[iDC] activism now and when?
Richard Lowenberg
rl at dcn.org
Fri Dec 9 14:28:46 EST 2005
"Info-Eco: Information Ecology and Economics"
My current creative works have to do with better understanding of the
ecological economy of 'information' and of local-global progress and
development.
rl
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Info/Eco
Economics/Information/Ecology
What’s the Matter? What’s the Difference? What’s the Use?
The dynamic radiative information environment, the flow of information,
and the sensory and communicative nature of information, have not been
included in most whole-systems ecological thinking and applications, to
date. It is a major error in human understanding that will have
troubling consequences, as we increasingly interact with and manipulate
this fragile ecosystem.
Ecology is the study of the complex relationships between living and
non-living, inter-dependent dynamic systems. It describes the fragile
balance in which such systems interact and by which they co-evolve.
Information Ecology extends our basic understanding of ecology to
include the physical, social and economic transformations being wrought
by the rapid developments in information technology, networked
learning, and by our becoming an increasingly networked “society of
mind”.
Information is not just data or bits. It is not simply a useful
natural resource; a commodity that can be sent and received, bought and
sold, and regulated. Information must also be considered as patterns
of perception, genetic expression, cognitive relationships and
differences. The flow of information determines the course of social
evolution. Decisions regarding spectrum allocation, regulatory
interventions, copyright, property, privacy, digital divides,
technology development or “new economies” cannot be effective, if made
without an ecological context.
Today’s Information Revolution, if it is primarily a technology
mediated revolution, will likely result in increased consumerism,
social systematization, bureaucracy, waste and war. The more
cumulatively energy consuming and less ecologically sustainable, the
more fragile technological progress will become; and ultimately more
disruptive in its potential (inevitable) failure.
There is much to do to integrate matter, energy and information into a
whole systems ecology. Becoming a bit smarter about the way the world
works, may also be dangerous, coming into conflict with long dominant,
vested-interest belief systems and ideological fictions. Education,
thoughtful exchange, research, creative practice and respect for
differences are needed. There is no solution, however. We can only
begin to take small “steps towards an ecology of mind”.
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Richard Lowenberg
Exec. Director, Davis Community Network (DCN), 1623 5th St., Davis, CA
95616
Ph. 530-750-1170 / Fax 530-757-2938 rl at dcn.org
http://www.dcn.org/
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Home/Studio: 530-668-1100 rl at radlab.com
http://www.radlab.com
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"If it is not Matter, it is Energy. If it Matters, it is Information.
If it does not Matter, it is Noise."
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