e-Parliament

I just learned about a very interesting new web-based experiment in governance.

The e-Parliament is the first world institution whose members are elected by the people. It links democratic members of parliament and congress into a global online forum. Through the e-Parliament, legislators can learn from each other, monitor international agencies and work together to solve common problems. Everyone—parliamentarians, citizens, organizations, journalists—can participate in different ways.

It's too early to tell whether this particular project will succeed or fade away, but even if it fails, it may be a harbinger of some similar effort that will remake the way we govern ourselves.

As we have written before, finding creative and effective answers to the challenges brought by molecular manufacturing will demand an unprecedented collaboration of leaders in science, technology, business, government, and NGOs. It will require participation from people of many nations, cultures, languages, and belief systems.

Because nanotechnology’s awesome potential raises issues unlike any we have encountered before, it is urgent that we begin to develop common understanding, create lines of communication, and build a stable structure that will enable humankind to pass safely through the transition into the nano era. Something like e-Parliament might be an important part of the solution.

Mike Treder

Comments

[Mr. Farlops]

My initial reaction is that this is an interesting idea that is still too early. As far as international law and governance is concerned, the UN and the WTO are the best that we can hope for at this time.

There are just too many political and economic problems and national sovereignty issues in the way. The EU may be the wave of the future, but that future is going to be a long time coming.

I'm not really happy that nanotech is going to mature before our international polity is ready for it, but those look to be the facts.