From: douglas@bcsaic.boeing.com (Douglas Schuler)
Newsgroups: seattle.general
Subject: Election Season Press Release - Computers/Info Technology Platform
Keywords: information technology, computer technology, platform
Date: 7 Oct 92 20:06:36 GMT
Distribution: seattle
Organization: Boeing Computer Services, Seattle


Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Berkeley Chapter
P.O. Box 40361
Berkeley, CA 94704

PRESS RELEASE


September 30, 1992

For Immediate Release	Jim Davis
			(415) 398-2818
			jdav@well.sf.ca.us

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CPSR/Berkeley Publishes

A Computer and Information Technologies Platform

******************************************************************

(Berkeley, CA) -- The Berkeley chapter of Computer Professionals for
Social Responsibility has announced the publication of A Computer and
Information Technologies Platform, which the introduction describers as
"a plausible, possible program for research, development, and
implementation of computer and information technologies that will move
towards resolving our most pressing social needs."

	The 26-page platform includes sections on "Access to
Information and Information Technologies", "Civil Liberties and
Privacy", "Work, Health and Safety", "The Environment", "International
Cooperation", and "Responsible Use of Computers and Information
Technologies."

	The platform was assembled by the Peace and Justice Working
Group of CPSR/Berkeley. The platform is the product of one year of
discussions, research and three public forums, where the public was
invited to help shape the ideas in the document.

	"As computer and information technologies become all pervasive,
they touch more and more on the lives of everyone," states the
introduction. "Even so, their development and deployment remains
unruly, undemocratic and unconcerned with the basic needs of humanity.
Over the past 20 years, new technologies have dramatically enhanced our
ability to collect and share information, to improve the quality of
work, and to solve pressing problems like hunger, homelessness and
disease. Yet, over the same period we have witnessed a virtual collapse
of our public educational system, an evaporation of privacy, an
increase in workplace monitoring parallel with a de-skilling or
outright disappearance of work, a rise in homelessness, and the growing
pandemic of AIDS along with the resurgence of 19th century diseases
like cholera and tuberculosis." The introduction to the platform argues
that we have the technical know-how to solve these problems, what is
required is the political will to resolve them.  "As people who design,
create, study, and use computer and information technologies, we have
taken the initiative to develop a political platform for these
technologies."

	The platform will be distributed to candidates for state and
federal offices for consideration and adoption. Printed copies of
platform are available from CPSR/Berkeley for $4 each, postage paid.
The platform is available at no charge electronically by writing to
jdav@well.sf.ca.us.
-- 
   ** MY VIEWS MAY NOT BE IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF THE BOEING COMPANY **
	Doug Schuler     (206) 865-3832
	douglas@atc.boeing.com
Newsgroups: seattle.general