RUTH RIKOWSKI
News Update No.24
Well, I have decided that another Update from me is long overdue, even though, I still have not yet quite completed my teaching certificate. It is a long story, but all-being-well it will be completed fairly soon now. So, below is a selection of what have been, for me, some of the most important recent happenings and developments. Here goes…..
1. ‘THE OCKRESS’ BY VICTOR RIKOWSKI, IS NOW OUT
First of all, I am delighted to say that The Ockress is now out. Whatever is this, you might well ask? Victor Verne Rikowski, our middle son, has been working on this project for a couple of years or so now. Being a very creative person, with no shortage of ideas etc., he decided to turn his use of PowerPoint into an art form and designed a complex story on it, with lots of moving images, dialogue and action scenes etc. The result of all this, coupled with his vivid imagination, lead him to design and write The Ockress, which in many ways actually comes across as being somewhat film-like.
The Ockress is a mythological story about a young man named Perlone who is identified by circumstance as ‘The Chosen One’ of a religion that dedicates itself to a number of Gods, Indomnias being the most influential; a religion that is named quite simply as ‘the Faith’. Links to The Ockress are below:
HOME: http://www.theockress.com/ or http://www.theockress.co.uk/
SYNOPSIS: http://www.theockress.com/synopsis.html
THE PAGES: http://www.theockress.com/thepages.html
THE FOREWORD: http://www.theockress.com/foreword.html
The Ockress was written by Victor Rikowski
Designed by: http://www.wearedesigners.co.uk/
© The Ockress, 2007-08. All rights reserved.
Victor Rikowski's MySpace Profile, Victor, is at: http://www.myspace.com/theockress
Victor Rikowski's Online Publications are at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=pub&sub=Online%20Publications%20Victor%20Rikowski
If anyone would like to make any comments about this project and/or make contact with Victor about this, or any of his other work, then this can be done through ‘The Ockress’ website directly (http://www.theockress.co.uk/contact.html), or by contacting Victor at: victor-the-great@hotmail.co.uk. Or if all else fails, do make contact with him via rikowskigr@aol.com
2. VICTOR RIKOWSKI TALKING AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY ON ‘PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION TODAY - II’
Victor Rikowski also gave a talk at Kingston University on Tuesday, 8th April 2008, at the invitation of Dr Sarah Amsler, on the theme of ‘Problems in Education Today – II’. This built on an article of his that was published in Information for Social Change in Summer 2006, entitled ‘Problems in Education Today’ – see:
http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC23/B9d%20Victor%20Rikowski.pdf
This was Victor’s first university talk in terms of it being a guest lecture slot, and it seems that he engaged his audience well, and that there was a good discussion. Victor is now in the process of writing his talk up into an article.
There are important topics for young people today, as they grapple with student loans and debt; many students having to work whilst studying; often having to respond to pressures to conform and put jobs and careers above their own self-development; being faced with an increasing skills-based university agenda and not being encouraged enough to really think critically for themselves. All this, whilst at the same time, they are often being told that they are not motivated enough and cannot read and think for themselves adequately. The older generation that was educated in the 1960s and 1970s has a lot to answer for in regard to what is happening to this younger generation, I think. Glenn Rikowski addresses this very topic in a short article he wrote, entitled ‘The B Generation’, which is available on our website – see: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=B%20Generation.
I also look at some of these issues in a book review of mine that has been published recently in the May 2008 issue of Managing Information. The book is by Tara Brabazon and is entitled ‘The Google University’ (see news item 16 below). At one point, Brabazon says, for example that: “…students must…learn the skill of reading, chewing, spitting out and reingesting difficult writing and monographs” (p. 39). Whilst she also acknowledges that “Much of education teaches students that they are not good enough, that they do not belong and that they are not important” (p.54).
Victor Rikowski will be giving another talk at Kingston University on the same topic in June. This is part of the ‘1st Annual Student Conference: Student Speak; Research, Debate and Action in University Life’ that has been organised by Dr. Sarah Amsler, and will be taking place at Kingston University, in the C-SCAIPE Debating Chamber on 6th June 2008, from 10.00am – 4.30pm (Registration from 9.30am). The conference will include talks, panels, posters, creative performances and discussions. The day is free and includes lunch and snacks. See: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonuniversity/events/all-events/lectures/events/
For more information and to register, contact Dr. Sarah Amsler at s.amsler@kingston.ac.uk.
3. ‘SOCIOLOGY: THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY MIKE HARALAMBOS AND MARTIN HOLBORN, 7th ED, LONDON: HARPERCOLLINS, 2008, ISBN 978-0007245956, £29.99 (pbk) WITH A FOCUS ON ‘CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES IN EDUCATION’
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sociology-Themes-Perspectives-Michael-Haralambos/dp/0007245955/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212144003&sr=8-2
We were delighted to discover that Glenn Rikowski is in the 7th edition of Haralambos and Holborn (he was also in the 6th edition). For those who do not already know, this amazing sociology textbook (which has greatly expanded over the years, and in this 7th edition there are 954 pages), was first published in 1980 “…with the aim of providing a systematic introduction to sociology for UK A level students, undergraduates and the general reader” (Haralambos and Holborn in ‘Preface to the 7th edition’).
Chapter 10 is on ‘Education’, and includes a section on ‘Conflict Perspectives’ (pp. 602-608). This section examines the work of Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Paul Willis and Glenn Rikowski. In regard to Glenn’s work, it focuses in particular on his work on ‘The Business Takeover of Schools’ and ‘Globalisation and Education’. Haralambos and Holborn say that “Over the last twenty-five years, Marxist sociology has become unfashionable. [But] Rikowski has given a new lease of life to Marxist perspectives on education”
(p. 608).
