[ELECTRON] Is the Electron Club Becoming Too Political?

[Marion Hersh]

I said that some of FoE and IWW's activities should fall within remit of 
EC, not that they actually do.  With regards to FOE, there is a lot of 
stuff about technology and the environment and technology and global 
warming. With regards to IWW there are issues of electronic spying, 
workers' emails and calls being monitored and technology used to speed 
up and control the whole work process.  Basically ICT can be used to try 
to force workers to be available 24/7.  I have some rather old articles 
on these subjects, but do not unfortunately have time to engage in a 
long discussion of this.  However, I am surprised that people in EC 
reject claim that technology is political.

On a related subject, have people seen EU proposals to restrict internet 
use - sorry, I cannot remember whether I have seen this discussed on 
this list or just on Scientistis for Global Responsibility?
Marion

James Beeley wrote:
> Marion,
> You're making some big claims, without backing them up with any sort of
> factual basis or reasoned explanation. Can you explain clearly to us how
> technology is "highly political", or how FoE and PS's activities fall
> within the Electron Club's stated remit?
>
> Jim
>
> On Wed, 2009-0
> 5-13 at 17:25 +0100, Marion Hersh wrote:
>   
>> Technology and the way it is used and abused is highly political.  
>> Unfortunately, many people do not seem to be aware of this.  Therefore I 
>> do not think the Electron Club can be non political.  With regards to 
>> the groups that use the premises, I would suggest that sharing premises 
>> is compatible with the open source ideal, but that groups which deal 
>> more directly with technology should have the priority.  With regards to 
>> Industrial Workers of the World and Friends of the Earth, there are a 
>> lot of issues within the direct remit of EC that they should be considering.
>> Marion
>>
>> James Beeley wrote:
>>     
>>> Looking at the program for the planned open day, and the web calendar, I
>>> can see a lot of political activity which doesn't seem to have anything
>>> to do with open-source software, hardware hacking, amateur radio, video
>>> editing or any of the other stated aims of the club.
>>>
>>> The calendar lists meeting of Industrial Workers of the World and
>>> Friends of the Earth which are purely political groups. The Open Day
>>> timetable included a presentation by Plane Stupid, who harass and bully
>>> holidaymakers travelling by air, and some of whose members have been
>>> convicted as a result.
>>>
>>> Worse still, the Digital Desparados group, who operate an openly stated
>>> policy of racial discrimination, have been able to use the Electron
>>> Club's facilities. In their own words:
>>>
>>> "A: This course is for young women of colour aged 16 – 30.......By women
>>> of colour we mean all non white women, for example south asian, mixed,
>>> first nations, black, south pacific islander, latina, roma, asian etc.
>>> etc."
>>>
>>> This plays into the hands of the BNP, who exploit this sort of
>>> discrimination for their own political gain. Surely all Electron Club
>>> activities should be open to all, regardless of race, colour or gender
>>> (or indeed disability or sexual orientation)? 
>>>
>>> Groups and activities such as Green Map, Fablabs, Maker Fair and SOLDER
>>> are entirely appropriate and in keeping with the EC's aims. However I
>>> find
>>> all this political activity and discrimination what should be a
>>> basically non-political organisation offputting. To my mind the EC would
>>> be far more successful and attractive to new members it was
>>> non-political and equally accessible to
>>> all. 
>>>
>>> How do others feel?
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>>
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