Counter to dystopian futures and the portrayal of technology as a tool of oppression, many writers illustrate how technology can also be implemented for liberatory uses and to instigate radical social change. (A few examples include sousveillance, boundary-collapsing communications, and post-scarcity via nanofabrication, among others.) What can we learn from these explorations and how can we apply them to develop a real-world anarchist/egalitarian/technoprogressive/left approach to science and technology?

Joining me on the panel will be James Hughes, author of Citizen Cyborg, board member for Humanity Plus, executive director for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and all-around very busy and prolific transhumanist guy. I presume I’ll be giving the non-state ideas while he throws down his technoprogressive arguments.

There are some other interesting-looking discussions scheduled at the con. I’m particularly looking forward to the Continuing Appeal of the Apocalypse.

That’s one idea anyway. Another is to discuss sci-fi examples of using H+ technologies (specifically AI, nano, and communications tech) to achieve anarchist/horizontal/egalitarian societies and/or social change. Perhaps related to this could be the development of an anarchist approach to science and technology.

Any of our readers planning on going? Have an interest in any particular topic? You can see some of the other panel/workshop ideas being discussed here.

An obvious starting point for a discussion of this sort would be the Association of Autonomous Astronauts, and similar groups like Red Giant, that tackled issues like the demilitarization and (non-)corporate colonization of outer space. On the more abstract/theoretical level, we could discuss science fiction portrayals of anarchists in space — Robinson’s Mars books, LeGuin’s Dispossessed, Ian Banks’s Culture books, MacLeod’s Fall Revolution, etc. — and how anarchists could play a role in expanding outward from Earth and potentially use it to claim autonomous anarchist space.

While such sci-fi and speculative fiction is often dismissed, it does open the door for anarchists to talk about these issues with people unfamiliar to anarchism.

Anyone reading this going to FOR? Anyone potentially interested in such a guerrilla workshop?

The Think Galactic group is also holding a Think Galacticon radical sci-fi convention here in Chicago on July 26-28. Check it out if you’re in the area.

I suspect many of these presentations will be posted in full online soon.

WHEN: Saturday, July 26th at 8:00PM

WHERE: UE & IWW Union Hall
37 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60607

Kim Keyser is an activist from the emerging anarchist movement in Norway, the so-called “social democratic paradise.” He will address the question “How can we reflect the future we want in our present work?” The presentation will touch upon subjects such as direct democracy, direct action, workers councils, anarchist organizing, and involvement in social movements.

For more information, please contact: chicago-ac@riseup.net

This event is co-sponsored by the Four Star Anarchist Organization and Chicago IWW.

PDF Flyer

Antisocialite and I may throw together an impromptu guerrilla workshop on Sunday to talk about issues relating to @ organizing and technology — stuff like:

– technology and security culture (surveillance, sousveillance, crypto, etc)

– internet organizing, open source models, new media, hacktivism

– organizing around tech issues, universal access to tech, subverting authoritarian tech for libertarian purposes

Date: Saturday March 22nd
When: 3pm until ?
Location: Mercury Cafe, 1505 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago

It’s an open gathering, with the purpose of meeting each other, talking about H+-related issues, and possible setting this up as a monthly event.