What heartened us, in particular, was the ‘Evaluation of Rikowski’ section, which focused on Richard Hatcher’s criticisms of Glenn’s work. Haralambos and Holborn say that “Critics argue that governments control education and will do so for the foreseeable future. Schools for profit are unlikely to appear as part of present or future educational policy in the UK (Hatcher, 2005)” (Haralambos and Holborn, p. 608). However, Glenn argues that there is no ‘safe zone’ in capitalism in the way that Hatcher seems to be suggesting. In referencing Hatcher, Haralambos and Holborn are referring to the original piece that he wrote, criticising Glenn’s work. This piece, entitled Business Sponsorship of Schools: For-profit takeover or agents of neoliberal change? A Reply to Glenn Rikowski’s ‘Habituation of the Nation: School Sponsors as Precursors to the Big Bang?’, revolves around a discussion of the Education White Paper (October 2005). Glenn posted piece this on his web-log, ‘The Volumizer’ on 7th November 2005 at: http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/651. Hatcher’s attack was in direct response to an article that Glenn inserted on his web-log, entitled Habituation of the Nation: School Sponsors as Precursors to the Big Bang? posted to the Volumizer 19th October, 2005 (see http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/566), where Glenn bravely attempts to make sense of the White Paper before it had even been released, basing his predictions on press leakages coupled with his in-depth and insightful theoretical Marxist analysis.
Directly following on from this piece Glenn participated in a debate on the Education White Paper on ‘The World Tonight’, BBC Radio 4 programme, which took place on the evening of the release of the White Paper. For more information about this see - A discussion on ‘The World Tonight’, BBC Radio 4 programme, 25th October 2005, 10.00pm, about the UK Government Education White Paper and links with the GATS, Library Services, Education Services and the extension of the commodification process by Ruth Rikowski, available at:http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Education%20White%20Paper.
Also, Discussion on the Education White Paper for England and extension of the commodification process in library and schools, by Ruth Rikowski and Glenn Rikowski, in Information for Social Change, No. 22, Winter 2005.
http://74.125.39.104/search?q=cache:6HL7_-MF_MQJ:libr.org/isc/issues/isc22/22-10.pdf+Ruth+and+Glenn+Rikowski+and+Education+White+Paper&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=uk&ie=UTF-8
Furthermore, we transcribed the radio programme – see: http://libr.org/isc/media/glenn.html
Glenn inserted Hatcher’s attack (saying that Glenn’s analysis of the White Paper was incorrect, yet saying this whilst having the actual White Paper at his own disposal) on his web-log, so that interested people could follow the debate. Glenn wrote a very long reply to this piece by Hatcher (some 20,000 words), entitled ‘In the Dentist’s Chair’, which we then placed on our website:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=In%20the%20Dentist%5ba%5ds%20Chair, on 31st December 2005, and it is this piece that is also referenced in Haralambos and Holborn.
Other works of Glenn Rikowski that Haralambos and Holborn refer to include:
1. ‘Scorched earth: prelude to rebuilding Marxist educational theory, British Journal of Sociology of Education,1997, Vol. 18, No. 4
2. The Battle in Seattle: its significance for education, Tufnell Press, London, 2001
3. Globalisation and Education: a paper prepared for the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs, Inquiry into the Global Economy, 2002
www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001941.htm
4. In the dentist’s chair: a response to Richard Hatcher’s critique of Habituation of the Nation, 2005, www.flowideas.co.uk/print.php?page=147
It is wonderful that the originality of Glenn’s work is now really being recognised in this way (and there is more about the development of his Marxist theoretical analysis in the 6th edition of Haralambos and Holborn). History will prove the extent to which Glenn has pushed forward and developed Marxist educational theory. But given the horrors of capitalism, and the extent to which people suffer both individually and collectively within it, let us hope that people will be enlightened sooner rather than later, and that creative thinkers, with new ideas and theories, are able to effectively shine through and that their work can then be used constructively (rather than de-constructively), whereby many people can hopefully benefit.
4. ‘RENEWING DIALOGUES IN MARXISM AND EDUCATION: OPENINGS’ – EDITED BY ANTHONY GREEN, GLENN RIKOWSKI AND HELEN RADUNTZ,
NEW YORK: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN: LONDON, 2007,
ISBN 13 978 1 4039 7496 9; 10 1-4039-7496-9, $79.95
http://www.amazon.com/Renewing-Dialogues-Marxism-Education-Openings/dp/1403974969/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211890612&sr=8-1
**RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Here is news about the recently published first ‘Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues’ (MERD) book!!
Glenn Rikowski organised the twice-yearly ‘Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues’ (MERDs) seminars, with Tony Green, at the Institute of Education, University of London, for 5 years, from 2002 to 2007 - see
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=events&sub=MERD
for further information about all these seminars.
Leading on from these very successful seminars, Glenn and Tony secured a book contract with Palgrave Macmillan for a Book Series on ‘Marxism and Education’, the aim being to include themes and papers from the seminars themselves, as well as having separate monographs.
MERD III, for example, was on the theme of ‘Pedagogy and Culture’. MERD III was held on the 22nd October 2003 and the speakers that participated in it included: Paula Allman, Carmel Borg, Helen Colley, David Guile, Peter Jones, Peter Mayo, and Victoria Perselli. The session was also reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Scott McLemee, 5th December 2003, in a piece entitled ‘Scenes for the Classroom Struggle’ – see http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i15/15a04001.htm
The first book in the series has now been published and it is based on the first 2 opening seminars (which were not theme-based). It is entitled “Renewing Dialogues in Marxism and Education: Openings” and is edited by Tony Green, Glenn Rikowski and Helen Raduntz. Chapters in the book include contributions from Tony Green, Geraldine Thorpe and Pat Brady, Helen Raduntz, Dave Hill, Mike Cole, Elizabeth Atkinson and Mike Cole, Jane Mulldering, Mark Olsen and Michael A. Peters, Rachel Gorman, Helen Colley, Paul Warmington, David Harvie, Gregory Martin and Paula Allman.
