The J of Royal Society of Medicine (JRSM) published an editorial "Reed-Elsevier's hypocrisy in selling arms and health" on its website calling authors and readers work together to take the lead in preventing the sales of arms.
The Lancet, a leading medical journal, is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of scientific and medical journals, that also publishes 2000 other medical and scientific journals. One of its subsidiary runs international arms fairs, the same subsidiary also runs Lancet conferences.
The Lancet published a letter in 2005 saying that Reed Elsevier's connection with the arms trade was "incompatible with The Lancet's guiding principles……, and the ethics of many of its contributors, readers, editors and reviewers." The editors and the advisory board asked the publisher to "divest itself of all business interests that threaten ...., health and well-being." Unfortunately Reed Elsevier said that it is legal to sell arms and they are needed in a dangerous world. ( J of R Soc Med 2007;100:114-115 ).
BMJ also published an editorial, "Reed Elsevier's arms trade" in the March issue, 2007;334:547-548 ( subscription required) joining JRSM in calling for action against Reed Elsevier. The editors said that the "scientific and health communities have the power to influence corporate strategy" and suggested ways they can end their support for the company's links with arms trade".
Recently, the publisher's arms trade was condemned by a group of prominent academics and an online petition has collected more than a 1000 signatures.
No comments:
Post a Comment