paleonet Polish Creationism

["N. MacLeod" <N.MacLeod@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is posted for Ken Monsch <slmknsc@netscape.net>

N. MacLeod

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Dear all,

The following concerns a subject that is notoriously boring to some,
but I hope it will still be of some interest: creationism.

I reckon that the majority of subscribers are from the USA, where
creationism and its pseudoscientific spin-off "Intelligent Design" are
very well known. As far as I remember, it is said often enough on
PaleoNet that this is mainly an American problem, that thank goodness
hasn't got through to other parts of the world. I would like to stress,
however, that this is clearly not the case.

I do remember that a list member from Australia (do you remember who
you are?) remarked that creationism is starting to make some waves over
there, aided by American "experts". There is also an aggressive form of
muslim creationism (see http://www.harunyahya.com/index.php) that
manifests itself with muslim students also in Europe (reports are known
  from the Netherlands and Belgium, where students refused to accept
teaching on evolution, and claimed boldly that Allah created earth
literally with his hands). But I want to focus on a creationist
movement in Poland, a country where I lived before not too long, that
wants to make waves throughout the whole European Union.

It has been known by some that professor Maciej Giertych, formerly of
the Polish Academy of Sciences, was championing "creation science".
Giertych himself is specialised in dendrology, plant physiology and
genetics. He is also a MEP (Member of the European Parliament) for
Poland, representing LPR, a conservative ultra-right-wing party with
Roman Catholic roots, that is also in the Polish government since May
this year. His son (Roman Giertych) is the Minister of Education in
Poland (thankfully, he has no say in higher education or science
policies). Earlier this month, M. Giertych organised a "public debate"
on the teaching of evolution. Supported by the little-known scientists
Joseph Mastropoalo (California State University), Hans Zillmer
(University of Berlin) and Guy Berthault (Ecole Polytechnique de
Paris), Giertych argued, that "creation science" should replace
evolution in schools. I don't know if he meant schools in Poland, but
since he's a MEP, I reckon he meant schools in the whole EU. The Polish
Vice-Minister of Education, Miroslaw Orzechowski (also from LPR),
argued in Polish newspapers a few days later, that evolution is a
legalised lie, and that a lie must not be taught instead of the truth.
The truth is, he said, creationism, which comes forth from faith (I
don't agree!!), and has not been questioned for thousands (sic!) of
generations. Creationists amongst politicians who make policies, who
want to influence public opinion even in the whole of the EU, and are
actively supported by scientists from the United States, that is what
we see! What I mention here is but a fraction of what the Polish public
could read and hear in the last few weeks. Many truly outrageous claims
come from these creationists. Polish scientists unanimously condemn the
words and actions of M. Giertych and the Ministry of Education. A
summary of this news made "Nature", please check out:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7114/full/443890c.html (or
your paper issue: Nature 443, 890-891, 26 October 2006). I feel that
what I described is really serious. What will these people do? How will
this issue end? What will it imply for the future of our science?
Please, let us not ignore creationism, to realise later that this
movement makes policies that can destroy our science. Please let us not
think that this is only a marginal American issue. Please let us
educate the public.

Phew! What do you on the list think of all this?

Ken

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Dr. Kenneth A. Monsch
Formerly of the University of Wroclaw, Poland
New address details known shortly