5. MARXISM AND EDUCATION: ONLINE RESOURCES
Mainly for the benefit of students (but perhaps useful for others), Glenn Rikowski has put together a document on Marxism and Education: Online Resources. This is to help people interested in applying the ideas of Karl Marx and Marxists to education. Glenn has indicated the main web sites and blogs relevant to this purpose. See:
http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/2008/05/23/marxism-and-education-online-resources/1756
Or:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14758904&blogID=398306382&Mytoken=4E16640E-E743-40A7-ABD9A93909971CD339494272
6. HELEN RADUNTZ’S REVIEW OF MY BOOK
‘GLOBALISATION, INFORMATION AND LIBRARIES’ IN ‘LIBRARY REVIEW’
It was good to see Helen Raduntz’s review of my book ‘Globalisation, Information and Libraries: the implications of the World Trade Organisation’s GATS and TRIPS Agreements’, Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2005, finally published in Library Review (Vol. 56, No. 9, 2007, pp. 846-848). Helen is based at the Centre for Research in Education, Equity and Work, at the University of South Australia and is currently writing a Chandos book of her own on intellectual property rights, from a Marxian perspective.
In regard to my book, Helen Raduntz says: “Without doubt Ruth Rikowski’s book is highly relevant, accessible, extremely informative and encyclopedic in scope backed by detailed research. It is a ‘must have’ text not only for those working within the information profession and libraries but also for those who are greatly concerned with the current turn of events in which the intellectual resources of the people of all nations are being brought to the world’s trading table” (p. 846). She outlines some of the main features of my book, but makes it clear that, for her, the most important section is Part 3, which focuses on part of her own particular area of interest (i.e. intellectual property rights) – the WTO’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). As she rightly says “The effect [of this agreement] is to transfer intellectual property rights from the political to the market arena where ownership is underpinned by private property rights” (p. 847). She concludes by saying that she highly recommends the book “…as an extremely important contribution towards clarifying a vital set of issues which we must sooner or later face and address” (p. 848).
7. LATEST ISSUE OF ‘INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE’ (WINTER 2007) ON THE TOPIC OF ‘LIBRARIES AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION’, EDITED BY JOHN PATEMAN AND JOHN VINCENT, NO. 26
The latest issue of Information for Social Change, on the topic of ‘Libraries and Social Exclusion’ and edited by John Vincent and John Pateman is now available at: http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC26/ISC%2026%20full%20issue.pdf
The contents include:
‘Social exclusion – where is it going?’ by John Vincent
‘Developing a needs based library service’ by John Pateman
‘He didn’t have to say he was gay’ by John Vincent
‘Public Libraries and the Digital Divide’ by John Pateman
‘Are we all being served’ by Andrew Hudson
‘Reading Orwell in Havana’ by John Pateman
‘Library Services for Newcomers to Canada: embracing cultural diversity’ by Kendra Bender
8. RUTH RIKOWSKI GIVING GUEST LECTURES AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH AND LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY ON GLOBALISATION AND KNOWLEDGE, SPRING 2008
I gave some more guest lectures this semester at Kingston University, London South Bank University and the University of Greenwich, which all seemed to be generally well-received. At Greenwich I spoke about ‘Globalisation’ as this topic forms quite an important part of the ‘Introduction to the Tourism Industry’ course that I teach there to first-year undergraduates. At Kingston I spoke on the topic of ‘Knowledge, Knowledge Management and the Knowledge Revolution’, to masters students, referring to my published works on the topic and as well as providing something of an overview. Directly leading on from this, I spoke very specifically on the topic of ‘Value and Knowledge’, demonstrating how important it is today, to extract value from knowledge in this knowledge revolution. At South Bank I gave some interactive lectures on ‘Globalisation and Knowledge’ to masters students, providing information, encouraging participation, and suggesting that students could benefit from thinking and reflecting further on these important topics.
9. THE LATEST ISSUE OF ‘POLICY FUTURES IN EDUCATION’ IS NOW OUT
(VOL. 6, NO. 2, 2008)
‘Policy Futures in Education’ starting from this year, is being published 6 times a year, and the 2nd issue of 2008 (Vol. 6, No. 2) is available at: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/content/pdfs/6/issue6_2.asp
News Update No.24
Well, I have decided that another Update from me is long overdue, even though, I still have not yet quite completed my teaching certificate. It is a long story, but all-being-well it will be completed fairly soon now. So, below is a selection of what have been, for me, some of the most important recent happenings and developments. Here goes…..
1. ‘THE OCKRESS’ BY VICTOR RIKOWSKI, IS NOW OUT
First of all, I am delighted to say that The Ockress is now out. Whatever is this, you might well ask? Victor Verne Rikowski, our middle son, has been working on this project for a couple of years or so now. Being a very creative person, with no shortage of ideas etc., he decided to turn his use of PowerPoint into an art form and designed a complex story on it, with lots of moving images, dialogue and action scenes etc. The result of all this, coupled with his vivid imagination, lead him to design and write The Ockress, which in many ways actually comes across as being somewhat film-like.
The Ockress is a mythological story about a young man named Perlone who is identified by circumstance as ‘The Chosen One’ of a religion that dedicates itself to a number of Gods, Indomnias being the most influential; a religion that is named quite simply as ‘the Faith’. Links to The Ockress are below:
HOME: http://www.theockress.com/ or http://www.theockress.co.uk/
SYNOPSIS: http://www.theockress.com/synopsis.html
THE PAGES: http://www.theockress.com/thepages.html
THE FOREWORD: http://www.theockress.com/foreword.html
The Ockress was written by Victor Rikowski
Designed by: http://www.wearedesigners.co.uk/
© The Ockress, 2007-08. All rights reserved.
