🚀 go-pugleaf

(Maybe you've heard of EcoNet and PeaceNet. Together, they're a 
San Francisco BBS, the Institute for Global Communications,
witha  lot of really interesting discussions going on from
an activist viewpoint. The system isn't free, but you can
telnet to igc.apc.org so that you don't have to make a 
long distance call.) The initial screen you see will give details
of pricing, etc. Or read *all* of the following message
for more information.

 Original message from: Sarah Hutchison <sarah@igc.apc.org>
 Forwarded from alt.activism

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 September 21, 1993

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

		ECONET/PEACENET WINS PRIZE
		FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY


Palo Alto, Calif., September 15, 1993 - Computer Professionals for 
Social Responsibility (CPSR), the national public interest organization 
based in Palo Alto, announced today that the Institute for Global 
Communications (IGC) has been named the winner of the 1993 
Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility.  
Beginning in 1986, CPSR has presented this award each year to a 
distinguished individual who, through personal example, 
demonstrated a deep commitment to the socially responsible use of 
computing technology.  In 1992, the CPSR Board expanded the 
nominations to include organizations.  IGC is the first organizational 
recipient of this prestigious award.

"The award is particularly appropriate this year because of the 
enormous interest in computer networks generated by the debate 
over the proposed National Information Infrastructure (NII)," said 
Stanford professor and CPSR Board president Eric Roberts.  "IGC has 
worked diligently to use network technology to empower previously 
disenfranchised individuals and groups working for progressive 
change.  CPSR has a strong commitment to making sure that 
everyone has access to the resources and empowerment that 
networks provide.  IGC has been providing such access ever since it 
was founded in 1986." 

"We're honored to be recognized by CPSR and to be the Norbert 
Wiener Award recipient," says Geoff Sears, IGC's Executive Director.  
"Of course, this award honors not just IGC, but the efforts and 
accomplishments of all our network members, our entire network 
community."

Sears will accept the Wiener award at CPSR's annual meeting banquet in Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, October 16th.

This year's annual meeting is a two-day conference entitled 
"Envisioning the Future: A National Forum on the National 
Information Infrastructure (NII)" that will bring together local, 
regional, and national decision makers to take a critical look at the 
social implications of the NII.  The keynote speaker will be Bruce 
McConnell, Chief of Information Policy at the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), who will present his views on the major NII issues now facing 
the administration.  Other highlights of the meeting include Kit 
Galloway of Electronic Cafe International in Santa Monica, California, 
as the featured speaker at the banquet.  Using videotapes and a live 
demonstration with CPSR chapters, Kit will present an innovative 
approach to electronic communication and discuss how the Electronic 
Cafe concept has been used.

The Institute for Global Communications is a nonprofit computer 
networking organization dedicated to providing low-cost worldwide 
communication and information exchange pertaining to 
environmental preservation, human rights, sustainable development, 
peace, and social justice issues.  IGC operates the PeaceNet, EcoNet, 
ConflictNet, and LaborNet computer networks.  With a combined 
membership of 10,000 individuals and organizations ranging in size 
and scope from United Nations Commissions to local elementary 
schools, IGC members contribute to more than 1200 conferences 
covering virtually every environmental and human rights topic.  

The  Wiener Award was established in 1987 in memory of Norbert 
Wiener, the originator of the field of cybernetics and a pioneer in 
looking at the social and political consequences of computing.  Author 
of the book, The Human Use of Human Beings, Wiener began pointing 
out the dangers of nuclear war and the role of scientists in 
developing more powerful weapons shortly after Hiroshima.

Past recipients of the Wiener Award have been: Dave Parnas, 1987, 
in recognition of his courageous actions opposing the Strategic 
Defense Initiative; Joe Weizenbaum, 1988, for his pioneering work 
emphasizing the social context of computer science; Daniel 
McCracken, 1989, for his work organizing computer scientists against 
the Anti Ballistic Missiles deployment during the 1960s; Kristen 
Nygaard of Norway, 1990, for his work in participatory design; 
Severo Ornstein and Laura Gould, 1991, in recognition of their 
tireless energy  guiding CPSR through its early years; and Barbara 
Simons, 1992, for her work on human rights, military funding, and 
the U.C. Berkeley reentry program for women and minorities.

Founded in 1981, CPSR is a national, nonprofit, public-interest 
organization of computer scientists and other professionals concerned 
with the impact of computer technology on society.  With offices in 
Palo Alto, California, and Washington, D.C., CPSR challenges the 
assumption that technology alone can solve political and social 
problems.

For more information about CPSR, the annual meeting, or the awards 
banquet, call 415-322-3778 or send email to <cpsr@cpsr.org>.  

For more information about IGC, contact Sarah Hutchison, 
415-442-0220 x117,  or send email to <sarah@igc.apc.org>.





-- 
Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  ae446@freenet.carleton.ca