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p r o g r e s s a c t i o n c o a l i t i o n. s u p e r l o n g e v i t y. a u g m e n t a t i o n. p r o – a c t.
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progressaction coalition s u p e r l o n g e v i t y a u g m e n t a t i o n p r o – a c t
Imagine it is the year 2030 and we are looking back on our accomplishments of the past three decades. How should our time be best remembered? How about: Cancer reduced to a minor health problem that is easily curable; Billions of people enjoying lives enhanced by connection to a rich global cultural network; nanotechnology solving the environmental damage of past centuries; Art forms barely imaginable today enriching the lives of a population made more creative through new technologies and new ideas; or, the dream of true artificial intelligence realized, adding a new richness to the human landscape never before known. Each of the above "future headlines" is fun, but also raises issues implicating our basic values. The swift progress of technology and both the promise and peril it presents are serious concerns; the basic question of whether we will continue to progress or turn away in fear needs our earnest attention and ability to solve problems. Progress Action Coalition serves as a conduit of information and exchange for those working to counter the many biases against advanced technologies that are growing in our culture and the policies of our governments. Recent years have revealed a growing feeling of fear around the world which is a source of danger to the very value of progress itself. Questions are raised about the development of life-transforming technologies and the spread of freedom, creativity and enterprise in our society, but too often now the only answers offered are based on a pessimistic rejection of progress. Progress Action Coalition is a resource to build networks among people who acknowledge the challenges before us, but who face those challenges with an optimistic commitment to improving the human condition. If we take action now, we can have a major impact on how the world views efforts to prolong and improve life, advance the world's knowledge about positive technologies, improve the environment, promote space travel, and address fundamental issues in education, the environment and the quality of life for the vast majority of humanity that still lives in hunger, fear and ignorance. As Buckminster Fuller said, it is a matter of distribution not content. By distributing knowledge effectively, we can encourage others to ask the right questions and find reliable information about these and other issues. Many of us have been discussing these concerns for years. Now we have an organization designed to work with you in taking action for progress. Now is the time to take a to stand to make sure the public gets all the facts, not just the ones that alarm them. Progress Action Coalition is an independent organization created to fill a need in our culture. Rather than stand by and listen to voices counseling fear and retreat dominate the public stage, we plan to push progress. Our web site was secured in April, awaiting its launch in time for the Extropy Institute's Extropy-5 Conference in June, where advocates for a positive future will gather. We hope you'll join us in our first endeavor, a moderated email forum for sharing information and resources among people knowledgeable about the technologies and trends that will effect our future and concerned that progress continue toward a brighter future. We look forward to the years ahead and I invite you to join us to counter the many biases against advanced technologies. Natasha Vita-More, Director Progress Action Coalition (“Pro-Act”)
p r o a c t Identify the Opposition
Turning Point Project Add Campaign A non-profit organization formed in 1999 “to design and produce a series of educational advertisements concerning the major issues of the new millennium.” Nearly 100 participating organization of the Turning Point Project favor alternatives to the recent practices and policies concerning genetic engineering, economic globalization, industrial agriculture, extinction crisis and megtechology. “Watch The New York Times or return to this site to see our next ads. Approximately once each week a new ad will be released. Keep watching because this series continues will into the year 2000.”
Techno-Utopianism “Now a terrifying new generation of technologies…” “Descriptions of new technologies are invariably optimistic, even utopian. That’s because most technology news originates from corporations who profit from it.”Promise from New TechnologiesNegative Possibilities Left Out
Who Plays God in the 21st Century? “…we approach the gravest moral, social and ecological crises in history.” “Who appointed the biotech industry as Gods of the 21st Century? Doesn’t democracy function anymore?” Some IssuesSome Concerns
Biotechnology = Hunger The biotechnology industry promotes itself as the solution to world hunger. Some IssuesSome Concerns X
International Center for Technology AssessmentEarth Island InstituteNature Institute/NetFutureSilicon Valley Toxics CoalitionThe Loka InstituteFoundation on Ethics and MeaningCouncil for Responsible GeneticsCenter for Commercial-Free Public EducationTikkun MagazineEdmonds InstituteNew York Open CenterCenter for Media and DemocracyCollective Heritage Institute/Bioneers ConferenceRainforest Action Network__________International Center for Technology AssessmentFood First/Institute for Earth Island InstituteNative Forest Network ____________Greenepeace USAPesticide Action NetworkReligious Campaign for Forest ConservationResearch Foundation for Science, Technology and EcologyFood & WaterRural VermontIdaho Sporting CongressDavid Suzuki FoundationNative Forest Council ___________Alliance for Childhood, Association for Waldorf Schools of North America The Center for Commercial-Free EducationThe Loka InstituteTV Turnoff Network,Jacques Ellul SocietyComputer Professionals for Social ResponsibilityCenter for Plain Living _____________Whole Earth MagazinePlanet Drum FoundationYes! MagazineThe WorldThe Ecologist Magazine _________________ Food and Development Policy Foundation on Economic TrendsCouncil for Responsible GeneticsHumane Society U.S.Sierra ClubInstitute for Agriculture and Trade PolicyCenter for Food SafetyEdmonds InstituteInternational Forum on GlobalizationInternational Forum on Food and AgricultureMothers and OthersFriends of the EarthCenter for Ethics and ToxicsMothers for Natural LawOrganic Consumers AssociationCampaign for Responsible Transplantation Some Supporters of the Turning Point Project
The Foundation for Economic Trends Mission statement
Organic Molecule: Photo taken in 1986 by European Space Agency’s Giotto probe close-up of ice ball found at the core of Halley’s Comet.