Victor Rikowski's MySpace Profile, Victor, is at: http://www.myspace.com/theockress
Victor Rikowski's Online Publications are at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=pub&sub=Online%20Publications%20Victor%20Rikowski
If anyone would like to make any comments about this project and/or make contact with Victor about this, or any of his other work, then this can be done through ‘The Ockress’ website directly (http://www.theockress.co.uk/contact.html), or by contacting Victor at: victor-the-great@hotmail.co.uk. Or if all else fails, do make contact with him via rikowskigr@aol.com
2. VICTOR RIKOWSKI TALKING AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY ON ‘PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION TODAY - II’
Victor Rikowski also gave a talk at Kingston University on Tuesday, 8th April 2008, at the invitation of Dr Sarah Amsler, on the theme of ‘Problems in Education Today – II’. This built on an article of his that was published in Information for Social Change in Summer 2006, entitled ‘Problems in Education Today’ – see:
http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC23/B9d%20Victor%20Rikowski.pdf
This was Victor’s first university talk in terms of it being a guest lecture slot, and it seems that he engaged his audience well, and that there was a good discussion. Victor is now in the process of writing his talk up into an article.
There are important topics for young people today, as they grapple with student loans and debt; many students having to work whilst studying; often having to respond to pressures to conform and put jobs and careers above their own self-development; being faced with an increasing skills-based university agenda and not being encouraged enough to really think critically for themselves. All this, whilst at the same time, they are often being told that they are not motivated enough and cannot read and think for themselves adequately. The older generation that was educated in the 1960s and 1970s has a lot to answer for in regard to what is happening to this younger generation, I think. Glenn Rikowski addresses this very topic in a short article he wrote, entitled ‘The B Generation’, which is available on our website – see: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=B%20Generation.
I also look at some of these issues in a book review of mine that has been published recently in the May 2008 issue of Managing Information. The book is by Tara Brabazon and is entitled ‘The Google University’ (see news item 16 below). At one point, Brabazon says, for example that: “…students must…learn the skill of reading, chewing, spitting out and reingesting difficult writing and monographs” (p. 39). Whilst she also acknowledges that “Much of education teaches students that they are not good enough, that they do not belong and that they are not important” (p.54).
Victor Rikowski will be giving another talk at Kingston University on the same topic in June. This is part of the ‘1st Annual Student Conference: Student Speak; Research, Debate and Action in University Life’ that has been organised by Dr. Sarah Amsler, and will be taking place at Kingston University, in the C-SCAIPE Debating Chamber on 6th June 2008, from 10.00am – 4.30pm (Registration from 9.30am). The conference will include talks, panels, posters, creative performances and discussions. The day is free and includes lunch and snacks. See: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonuniversity/events/all-events/lectures/events/
For more information and to register, contact Dr. Sarah Amsler at s.amsler@kingston.ac.uk.
3. ‘SOCIOLOGY: THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES’ EDITED BY MIKE HARALAMBOS AND MARTIN HOLBORN, 7th ED, LONDON: HARPERCOLLINS, 2008, ISBN 978-0007245956, £29.99 (pbk) WITH A FOCUS ON ‘CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES IN EDUCATION’
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sociology-Themes-Perspectives-Michael-Haralambos/dp/0007245955/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212144003&sr=8-2
We were delighted to discover that Glenn Rikowski is in the 7th edition of Haralambos and Holborn (he was also in the 6th edition). For those who do not already know, this amazing sociology textbook (which has greatly expanded over the years, and in this 7th edition there are 954 pages), was first published in 1980 “…with the aim of providing a systematic introduction to sociology for UK A level students, undergraduates and the general reader” (Haralambos and Holborn in ‘Preface to the 7th edition’).
Chapter 10 is on ‘Education’, and includes a section on ‘Conflict Perspectives’ (pp. 602-608). This section examines the work of Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Paul Willis and Glenn Rikowski. In regard to Glenn’s work, it focuses in particular on his work on ‘The Business Takeover of Schools’ and ‘Globalisation and Education’. Haralambos and Holborn say that “Over the last twenty-five years, Marxist sociology has become unfashionable. [But] Rikowski has given a new lease of life to Marxist perspectives on education”
(p. 608).
What heartened us, in particular, was the ‘Evaluation of Rikowski’ section, which focused on Richard Hatcher’s criticisms of Glenn’s work. Haralambos and Holborn say that “Critics argue that governments control education and will do so for the foreseeable future. Schools for profit are unlikely to appear as part of present or future educational policy in the UK (Hatcher, 2005)” (Haralambos and Holborn, p. 608). However, Glenn argues that there is no ‘safe zone’ in capitalism in the way that Hatcher seems to be suggesting. In referencing Hatcher, Haralambos and Holborn are referring to the original piece that he wrote, criticising Glenn’s work. This piece, entitled Business Sponsorship of Schools: For-profit takeover or agents of neoliberal change? A Reply to Glenn Rikowski’s ‘Habituation of the Nation: School Sponsors as Precursors to the Big Bang?’, revolves around a discussion of the Education White Paper (October 2005). Glenn posted piece this on his web-log, ‘The Volumizer’ on 7th November 2005 at: http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/651. Hatcher’s attack was in direct response to an article that Glenn inserted on his web-log, entitled Habituation of the Nation: School Sponsors as Precursors to the Big Bang? posted to the Volumizer 19th October, 2005 (see http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/566), where Glenn bravely attempts to make sense of the White Paper before it had even been released, basing his predictions on press leakages coupled with his in-depth and insightful theoretical Marxist analysis.
Directly following on from this piece Glenn participated in a debate on the Education White Paper on ‘The World Tonight’, BBC Radio 4 programme, which took place on the evening of the release of the White Paper. For more information about this see - A discussion on ‘The World Tonight’, BBC Radio 4 programme, 25th October 2005, 10.00pm, about the UK Government Education White Paper and links with the GATS, Library Services, Education Services and the extension of the commodification process by Ruth Rikowski, available at:http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Education%20White%20Paper.
