Science for the People Magazine Vol. 15, No. 3
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warns that the debate which once surrounded the ideas of Arthur Jensen and William Shockley in the early 70s about this issue is far from over. Environmental battles under the Watts regime have reached fever pitch since the election of Ronald Reagan. Science for the People has traditionally set itself AI Gedicks reports on the uranium mining industry in apart from mainstream popular science publications by the northern Great Lakes region which, with govern exploring, in an analytical fashion, issues of science and ment cooperation, threatens to devastate much of technology as they play themselves out in a world of northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Here, as else well-defined political relationships. We have sought to where, potential destruction is being combatted by an present issues of contemporary concern which reflect active and organized community of concerned indivi both the limitations of science, particularly as it is duals; Gedicks details their struggles against a compli practiced within a capitalist framework, and the vast cated scheme of government and corporate collabora potential of socially-useful, applied scientific research. tion to exploit resources at high social cost. At times, and perhaps of necessity, we have painted Ruth Hubbard describes the elitism and commer a highly gloomy picture of current scientific practices. cialization surrounding the development of techniques However we have never lost sight of the need to provide, for manipulating human genes and human fetuses in the within our coverage, articles which probe and challenge womb. As new and complicated techniques with high the status quo, as well as pieces which explore real and profit potential, they are currently peddled with an positive changes which have taken place. This issue enthusiasm which grants few opportunities for critical combines the various approaches of change and innova examination of possible social costs or risks. The situa tion, challenge and query. tion is sharpened by the fact that many of those in Bob Milbrath provides us with a critical look at the volved in the research or delivery of such techniques are successful Mondragon worker cooperatives of the also investing heavily in the chance for instant wealth Basque region of Spain. In spite of rapid growth which nee results reach the market place. Hubbard effectively has caused certain problems within the Mondragon sys underlines the need for demystification and control of tem, he concludes that the cooperatives provide us with the new technologies by those who may be their victims an exciting and effective means of challenging tradition as well as their beneficiaries. al capitalist relations of production. Further, Mondra While the subject matter within this issue of Science gon has revitalized a region that would otherwise suffer for the People varies widely, it is the hallmark of the or high unemployment and has implemented social welfare ganization to see the connections between these topics in measures which provide protection for all members in the need to build a science and technology which works the face of changing economic conditions. for the people. To this end, within these pages and in the Phil Bereano and Christine Bose offer us another activities of our chapters and contacts around the positive alternative, this time closer to home. In design world, we try to make individuals in the sciences more ing a course, at the University of Washington, which fo accountable for what they do, to challenge attempts to cuses on women and technology, the authors both chal use science and technology for the realization of huge lenged traditional pedagogic methods, and provided a profits and large-scale destruction, and also to docu much needed interdisciplinary approach to issues which ment those efforts around the world where people are have traditionally failed to include women. The authors trying to build a socially-useful science and technology, have provided a lengthy and comprehensive annotated one which can be put to work for a common good. bibliography which is useful to both interested readers and those who may design similar courses elsewhere. UPCOMING ISSUE OF SFTP Barry Mehler, writing about the new eugenics The Midwest Editorial Committee is now soli movement currently legitimized by the conservative po citing articles for the November/December 1983 litical climate, warns us of the re-emergence of many of special issue "Science and Technology in Cen the same beliefs which flourished in Hitler's Germany. tral America.'' Please send articles, outlines, More alarming is the current tendency in academic cir graphics and other material to: Midwest Editor cles to provide eugenicists with increased respectability, ial Committee, Science for the People, 4318 Mi access to prestigious publishing houses, and greater chigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109. Copies of voice in university communities. Mehler outlines an ex author's guidelines are available from the Na panding institutional network which currently provides tional Office, 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA funding and media access for eugenicist views; and 02139. 