The Geek Manifesto Pledge

Below is an open letter I've written to Ms Kate Green, Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston. I signed a pledge, backed by the likes of author and occasional Uncaged Monkey Simon Singh, to send a copy of Mark Henderson's The Geek Manifesto to each and every MP.

There are far more eloquent letters that have accompanied copies of The Geek Manifesto to various MPs, such as this one from psychologist and neuroscientist Chris Chambers, but I'm excited to be a small part of this movement! I will admit, this is the first time I've ever written to an MP (I know, I know!) and a cynical part of me wonders if Kate Green will even read my letter let alone the book! But I suppose its a great cause to cut your teeth on. And I'm intrigued as to what the reception and outcome will be... So, here we go:

OPEN LETTER TO MP KATE GREEN:

Dear Ms Kate Green,

Re: Mark Henderson’s ‘Geek Manifesto’ and why science matters in politics

Firstly, thank you for your time. I do hope you have received a copy I sent you of Mark Henderson’s The Geek Manifesto in the post by the end of Wednesday 4^th July 2012.

Hundreds of voters really want you to read this book! So I pledged to purchase and send a copy of this book to a Member of Parliament as part of a movement to try and encourage MPs to take into account scientific reasoning and results when considering relevant legislation e.g. dealing with issues such as healthcare, climate change, nuclear power, GM crops etc.

The Geek Manifesto’s author, Mark Henderson, is Head of Communications at the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable organisation that focuses on many aspects around biomedical sciences and humanities. As stated in the book, it is often journos, accountants, lawyers etc. who are making decisions on very important issues, and yet with NO scientific knowledge at all. I read Physics at the University of Manchester and went on to study a History of Science Masters’ Degree, which involved heavily the work and support of the Wellcome Trust. As such, I am passionate about educating others as to the importance of scientific reasoning and am excited to have the opportunity to contact you with regards to Mark Henderson’s book.

Living in an apparently advanced society as we do, it seems short sighted, naïve and frankly dangerous to neglect employing the scientific method when policy making. It seems ludicrous that scientific expertise is rejected or that advice is strategically omitted at some of the highest levels of decision making in this country.

The idea for sending this book, The Geek Manifesto, came from blogger Dave Watts, who wrote:

    I was reading the Geek Manifesto and I thought “every one of our MPs should be reading this” then I thought, in the spirit of the book, “OK, let’s make it happen” so…

    What I want you to do is pledge to buy one copy of the book.

    Once we have 650 pledges we can buy the books, then I will find a way of delivering them to the House of Commons.

The publishers of The Geek Manifesto have kindly agreed to match every pledge, thus aiding the pledge and allowing all 650 MPs to have a copy of the book once 325 pledges signed – and I am one of them. As this is a collective movement, pledges are sending copies to MPs across the board and to ensure that each MP receives a copy.

Although I now live in London, I lived, studied and worked in Manchester for over 9 years. And, I more recently worked at the new MediaCityUK development in Salford Quays. This is why I have chosen to send a copy of The Geek Manifesto to you, as MP for Stretford and Urmston. I’ve seen first-hand the exciting developments and progression taking place in the UK at Salford Quays, close to your constituency – embracing new technology and reasserting the UK as a leader in our field, with technological and academic innovation and excellence. Let us not fail ourselves and future generations by dangerously committing ourselves to making hugely important decisions based on inadequate counsel – and this argument is valid across all industries and departments, but none particularly more pressing that in scientific technologies and affected industries.

I will also be emailing my current MP, Mr Chuka Umunna, for Streatham, who has received a copy from another pledger.

For more information about The Geek Manifesto, please go to this website:

http://geekmanifesto.wordpress.com/about/

Thank you again for your time and I very much look forward to hearing you and your colleagues’ thoughts on The Geek Manifesto. Happy reading!

Kind regards,

Briony Gunson