Editorial: Open access and working together
-Darryl Macer, Ph.D.
Director, Eubios Ethics Institute
Affiliated Professor, United Nations University
Email: asianbioethics@yahoo.co.nz
Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 13 (2003), 205.
As we approach the end of 2003 we have seen a number of
ethical issues discussed in EJAIB this
year, and the length of issues was extended in order to deal with the increased
submission of papers. The number of readers expands, taking advantage of the
free on-line access to the journal. Sadly there are still few bioethics journals,
or any journals, with such a policy. The policy works as more people turn to
Internet as the source of information, and convenience, and economy. For those
who wish to contribute to the journal contributions are welcome, as are
renewals to the Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) for 2004 which include EJAIB. The prices are differential, basically people should have
access to information on bioethics, which is the reason for placing bioethics
online for open access. The rewards of cross-cultural debate of issues are
shared for all.
From 13-16 February, 2004, the Fifth Asian Bioethics
Conference will convene in Tsukuba,
together with TRT9. More papers are
welcome, a draft program is taking shape, and can be downloaded from the
website. The meeting will bring collaborators on three open bioethics projects
together. These include the behaviourome; bioethics education materials and
methods and the first meeting of an International Bioethics Education Network
designed especially for teachers; and a UNU project on identifying priority
areas in global bioethics. These projects are all open to those who wish to
join, in the spirit of open access and working together.
We hope to many of the Eubios network or family together in
February. Unfortunately there are clashes with 2 other meetings in different
countries, a sign of the growing number of ethics meetings. In November I
participated in bioethics meetings in Bangkok (UNESCO Asia-Pacific regional
office), and in India, and the interactive process of bioethics dialogue
continues to enrich but exhaust us.
This issue includes papers from a variety of perspectives
presenting alternative views in international bioethics in EJAIB tradition. We welcome your comments on these. have a good
festive season, and we hope for a more peaceful 2004.
Go back to EJAIB 13 (6) November 2003
Go back to EJAIB
The Eubios Ethics Institute is on the world wide web of Internet:
http://eubios.info/index.html