esr.org.nz

ESR New Zealand

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About

Contents

Introduction

Engineers for Social Responsibility Inc. is an independent group of engineers who consider that being knowledgeable in the field of technology means that they also have a special obligation to the public at large. This includes raising the awareness of the engineering profession to the consequences of its activities and explaining and discussing the ramifications of developments in engineering and engineering works to the public. In these days of greater accountability, the professional can no longer hide behind a mask of professionalism.

ESR aims to:

  1. encourage and support a humane, principled professional ethic and social responsibility in the uses of technology.
  2. inform and educate the engineering profession, general public and policy makers about the positive and negative impacts of technology.

The Objects of the Association are set out below. In practice, most of our activities centre around the organising of lectures and discussion meetings, publishing Newsletters, and arranging an annual National Conference.

Engineers for Social Responsibility was formed in 1983 and has a membership of about 200. The National Committee is currently based in Auckland, but branches also operate in Wellington and Christchurch. The organisation has been a role model for similar groups in other countries, in particular the Architects and Engineers for Social Responsibility in the UK and American Engineers for Social Responsibility. These organisations have adopted our logo as shown on the Home page.

Engineers for Social Responsibility Inc was registered as a charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005, on 30 June 2008. Its Registration Number is CC41628. Information about the Charities Act, and relevant information about ESR can be found at the Charities Commission website at www.charities.govt.nz.

Objects of the Association

  1. To seek to encourage and support social responsibility and a humane professional ethic in the uses of technology.
  2. To seek to inform the engineering profession, general public and public policy makers about the impact of technology including both positive and negative effects.
    The field of interest shall include but not be restricted to:

    • The selection and achievement of the long term goals for humanity,
    • Policies and controls relating to nuclear arms and other military technology,
    • Government policy relating to appropriate technology and technology transfer issues in foreign aid,
    • Environmental issues including:
      • health and safety,
      • pollution of all kinds,
      • depletion of resources,
      • energy policy,
      • nuclear power generation and waste disposal,
      • communications policy,
      • privacy.
    • Economic and social aspects of advanced technology and automation,
    • Educational aspects of the impact of technology.
  3. To communicate or cooperate with other organisation which have similar aims for the whole or part of the fields of interest.
  4. To make public statements and publish material for the information of the engineering profession, general public and public policy makers, as covered by these objects. Where opinions are given these shall be identified as such and shall be based on sound engineering judgement.
  5. To provide a forum for discussion of members’ issues of conscience relating to the Association’s objects and take any appropriate action.
  6. To provide support to members, profession engineers and other who act in accordance with the objectives and stated policies of the Association.

Newsletters

ESR produces a regular Newsletter of 16 to 20 pages which is mailed out to all financial members four or five times a year.
Newsletters give notice of coming meetings and contain reports of meetings and discussions on other issues of importance. For example the August 2007 issue contained:-

  • Notices of the August meeting, “Motor vehicle and Marine Accident Analysis” and the September meeting “Wind Energy – where is it going?”
  • Suggestions for the ESR 2008 Conference
  • Green Chemistry – the design and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances, by Professor Terry Collins.
  • The 6th New Zealand Cycling Conference
  • Energy, Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality, by John Blakeley who spoke to ESR in Auckland on 21 June 2007.
  • Engineering Heritage Walks in Auckland
  • Smarter Homes
  • Cluster Munitions Coalition Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Neil Mander MNZM (Member of the NZ Order of Merit)
  • The Landmine Ban Treaty
  • Future ESR meetings

National Conferences

ESR has held Annual one day Conferences regularly since 1984.
Conferences are usually held either before or after IPENZ Conferences. This enabled those attending the IPENZ Conference or Convention to come for an inspiring day, hearing experienced speakers describe issues of social and ethical interest to engineers of all ages and disciplines. However since IPENZ has now discontinued their annual Convention ESR will endeavour to arrange a date to suit ESR members. A conference is being planned for 2008 but a date has yet to be set.

The 20th ESR Conference held in Auckland on Saturday 24 March 2007 had the theme Engineers and Peak Oil. The topics included:-

  • Setting the Scene – What is peak oil all about? by John Blakeley and Tim Jones
  • Implications of getting by on much less oil by Gerry Coates
  • Maintaining Food Supplies – the impact of growing Biofuels by Elizabeth Yeaman
  • What should NZ be doing to prepare for the impact of peak Oil by Jeanette Fitsimons

These events are usually fairly relaxed occasions when ESR members and other interested people from around the country get together to discuss important topics of mutual interest and concern. Costs are kept to a minimum with special rates for spouses, retired, unemployed, and students. The Annual General Meeting of ESR follows the Conference and in the evening there is a dinner at which everyone can relax and enjoy themselves before heading home.

Water for Survival

Now amalgamated with Oxfam NZ and operating as the Oxfam Water for Survival Programme, Water for Survival operated as a completely separate organisation growing out of ESR in 1984 when a group called Technical Aid Consultancy was established. The intention of this group was to provide engineering and other specialist help to New Zealand aid organisations working in third world countries. Although a good register of people with a wide range of skills was compiled, there was no call for the services offered and the organisation was wound up in 1988 with the assets being transferred to Water for Survival and most members choosing to support this new organisation.