Also, Discussion on the Education White Paper for England and extension of the commodification process in library and schools, by Ruth Rikowski and Glenn Rikowski, in Information for Social Change, No. 22, Winter 2005.
http://74.125.39.104/search?q=cache:6HL7_-MF_MQJ:libr.org/isc/issues/isc22/22-10.pdf+Ruth+and+Glenn+Rikowski+and+Education+White+Paper&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=uk&ie=UTF-8
Furthermore, we transcribed the radio programme – see: http://libr.org/isc/media/glenn.html
Glenn inserted Hatcher’s attack (saying that Glenn’s analysis of the White Paper was incorrect, yet saying this whilst having the actual White Paper at his own disposal) on his web-log, so that interested people could follow the debate. Glenn wrote a very long reply to this piece by Hatcher (some 20,000 words), entitled ‘In the Dentist’s Chair’, which we then placed on our website:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=In%20the%20Dentist%5ba%5ds%20Chair, on 31st December 2005, and it is this piece that is also referenced in Haralambos and Holborn.
Other works of Glenn Rikowski that Haralambos and Holborn refer to include:
1. ‘Scorched earth: prelude to rebuilding Marxist educational theory, British Journal of Sociology of Education,1997, Vol. 18, No. 4
2. The Battle in Seattle: its significance for education, Tufnell Press, London, 2001
3. Globalisation and Education: a paper prepared for the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs, Inquiry into the Global Economy, 2002
www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00001941.htm
4. In the dentist’s chair: a response to Richard Hatcher’s critique of Habituation of the Nation, 2005, www.flowideas.co.uk/print.php?page=147
It is wonderful that the originality of Glenn’s work is now really being recognised in this way (and there is more about the development of his Marxist theoretical analysis in the 6th edition of Haralambos and Holborn). History will prove the extent to which Glenn has pushed forward and developed Marxist educational theory. But given the horrors of capitalism, and the extent to which people suffer both individually and collectively within it, let us hope that people will be enlightened sooner rather than later, and that creative thinkers, with new ideas and theories, are able to effectively shine through and that their work can then be used constructively (rather than de-constructively), whereby many people can hopefully benefit.
4. ‘RENEWING DIALOGUES IN MARXISM AND EDUCATION: OPENINGS’ – EDITED BY ANTHONY GREEN, GLENN RIKOWSKI AND HELEN RADUNTZ,
NEW YORK: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN: LONDON, 2007,
ISBN 13 978 1 4039 7496 9; 10 1-4039-7496-9, $79.95
http://www.amazon.com/Renewing-Dialogues-Marxism-Education-Openings/dp/1403974969/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211890612&sr=8-1
**RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Here is news about the recently published first ‘Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues’ (MERD) book!!
Glenn Rikowski organised the twice-yearly ‘Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues’ (MERDs) seminars, with Tony Green, at the Institute of Education, University of London, for 5 years, from 2002 to 2007 - see
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=events&sub=MERD
for further information about all these seminars.
Leading on from these very successful seminars, Glenn and Tony secured a book contract with Palgrave Macmillan for a Book Series on ‘Marxism and Education’, the aim being to include themes and papers from the seminars themselves, as well as having separate monographs.
MERD III, for example, was on the theme of ‘Pedagogy and Culture’. MERD III was held on the 22nd October 2003 and the speakers that participated in it included: Paula Allman, Carmel Borg, Helen Colley, David Guile, Peter Jones, Peter Mayo, and Victoria Perselli. The session was also reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Scott McLemee, 5th December 2003, in a piece entitled ‘Scenes for the Classroom Struggle’ – see http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i15/15a04001.htm
The first book in the series has now been published and it is based on the first 2 opening seminars (which were not theme-based). It is entitled “Renewing Dialogues in Marxism and Education: Openings” and is edited by Tony Green, Glenn Rikowski and Helen Raduntz. Chapters in the book include contributions from Tony Green, Geraldine Thorpe and Pat Brady, Helen Raduntz, Dave Hill, Mike Cole, Elizabeth Atkinson and Mike Cole, Jane Mulldering, Mark Olsen and Michael A. Peters, Rachel Gorman, Helen Colley, Paul Warmington, David Harvie, Gregory Martin and Paula Allman.
5. MARXISM AND EDUCATION: ONLINE RESOURCES
Mainly for the benefit of students (but perhaps useful for others), Glenn Rikowski has put together a document on Marxism and Education: Online Resources. This is to help people interested in applying the ideas of Karl Marx and Marxists to education. Glenn has indicated the main web sites and blogs relevant to this purpose. See:
http://journals.aol.co.uk/rikowskigr/Volumizer/entries/2008/05/23/marxism-and-education-online-resources/1756
Or:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14758904&blogID=398306382&Mytoken=4E16640E-E743-40A7-ABD9A93909971CD339494272
6. HELEN RADUNTZ’S REVIEW OF MY BOOK
‘GLOBALISATION, INFORMATION AND LIBRARIES’ IN ‘LIBRARY REVIEW’
It was good to see Helen Raduntz’s review of my book ‘Globalisation, Information and Libraries: the implications of the World Trade Organisation’s GATS and TRIPS Agreements’, Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2005, finally published in Library Review (Vol. 56, No. 9, 2007, pp. 846-848). Helen is based at the Centre for Research in Education, Equity and Work, at the University of South Australia and is currently writing a Chandos book of her own on intellectual property rights, from a Marxian perspective.
In regard to my book, Helen Raduntz says: “Without doubt Ruth Rikowski’s book is highly relevant, accessible, extremely informative and encyclopedic in scope backed by detailed research. It is a ‘must have’ text not only for those working within the information profession and libraries but also for those who are greatly concerned with the current turn of events in which the intellectual resources of the people of all nations are being brought to the world’s trading table” (p. 846). She outlines some of the main features of my book, but makes it clear that, for her, the most important section is Part 3, which focuses on part of her own particular area of interest (i.e. intellectual property rights) – the WTO’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). As she rightly says “The effect [of this agreement] is to transfer intellectual property rights from the political to the market arena where ownership is underpinned by private property rights” (p. 847). She concludes by saying that she highly recommends the book “…as an extremely important contribution towards clarifying a vital set of issues which we must sooner or later face and address” (p. 848).
