Re: HUMOR: Nanotechnologist lung

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sat May 10 2003 - 14:44:23 MDT

  • Next message: Anders Sandberg: "Re: HUMOR: Nanotechnologist lung"

    On Sat, 10 May 2003, Anders Sandberg wrote:

    > On Sat, May 10, 2003 at 11:17:38AM -0400, Harvey Newstrom wrote:
    > > All humor aside, nanotech molecules are small enough to go through rubber
    > > gloves, face masks and even skin in many cases. Most people who
    > > discuss/predict nanotechnology don't realize that nano materials will
    > > probably be extremely dangerous biohazards.

    Harvey, there have to be thousands, if not millions of molecules that
    are naturally produced that can go through gloves, masks, skin, etc.
    You have to make a stronger case that (a) bionanomaterials will not
    be degradable; and (b) that bionanomaterials are "likely" to be harmful.

    Note, this topic is addressed in great detail in Nanomedicine VIIA
    which is soon to be published -- while there is a lot that that
    is currently unknown -- enough is known that handwaving with respect
    to "extremely dangerous biohazards" seems unjustified.

    > RAFI published a report on it, which despite its luddite aims, had
    > plenty of good information. This is stuff that needs to be clearly
    > answered.

    Anders -- for *shame* -- I've finally gotten through reading
    "The Big Down" (http://www.etcgroup.org/documents/TheBigDown.pdf).
    Really really boring. I have to disagree with Anders with respect
    to "plenty of good information" unless he is talking about some
    other report. There is little "value added" in The Big Down
    that would not be known by anyone following the ExI/THT or other
    similar lists. There *are* however various "assertions" of
    positions without any evidence cited to back up those positions.
    [Classic "position claimed without facts in evidence" -- a classic
    luddite ploy.]

    It is worth observing that the ETCGroup may be giving some kind
    of seminar before/with the European Parliament on June 11th.
    Cite: http://www.etcgroup.org/article.asp?newsid=390

    I'm giving some strong consideration to attending just so I can stand
    up and disrupt the presentations when they make claims similar
    to those found in "The Big Down".

    Robert



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