On 26/01/2015 10:12 AM, Tom Worthington wrote: > On 24/01/15 16:24, jore wrote: >> ... What can you do? ... > I teach how to reduce carbon emissions using computers and provide the > course notes for free so others can teach it (used from Hong Kong to > Canada): http://www.tomw.net.au/ict_sustainability/introduction.shtml > > In terms of preventing nuclear war, I propose free open source hot-line > software, which nations could use to defuse a crisis. Perhaps I can > persuade the Sahana Software Foundation to build it. They already give > away disaster management software for use by organizations such as the > Red Cross. Perhaps they could also do "disaster prevention" software: > http://sahanafoundation.org/
Hi there, I didn't mean to start a pissing contest, nor to begin criticising other's work, but I think the first part about ICT and sustainability is problematic and it's what I'm trying to get at with this discussion in terms of personal solutions. I work with computers too but for social change activism but I'm acutely aware that the entire technology mindset is not and can never be sustainable, let alone the environmental impacts (not just emissions). This is why I make the point about opposing and brining down this culture rather than attempting to reform what can never be reformed. i.e. ICT is not and can never be sustainable every way down the line---from the question of non-harmful electricity generation, to the issue of plastics and toxification, to the mining and precious metals that are required and constantly required in greater measure (let alone the slavery and wars); to the issues of transportation, global wired and wireless connectivity, to the issues of the toxification of the environment by all of this from product cycle (leaving aside planned obsolescence et al) and then to eWaste (and the horrific stories of so-called "recycling"), to the underlying infrastructures that makes the technology possible and perpetuate all this---all having serious cumulative impact that is inherently unsustainable and not compatible with the natural world. It's no wonder to me then, that this culture is the sole inventor and perpetrator of such technologies, but not only that, seeks to defend them at all costs while the world is being murdered (for example, I'm thinking of Japan---the most techno-gadget place on the planet---not willing to give up electricity even after the Fukushima disaster, etc. That says it all, right? I mean, do we care about a liveable planet or powering our gadgets for another 20 minutes?). Anyway, having said all this though, any effort to reduce emissions in any way possible is loudly applaudable and important work. Don't get me wrong. It's just the question of where one's loyalties are. Which is why I say, if we're trying to fix this culture and sustain the unsustainable, then good luck---we're doomed to fail. We need to oppose this culture that is killing the planet, and stop it. Likewise with preventing any war. That's very important work. Thank you and all the best, Jore _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
