Low Nupe Science

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AFTER last week's report of a conference of socialist scientists, I want to look at two recent publications of the socialist science movement - the latest issue of Science for People (SfP) and the pamphlet 'Science on our Side' (SOOS)*.

SOOS is subtitled A new socialist agenda for science, technology and medicine' and on the agenda are Health, Food and Agriculture, Transport, Energy, Environment, Defence, Internal Security, Science Education and Research, Production and New Technology.

The authors state that the pamphlet is 'for actirise in the socialist and trade inion movement. the Less Pary. the women = L=*::or movement. a". SET groups.

ti=The authors criticise the use of 'a remote jargon and a painfully impersonal tone' in public scientific discussions, but fall into the same trap themselves. In fact, their language will sometimes be remote from most scientists, let alone their intended audience. of odead mpour will be understandable only by those versed in Marxist economics, while 'VCM' will be recognised only by regular readers of SfP or workers in the field of lymers. ('Dead labour' the past labour of worlocked up in machinery naterials. VCM' -chloride monomer -sub-unit of PVC and of a rare liver can351:530 103 a: no: : C00385 EA agenda are dealt with quite well. E.g.:Food and Agriculture -has quite a good analysis of how production for profit distorts the industry. Food is processed and poor diets encouraged solely to increase opportunities for profits.

Energy - this section demolishes the argument of the CEGB about an energy gap which can only be filled by nuclear power, an l shows how many safer alternative sources of energy could be used.

Other sections are shakier.

Health - is rather bland, but contains this statement, which I am still puzzling over Ultimately. people's health interests should be met br generalist? commurity 2: ane tea:tar