Carlos Moreno, Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in France, is facing an online smear campaign from conspiracy theorists who believe that his work on the concept of the “15-minute city” is part of an international conspiracy. The Committee of Concerned Scientists believes more has to be done by his university and the French government to ensure his safety.
https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/report/2023-03-28-university-of-paris-1-pantheon-sorbonne/
May 30, 2023
Emmanuel Macron
President of the French Republic
Palais de l’Élysée
55 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris, France
Dear President Macron:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We are writing in regard to Carlos Moreno, University Professor and Chair of the Entrepreneurship – Territory – Innovation (ETI) at the Paris 1 – Pantheon Sorbonne University. He has had a distinguished career in urban planning and has received some of France’s highest honors, including the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 2010 and the French Academy of Architecture’s Medal of Prospective in 2019. He is well known for his concept of the “15-minute city,” where he proposes a civil/structural idea in which most amenities can be found within walking distance of where people live. Because of this work, he has recently faced an online smear campaign from conspiracy theorists who believe that the benign nature of this work masks a desire for some sort of totalitarian world government.
This online smear campaign has included death threats. The Committee of Concerned Scientists is therefore concerned that these threats of murder and other forms of harm will lead to real violence against Moreno. We write to urge your government, for the promotion of academic freedom, to ensure the safety of Moreno and to speak out against this dangerous smear campaign.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in Moreno’s case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
Denise Campbell Bauer
Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco
U.S. Embassy Paris
2 avenue Gabriel 75008
Paris, France
Phone: (33) (1)43122222
Twitter: USEmbassyFrance
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken
Laurent Bili
Ambassador to the United States of America.
Embassy of France
4101 Reservoir Rd NW,
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (202) 944-6000
Twitter: @franceintheus
Catherine Colonna
Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs
37, Quai d’Orsay
75007 Paris, France
Phone: (33) (0)1 43 17 53 53
Twitter: @MinColonna
Christine Neau-Leduc
President
University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
12 Place du Panthéon,
75231 Paris, France
Phone: (33) (0)1 44 07 77 03
E-mail: cabpresident@univ-paris1.fr
Twitter: NeauLeduc