ALR designletter # 1.5

Welcome the ALR designletter, A semi-regular update on the activities at Another Limited Rebellion design, the world of socially conscious design, and beyond. You are on this list because you have worked with, contacted, or have a personal connection to ALR design. The names on this mailing list will never be sold or given away. If you no longer wish to be on this list, just respond with "REMOVE" in the subject section and there will be no hard feelings. Back issues can be found on our web site in the ISSUES section.

ALR news
We've relocated and expanded! ALR is now headquartered in Richmond, Virginia and ready to serve you full-time. We can be reached via phone or fax during normal work hours at 804.359.2697. For those of you in the New York area you can save on long distances charges and call our voice mail at 212.358.5998. Our new mailing address is 3007 Park Ave #1 Richmond, VA 23221. Our email and web site addresses remain the same, respectively: info@ALRdesign.com and http://www.ALRdesign.com

We've added another short article to the Sidebar section of the ISSUES page. Once again inspired by our experience in creating the links section of the ISSUES page. This time we've provided you with a list of helpful suggestions given to us by the Spellcheck software. The full article can be read at: http://www.ALRdesign.com/Pages/spellcheck.html

breaking news
For the first time in over fifty years the US does not have a seat on the UN Human Rights Committee (originator of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as mentioned in issue #1.4). Despite guarantees of votes by 43 nations the US received only 29 in the secret vote. The US also lost a seat on the UN International Narcotics Control Board which it helped found in 1964. (Culled from The Christian Science Monitor and The LA Times, thanks to Victory Is Certain http://www.victoryiscertain.com)

activism
Just because the summit in Quebec has ended doesn't mean the fight is over to stop the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Aside from the protests, many people participated in an alternate summit dedicated to creating fair trade and sustainable development rather than irresponsible free trade. The People's Summit provided a voice to social and labor organizations of the 35 countries that would be immediately affected by FTAA, including Cuba which was excluded from the other Quebec summit. To learn more about what happened and what the future plans are visit http://www.sommetdespeuples.org/
Also visit the sustainable development section of the UN's web site: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/

human rights
In this age of cloning, genetically modified food, and DNA copyrighting The Council for Responsible Genetics has offered an elegant stopgap, the Genetic Bill of Rights. It features 10 articles covering everything from biopiracy to genetic privacy. The text seems straight out of science fiction and yet touches on something that has already begun to affect us in very serious ways. The entire text of the document can be found at: http://www.gene-watch.org/bill_of_rights_text.html

money
Utne Reader's March/April issue featured a short article on Time Banks in the UK. This system allows people to trade needed services based on hours being tabulated as Time Dollars. Developed by law professor Edgar Cahn over a decade ago there are now nearly 1,000 Time Dollar programs worldwide. Plus Time Dollars are tax free. To find out how to get involved or to start a program in your community go to http://www.timedollar.org/

recycling
A simple way to keep trash out of landfills is to not have to throw it away in the first place. Recent laws that force telemarketers and bulk mailers to maintain respect for the wishes of the public mean that you can now say "no" to unwanted mail and phone calls and they will listen. The Junkbusters web site will tell you all you need to know (and them some) on getting off mail and phone lists, staying spam (junk e-mail) free, and generally living a less cluttered life and it's all free: http://www.junkbusters.com.

books
This month's reading included two opposing manifestos.
The first, "Industrial Society and Its Future" by FC is better know as The Unibomber's Manifesto by Theodore Kaczynski. Rather than being the ravings of a madman, it is instead a well thought out argument for a return to nature. Featuring a scathing and hilarious indictment of "Leftism" and a reasoned argument why technology should be abandoned, it is a worthy read despite the despicable means that were used to get it published.
The second manifesto is "Trespassers" by Ed van Hinte and Conny Bakker and is the result of workshops organized by o2, the international environmentally conscious design collective. Essays on living space, transportation, energy, and food are coupled with short articles on innovative design solutions to our current problems in these areas. Each chapter ends with a proposal for a new company that could be formed to help fix major problems using the latest technology. (o2 can be found online at http://www.o2.org)
Please support you local bookstores when looking for these and other titles.

compensation
A new fund has been created for former slaves and laborers of the of Nazi regime and their families. If you know anyone who this applies to please send them to http://www.compensation-for-forced-labour.org. Claims must be submitted by August 11, 2001 and there are no fees.

health
Adbusters' May/June issue tells of a new group that is interested in keeping corporate control out of the doctors office. Influenced by the lavish treatment of drug companies many doctors are swayed to prescribe costly and sometimes unnecessary medicine. No Free Lunch proposes that doctors pledge not to accept gifts from the pharmaceutical industry and to advertise themselves as "Drug Company Free". Hundreds of doctors have already taken the pledge, has yours? Find out more at http://www.nofreelunch.org

nosh
When you think of calypso music probably the first thing that comes to mind is Harry Belafonte and bananas, but certainly not political activism. However, a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor explains that calypso is in fact traditionally a music of protest, specifically against corrupt leaders and has a history that goes back to the British colonial rule of the West Indies. Still a major social force, politicians regularly look to calypso lyrics for trends. So why an article now? Because a calypsonian has been elected to the Parliment in Trinidad and many are saying he has sold out.

in closing
Thanks for your time and feel free to contact us with suggestions for future issues, web sites to check out, or just to say "Howdy".

Noah Scalin, founder
ALR design


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