The Daily Tar Heel
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The Daily Tar Heel

Letter: ?OTD facilitating the rise of the machines

TO THE EDITOR:

In the article “Technology licensing revenue doubles” the DTH reported that UNC has received almost $8 million in technology grants, which they will use to convert lab research in nanotechnology and biotechnology to marketable industrial applications.

By blindly supporting these technological advances, UNC is joining the ranks of other large organizations uncritically developing increasingly complex technologies in the name of “progress.” Never do these organizations ask the question “Does the good of this technology outweigh the bad?” Consider the good and bad that will come with nanotechnology. 

On the “good” side you have nanobots that can repair our world in a highly efficient way (this really just means robots will take our jobs, but let’s ignore that). On the bad side, however, nanotechnology will increase the dependence of all life on the large organizations that control its application — much in the way humans are currently dependent on corporations like Monsanto because of genetic engineering.

With a little thought it should be obvious to anyone that the bad of these technologies outweighs the good. I started Freedom Club as a way to inspire this kind of thought about technology. As a new student group, we are looking for anyone who realizes that without a conscious force working against this mindless march of progress, technocrats will end up destroying the freedom and dignity of life. If you are interested in getting involved, please email uncfc@riseup.net.

John Fleshman

Information and library science

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