7. LATEST ISSUE OF ‘INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE’ (WINTER 2007) ON THE TOPIC OF ‘LIBRARIES AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION’, EDITED BY JOHN PATEMAN AND JOHN VINCENT, NO. 26
The latest issue of Information for Social Change, on the topic of ‘Libraries and Social Exclusion’ and edited by John Vincent and John Pateman is now available at: http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC26/ISC%2026%20full%20issue.pdf
The contents include:
‘Social exclusion – where is it going?’ by John Vincent
‘Developing a needs based library service’ by John Pateman
‘He didn’t have to say he was gay’ by John Vincent
‘Public Libraries and the Digital Divide’ by John Pateman
‘Are we all being served’ by Andrew Hudson
‘Reading Orwell in Havana’ by John Pateman
‘Library Services for Newcomers to Canada: embracing cultural diversity’ by Kendra Bender
8. RUTH RIKOWSKI GIVING GUEST LECTURES AT KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH AND LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY ON GLOBALISATION AND KNOWLEDGE, SPRING 2008
I gave some more guest lectures this semester at Kingston University, London South Bank University and the University of Greenwich, which all seemed to be generally well-received. At Greenwich I spoke about ‘Globalisation’ as this topic forms quite an important part of the ‘Introduction to the Tourism Industry’ course that I teach there to first-year undergraduates. At Kingston I spoke on the topic of ‘Knowledge, Knowledge Management and the Knowledge Revolution’, to masters students, referring to my published works on the topic and as well as providing something of an overview. Directly leading on from this, I spoke very specifically on the topic of ‘Value and Knowledge’, demonstrating how important it is today, to extract value from knowledge in this knowledge revolution. At South Bank I gave some interactive lectures on ‘Globalisation and Knowledge’ to masters students, providing information, encouraging participation, and suggesting that students could benefit from thinking and reflecting further on these important topics.
9. THE LATEST ISSUE OF ‘POLICY FUTURES IN EDUCATION’ IS NOW OUT
(VOL. 6, NO. 2, 2008)
‘Policy Futures in Education’ starting from this year, is being published 6 times a year, and the 2nd issue of 2008 (Vol. 6, No. 2) is available at: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/content/pdfs/6/issue6_2.asp
Contents include:
The Wealth of Networks (Yochai Benkler) discussed by Philippe Aigrain, Leslie Chan, Jean-Claude Guédon, and John Willinsky, with a response by Yochai Benkler, pages 152-175
Roxana Bobulescu. Popularising the ‘New International Political Economy’: the ATTAC movement, pages 176-186
Roxana Bobulescu. Popularising the ‘New International Political Economy’: the ATTAC movement, pages 176-186
Christelle Garrouste. Language Skills and Economic Returns, pages 187-202
Jon Lauglo & Tormod Øia. Education and Civic Engagement among Norwegian Youth, pages 203-223
Beatriz Fainholc. Educational Technology in Crisis, pages 224-234
Keiko Yokoyama. Neo-liberalism and Change in Higher Education Policy: England and Japan, pages 235-256
Georg Spöttl. Autonomy of (Vocational) Schools as an Answer to Structural Changes, pages 257-264
Scott Graham. Staging the Performances of the Privileged Social Group (PSG): expanding the philosophical foundation of critical pedagogy, pages 265-279
Access to the issue is by personal or library subscription, but all articles become free-to-view 18 months after publication.
10. POLICY FUTURES IN EDUCATION (http://www.wwwords.co.uk/PFIE/)
- CONTRIBUTIONS
Following on from the fact that I am now on the Editorial Board of Policy Futures in Education if anyone is interested in contributing and writing an article for PFIE, and would like to make contact with me in regard to it, then do drop me an email.
You can also subscribe to the free Policy Futures in Education free newsletter – see http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/subscriptions/newsletter.asp
11. ‘EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY’ JOURNAL – EDITED BY PROFESSOR MICHAEL PETERS
As well as being the Chief Editor of Policy Futures in Education, Professor Michael Peters is also the Chief Editor of Educational Philosophy and Theory as well as editing the Symposium e-journal, E-Learning with Michele Knobel and Colin Lankshear
Educational Philosophy and Theory is an international, blind refereed journal and is published 7 times a year, through Blackwell Publishing (available in both hard copy and electronically). It can be found at: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0013-1857
It is published on behalf of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia and the first issue was published in 1969!
Print ISSN: 0013-1857; Online ISSN: 1469-5812
Details for subscribing to the journal are available at: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/subs.asp?ref=0013-1857&site=1
As it says on the website: “Educational Philosophy and Theory publishes articles concerned with all aspects of educational philosophy. It will also consider manuscripts from other areas of pure or applied educational research. In this latter category the journal has published manuscripts concerned with curriculum theory…the politics of education, educational history…and higher education.”
Recent special issues of EPAT have included topics such as ‘Critical Thinking and Learning’, ‘Philosophy of Early Childhood Education’ and ‘Philosophy of Education in the Nordic’.
12. ‘E-LEARNING’ JOURNAL
E-Learning, is another Symposium journal, and is edited by Michele Knobel (Montclair State University, USA), Colin Lankshear (University of Ballarat, Australia) and Michael A. Peters (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA).
It is available at: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/elea/
E-Learning is an online-only journal, and is published 4 times a year.
ISSN 1741 8887
Details for subscribing to the journal can be found at:
http://www.wwwords.co.uk/elea/subscriptions/subscriptions.asp
Furthermore, it aims “…to serve as an international forum to facilitate current research, practice and development of e-learning in education.” It is particularly interested in articles that consider both theory and practice.
