Engineer quits job rather than work for Uncle Sam's killing machine

[JohnyCanuck]

Sale of Canada's leading satellite developer not ethical: engineer
Last Updated: Thursday, January 17, 2008 | 9:49 PM ET
CBC News


An optical engineer in B.C. is urging Ottawa to block the sale of Canada's leading satellite developer — MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. — charging that the American buyer makes weaponry that kills people.

Paul Cottle, 31, resigned last week from his job of three years after the Richmond-based company announced it was selling its satellite and space division to Alliant Techsystems of Minnesota (ATK) for $1.325 billion, he told CBC News on Wednesday.

SNIP

"As soon as I heard the announcement, I knew I couldn't work for them anymore," he told CBC News. "I didn't even have to hear the end of the speech. I already knew about ATK.

"ATK is a company that produces weaponry that kills people indiscriminately — soldiers and civilians alike," Cottle said.

"Part of the reason I came to Canada was to avoid having my tax dollars go to support companies like ATK," the American said.

ATK derives more than half of its $4 billion US in annual revenue from military contracts, including cluster bombs, depleted uranium rounds and landmines.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/01/16/bc-satelliterdeveloper.html

[Dhalgren]

1. Good for him! We should all have the courage and integrity to make

principled stands the way this man has. Bravo!

:applause:

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Richard Steele]

3. M'kay.

nm

[JohnyCanuck]

4. Maybe the world could use a few more "pansys'"

rather than engineers and scientists who devote their working lives to work for "defense" industry corporations and governments paying them to figure out better ways to kill their fellow human beings - especially when the work they do will be used, not to defend their country from aggressors (as they no doubt like to rationalize), but to help their own country invade weaker, countries killing and maiming the inhabitants in an effort to enforce a global supremacy over the rest of the world.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. How do you manage to fit that inflated ego into your car every morning?

Sure as shit no room for an air bag if you ever got in an accident...

[dysfunctional press]

10. "spineless pansies need not apply"

wasn't a certain current potus and spineless pansy ALSO a member of the air national guard?

but then- i don't suppose he really had to apply to get in.

[dysfunctional press]

11. how do cluster bombs "defend" our country?

seems they mostly just fuck up other people's countries...:shrug:

[jgraz]

12. Homophobia? Check.

Jingoism? Check.
Corporatism? Check.
Militarism? Check.


Head completely up ass? Check.


Good luck making it to 200 posts. :hi:

[wtmusic]

15. Hey now...it takes courage to sit behind a desk at Raytheon

and design guidance systems for not-so-smart bombs...their hi-tech InsurgentSensors™ prevent our brave troops on the ground from possibly getting in possible harm's way!

[PhD]

21. Takes a lot of courage to post nonsense on a website

Meanwhile, I'm deploying with my unit in March.

[jgraz]

22. Assuming that's even true, which part of that gives you the right to spew hate on our site?

[Swamp Rat]

16. "PhD"

Piled high and deeper.

:rofl:

[BobTheSubgenius]

17. Good call.

He might not have made 120. That was QUICK.

[PhD]

26. I am a SHE

And this is post #120!

[BobTheSubgenius]

13. In point of fact.....

.....you don't get unemployment benefits if you quit your job without a compelling reason.

[KitchenWitch]

14. I see you are defending your country as a member of the 101st Keyboard Brigade

If you would like to do more, here is a form you can fill out.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/19_03/military_enlistment.pdf

[Swamp Rat]

18. LOL!

[jgraz]

19. I'm telling fivegan!!

:P

[Swamp Rat]

20. LOL!

:rofl:

[PhD]

25. FYI

I have served 16 years in the national guard including three tours of duty in the Afghanistan or Iraq theaters. My husband was active duty Air Force and also a member of the guard until he retired. My son is a college student in the ROTC and plans to become an Air Force officer upon graduation. My daughter is pursuing a doctorate in physics including advanced research for the federal government. My family has done its part.

[wtmusic]

5. Nonsense

ATK's NASA business accounts for 15% of its total revenue; military contracts make up 59%.

http://www.atk.com/InvestorRelations/investrelate_investorinfo.asp

Back to school, Doc! :rofl:

[otherlander]

6. Paul Cottle

:patriot:

[Blue_Tires]

9. 5th rec

[HughMoran]

23. Good for him

Same reason I would never work in the defense industry even though I was offered several jobs involving the design and control systems for missile systems.

[Canuckistanian]

24. This makes TWO engineers that have quit MDA

One quit a few weeks ago for the same reason. I remember his quote, "I wouldn't work for a company that I would be ashamed to own stock in."

I heard there are a few more who may follow suit.

[burrowowl]

27. During the late 60's

many engineers at the Sandia Lab weapons section resigned, just got sick of bombs.