When Water for Survival was first formed, Auckland ESR Chairman, Professor Jack Woodward became Chairman of Trustees, with Professor Alan Titchener (ESR President), Don Stuart (ESR Treasurer) and Jane Lenting also as Trustees and John La Roche as Secretary/Treasurer. Water for Survival had established a very high reputation amongst aid agencies and New Zealand Aid. During 15 years of operation to July 2003 when it amalgamated with Oxfam NZ, Water for Survival provided assistance to approximately 585,730 people in 17 of the world’s poorest countries. The total money sent away was NZ$3.056 million (including NZ Government subsidies). $1.14 million was raised in donations mostly from professional engineers, including a substantial proportion from ESR members. Most continue to support the Oxfam-Water for Survival programme.

Landmines

As a result of concerns about the human suffering in many parts of the world from landmines, Major John Armstrong of the NZ Army was invited to speak to ESR Auckland on 18 August 1994. Major Armstrong emphasised that mechanised methods of using bulldozers and rakes to clear landmines did not work, and with plastic mines metal detectors were of limited value. He felt that the greatest need was for a viable method for detecting landmines with minimal metal content. Such a method would save many lives and alleviate great suffering.

Lawrence Carter, Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Auckland took up the challenge and formed the Landmine Research Group, University of Auckland. With the help of research students, Lawrence has now produced a method for detecting plastic landmines based on microwave energy and thermal imaging.

Neil Mander, the ESR Newsletter Editor for the last six years, became Convener of the New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines (CALM). He has represented New Zealand at a number of international conferences and meetings including the Ottawa signing in December 1997 and the Maputo Conference in May 1999 where he was accredited as part of the NZ Government delegation.

Nuclear Fact Sheets

In association with International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and Scientists Against Nuclear Arms (SANA), ESR under the Chairmanship of Professor Jack Woodward prepared a series of 17 fact sheets. These sheets were designed to describe in a concise manner important facts from scientific and medical literature about the dangers of nuclear war in a way which could be easily understood by non-technical people. With a generous grant from IPPNW the fact sheets were distributed to secondary schools, and libraries in the Auckland area, members of parliament and other decision makers throughout New Zealand, and to certain embassies and South Pacific heads of state. Users were encouraged to copy and redistribute the sheets. The sheets receive much commendation.

Each fact sheet was carefully scrutinised by a panel for its appeal and factual accuracy before publication. The first sheet was produced in April 1984 and they continued at about monthly intervals until December 1985. All sheets were later combined into a bound volume entitled Nuclear Issues Fact Sheets which sold at $5.00 and was again widely distributed and acknowledged.

A subsequent series of Opinion Sheets entitled Peace Issues in a Nuclear Age described a range of subjects including United Nations Year of Peace 1986, ANZUS, Psychic Numbing, NZ’s Nuclear Free Stance, Nuclear Insurance, Nuclear Ships, and Antarctica. These sheets were supported by Architects Against Nuclear Arms, ESR, IPPNW, NZ Lawyers for Nuclear Disarmament, Pharmacists against Nuclear Arms, Psychologists for the Prevention of Nuclear War, SANA and Visual Artists Against Nuclear Arms.

History

ESR was established at an inaugural meeting in Wellington on 14 June 1983 chaired by Gerald Coates. Articles by Gerry Coates, Nuclear War and the Loud Silence published in New Zealand Engineering in June 1983 and The Responsibility of Engineers published in September 1983 inspired a following of professional engineers throughout the country who became the first members of ESR. At this time there was growing concern from many professionals about the insanity of nuclear war. In Auckland Professional Engineers for the Prevention of Nuclear War (PEFPNW) had been formed along with Scientists Against Nuclear Arms (SANA), and International Physicians for the prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and many other professional groups were active.

In Auckland, it was decided on 4th August 1983 to amalgamate the membership of Professional Engineers for the Prevention of Nuclear War with ESR. The first Committee was John Chapple, Dr Roderick Agnew, Professor Jack Woodward, Dr Richard Fenwick, Phil LeGros, Graham Dickson and John La Roche with the first Auckland Annual General Meeting being held on 22 March 1984 at Auckland University, School of Engineering when Professor Alan Titchener was elected Chairman.

The first ESR Annual Conference and National Annual General meeting was held prior to the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Conference in Hastings on Saturday 12 February 1984. Gerald Coates was elected National Secretary, and Eddie Goldberg Treasurer. At this time there were 108 members of ESR. The office of President was left vacant until Gerald Coates was elected to the position in 1986. From the start of ESR until 1988 he produced regular newsletters, and established a membership database, and there was a strong Wellington Committee which assisted in running meetings on a regular basis.

