Sociology 478
Information, Images, and Inequality
This website was designed by Stephen Ostertag for an undergraduate sociology class at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. The class was titled "Information, Images and Inequality" and was instructed by Stephen Adair PhD. The following links are related to anti-technology organizations and groups; along with organizations that either oppose genetic engineering or wish to proceed at a slower more cautious pace. Some of the ramifications of technology and genetic engineering deal with private property laws, such as copyrights and patents. These issues are manifest in many of the links found on this page. I hope this page can enlighten you and be useful for research, or leisure surfing. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions you can contact me at Steve3443@aol.com. Thank You
Information Technology and Anti-Technology Sites
http://www.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/luddite.html This site is provided by the University of Colorado at Denver's School of Education. It gives a brief history of the term "Luddite" and also lists resources that offer various information about Luddites, as well as other anti-technology information. There is also an extensive list of readings which include books, interviews and letters.
Technophobia http://www.loyola.edu/dept/philosophy/techne/tekfobia.htm This site offers an in depth analysis of technophobia. What it is, different kinds, predictors and more. The designer looks at numerous attributes of technophobia and includes a bibliography with links at the bottom of the page.
International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) http://www.icta.org ICTA is an organization that is committed to providing the public with full analysis of technology and its possible future implications. Essentially, ICTA searches for the latent functions of various forms of technology and makes the information available to the public.
Corporate Watch http://corpwatch.org/trac/feature/hitech/index.html This website focuses on the environmental implications of producing hi-tech products, such as computers. This site also provides the browser with some information on current grass-root organizations that are actively fighting hi-tech companies. The site offers an opportunity for the browser to take action against hi-tech polluting companies such as "Intel". Click on the computer to find out the environmental impacts of various computer products.
Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC) http://www.gilc.org This site addresses some of the consequences of the electronic age along with some ways in which electronics and technology have usurped power from others. This is viewed with human rights as the background and how human rights along with exploitation through technology compare.
Electronic Frontiers Foundation (EFF) http://www.eff.org EFF is an organization that is working to protect civil liberties and human rights from the numerous problems that have arisen as a result of the information age. EFF seeks to find a way to resolve these problems allowing both the information age and humanity to peacefully co-exist.
Genetic Engineering and Seed Patenting Sites
Watching Monsanto http://www.monsanto.vigil.net This site contains information about the attempt of companies to patent plant genes and its potential consequences. You can read about U.S. Patents of plant genes by clicking on the link U.S. Patent 5,723,765. The site also lists grass-root action, pitfalls, and alternatives.
Intellectual Property Network Control of plant gene expression. http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?patents_number=5723765 This site lists various genetic patents throughout the world. It also lists the inventor, patent date, and titles of numerous patents.
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute http://www.cgiar.org/ipgri/policy/ipr.htm This organization is concerned with using genetic engineering responsibly, and allowing for sound safe policies that will allow us to develop genetics in a rational manner.
The Progress Report: Your genes owned by others http://www.progress.org/tokar01.htm This sight offers mostly text on what has been happening in the world of biotechnology and related patents. There is a large focus on the exploitation of indigenous cultures by biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies and the influence and effect on these small unaware cultures. The site also allows for a response on the article and an option to receive mail concerning "Economic Justice Updates".
http://www.agro.agri.umn.edu/plant-tc/listserv This site hosts forum on aspects related to Plant Tissue Culture or Plant-TC. You must subscribe to post your comments, but you may search the Plant-TC archives from 1994-present for free. There are comments about seed sterilization also.
http://www.freepress.org/doit/stopseed.html This is a small site that is part of the Columbus Free Press of central Ohio. The site deals with seed sterilization and the inherent controversies that arise with it. This site allows for one to write a letter to congress and USDA.
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) http://www.rafi.ca/ The site of the RAFI Organization that is dedicated to the "conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity, and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies". This site is loaded with information and resources, along with contact information.
The Campaign Against Human Genetic Engineering (CAHGE) http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~cahge/ This organization is dedicated to raising questions about genetic engineering, displaying the ethical, social and political issues effecting and effected by genetics. With a major focus on the Human Genome Project ( a genetic map of the human body).
http://www.maharishi.co.uk/fagan.htm This site is about Dr. John Fagan and his book about the dangers of genetic engineering. Dr. Fagan is a Molecular Biologist at Maharishi University in Iowa and is an activist against the current trends in genetic engineering, This page offers a synopsis of his book. There are some links along with some other options also.
Students for Alternatives to Genetic Engineering (S.A.G.E.) http://www.sage-intl.org/ This site provides issues of genetic engineering along with articles, links, action steps, and news among other things all related to the dangers of genetic engineering.
Campaign for Responsible Transplantation (CRT) http://www.crt-online.org CRT is an organization dedicated to stopping the use of genetically modified pig organs, cells and tissues for use in human beings. This Process is called "Xenotransplantation", and CRT is concerned about the potential risk of introducing foreign bacteria into the human body.
Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) http://www.gene-watch.org/index.html CRG is an organizations composed of scientists, public health advocates and others whose primary goal is to monitor the development of new genetic technologies in the areas of human genetics, commercial biotechnology and the environment. You can become a member of CRG, or subscribe to their journal "GeneWatch". If you wish you can sign a petition that is created to aid in eradicating the possibility of patenting aspects of life, such as genes and genetically engineered organs.
Indigenous Peoples Coalition Against Biopiracy (IPBC) http://www.niec.net/ipcb/ IPBC is an organization that is seeking to protect indigenous people against bio technology and thus decreasing the worlds diversity.
Digital Future Coalition (DFC) http://www.dfc.org/ This page makes available some of the current issues regarding the use of information, including who has the right to certain information and if particular information should be available to all. DFC addresses certain bills that relate to the use of information and makes them available to the public.
Other Interesting Sites
The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (CAUCE) www.cauce.org This site is dedicated to the eradication of unsolicited commercial email. It offers information on current legislative procedures, ways to help, information for and about Congress and media, lists other resources, and how to order a very fashionable "No Spam" t-shirt.
Turning Point Project http://www.Turnpoint.org This website is the site of the "Turning Point Project Organization". TPP is an organization that is trying to educate the public about various issues concerning the planet. They make advertisements as a way to distribute their mission and intend to have them displayed in the "New York Times" and other papers during the spring of 2000. Some of the ad services include "Technomaina", "Genetic Engineering", and "Industrial Agriculture". There are a few more to choose from.
Center for Ethics & Toxics (CETOS) http://www.cetos.org CETOS is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to decreasing the amount of toxic exposure that impairs the environment and humans. CETOS currently spends 1/3 of their time directing research, 1/3 of their time ensuring Proposition 65 Labeling, and the remaining 1/3 writing projects which include articles on ethics, toxics and biotechnology.
Organic Consumers Association (OCA) http://www.organicconsumers.org This organization's goals are to promote the growing of organically grown food and disuades the USDA from allowing national organic standards from falling. By weakening the standards, the USDA would allow factory farming, sewage sludge, genetic engineering and irradiation in organic food production.
http://www.actlab.utexas.edu/~paradox/privacy.html This is a small site by the University of Texas that exposes numerous questions about who should own information.
Adbusters http://www.adbusters.org/home/ Adbusters is an organization that is dedicated to giving the public a voice and response to the mass media. Through spoof-ads, uncommercials and a magazine, Adbusters unveils the ramifications of the mass media in our society. Exposing what we have become, largely as a result of mass media