find a way to use coal - America's most abundant fossil fuel - without adding harmful greenhouse gases to the environment."

"There is absolutely no reason we shouldn't be able to get at least 20% of our energy from clean and renewable sources by 2020."

"We're going to have to develop clean coal technology and safe ways to store nuclear energy. I favour nuclear power as one component of our overall energy mix."

Transportation

"At the dawn of the Internet Age, it was famously said that there are two kinds of businesses - those that use email and those that will. Today, there are two kinds of car companies - those that mass produce fuel-efficient cars and those that will. The American auto industry can no longer afford to be one of those that will.

"That's why my first proposal will require automakers to meet higher fuel standards and produce more fuel-efficient cars while providing them the flexibility and assistance to do it. It begins by gradually raising our fuel economy standards by 4% - approximately one mile per gallon - each year."

Endangered species

On a Bush administration proposal to eliminate the input of independent government scientists in some endangered species reviews:

"This 11th-hour ruling from the Bush administration is highly problematic. After over 30 years of successfully protecting our nation's most endangered wildlife like the bald eagle, we should be looking for ways to improve it, not weaken it. As president, Senator Obama will fight to maintain the strong protections of the Endangered Species Act and undo this proposal from President Bush."

Stem cells

"I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration’s ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001 through executive order, and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight."

"I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President's desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

"The study of stem cells holds enormous promise for the treatment of debilitating and life-threatening diseases.

"Embryonic stem cells can be obtained from a number of sources, including in vitro fertilization. At this very moment, there are over 400,000 embryos being stored in over 400 facilities throughout the United States. The majority of these are reserved for infertile couples. However, many of these embryos will go unused, destined for permanent storage in a freezer or disposal. We should expand and accelerate research using these embryos, just as we should continue to explore the viability of adult stem cell use, cord blood use, and amniotic fluid use."

"Of course any work in this area must have appropriate oversight. Embryonic stem cell research demands comprehensive, thoughtful and carefully crafted ethical and scientific guidelines. We must not only look to guidance from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration but also to our reason, our morals and our compassion."

Research funding

"My administration will increase funding for basic research in physical and life sciences, mathematics, and engineering at a rate that would double basic research budgets over the next decade. We will increase research grants for early-career researchers to keep young scientists entering these fields. We will increase support for high-risk, high-payoff research portfolios at our science agencies."

Genetically modified plants

"Advances in the genetic engineering of plants have provided enormous benefits to American farmers. I believe that we can continue to modify plants safely with new genetic methods, abetted by stringent tests for environmental and health effects and by stronger regulatory oversight guided by the best available scientific advice."

Ocean science

"The oceans are a global resource and a global responsibility for which the US can and should take a more active role. I will work actively to ensure that the US ratifies the Law of the Sea Convention - an agreement supported by more than 150 countries that will protect our economic and security interests while providing an important international collaboration to protect the oceans and its resources."

Space

"As president, I will establish a robust and balanced civilian space program. Under my administration, NASA not only will inspire the world with both human and robotic space exploration, but also will again lead in confronting the challenges we face here on Earth, including global climate change, energy independence, and aeronautics research. I believe that a revitalized NASA can help America maintain its innovation edge and contribute to American economic growth.

"I will re-establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council reporting to the president. It will work toward a 21st century vision of space that constantly pushes the envelope on new technologies as it pursues a balanced national portfolio that expands our reach into the heavens and improves life here on Earth."

The Internet

"I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. The Internet is the most open network in history. I will prevent network providers from discriminating in ways that limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. Because most Americans only have a choice of only one or two broadband carriers, carriers are tempted to impose a toll charge on content and services, discriminating against websites that are unwilling to pay for equal treatment. This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers, while all competing websites remain in a slower lane.

"Such a result would threaten innovation, the open tradition and architecture of the Internet, and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse.

"I will protect the Internet's traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy."