Sign the Declaration of Independence from Technology!

A revolution is underway

– a revolution to reclaim our lives from the tyranny of ever growing technological connectivity. While the advances in technology are a great boon to humankind, (note events in the Middle East) there is a distinct tendency for us to become addicted to the rush of being plugged in, connected, and able to constantly twitter or update our moment-to-moment status.  This 4th of July, 2011, we have written our Declaration and posted it here for you to sign. Read more [+]

4th of July Unplug & Reconnect Cartoons

This gallery contains 2 photos.

                Illustrations by: Jennie Finkelstein  

The Personal Declaration of Independence of Technology

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created unplugged, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are uninterrupted Dinners shared with Family and Friends, Vacations dedicated to Experiential – not Virtual – Activities, and offline Conversations and Relationships.
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U&R Staff preparing for Independence Day 2011

U&R Staff preparing for Independence Day 2011

Meet us this Fourth of July weekend as we start the 2011 Revolution – to overthrow Technology’s tyranny over our lives!

We’ll be in Times Square (Sunday) and at the South Street Seaport (Monday) from 11-4pm, spreading the word about our Declaration of Independence from Technology – and handing out goodies!
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The Declaration: When in the Course of Technological Innovations

The Declaration:

When in the Course of Technological Innovations it becomes necessary for people to dissolve the wireless bandwidths which have connected them with unrelentingly addictive devices and to resume among the low tech communities of the earth, the human connectivity and personal interactions to which the ideals of Family and Community entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to disconnect from such technology.

We hold these truths to be
self-evident
, that all men are created unplugged from laptops, cell phones, iPods, and Wiis, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, Dinners without Texting, Email-Free Vacations, and Untwittered Conversations and Relationships.

That to secure these rights, Technology was created for the benefit of men and women, deriving its powers from the consent of those who utilize it, — That whenever any Form of Technology becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or shut it off and to institute a new Balance, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness and human connections. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Technology newly
established should not be changed for light and transient causes as its benefits and advantages are manifold.

And although experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed,  – especially when presented with some really great apps — But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, have created a situation where we are all under the absolute Despotism of our own technology,  it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such unrelenting connectivity, and to present new rules of social etiquette for friends and colleagues.

Such has been the patient sufferance of the people; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Interaction with Technology. The history of misuse of Technology is that of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object that the personal information and data be transmitted without our consent and awareness, establishing total tyranny over the People. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

  • Our people are becoming overly
    consumed, even addicted to the friendly technology that we created to
    assist and enrich our lives.
  • Kids in class focused on
    their games and smart phones instead of learning.
  • Parents ignoring their
    kids during dinner and on vacation as they remain 100% connected to
    the office with their Bluetooth and their iPad.
  • People everywhere
    videotape events instead of living the events.
  • People going to bed with
    their iPhone to check updates constantly through the night.
  • Though laws have been passed to prevent accidents on the road, people continue to shift their attention to their cell phone conversations and texting while driving, creating a danger for us all.
  • Children sending thousands of texts a day
  • Lolcatz

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions to find balance have been answered only by repeated injury. Technology, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Technology. We have weaned off of it from time to time of attempts to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.  We have reminded ourselves of the times not long ago when we delighted in one another’s company in Technology-free zones in restaurants, cafes, and train cars.   We have appealed to its native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured it by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. Innovators have been deaf to the voice of reason. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which announces our Separation, and hold it, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the people solemnly publish and declare, That we are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent of Technology’s stranglehold on us, that we are Absolved from all Allegiance to it, and that all tyrannical connection between us and Technology, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent People, have full Power to spend specified time Unplugged and Reconnected with our family, friends, co-workers, and the general public, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent People may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our undivided attention, to live in the moment, meet face-to-face, and physically hug and kiss in celebration.