Data & Society [Live] The Cloud is Dead: Living with Legacies of Resource Extraction
7 snips
May 5, 2025 
Alexis Madrigal, author of 'The Pacific Circuit', and Xiaowei Wang, writer of 'Blockchain Chicken Farm', dive into pressing environmental and social issues linked to technology and resource extraction. They discuss the toxic legacies left in marginalized communities, especially the impact on immigrant women in Silicon Valley. The conversation emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism and data empowerment for environmental justice. They also tackle the dynamics of labor rights in the tech industry, highlighting the need for solidarity and community-driven solutions.
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Spirit Possession as Labor Resistance
- Workers in Penang used spirit possession to resist toxic factory conditions.
- Haunted histories remind communities about present responsibilities and actions.
RCA Workers' Care Association Story
- Elderly women workers at RCA fought decades for recognition amid lethal chemical exposure.
- They created care associations to support each other and future environmental work.
Empowering Community Data Control
- Collaborate with communities by respecting their knowledge and control over data.
- Use diverse data collection methods to support environmental justice organizing.
