home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Hacker 2
/
HACKER2.mdf
/
cud
/
cud462b.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-01-03
|
4KB
|
90 lines
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1992 13:06:56 -0800
Subject: File 2--More on Political Action (Re: CuD 4.60)
Richard Gautier asked the above question in C.U.D. 4.60, in response
to the CPSR/Berkeley _Computer & Information Technologies Platform_.
Since I was involved in helping to draft the platform, allow me to
suggest at least a first step:
Nothing happens without organization. So the obvious thing is to get
organized. Get involved with an organization that is doing important
work around these issues.
At the top of the list, I would say, is Computer Professionals for
CPSR, but please don't take what follows as strictly self-serving. I
wouldn't be involved with CPSR if I didn't think that it was who work
with computers, as users, programmers, writers, teachers, researchers,
etc. CPSR has an active ongoing effort on changing science and
technology R & D priorities (21st Century Project). CPSR is very
active on Civil Liberties and Privacy issues, and maintains a
Washington office to fight at the Federal level on these issues. (That
office's activities are frequently reported on in C.U.D.). CPSR's
"Computers in the Workplace" working group is active around
participatory design and other workplace issues. CPSR is a
member-driven group -- that is, members, through the 20+ chapters
around the country, identify computer-related issues of particular
concern to them, and initiate some activity either at the local level,
or nationally. For example, the Portland chapter pulled together a
Computers and the Environment conference; the Berkeley chapter
produced the platform and raised issues related to the Gulf War and
computer folks; and several chapters have worked in their respective
states for a responsible Caller-ID policy. CPSR has also recently set
up an e-mail discussion group around working in the computer industry
(cpsr-work@sunnyside.com) To contact CPSR, e-mail
cpsr@csli.stanford.edu; or write P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA, 94302.
Other groups (in the order they would appear in the platform):
The American Library Association, and the local library associations
are on the front lines protecting access to information, and could
really, really use support. Public libraries represent a really
radical concept -- that everyone, regardless of income, should have
access to information. Public library funding is being gutted. Support
your local library!
"Computers & You" has some experience in trying to provide access to
equipment and computer training to a low-income community in San
Francisco; their efforts could be a model for other places. (330
Ellis St., SF, CA 94102).
Re: Privatization of public information, and access to government
info, the Taxpayers Assets Project is active on those issues.
(love@essential.org)
The League for Programming Freedom has been doing probably the best
work around the "intellectual property" rights issues of user
interface copyright and software patents. (lpf@uunet.uu.net)
Re: Civil Liberties -- Besides CPSR, the Electronic Frontier
Foundation (info@eff.org, I think).
Work, health and safety issues have been addressed by some unions,
especially ones that represent clerical workers. Toxics in the
workplace -- more info could probably be found through a state
university's Labor Studies Program, or a state OSHA (Occupational
Safety & Health Admin).
Computers and the Environment: the Campaign for Responsible Technology
(617-391-3866) has done work on cleaning up the semiconductor
industry. Also, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (408-287-6707).
Global cooperation and responsible use of technology: contact the 21st
Century Project (chapman@lcs.mit.edu).
I know I've left out lots of other groups that are doing excellent
work on these issues; hopefully other C.U.D. readers will send in
their suggestions.
To find out what else is happening in your community around technology
issues, try the local CPSR chapter (no chapter? then start one!). They
usually know who else is working on similar issues.
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to the political power it takes to
make things like the technology platform a reality --especially for
resolving involved in the struggle to solve these problems.
------------------------------
Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253