[Imc-africa] dakar concerns

[nicolas dieltiens]

Dear all, for a two-week conference that's scheduled to begin at the end of the month, very little discussion has focused on the conference itself, its programme and objectives. Everyone on-list has been scurrying around for funds to make it happen when what it is that will occupy the few that will attend for two-weeks is actually quite unclear. The conference has been suggested as a technical workshop, and 9 volunteers are to offer workshops on skills still to be determined for 12 or less IMC-africa participants. If this is all the Dakar conference is hoping to achieve, I could think of better ways to spend our efforts and their money.

Perhaps some responses could clarify my concerns, but at the moment the conference hasn't been conceptualised and organising the event lurches towards the question of funds. Let's better re-schedule and conceptualise the conference before exasperating volunteered contributions. I'd really be a reluctant participant in a conference of 6 with 9 workshop facilitators - for two-weeks (the count recommended recently by Jay (IMC Philadelphia)). The political agenda for the conference is entirely absent and subsumed by presumptions of African neediness and northern activists' benevolence.

regards

Nicolas
Indymedia sa