[Imc-africa] Re: [IMC-Process] Re: [New-imc] Travel Stipend for Indymedia Organizer / Indymedia Growth in Africa Project

[info]

just a few thoughts....


On Thu, 2003-10-09 at 02:09, Sascha Meinrath wrote:

> I think it's easy to overproblematize this project.  
> Given these goals and the fact that the folks we've been working with in
> Africa are all highly supportive, I'd be really confused if anyone has a
> problem with the project.

I think you are right that it can easily be overproblematised. Important
is that the issues have been raised, reflected upon and learned from and
that the people involved acknowledge the potential problems and
ambiguities -- and DOCUMENT them for others to learn as well.

We also cannot wait for the world to be equal and just before acting. It
will never happen (unless we act).

The issue of helping ppl in the 'south' is not just some abstract
discussion based on the history of religious missions and liberal
humanitarian aid; it is also about the intentions and virtue of those
actually framing and implementing a project -and, of course, the ways in
which it is being welcomed in the given area/place/region.

What really confuses me, in the context of retaining IMC integrity, is
that Petros writes:

>>{A sub-heading here about credibility:  there is a
>>certain particular individual, who is associated with
>>this imc group who is *continuously* involved in
>>efforts to create large, expensive, financial imc
>>projects. Do you think associating with this individual
>>helps you or any of us sound credible?)

What is this supposed to be mean - is it a thought experiment, a
speculation, an attempt to start a rumour or just a concealed attack on
some unnamed person?

In any case, I think that integrity starts with clarity, openness,
honesty and polite confrontations. From good practices we can learn new
theory (the other way round -from theory to practice- is much more
complicated); remember that some of the major theoretical frameworks
that we recognise as a limit or problem to such projects as IGAP are
also western/northern constructions, based on the advances of the
Enlightenment/rationality in the Academy.

Like,.... hate to say it - but free your mind and the rest will follow
;)

In other words, the argument that Petros, with very good intentions,
forwards easily becomes circular (self-contradictory) and thus appears
as mere rhetoric. Therefore I am of the opinion that case-by-case review
is one way to decide, rather than an overall/imposition of theory;
because which theory is the right one? Theory is an approximation and an
abstraction - people are real.

Well done to all for keeping an eye on these developments.

And, as far as i am concerned, Good Luck in Africa!

/m - liaison lancaster

PS: paid work? what is that?




> In solidarity,
> 
> --Sascha Meinrath
> Urbana-Champaign IMC
> 
> _______________________________________________
> imc-process mailing list
> imc-process at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-process