Friends of the Earth Nanotechnology Project

The Friends of the Earth Nanotechnology Project was founded in early 2005 as a part of Friends of the Earth Australia's (FoEA's) call for increased community involvement in and scrutiny of nanotechnology and its potential impacts on the environment and society. In 2007, they released a policy statement outlining concerns regarding the dissemination, regulation, environmental impact, economic impact, and application of nanotechnology. Citing a lack of regulation of nanotechnology in Australia, the policy statement recommends a precautionary approach to the development of nanotechnology, a moratorium on all research, development, and use of nanotechnology materials, and the construction of a regulatory framework that encourages democratic decision making and public participation. Additionally, they recommend comprehensive assessment of environmental, economic, social, health, and security costs that may result from the research and development of nanotechnology. The FoE Nanotechnology Project is concerned that the global and corporate production of nanotechnology could reinforce or create socioeconomic inequality.

Along with Friends of the Earth USA and Europe, FoEA called for a moratorium on the commercial release of food products, food packaging, food contact materials, and agrochemicals that contain nanomaterials until three things happen: (1) new safety testing of nanobased ingredients; (2) public involvement in decision making; and (3) the labeling of all nanobased ingredients. The Nanotechnology Project utilizes the precautionary principle in their response to the production of materials developed through nanotechnology because of a lack of safety reports and studies on nanotechnology. The precautionary principle proposed by the Nanotechnology Project is often used by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and interest groups when deciding how to evaluate new technologies and policies that may negatively impact society or the environment.

Friends of the Earth Australia is a federation of grassroots organizations and a member of FoE International, which claims to be the largest federation of environmental organizations in the world. The International organization has member groups in over 72 countries. FoEA formed in 1974 at the site of a proposed nuclear reactor and has since evolved into a diverse network of regional and national organizations, with a focus on many environmental issues. FoEA and FoE International work to develop alliances among environmental and social justice groups at the international, national, and local levels.

FoEA's environmental campaigns focus on a range of issues such as indigenous rights, climate change, sustainability, forest protection, nuclear power, clean energy, regulation of chemicals, and regulation of nanotechnology. Their focus on nanotechnology is an extension of their long-time interest in technology, including nuclear power and chemicals. Although they encourage technological developments for some purposes, especially renewable energy, their approach to new technologies is precautionary and tends to emphasize regulation, education, and public participation. The FoE Nanotechnology Project provides an extensive [Page 262]resource of publications, policy recommendations, and reports on the organization's Website.

As part of their call for public participation in decision making on nanotechnology, the FoE Nanotechnology Project disseminates reports, newsletters, and articles on the use of nanomaterials in consumer products, food, agriculture, military, and other applications, through grassroots organizations, public meetings, public events, and on the FoEA Website. They produce a newsletter, FoE Nano News, which covers nanotechnology issues around the world and reports FoE Nanotechnology Project updates. An archive of the FoE Nano News newsletter since July 2005 is available on the FoE Nanotechnology Project Website.

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