[818] in peace2
WTO cyberspace meeting
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jan Outcalt)
Fri Jun 1 15:34:49 2001
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Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 15:37:13 -0400
To: earth-action@mit.edu, peace-list@mit.edu
From: Jan Outcalt <jano@MIT.EDU>
Re: SIMULATING DEMOCRACY CAN BE A VIRTUAL BREEZE
By Norman Solomon
Fri, 25 May 2001 11:06:41 -0400 message forwarded from Corrina Chase
I thought the article was very well written-- good analysis, beautifully
expressed.
=================================================================
However, I must differ with what I gather is Corrina's own opinion, stated
at the end:
"Perhaps the hackers will use any access to post valid reasons to reconsider
the effects of some of the policies. The WTO isn't all bad, and the
delegates do not think they are doing a negative thing. They don't
understand how they have a negative effect on local economies."
===================================================================
I don't think it is wise or prudent to attribute motives of kindess, good
intentions or mere lack of understanding to WTO delegates. In truth,
unless they are quoted directly (without the nauseating lies of "spin"), we
don't really know their motives or thinking.
However, I do know that I have met some very wealthy, powerful people. And
they are not always nice or well-intentioned or just out of touch.
Sometimes they openly admit that they know they are hurting and exploiting
the poor. But they simply don't give a damn. The poor are "lazy" or
"stupid" or virtually sub-human, and always a commodity. And anyway,
business is business. Nothing personal.
The very wealthy and powerful may indeed have no idea of the damage they
incur with their influence on cruel government policies. But that is no
more an excuse than for an abusive man who beats his wife because he
"thought it was his right", i.e. he was totally ignorant. Certainly these
people, more than most, have access to information, therapists,
professionals and others who could help them to become more sensitive and
informed. That they do not bother speaks volumes. And it is totally their
own decision.
I would be ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED to see some of the genius hackers at MIT
get into the middle of this conference and conduct their own cyberspace
protest by shutting the whole thing down.
Until these decision-makers agree to hear the voices of those whose lives
they are controlling and damaging, they have no right to continue to meet,
secretive and exclusive as their meetings always are.
Jan
Jan Outcalt
Administrative Assistant (temp to perm)
Center for Advanced Nuclear Studies
MIT
24-215
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-452-3016
Fax: (617) 258-8863