The National Executive transferred to Auckland in 1988 when Professor Alan Titchener was elected National President. Professor Jack Woodward, Dr John Peet and Rob Wilkinson have followed as National Presidents. Professor Alan Titchener was Editor of Auckland Newsletters from the time ESR was established. In 1988 it was decided that Auckland would produce the National newsletter and Alan became Editor. Neil Mander continues Gerry and Alan’s tradition of providing ethical inspiration and timely comment on ESR’s meetings and other activities throughout the country.

In the early days of ESR, some IPENZ members expressed their concerns,

that ESR is an activist group associating with non-engineers known to incite treason. They are getting a lot of attention/publicity in the Auckland Branch Bulletin and more particularly New Zealand Engineering.
As activists they could easily take over branch committees and eventually Council, getting controversial policy matters passed. This would undoubtedly have the effect of splitting the Institution.

A senior IPENZ member referred to ESR as the lunatic fringe at an AGM in 1984. The balance of senior and respected members of the profession, and our generally temperate comments however won out, and it was pleasing for ESR to be referred to by IPENZ President Alec Stirrat in his annual address as the conscience of IPENZ.

ESR is now seen as an important contributor to IPENZ on many issues, particularly ethical and environmental principles. Many IPENZ presidents have been members of ESR and it became normal for many IPENZ Board members to attend ESR Conferences prior to the main IPENZ Conference. Although there have been suggestions from time to time that ESR should become a Technical Group of IPENZ we have always considered it is important to maintain our independence by being quite a separate organisation.

Sister organisations

United Kingdom Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)

http://www.sgr.org.uk/

When ESR was formed in New Zealand there was great concern in many countries about the nuclear arms race. In the UK, Peter Newton founded Civil Engineers for Nuclear Disarmament in October 1982. Soon after it was joined by other disciplines to become Engineers for Nuclear Disarmament, (EngND).

In November 1987 when Alan Titchener attended their Annual General Meeting at Hebden Bridge he was asked to describe ESR in New Zealand. In particular he talked about the cooperation between ESR, IPPNW and SANA to produce the Nuclear Fact Sheets. Peter Newton the President of EngND was so impressed with the wider scope of ESR in New Zealand that he became a member of our organisation and persuaded EngND to become a UK ESR using the New Zealand ESR Logo. This was finally achieved on 11 November 1989. At their AGM in October 1991 ESR joined with Architects for Peace to become Architects and Engineers for Social Responsibility (AESR).

ESR has maintained strong links with the UK AESR and the previous ESR and EngND through visits of ESR New Zealand members while they were in UK, and through Peter Newton who visited New Zealand. Norm Stannard from ESR spoke at the AESR annual conference in 2002 in was describes as an inspiring talk on ESR’s work in New Zealand. There are many issues addressed by AESR that are very similar to those being addressed by ESR in New Zealand – climate change, transport, energy, electromagnetic radiation etc. ESR has regularly exchanged newsletters and AESR in UK, now merged with Scientists for Global Responsibility.

AESR merged with Scientists For Global Responsibility in October 2005 to provide a combined membership of 850 enabling the merged organisations to be in a stronger position to speak out persuasively for an ethical approach to science, design and technology issues. SGR is actively involved in Ethical Careers in Science and Technology, an ongoing series of publications and other information outlining the current ethical controversies in science and technology, and giving advice on how to incorporate an ethical perspective into choosing a career in science and technology. SGR are also has a military influence on science and technology programme, an ongoing research and education project. SGR has also organised regular conferences on controversial issues in science and technology and produced a regular newsletter and a number of publications. ESR and SGR continue to exchange newsletters.

International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES)

http://www.inesglobal.com/

ESR is a member of INES, which was founded in Berlin in 1991 “to encourage and facilitate communication among scientists and engineers seeking to promote international peace and security, justice and sustainable development and working for a responsible use of science and technology.”

This organisation includes Scientists for Global Responsibility and American Engineers for Social Responsibility as well as many other organisations in other countries around the world. ESR and INES exchange newsletters regularly.

American Engineers for Social Responsibility

As the result of sabbatical leave at Canterbury University in 1987 and contact there with John Peet, Jim Evans, Professor of Structural Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Washington became interested in ESR. He invited Tom Munsey, a hydrological engineer with the US Army Corps of Engineers to come to Christchurch for a visit when they attended a large meeting of ESR in Christchurch in May 1987. Together Tom and Jim wrote a paper entitled “Engineers, Ethics and Nuclear Weapons” in the July 1987 Journal of Journal of Professional Issues of the American Society of Civil Engineers. They called for “engineers to shed the image of uncritical accommodation of authority and to begin to adhere to their code of ethics”.

American Engineers for Social Responsibility published its first newsletter in Spring 1988 including a welcoming letter from ESR’s NZ founder, Gerald Coates. When John Peet visited USA in 1990 he was able to attend the second Annual National meeting of American Engineers for Social Responsibility. At that time there were 170 members, but because of the large geographical distribution getting together was difficult. However AESR continued providing an excellent newsletter until 1992 when interest in the group declined.

Tom Munsey visited New Zealand in 1997 when he presented papers to the IPENZ and ESR Conferences in Wellington and a Branch meeting in Christchurch. Tom has also been involved in maintaining the web site of International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES).