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Science for the People Magazine Vol. 13, No. 3

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Science for the People Magazine Vol. 13, No. 3 ~ c ~ news notes MICROPROCESSORS: technology include improving the ac­ tries where poverty and unsanitary water WIDENING THE U.S.-U.S.S.R. curacy of missiles by coordinating infor­ often make formula a lethal substitute MILITARY GAP mation from several different target­ for breast feeding. seeking devices. Another military appli­ In his syndicated column on January The U.S. has always claimed a quali­ cation is to replace some costly single­ 21, Jack Anderson charged that some of tative advantage in advanced purpose aircraft with pods, which con­ the guns being pulled out in defense of technologies to make up for a quantita­ tain all the special electronic equipment the formula manufacturers are real ones. tive disadvantage compared with the So­ and can be attached to multi-purpose Anderson stated that the manufacturers' viet Union, and the microelectronics in­ fighters. "hysterical campaign" against groups dustry has been a major area of Ameri­ Potential peaceful applications will be advocating breast feeding ''has re­ can superiority. It seems, however, that limited by the military. They fear that portedly led to deadly excesses in the gap is not as wide as it used to be, so widespread availability of the VHSIC Guatemala, where death squads of the the American military-industrial com­ technology will make it possible for the military regime have been executing plex is doing something about it. Soviets to borrow it. Thus, in addition rural health workers for, among other The development of integrated to restrictions on the exports of chips things, encouraging breast feeding." circuits (ICs) was initiated by the mili­ utilizing the new technology, controls on Anderson reported that the right-wing tary, but the commerical uses of ICs so the domestic dissemination of informa­ government was suspected of authoriz­ fertilized the semiconductor industry tion on design and fabrication tech­ ing the killings as a way to maintain "the that, in the mid-1970's, the military ac­ niques have been proposed. profitable kickbacks government offi­ cials allegedly get from the sale of baby counted for no more than 40Jo of IC re­ Military Review -Information from: formula". search. Further, the military's special LXI, pp. 43-50 (Jan. 1981). needs could only be met by expensive An internal memorandum written by small production runs, so they were Nestle's vice president Ernest Saunders forced to use less advanced technology. which was leaked to INFACT, reveals Finally, the Soviet Union has apparently INFANT FORMULA CODE the company's anxiety over the boycott caught up to being only four years be­ COULD SAVE MILLIONS and the lengths to which it is prepared to hind the American semiconductor OF LIVES­ go to counteract it. Saunders contends industry. NESTLE FEARS that ''the basic strategy for dealing with the boycott is working." This strategy The U.S. response, in part, is a six LOSS OF PROFITS year research program, to be completed appears to consist of trying to buy favor­ in 1984, to develop faster, more compact In late January, the executive council able public opinion by placing articles in ICs. This Very High Speed Integrated of the World Health Organization met major journals, hiring third-party Circuit (VHSIC) Program will spend to draw up a code to be approved at the spokespersons, and hiding behind over $200 million. The major portion World Health Assembly in May which organizations like the Ethics and Public will be spent to increase the processing would be a code of conduct for com­ Policy Center (EPPC), a right-wing speeds a hundredfold. Presently, the panies exporting baby formula to the think-tank. Saunders gloats over the most advanced ICs have components Third World. UNICEF Executive Direc­ success of Nestle in using an ostensibly and lines with sizes on the order of 5 tor Jim Grant estimates that a strict code neutral think-tank to brand church cri­ microns (a micron is 1Q-6m). Another could save "a million lives a year". tics as "Marxists marching under the goal of the VHSIC Program is to de­ The formula manufacturers, led by banner of Christ". velop production techniques that will re­ the giant Swiss-based multinational The Ethics and Public Policy Center duce these dimensions to .5 microns in Nestle, currently pull in one billion dol­ funded Herman Nickel, Washington order to fit more computing power into lars a year from formula sales in Third editor of Fortune magazine, to conduct a given space. This is not possible with World countries. Bottled formula has "a comprehensive study of the infant lithography using visible light, so new now replaced mother's milk for an esti­ formula issue." Nickel wrote an article techniques using x-rays and other radia­ mated six million Third World babies. entitled "The Corporation Haters" that tion with shorter wavelengths than visi­ According to Doug Johnson, national appeared in the June 18, 1980, issue of ble light are to be developed. chairperson