Efforts to help conquer the desert areas of the world for peaceful and profitable use by future generations were furthered in the program commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization now meeting here, by a proposal submitted by the Israel delegation.
The proposal urges UNESCO to assist in sponsoring a symposium in Israel in 1951 on “the conquest of the desert,” in cooperation with the International Arid Zone Research Council. Eminent scientists from various countries would lecture on such subjects as soil erosion, wind power, plant ecology, nutrition, irrigation and solar energy.
In the course of an animated discussion, the delegate of Iraq announced his refusal to consider the matter on “political grounds.” The chairman of the program commission, Roger Seydoux of France, then declared that although every delegate had the right to voice his opinion, he considered that politics had no proper place in a meeting devoted to education, science and culture. The United States seconded the Israel proposal and the resolution was approved by 17 to 3, with five abstentions.
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