An article in today's Washington Post documents the growing resistance of activists toward nanotechnology. Here is the heart of the report:
...activists have begun to organize against the science.Some in California are trying to block construction of a nanotech factory, noting that no government agency has developed safety rules for nano products. Others want a global moratorium on the field until the risks are better understood.
Now, realizing that public perception may be at a tipping point, the fledgling industry and government agencies are taking a novel tack, funding sociologists, philosophers and even ethicists to study the public's distrust of nano. Supporters of the approach say these experts will serve as the industry's conscience and ensure that the science moves forward responsibly. Others suspect it is an effort to defuse nano's critics.
The resistance will grow and the measures now being taken may keep things from getting out of hand.