of the Infant Formula Ac­ Fortune and was subsequently reprinted This increased speed and density allow tion Coalition (INFACT), the formula and distributed by Nestle. The corpor­ for improved reliability of ICs - a ma­ companies are "pulling out every gun ation showed its appreciation by donat­ jor concern of the military. They allow they can to shoot down the code". The ing $25,000 to the EPPC, whose presi- for increased redundancy and self-diag­ coalition has coordinated a boycott of nosis and correction of malfunctions. Nestle's products to pressure the com­ Expected military applications of the pany to stop pushing formula in coun- Continue on page 35 2 Science for the People May !June 1981 Vol.13No. 3 WORKERS FACE OFFICE AUTOMATION 5 by Working Women New machines affect clerical jobs. THE POLITICS OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY 10 by David Dickson How Western alternative technology does not always help the Third World. UPDATE FROM GRENADA 15 An interview with Grenadan Consul General Joseph Burke FEATURES: IF THE SWEDES CAN DO IT. 19 by Matt Witt Swedish woodworkers win power over all aspects of work. EARTH DAY AT LIVERMORE IS LIKE 24 BROTHERHOOD WEEK AT AUSCHWITZ by Adrianne Aron Denial of reality pervasive amongst scientists at nuclear arms plant. COOK COUNTY- BACK TO COATHANGERS 28 by The Reproductive Rights National Network Women organize against denial of abortion services in Chicago. DEPARTMENTS: News Notes 2 Book Review 30 About This Issue 4 Reviewed by Paul Thagard Cover: Photo of woman in foreground copyright Al Sacco, 1981; background Resources 38 MatX For Beginners photo courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Freud For Beginners Radcliffe College. Einstein For Beginners Science for the People magazine is pub­ Subscription rates (for one year/six issues): P.O. Box 7229, Baltimore, MD 21218. lished bimonthly by the Science Resource $10 (regular), $14 (foreign surface mail; for Science for the People's ISSN (International Center, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The air mail add $4 to Latin America, $6.50 to Standard Serial Number) is: 0048-9662. magazine is edited and produced by the na­ Europe and $8.50 to Asia and Africa), $24 Editorial Committee: (Midwest Collective) tional organization Science for the People. (institution/library), $20 (member subscip­ Peter Downs, Michael Hansen, Dave Our address is 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA tion) $10 (for people with low incomes). Member Kadlecek, Beth Kaimowitz, Scott Schneider, 02139; our phone number is #(617)547-0370. subscnbers receive the magazine, our newsletter Erika Stephens, John Vandermeer, Katherine We offer a progressive view of science and and other internal communications. Foreign Yih. Production Committee: Joe Alper, technology, covering a broad range of issues. subscribers must remit in $U.S. with either an Hilary Anthony, Jon Beckwith, Janet We welcome contributions of all kinds; ar­ International Money Order or a check drawn Carlson, Dennis DelDonno, David Eaton, ticles, letters, book reviews, artwork, car­ on a U.S. bank. Bookstores may order on Terri Goldberg, Ross Feldberg, Gertrude toons, news notes etc. If possible, please type consignment directly from Science for the Freedman, Mel Freedman, Alan Frolich, manuscripts (double spaced) and send three People. The magazine is available on micro­ Herb Kline, Robert Lange, Wolfgang Muller, copies. Be sure to keep one copy for yourself. film from Xerox Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Sam Pilato, Martha Robb, Sue Tafler, Ray Unless otherwise stated, all material in this Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Science for the Valdes. Distribution Committee: Computer magazine is copyright 1981 by Science for the People is indexed in Alternative Press Index, Group, Terri Goldberg, Bob Hodap, Virginia People. Schaefer, Scott Thacher. Staff: Terri Goldberg, Phil Stone. May/June 1981 3 ment of a technology that is more conducive to their well-being. Both examples are worthy of considerable attention as case studies of science (and technology) for about this issue the people. In addition to case studies, both positive and nega­ Science and technology- who controls, who bene­ tive, we must also develop a theoretical approach so as fits, and who suffers? Such questions increasingly in­ to have a context in which to understand those case trude on the lives of all of us, as our industrialized studies. To this end we present two articles analyzing the society continues to develop ever more sophisticated appropriate technology movement. In "The Politics of technology, frequently with questionable aims and un­ Alternative Technology" and "Is Appropriate Technol­ desirable effects. It comes as no surprise that these are ogy the Solution for the Underdeveloped World?" we the questions that have formed much of the core of examine the role of technology in the development and Science for the People magazine. We continue this focus dependency process. Both articles present strong chal­ in this issue.
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