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Bioluddite Charter
Notes towards the first draft
Preamble
bioluddites are for:
biotechnology on the human scale
social critique of biotechnology
biotechnology that increases quality of food and life
small changes and tweaks in daily life
keeping track of the big picture
nurturing and prevention over quick fixes and questionable cures
knowledge that can increase our control influence over everyday biotechnology
bioluddites are for more clarity about:
the benefits and difficulties of urban farming
the scope and edges of the biotech sphere
long term social implications of biotechnology
bioluddites want to empower people to make informed choices about useing biotechnology in their everyday life and beging critical about:
antibiotic resistance and the collapse of the meat and dairy production
the industrialisation of the organic
overspecialisation and monoculture (in farming and society)
footprint of meat and other foodstuffs
(drinkable) water availability
bioluddites are against:
control of biotechnology beyond human scale
mystification of biotechnology that unrealistically gets people's hopes up
wasteful eating of endangered species
solutionism
Principles
be aware of the (impact of) biotechnology in daily life
be in control of biotechnologies in your daily life
be critical of the power structures biotechnology is used within
society and the environment come first, biotechnology is secondary
seek out authenticity of lifestyles and supply chains
demand transparency of supply chains (weather for field or lab grown food), including food labelling
cherish openness of sources (and willingness to research them)
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 in production and distribution of GMOs
refuse to use patented names for food that have perfectly usable folk names
bioluddite is a pragmatist, an 'atheist fundamentalist' when it comes to biotechnologies that grow bigger than the human scale and begin transcending into the mythical
cultivate yourself
choose quality over quantity - in your lifespan, food and healthcare
augment and extend your animal senses
embrace principles of anti-fragility
take good care of yourself; pay attention to the sensual experience of self and others
keep yourself 'relateable'
you are what you eat
be mindful of food
expand the edible spectrum (what can be edible but isn't considered food in mainstream food culture - insects, waste, parasites…)
how food looks matters
meat is a luxury product
food should be as cheap as possible, but no cheaper
food is medicine
selectively approach nutriceuticals
bioluddites are social animals
all biotechnology has a potential to be social
bioluddites are sympathetic to the needs of modern day life
try to eat with others
decypher convoluted biotech information & instruction for those in need (such as nutritional labels)
bioluddites' actions slot seamlessly into everyday life, rather than distrupting it
bioluddites live with their environment
be at the frontier of embracing climate weirding
develop empathy, sensing and communication with non-human species
be adaptable and flexible to adapt to changing conditions
value the contrast of man-made and nature grown, use the contrast to verify that you live in reality and not the myth
Concept
bioluddites' embodiment of purpose:
lifestyle moral police in regards to biotechnology
maintaining principles of nomadism in a modern (globalised) world
demystification 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
promote slowness by making use of people's 'wasted' time
what do bioluddites do:
practice and/or promoting holistic personalised medicine/wellbeing (originating in traditions like TCM and TAM, rather than a computer)
create immersive experiences (and experience prototypes), rather than preaching
teach hunting and foraging skills
infiltrate mental pollution devices
tweak popular imagination
organise social gatherings
hold regular open houses
frame and point to biotech glitches, using popular media
practice the art of conversation
create mobile kits and tools of bioluddism to recruit and share skills on the go
non-symbolic action and ambient critique of biotechnology
curate biotechnology for a range of lifestyles
hold pop-up bioluddite clinics
hold retreats from biotechnology
practice bioluddite coaching
create parodies of real life in the state/military-industrial complex
bioluddites can be holistic guides to help you ensure ethical continuity along the whole supply chain
Structure
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:
…
(people)