| Problems of ethics and morality can be retrospectively followed in the history of human kind to its earliest phases. The new scientific discipline of GEOETHICS since 1991 has brought to the attention various topics of Earth sciences needed to be discussed from new specific ethical points of view (e.g. prudent consumption of mineral resources). The present frequency of natural disasters all over the world gives serious signals for intensifying an appropriate geoethical discussion. Significant events in the development of geoethics during the last 20 years include: international meetings organized since 1992 usually in 2 years terms as part of the Mining Pribram Symposia (Czech Republic), regular forums at all International Geological Congresses since 1996 (individual papers already in 1992) and formation of the Working Group on Geoethics in 2004 under the umbrella of the Association of Geoscientists for International Development (AGID) as well as establishing AGID National Chapters in several states (e.g. in Spain web pages http://tierra.rediris.es/Geoethics_Planetary_Protection/ with all GEOETHICS NEWS issued since 2007). - Geoethical principles and geological factors are to be considered in any scenario of a “sustainable development”. At any responsible level of state authorities and self-governments as well as in any context of international co-operation, geoethics might be able to help in paving a better way for the needed understanding of nature by human kind. Geoethical principles (the planet Earth = absolute value of the life; principles of respect, interdependence, harmony and balance of interests, responsibility to future generations, prognosticating, precaution, reversibility, integration, frugality etc.) should be incorporated in the optimal way into the consciousness and life of the contemporaneous global society. In October 2011 at Pribram the future main trends were agreed in the INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION ON GEOETHICS: 1) significance of geoethics in the context of facing extra-ordinary natural hazards and disasters in the course of recent years; 2) geoethical approach to needed new legal aspects (including insurance policy) and to an ethical way of thinking; 3) links of geoethics with new aspects of geosciences education; 4) inclusion of geoethical subjects into deontological codes; 5) liaison with mining engineers and their activities; 6) need of searching new priorities for the 3rd millennium fitting the World Millennium Goals; 7) links for incorporating geoethics into any activity related with the abiotic world. Every interested person is invited to the 1st International Conference on Geoethics – Pribram, October 14-18, 2013. |