Social theorists identify automation as both the main cause of unemployment and the future launchpad for a high-tech post-scarcity world. But, Aaron Benanav argues, the problem is the stagnation of global capitalism and its inability to generate enough jobs.
Source: Automation Isn’t the Cause of Unemployment — Capitalism Just Can’t Generate Enough Jobs
Western media tells us Putin is desperate
The screeching sounds of pilotless, bomb-carrying drones are now becoming a familiar daily routine in heart-stopping terror for everyone beneath them in Ukraine.
In the warped world of military industrial planners and arms dealers, automated, stand-off and drone weapon technology has long been viewed as the holy grail for future forms of “networked” warfare and their potential unethical use has been endlessly explored in movies and books.
Only now, in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, does the world seem to recognise the real-life quandary they present when used in heavily built-up urban areas occupied by civilians.
The rise of Religious Nationalism is detrimental to the principles of Democracy
India’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, has more members than most countries have people.
The unit’s latest report says there has been “a serious deterioration in the quality of democracy under leader Narendra Modi, whose Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has presided over increased intolerance and sectarianism towards Muslims and other religious minorities” and that a failure to “crack down on the persecution of religious and other minorities by Hindu nationalists continues to weigh on India’s democracy score”.
To rise from the fringes of Indian politics to become the world’s biggest party has been a stunning achievement. But can Indian democracy flourish with a political behemoth like the BJP?
Source: India’s BJP: The rise of the world’s biggest political party
The government’s 2014 Climate Action Programme suggested that increasing energy efficiency could cut emissions by 25 to 30%. Lilium says future passengers will not pay more for a flight than they do now for a regular taxi ride. The company expects its product to be ready for commercial use by 2025.
via Zero Carbon Electric Air Taxi 5-Seater Completes Maiden Flight in Germany
Two Israeli companies are at the forefront of this commercialization of dirty ops: NSO Group and Black Cube. Those following the Harvey Weinstein scandal will remember that Black Cube was the cyber-surveillance firm that Weinstein’s lawyer, David Boies, hired after former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak introduced Weinstein to the company. Black Cube employed covert schemes to trick Weinstein’s accusers into exposing themselves so that his legal defense might have more ammunition to discredit them in court and in the public realm.
via How Israeli Tech Firms Act as Global Agents of Repression | The Nation
Australia’s most uncelebrated Academic ignored by our LNP government and the IPA who preferred to bribe universities to create space for Dr Bjorn Lomborg a globally ignored academic. Tony abbott’s view of progress was to cut funding to the likes of Professor Green (ODT)
“His fundamental and applied research has transformed the global energy sector and will continue to produce major economic and social benefits, both in Australia and worldwide.”
UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Mark Hoffman said: “The global impact of the work of Martin and his research team has been profound. They have created the highest efficiency solar cells using techniques that have made them accessible to the world through commercialisation. And all of this has been achieved in Australia.
“We are proud of Martin’s inspirational leadership and pioneering research which is helping address the challenge of climate change.”
Professor Green said receiving the award was “a great honour”.
“The efficiency of solar modules is an area whose progress has been faster than many experts expected, and this is good news,” he said.
“We need to maintain the pace of research in Australia, not only to keep our international lead, but also to benefit society by providing a cheap, low carbon source of electricity.”
The next advances in automation won’t just affect the low-skilled and low-paid.
Source: Rise of the machines: robots are coming for middle-class jobs next
Australia’s political duopoly only perpetuates a watered down democracy, which is now little more than a regional office for corporate interests, writes Andrew Chambers.
When imagining the timeline for constructing a skyscraper, most people probably think in terms of months or even years. But for the Chinese construction firm Broad Sustainable Building, that’s simply too long.
BSB’s newest building, a 57-story tower in Changsha, China, was erected in a mind-blowingly fast 19 days – a rate of three stories per day!
BSB Architect Xian Min Zhang released a promotional time-lapse video showing the construction of the J57 tower – check it out below! (The time-lapse itself begins at around 1:55)
The J57 is a multi-purpose building, containing 800 apartments and office space for up to 4,000 people.
According to Gizmodo, the 80,000-square-meter skyscraper was built entirely out of, “energy-efficient, factory-produced, Lego-like blocks”, making it the world’s tallest prefabricated building.
BSB also took China’s pollution problem into account when constructing the building, using quadruple-thick glass and tight “99.9% sealed” construction to keep air pollution out.
Read more from Business Insider and Gizmodo.
olddogthoughts 