Surviving Capitalism (Not) : World's First Fleet of Riot Control Drones Ordered by Secret South African Company

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Friday, June 20, 2014

World's First Fleet of Riot Control Drones Ordered by Secret South African Company

Click here to access article by Max Ocean from Common Dreams.

Of course, it had to be only a matter of time before capitalist ruling classes realized the usefulness of drone technology to control their own populations. Desert Wolf, a South African company, appears to be leading the way. However, I'm sure they are not alone in developing these population control vehicles. It's just that this company is the first we learn about in this article. Technology that could be advancing the health, welfare, and happiness of humanity will be used by the ownership class to control humanity to promote their interests--more power and wealth. Welcome to the brave new world of 21st century high technology under the ownership and control of a tiny minority!

The drones, originally unveiled by their maker Desert Wolf at a trade show near Johannesburg last month, sell for nearly $50,000 apiece and are equipped with four "high-capacity paint ball barrels" that can each shoot a total of up to 80 paint, pepper, or plastic balls per second, with a full capacity of 4,000 balls. In addition to a generic on-board high-definition camera, it has a thermal camera for use at night, as well as “bright strobe lights, blinding Lasers and on-board speakers” that can be used to warn crowds, according to the company’s website.