Where are the Luddites: An Open Call for Bioluddites

bioluddites are for:

• social critique of biotechnology (what is “social” aspect of critique? shouldn't it be “ethical”?)
• keeping track of the big picture
• accept that there is no 'revolutionary' cures, so nurture and prevention over quick fixes (this nurture and prevention does not sound like a method luddites would prioritize at least not as only…how about direct action? subversion?)
• knowledge that can increase our control over pervasive biotechnology
• biotechnology on the human scale (hm… what would this mean? human as in “individual”?)

bioluddites are for more clarity about: (why “more” and not “explicit clarity and transparency”)

• long term social implications of biotechnology
• the scope and edges of the biotech sphere

bioluddites want to empower people to make informed choices about using the biotechnology in their everyday life and being critical about:

• antibiotic resistance
• cliches synthetic 'nature' mirage of rural environments
• the industrialisation of the organic ethos
• overspecialisation and monoculture (in farming and society)
• footprint of meat and other foodstuffs

bioluddites are against:

• control of biotechnology beyond human scale
• solutionism
• mystification of biotechnology that unrealistically gets people's hopes up
• mindless exploitation of the environment
• patented names for food that have perfectly usable folk names

be aware & in control of biotechnologies in your daily life

• society and the environment come first, biotechnology is secondary
• be critical of the power structures biotechnology is used within
• demand transparency of supply chains (cherish openness of sources and willingness to research them)
• seek out authenticity of lifestyles, information and image
• biotechnology should be developed and used on a human scale
• fuel production should not be in conflict with food production
• beware of short-termism and reductionism

take good care of yourself

• choose quality over quantity - in your lifespan, food and healthcare
• augment and extend your senses and communicate with appearance
• keep yourself 'relatable'to others

you are what you eat

• be mindful of food
• support biodiversity by expanding the food spectrum to non-mainstream food culture - insects, waste, parasites…
• how food looks matters
• food should be as cheap as possible, but no cheaper
• meat is a luxury product
• proper food is medicine but be selective about nutriceuticals

bioluddites are social animals

• all biotechnology has a potential to be social
• bioluddites are sympathetic to the needs of modern day life
• decypher convoluted biotech information & instruction for those in need

bioluddites live with their environment

• be adaptable and flexible to change
• be at the frontier of embracing climate weirding instead of fearing it
• embrace the contrast of man-made and nature grown, as this is reality

bioluddites' embodiment of purpose:

• the lifestyle moral police of biotechnology
• quantified self as a part of the food and health supply chains (you are not separate from your food and waste)
• Bioluddites are role models: living examples and embodiments of their principles

what do bioluddites do:

• practice non-symbolic actions in bioluddite coaching
• curate biotechnology for a range of lifestyles
• practice and/or promoting holistic personalised medicine/wellbeing
• contribute to social network of peer-to-peer healthcare networks
• be understood by creating experiences
• reappropriate the media's mental pollution into conundrums for thought
• organise social gatherings
• hold regular open house events
• point to biotech glitches
• hold pop-up bioluddite clinics
• hold retreats from biotechnology
• promote patience by making use of people's 'wasted' time
• teach hunting and foraging skills
• any tools of bioluddism should be used on the go

• governance structure: network of pyramids?
• the bioluddite oath (…)
• flexible prenominated, public fines for self discipline, if you choose to act against bioluddite principles
• recruiting: customers, potential and future bioluddites

rights:

obligations:

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