Update 6
At some point in the last three
years you visited the World Transhumanist Association website [http://www.transhumanism.org]
and asked to be placed on our mailing list. We've sent out a number of
updates of our activities during that time. But, until recently, we have
not had the volunteer staff to effectively keep in touch with you and
include you in the exciting work of advancing transhumanism.
In late 2001 steps were finally
taken to formalize the organizational structure of the WTA, and move our
work to the next stage. We have elected an interim Board of Directors
[http://www.transhumanism.org/board.htm] and are working on an exciting
agenda. Publications Director Mark Walker has taken charge of our
Journal of Evolution and Technology (formerly Journal of Transhumanism),
which it is now growing quickly with submissions from leading academics
and scholars. We have started a new e-magazine to publish news and views
of the transhumanist movement. We will be outlining and publishing a
series of articles on transhumanist approaches to important issues and
controversies of our times. WTA's Chair, Nick Bostrom, will be building
our speakers bureau and media presence. We are reaching out to
transhumanists from a wide variety of democratic political persuasions
to build a movement as inclusive and representative as possible. We are
reaching out to the transhumanists all over the world who have expressed
a desire to organize local transhumanist groups and activities. We are
planning to hold another Transvision conference in the next year or two.
And that's just the beginning.
Why are we so urgent about the
transhumanist cause? Because the battle for a better future is being
waged in the legislatures, in the academy and in the media. In that
battle there are well-organized forces saying "Human beings should
stop playing God" and "These new technologies are too scary
and dangerous to permit any research at all." But there is no
audible voice saying "Human beings can become more than we are
today, and we should be given the chance!" A well-organized and
visible WTA is essential if we are to advance transhumanism in the
marketplace of ideas.
We know from your comments at the
WTA site that you feel the same way. Join us now in this next phase of
our work to ensure a transhuman future. Dues to become a full member in
the WTA are $25 U.S. for employed people in the developed world, and $10
U.S. for students, the unemployed, the retired and people in the
developing world, checks payable to: "WTA," 72 Van Reipen Ave,
PMB 255, Jersey City, NJ 07306-2806.
When you join, please include
your physical address and indicate which email address will be your
primary address with us, as we are also experimenting in ground-breaking
forms of on-line democracy. Full members will be subscribed (if they
wish) to the wtahall list at yahoogroups, and your email address is your
voter card. Important WTA matters, such as the election of the Board of
Directors, will be discussed and decided in the wtahall list. The
election of the first Board (replacing the current interim Board) will
take place some time before summer. (All full members are eligible to
serve on the Board. Contact us if you are interested in running for a
spot on the Board.)
Full membership will also entitle
you to discounts at the Transvision conferences and other benefits as we
grow. And you will be materially supporting the growth of the
transhumanist movement.
If you are currently not sure
about committing to full membership, you can stay in touch with the WTA
as a basic member by staying signed up with wta-announce [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wta-announce]
for official WTA announcements, occasional bulletins about our work, and
mailings of our e-magazine. We'll be moving our mailing list there
shortly.
As a basic member you may also
participate in the growing and diverse transhumanist community of ideas
by joining the new WTA discussion list, wta-talk [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wta-talk/].
We want wta-talk to be a place where transhumanists of a broad range of
backgrounds and orientations can share their views. This list will be
strongly moderated to maintain focus and appropriate standards of
discussion.
Many of you have skills that we
would like to tap in the work ahead. Writers should consider writing for
our Journal of Evolution and Technology and for our magazine. Web
masters should consider adding links back to the WTA, and adding their
websites to (WTA Board member) Ziana Astralos's Extrotech transhumanist
webring [http://w.webring.com/hub?ring=extrotech.]
Activists and organizers should
take a look at the growing list of WTA chapters and
chapters-in-formation [http://www.transhumanism.org/groups.htm]. If
there is a chapter near you, get involved; if there is no chapter, start
one. Let us know about your efforts and we will add you to the chapter
webpage, and assist you in any way we can. Send us reports of your
chapter activities and we can put them in our magazine.
We look forward to working with
you in the struggle for a brighter future!
Sincerely,
The WTA Board of Directors
Chair Nick
Bostrom Ph.D.
Vice-Chair Eugene Leitl M.S.
Secretary James Hughes Ph.D.
Treasurer Mike Treder
Pub. Director Mark Walker Ph.D.
Ziana Astralos
David Pearce
Anders Sandberg M.S.
Eliezer Yudkowsky
Basics