The organizers, Pittsburg Organizing Group, plan to shut down the National Robotics Engineering Center, at Carnegie Mellon University with a blockade. Uh oh.
They chose ths target because, "The military research done by CMU and NREC is a glaring example of the increasing militarization of academia; students and faculty are knowing, and often unknowing, cogs in an expanding and terrifying war machine."

7:00am: Gather in Friendship Park (Friendship Ave and Mathilda St in Bloomfield)
7:30am: March to barricade NREC facility (40th and Willow St in Lawrenceville)
But there will be some surprises in store.
"Alongside large marches, there is a need for actions that are direct and compelling: actions that speak to public refusal of the war, that are demands -- not requests, that directly confront militarism itself rather than one particular manifestation of it."
They seem like they are planning for a loud event. The webpage even includes tips on how to prepare - like dressing in layers and bringing quarters for a phone call after you are arrested.
I applaud their efforts. Someone needs to raise the ethical issues and force engineers and scientists to confront them.
However, unless they bring some robots of their own, they won't stand a chance.
Barricade the War Machine in Pittsburgh
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Yeah I know. All these chickenhawks in favor of sending robots into combat....But would they be willing to send THEIR robot over to Iraq?
ReplyDeleteI would send my robot if I could, but lets be realistic! Who would vacuum my carpets?
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE TRESPASSING ON GOVERNEMT PROPERTY. YOU MUST DISPERSE IMMEDIATLY.
ReplyDeleteYOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS TO COMPLY...
Sounds job for Crusher.
ReplyDelete