2 Science for the People May/June 1983 SCIENCE~ PEOPLE Vol. 15 No.3 LESSONS FROM MONDRAGON 7 by Bob Milbrath A flourishing network of Cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain. RESOURCE WARS IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR 12 REGION by AI Gedicks Organizing against the mining industry. FEATURES: THE NEW EUGENICS 18 by Barry Mehler Academic racism in the U.S. today. HUMAN EMBRYO AND GENE MANIPULATION 24 COVER: The graphic is by Ruth Hubbard from Eroski magazine, Health risks, social costs and overnight wealth: an opinion. published by the Basque cooperative of WOMEN AND TECHNOLOGY 31 the same name. by Philip Bereano and Christine Bose A university course and an annotated bibliography. DEPARTMENTS: About this Issue 2 Resources 34 Letters 4 Book Review: 30 Newsnotes 5 What Difference Could a Revolution Make? Subscription rates (for one year/six Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48109. Science for the Science for the People is published issues): $15 (regular base rate), foreign People is indexed in Alternative Press bimonthly by the Science Resource Cen surface mail add $5; foreign airmail sub· Index, P.O. Box 7229, Baltimore, MD ter, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The scription rates as follows, reflecting dif· 21218. Science for the People's ISSN (In ma~azine is edited and produced by the ferences in mailing costs: to Canada add ternational Standard Serial Number) is: nat1onal organization Science for the $5.50, to Latin America add $9.50, to Eur· 0048·9662. People. Our address is 897 Main St., ope add $13.00, to Asia/Africa add Cambridge, MA 02139; our phone num $16.50; institutional/library rate: $24; ber is (617) 547-0370. We offer a progres Editorial Committee: (Midwest Collective) member subscription $25. Members sub Judith Allen, Laura Glassman, Uriel Kitron, sive view of science and technology, scribers receive the magazine, our news covering a broad range of issues. We letter and other internal communica Brian Schultz, John Vandermeer. (East welcome contributions of all kinds; ar tions. Foreiqn subscribers must remit in Coast) Steve Berezin, Roger Felix, Jane ticles, letters, book reviews, artwork, car $U.S. with e1ther an International Money Lichtenstein, Shelley Minden, Joy Pearson, toons, news notes, etc. If possible, Order or a check drawn on a U.S. bank. Seth Shulman. Production Committee: please type manuscripts (double spaced) Richard Aichelmann, Jon Beckwith, Steve and send three copies. Be sure to keep one copy for yourself. Unless otherwise Bookstores may order on consign Berezin, Rink Dickinson, Ross Feldberg, stated, all material in this magazine is ment directly from Science for the Peo Gert Freedman, Mel Freedman, Jane copyright 1983 by Science for the Peo ple or through carrier Pigeon Distribu Lichtenstein, Connie Phillips, Seth ple. Typesetting at the mediaplace, 10 tors, P.O. Box 2783, Boston, MA 02208. Shulman, Gerry Waneck, Cathy Wenthe. West St., Boston, MA 02111. (617) 542- The magazine is available on microfilm Magazine Coordinator: Seth Shulman 5351. from Xerox Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Office Coordinator: Paula Schnitzer Interns: Sarah Bassett, Will Doherty. May/June 1983 3 r ticated analysis of the interrelationships seriously" (unlike the rest of us). I of sex, violence, brutality, the media, have read this "manual" and it struck letters power, aggression, representation, me as an interesting example of an anger, etc. in our culture. Unfortunate archo-militarism, stuck in a time warp ly, ''A Culture of Violence Against of romantic nostalgia for the Spanish Women" isn't even a first step. Civil War and bombs, barricades and Lisa Orlando blood on the streets. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN It is not a work dedicated to bring ing about peace, rather it is one which Dear SftP advocates revolution, which is some I found "A Culture of Violence EUROPEAN thing entirely different and I take to be Against Women" (March/April1983) DISARMAMENT MOVEMENT Les Levidow's position. Still in the very disturbing. Is behaviorism really the spirit of "peaceful co-existence," I'll psychological theory of choice for fem Dear SftP: try not to insult him too much and inists and other radicals? Unthinking use Certain things that Les Levidow siad then perhaps he will not want to insult of "scientific evidence" in reference to in his "Report on the International me too much either. studies in the very bourgeois and almost Meeting of