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