FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECONference On Decontamination

TORONTO, Ontario - August 19, 2002 - In the wake of the September 11th attacks, security is of the essence. The increase in worldwide terrorism, we are told, has made certain security precautions necessary. The risk of contraband, explosives, or biological contaminants hidden in shoes may even make it necessary for shoes to be removed.

That there exists today a ubiquitous climate of terrorism alert seems plain enough. But what about the possibility of someone placing your personal privacy or civil liberties in jeopardy by simply spilling a salt shaker?

Welcome to the anthrax age, where a basic understanding of the politics of decontamination could make the difference between an informed citizenry, capable of maintaining checks and balances on authority, and mass hysteria over nuclear, chemical, and biological terrorism, the specter of which could be readily used to justify the draconian quieting of any civil unrest.

Concerned about the implications of this brave new world, author and wearable computing pioneer Professor Steve Mann of the University of Toronto's Humanistic Intelligence Lab established the DECONsortium, a group dedicated to serving the need for critical inquiry into mass casualty decontamination.

As its first order of business, DECONsortium will host 'DECONference', a co-[l]laboratory performance event, in association with The McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology, University of Toronto.

'DECONference' will take place Thursday, August 29th, 2002, at 7 pm. Scheduled as guest speakers are Professor Derrick de Kerckhove, director of The McLuhan Program and author of 'Skin of Culture'; Professor Arthur Kroker, coeditor of web journal 'CTHEORY'; surveillance artist Julia Scher; and tactical media art collective Critical Art Ensemble. Professor Mann will deliver the keynote address.

For more information about 'DECONference', or any of its DECONtributors, visit www.deconference.com or www.existech.com/deconference, or contact the DECONsortium at 416-946-3387.

Interview Contact: Professor Steve Mann, University of Toronto
Telephone: 416-946-3387
mann@eecg.toronto.edu
http://www.deconference.com
http://www.existech.com/deconference

DECONsortium
330 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1G5
Voice 416-946-3387. Fax 416-971-2326

General Chairs: Dr. D. de Kerckhove, Dr. S. Mann
Program Chairs: C. Aimone, D. Crichton, Dr. S. Mann
Program Committee: C. Aimone, D. Crichton, Dr. D. de Kerckhove, J. Fung, F. Lemieux, C. Manders, F. Tang