[Taxacom] Save the Utrecht Herbarium (U)

[Pieter Pelser]

Dear Friends,

Sorry for cross-posting, but I'd like to bring the following to your  
attention.

On 26th March 2008 the University Board of Utrecht University, The  
Netherlands, informed the employees of the Utrecht Herbarium that as  
of 1 June 2008 the Herbarium is to be closed and, with immediate  
effect, access to the collections, from national as well as  
international workers, is to cease.
This must not be allowed!
	
*Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for current national and  
international research!
	
*Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for any future research!
	
*Closure of the Herbarium contradicts the Biodiversity Covenant signed  
by the Netherlands which ensures the accessibility of data relating to  
biodiversity (either under Dutch ownership or under Dutch guardianship)!
	
*Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for all the botanical and  
ecological research taking place in South America, especially  
Suriname, Guyana, French Guyana and the Amazonian basin.
	
*Closure of the Herbarium is in effect a denial of the cultural- 
historical value of this Herbarium to The Netherlands and Suriname!
	
*Closure of the Herbarium is the start of scientific deterioration and  
wrecks the near-finalized plans for the creation of one Dutch Centre  
for Biodiversity [NCB].

What can you do?

Please sign the petition at www.SaveHerbariumU.nl and forward this  
email to others.

Thanks!,

Pieter

*******************************************************************
Dr. Pieter B. Pelser

Miami University - Botany Department
316 Pearson Hall
Oxford, Ohio 45056
USA

Email: pelserpb at muohio.edu
IChat: pelser at mac.com
Tel. office: +15135294270
Tel. cell: +15133303952
Fax: +15135294243
http://pieterpelser.blogspot.com/
*******************************************************************