In early October, the Jacques Attali Commission raised the question of the Principle of Precaution upheld in the French Constitution. Its members considered in majority that this text was a restraint to economic growth and in particular to research. Here is a true topic for debate. If it is of interest to you, your remarks interest us.

Here comes ours; They will allow you to better understand our dogma.

An English anthropologist, Roy Lewis, is the author of a book you can find in pocket edition under the title « Why I ate my father ».

It is the story of the first humans, told in a very crazy manner, but concealing lessons which deserve to be remembered.
One day an ingenious father gone down from his tree with his family and wandering about the savannah discovers how to make a fire. It’s magical, but dangerous : it burns ! His brother, a cautious and conservative man, worries about it - one could even say he panics. Suddenly, alarmed, he shouts to all his litter and to those who want to follow him : « Back to the trees ! »

For thousands of years humans have found themselves confronted in such a way with the risks of their discoveries, and are more or less putting up with them.

So was born and has developed what we call Progress. It does not come without risk. But one cannot deny it has brought better living conditions to the major part of mankind.

Therefore the concept of risk management imposed itself, and with it the Principle of Precaution.

Today, when considering damages we are causing to the planet, many think it would be safer to stick to the Principle of Precaution and reduce potential risk upfront. We would be like alpinists all of a sudden refusing to climb the mountain by fear of danger. Unable to call themselves alpinists anymore...

So goes the march of mankind, we think. It cannot progress without discoveries, and this for two reasons ; First because it takes place in an inexorable evolution of nature, as from a given order pointing towards an ever greater complexity, that might lead it to explore other universes one day. Then, because the challenge it is facing to save the planet cannot be achieved without a joint effort towards innovative solutions, and they won’t be without risk. What is anyway more risky than life itself?

And since life is short, let us live it fully and not allow the cautious and finicky ones play on our fears and make it all bleak.

Let’s not listen to fear. Let’s live!