We’re all Luddites now

[jondwhite]

I thought this article heading was interesting so I thought I would share here

http://www.cpgb.org.uk/home/weekly-worker/977/were-all-luddites-now

[jondwhite]

Here is another good articlehttp://theoccupiedtimes.org/?p=12365

[jondwhite]

Quote:

Thursday 16th January 2014: Luddite Memorial Lecture – Dr Matthew Roberts The first annual Luddite Memorial Lecture – dedicated to the late Lesley Kipling, a local historian – is to be given at Huddersfield University by Dr Matthew Roberts of Sheffield Hallam University. It is entitled 'Luddism Through the Chartist Looking Glass: Shirley & the Modernisation of Popular Protest'. Your RSVP is requested to huddhistorysecretary@gmail.com FREE. Canalside East (CEG/28), Firth Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3BZ. 7.30 p.m.   Wednesday 26th February 2014: Nottingham and the Pentrich Revolution – Michael Clark This is a talk for Wollaton Historical & Conservation Society. FREE to members, £2 to visitors. St Leonard’s Community Centre, Bramcote Lane, Wollaton, NG8 2ND. 7.30 p.m. Saturday 12th April 2014: Luddite Martyrs Weekend – Luddite Bicentenary/Huddersfield Anarchist League In what we hope will be an annual event, you are invited to commemorate the Luddite Martyrs who gave their lives over 200 years ago so that working-class people could envisage a different version of 'progress' than that imposed by the government and manufacturers and upheld by their inheritors ever since. 202 years after the failed Luddite attack on Rawfolds Mill, we invite admirers of the Luddites and those who carry their torch today to gather at the site of the new memorial to them in Liversedge. At this stage, our plans are limited to the gathering here and a drink in the Shears public house further up the road on the day itself, but it is likely we will also organise a walk along the route the Luddites took to Rawfolds on the evening of 11th April 1812 on the same weekend, if not the day itself. Possible other events on the Friday or Saturday evening could include a film show & talk and an evening of music and poetry. FREE Liversedge Sparrow Park (junction of Knowler Hill & Halifax Road/A649), Liversedge. Starting at approximately 12.00 p.m. facebook event Friday 2nd May to Monday 5th May: Breaking the Frame: A Gathering on the Politics of Technology – Luddites200 Our system of industrial capitalism is in both economic and environmental crisis.  Part of the cause of these crises is the technologies that we use – although they do of course bring benefits, technologies are largely designed and controlled by corporate, military and technocratic elites to serve their interests and exert their power. So, in order to really face up to those crises we need a new politics of technology, a politics that goes beyond the myths that technology is just a neutral tool or that technological advances necessarily bring progress. The Breaking the Frame gathering is a step towards creating that new politics. We will be bringing together campaigns on the technology politics of food, energy/climate/ environment, work/economics/austerity, the military, the internet, surveillance health and gender, as well as trade unionists, radical scientists, artists and developers of alternative technologies.  The aim is to learn from each other and to build a new network, to strengthen campaigns and make issues about technology more central in radical movements. Some of the issues we’ll discuss include:- What does a critical politics of technology mean in the 21st century: democratic control or ‘low technology’?- History of industrial society and environmental crisis; challenging the concept of progress through technology  – Experiences in different campaigns and struggles – Alternative visions of social and technological development, and the transition to a sustainable and socially just society.There will be demonstrations and workshops on craft-based production, poetry, music, walking etc. If you are interested in the gathering please email luddites200@yahoo.co.uk. The gathering will take place near Sheffield. FURTHER DETAILS TBA

[jondwhite]

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2.Feedback event on Breaking the Frame gathering, Saturday March 29th The Breaking the Frame Gathering on the politics of technology is now close, and we want to encourage your organisation to get involved and to give us input on how the gathering can be most useful to your campaign.  To this end we are repeating the very successful meeting held in February, on March 29th, from 1pm to 5.30pm.  This will be a great opportunity to meet other organisations in the nascent politics of technology network that we are building.The aim of the event is to gather ideas and get your input for the gathering.  We'd love to know what you think about which organisations and people to invite and the structure of the programme, as well as what will make the gathering work for you.  There will be time for discussion of the ideas behind the gathering, including playing the Luddites200 technology politics game. The event will be at the Common House (http://www.commonhouse.org.uk/), Unit 5E (press the buzzer), 5 Pundersons Gardens, Bethnal Green, London E2 9QG, from 1pm-5pm (bring lunch to share from 12.15). If you're coming, it’s important to let us know, by replying to this message or by texting 07854 256040.

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