Is the so-called “precautionary principle” a benefit to society, as many in Europe are claiming?  Well not according to Dr. Cecile Philippe of the Molinari Economics Institute in Brussels, who believes it is actually a great danger to progress.  Comments Dr. Philippe: “By reversing the burden of proof, the precautionary principle means that any activity will be guilty of damaging the environment, and subject to prohibition, unless is can proven to be safe.  But instead of removing risk, this actually increases risk to individual prosperity.   Since the precautionary principle cannot remove all risks, but only suppress some while forcing us into taking others, it should submit to its own test, and prove it does not bring damaging results to our society.”