13. LAUNCH OF SPANISH EDITION OF THE COPY/SOUTH DOSSIER, APRIL 2008
The Copy/South Dossier (a 210-page document) has now been published in Spanish (release date 28th April 2008). The translation has been prepared by the Intellectual Property AutonomousService (Servicio Autonomo de la Propiedad Intelectual, SAPI), theintellectual property agency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
I reviewed this important document, which is available on our website – see http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Copy/South%20Dossier
and also in Information for Social Change. See: http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC23/D4%20Ruth%20Rikowski%20reviewing%20Alan%20Storey%20et%20al.pdf
“Press Release 28 April 2008
ANNOUNCING THE SPANISH EDITION OF THE COPY/ SOUTH DOSSIER
Issues in the economics, politics, and ideology of copyright in the global South. Researched and published by the Copy/South Research Group May 2006 ISBN: 978-0-9553140-1-8 (printed first English edition).
Not restricted by copyright
THE 2008 SPANISH EDITION OF THE COPY/SOUTH DOSSIER:Edited by Rafael Carreño of the Servicio Autonomo de la Propiedad Intelectual (Intellectual Property Agency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
Download the English 2006 first edition of the Copy/South Dossier here at the official site:http://www.copysouth.org/or here at E-LIS: E-prints in Library and Information Science: http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00006278/
Download the Spanish 2008 first edition of the Copy/South Dossier here atthe official site: http://www.copysouth.org/or here at E-LIS: E-prints in Library and Information Science:http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00013262/
In 2005, a group of scholars and activists, mostly from the global South, created the Copy/South Research Group to analyse, criticise, and confront the oppressive nature of current global copyright regimes, such as those defended by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and similar ones around the globe.
In May 2006, 22 of us, including 15 people from the global South, published THE COPY/SOUTH DOSSIER: Issues in the economics, politics, and ideology of copyright in the global South.The aim of the Dossier was to open up a critical and radical debate on the real impact of copyright laws and how they affect the daily lives of people living in more than 150 developing countries of the global South.
We also highlighted issues that are not unique to the Global South, but also affect both sides of the North-South divide. This publication of more than 50 articles was addressed to researchers, educators, librarians, musicians, activists, organizations concerned about access to knowledge, and all of those who want to learn more about the oppressive global role of copyright laws and, in particular, their largely negative role in the developing countries of the global South.Given the democratic objectives of the Copy/South Research Group, the Dossier was not restricted by copyright. Therefore, it has been accessed openly and freely in both electronic and paper formats by thousands of readers from around the world in English. But English is not spoken by all citizens in the global South. With this in mind, the entire 200-page Dossier was translated into Spanish in late 2007 by an enthusiastic team of voluntary translators from Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela.But what is still more extraordinary about the Spanish translation is that it was completely coordinated and edited by the Servicio Autonomo de la Propiedad Intelectual (SAPI) of the democratic government of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Republic.
The Dossier provides "useful material to introduce this topic to teachers and students" and does a good job of "summarizing a complex and conflicting situation" for developing countries, Jumersi La Rosa, SAPI's new director, said last week in announcing the release of the Spanish edition. She has written a special new introduction for the Spanish-language edition.The Copy South Research Group is very pleased that the radical message ofresistance found in the Dossier can now be read by thousands ofSpanish-language speakers who are questioning the current copyright regimeand who hopefully will be ignited by the ideas in the Dossier to take up the fight against oppressive regimes based on copyright.You can get a copy of the Dossier in Spanish and English by downloading it, free of charge, at http://www.copysouth.org/. We also still have a limited number of printed and bound copies of the English-language version of the Dossier. If you would to be mailed a copy of the English-language version, which contains eight posters, send us an e-mail (contact@copysouth.org) and include your full postal details.
FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS OF THE C/S RESEARCH GROUP:
1)The Open SocietyInstitute, Budapest, Hungary;
2) HIVOS,The Hague,The Netherlands;
3)TheResearch Fund of Kent Law School, Canterbury, Kent
UK.COPY/SOUTH RESEARCH GROUP 28 April 2008 http://www.copysouth.org/"
14. EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM (ESF) BEING HELD IN SOUTH SWEDEN IN SEPTEMBER 2008
The European Social Forum (ESF) is being held in Malmö, in the south of Sweden from 17th-21st September 2008. More than 20,000 people are expected to participate in the forum. ESF is a meeting place for social movements in Europe and works in conjunction with the aims of the World Social Forum (WSF). Throughout the five days seminars and workshops will be mixed with culture, music, activism and demonstrations.
See also: http://esf2008.org/home/another-europe-is-possible
15. ‘THE UNIVERSITY OF GOOGLE: EDUCATION IN THE [POST] INFORMATION AGE’ by TARA BRABAZON, HAMPSHIRE: ASHGATE PUBLISHING, 2007, ISBN 978 0 7546 7097 1, £30.00 (HDBK) – REVIEWED BY RUTH RIKOWSKI
http://www.amazon.co.uk/University-Google-Education-Post-Information/dp/075467097X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211882958&sr=8-4
My review of ‘The University of Google’ was published in the May issue of Managing Information, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 22-23. This is an important book as it addresses some of the issues and difficulties that academics face today, particularly those of us that teach in the new universities. Brabazon says that “A problem has emerged in my teaching during the last few years that requires attention. As each semester progresses, a greater proportion of my students is reading less, referencing less and writing with less clarity and boldness.” (p. 15). However, although she titles the book ‘The University of Google’, she says that the problems are not actually caused by Google itself, but rather that Google encourages poor scholarship, lazy approaches and ‘compliant thinking’ (p. 15). She says that more and more of her time is being taken up with emailing, administrative procedures and answering student enquires etc. It is very commendable that Brabazon is drawing attention, in this way, to the reality of the workplace for many academics today. However, it would have been useful if she had also provided a deeper economic, social and political analysis and endeavoured to explain why she thinks all this is actually happening today.
16. SOCIAL NETWORKING AND SOCIAL TOOLS
A consideration of Brabazon’s book, leads us nicely on to the topic of ‘Social Networking’ and Web 2.0 tools and technologies. All these subjects are now very ‘hot topics’, which the library and information profession suddenly seems to have woken up to, realising their importance as information providers! This ‘bunch of tools’ is far-ranging, including MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Bebo, Flickr, blogs, wikkis, newsletters etc., etc.
