RE: Unabomber's new anti-civilization essay in Green Anarchy

From: Jacques Du Pasquier (jacques@dtext.com)
Date: Sat Jul 27 2002 - 19:09:44 MDT


Thom Quinn wrote (27.7.2002/12:15) :
> You can read it yourself, if you want, in PDF format at
> http://greenanarchy.org/

I've just read it, so for those who haven't, here's a quick summary.
The object of the article is to tell the radical green that they are
wasting their time hitting the "fist" of technology, instead of
hitting "where it hurts".

One related idea is that technology should not be fought in the name
of values that are compatible with the system, like avoiding
pollution. Otherwise the system can accomodate such criticism, and
perfect the technology to avoid the nuisance (Kaczynski wouldn't be
happy with the elimination of pollution ; he rejects the
techno-industrial system on more general grounds, but this is not
dealt with in the article).

Worth of notice, the fact that he insists on the biotech being the
best target by now. The main reason seems to be that support can be
found outside of the extremist groups, which is not the case if one
fights computers or power production.

He again insists that biotech should be faught not in the name of
values compatible with the system (say avoiding health hazard) but in
the name of principles : it is an insult to the living beings, it
makes the system too powerful, and it endangers fundamental human
values. He says that the religious reasons given for banning cloning,
for example, are just fine, because (and that's the only thing that
counts) they are not technologically valid.

With hypocrisy of pure form he specifies here and there that of course
he only fosters lawful actions. Otherwise, the article is in his
customary logico-pedagogical style, with ample repetition of the
phrase "hit where it hurts".

Jacques
(back to lurk)



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