a l p h a b e t i c a l l e t t e r s a r r a n g e d i n t o w o r d s w r i t t e n i n s t r i n g s o f a l g o r y t h m i c c o d e s
al p h a b e t i c a l l e t t e r s a r r a n g e d i n t o w o r d s w r i t t e n i n s t r i n g s o f a l g o r y t h m i c c o d e s
a l p h a b e t i c a l l e t t e r s a r r a n g e d i n t o w o r d s
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Solar Eclipse with coronal ring phenomenon: March 7, 1970. Photo by Roger Ressmeyer, Miahuatlan, Mexico.
Environmentally friendly. Increased frequency range and parabolic hearing with external wiring. Uses fat for energy. Network of sonar sensors depict data through mass and map onto visual field. Metabrain – Prosthetic AIlayer interwoven By nanobots. Error correction device. Gender changeability Active prosthetic neurons route data flow and connectivity. Polymer chemical sensor arrays emulate mammalian olfactory receptor neurons. Turbocharged reflex suspension.More flexible, reconfigures by networked AI. Biosensors externally running neuro fiber optics to stimulate atmospheric tensions. Prosthetic vehicle directed by sensory nano-scale mechanics. 20th Century Body Primo 3M+ Future Body Limited life span Ageless Inherited genes Replaceable genes Wears out Upgradeable Random mistakes Error correction device Intelligence capacity 100 trillion synapses Intelligence capacity 100 quadrillion synapses Single track circuits Multiple viewpoints running on parallel Gender restricted Gender changeability Prone to environmental damage Environmentally friendly Corrosion by irritability, envy, depression Turbocharged optimism Prone to fat conglomerates Uses fat for energy Elimination messy and gaseous waste Recycles and purifies waste products
Prosthetic vehicle directed by Sensory nano-scale mechanics. Increased frequency range and parabolic hearing with external wiring. Environmentally friendly. Network of sonar sensors depict data through mass and map onto visual field. Active prosthetic neurons route data flow and connectivity. Uses fat for energy. Biosensors externally running neuro fiber optics to stimulate atmospheric tensions. Metabrain – Prosthetic AIlayer interwoven by nanobots. Gender changeability Error correction device. Turbocharged reflex suspension.More flexible, reconfigures by networked AI. Polymer chemical sensor arrays emulate mammalian olfactory receptor neurons. 20th Century Body Primo 3M+ Future Body Limited life span Ageless Inherited genes Replaceable genes Wears out Upgradeable Random mistakes Error correction device Intelligence capacity 100 trillion synapses Intelligence capacity 100 quadrillion synapses Single track circuits Multiple viewpoints running on parallel Gender restricted Gender changeability Prone to environmental damage Environmentally friendly Corrosion by irritability, envy, depression Turbocharged optimism Prone to fat conglomerates Uses fat for energy Elimination messy and gaseous waste Recycles and purifies waste products
20th Century Body Primo 3M+ Future Body Limited life span Ageless Inherited genes Replaceable genes Wears out Upgradeable Random mistakes Error correction device Intelligence capacity 100 trillion synapses Intelligence capacity 100 quadrillion synapses Single track circuits Multiple viewpoints running on parallel Gender restricted Gender changeability Prone to environmental damage Environmentally friendly Corrosion by irritability, envy, depression Turbocharged optimism Prone to fat conglomerates Uses fat for energy Elimination messy and gaseous waste Recycles and purifies waste products
AI Hamlet A-Life Photo by R. Ressmeyer
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