Glenn Rikowski has been very much ahead of his time in this area as well. He started up his MySpace Profile at http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski quite some time ago now, and indeed, was one of the first academics to really make use of this particular tool. As I reported in previous Updates of mine (e.g. 21st News Update) his MySpace Profile was given as an example of academic’s using computing environments for ‘social space’ in Allison Littlejohn and Chris Pegler’s book Preparing for blended e-learning, Routledge: Oxon, 2007, ISBN 0 415 40360 X (pbk).
Here are further details about some of his other social networking tools (including his blogs), and some other related information.
Glenn Rikowski’s web log, the Volumizer.
Glenn's MySpace blog, Wavering on Ether, is at: http://blog.myspace.com/glennrikowski
For Glenn Rikowski at firgoa see: http://firgoa.usc.es/drupal/taxonomy/term/353 (here, his blogs are being picked up in Spain)
Glenn Rikowski on Technorati is at: http://technorati.com/tag/Glenn+Rikowski
Glenn Rikowski’s Online Publications are at: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=pub&sub=Online%20Publications%20Glenn%20Rikowski
So, as can be seen, he has been very active indeed, in these areas. Currently, through his blogs, he is evaluating the benefit of these tools for his students. This work is ongoing.
I have also been to a number of events recently on the topic. This included a Gurteen Knowledge Café on the topic of ‘What will be the impact of Social Tools on KM?’ held on 5th March 2008, and facilitated by David Gurteen himself - see http://www.gurteen.com/gurteen/gurteen.nsf/id/kcafe-km2.0.
This session discussed the value, impact and importance of various social tools today, and whether or not they are likely to eventually lead to Knowledge Management itself becoming a thing of the past. Also, Helen Nicoll’s talk at a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) London meeting that was held on 9th January 2008, which I referred to in my 23rd News Update. Here Helen focused on KM and the National Health Service (NHS), and in particular the work that she has done on blogging, in this regard.
And finally, the talk that Lisa Goldman gave at Jewish Book Week, entitled ‘The Art of Blogging’, which was held on 29th February 2008 (Jewish Book Week lasted from 23rd February – 2nd March 2008). Lisa Goldman is one of the world’s most famous and successful bloggers and her blog is entitled ‘On the Face’ - see http://lisagoldman.net/. This was a fascinating talk, and Lisa’s enthusiasm for blogging really shone through. In fact, she said that blogging had changed her life! Lisa thinks that blogs are the ultimate in freedom of expression. Lisa Goldman became a successful blogger through her blogging of the Lebanon war of 2006, where she was getting 150,000 hits a day at one point. In fact, it was the first live-blogged war and it was the first-time that bloggers could really demonstrate some home truths during a war so clearly (showing pictures of what had and had not been bombed, for example) and exposing errors and misrepresentations that were made in the mainstream media. For more information about her talk, see http://www.jewishbookweek.com/2008/290208c.php
Then, of course, I have my own blog – ‘Ruth Rikowski Updates’.
Then, of course, I have my own blog – ‘Ruth Rikowski Updates’.
The topic of Social Networking is also covered in the May 2008 (Vol. 15, No. 3) issue of Managing Information, including an article by David Lavenda entitled ‘The Social Revolution’ (pp. 4-8). Lavenda says that “Social networking tools are taking the world by storm” (p. 5) and that it “… is an irreversible mega-trend. As part of the “IT consumerization” wave, social networking is permeating organisational boundaries…” (p. 8). He notes the fact, for example, that MySpace logged 110 million unique visitors in January 2008 (an increase of 15% from the year before) and that Facebook logged over 100 million (an increase of 305%). There is also an interesting News item on the Managing Information website (http://www.managinginformation.com/),posted on 18th May 2008, entitled ‘Social Networks Research Receives Doctorate Award’, which highlights the fact that research funding is now being made available for social networking (in this instance, through the Arts and Humanities Research Council). It says that “Although self-evidently blogs and social networking are more tractable than current postal services, there is little or no research into just how much more tractable they really are and whether the deterioration of the latter is simply a consequence of the former.” And so, this research becomes important.
Matthew Mezey also had an interesting small column entitled ‘LIS blogwatch’ in the June issue (Vol. 7, No. 6) of Update (the monthly magazine of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) (on p.9). He refers, for example, to a presentation that took place at the Unicom Social Tools Conference in London that was entitled ‘Letting some light in: challenges and opportunities for mainstream enterprise social computing’.
Furthermore, there is an informative piece about social networking and social computing in the April 2008 issue of Information Age. This article is by Pete Swabey and is entitled ‘Power to the People: business use of social networking is fuelling a revolution in collaboration and knowledge sharing’ (pp. 18-20). Swabey notes the difference between these social tools, and more traditional knowledge management systems. The latter “…organise content around document definitions or business processes.” (p. 19). Whilst: “A system [i.e. a social network system]built around individuals with content supplied by them not only mirrors the way most people think about their organisations, but it provides users with an opportunity to define their personal and professional roles within the organisation. This provides a powerful psychological incentive to engage with the system” (p. 19). This does not mean that KM will become redundant though, as far as I am concerned (as was suggested at the Gurteen Knowledge Café). Instead, it just that knowledge will be managed in a different way, in the future. Subtle means are now required for the creation and extraction of value from knowledge. Swabey is of the opinion that "For the next generation of employees, the social network is the most accessible and practical way of systematising knowledge transfer..." (p. 19)
So, these are all important areas. However, we need to try to make sure that we are not fooling ourselves into thinking that tools and technologies such as these will solve all our problems. Issues about using time and resources productively; trust and related-health issues still very much exist. And, ultimately, of course, we must never lose sight of the fact that all this operates within global capitalism, where value, wealth creation and profits come before people.
Many thanks to Michael Peters for providing information for items 11 and 12, and to Zapopan Martín Muela Meza and Mikael Böök for providing information for items 14, 15 respectively.
Best
Ruth
31st May 2008
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