[CIMC-working] statements againts grants from capitalist funds by imcs

[Doug Morris]

Hi all,

This is a follow up onte on the TMF.

Summary:

Soros has ties to the CIA like Ford  (see next note for links). And index 
of these notes will be provided.

This Fall, three (perhaps four, depending on the reading of it) of seven 
total statements on grants were made by imc locals both:
         - in solidarity with Argentina against the ford grant
         - in taking a further position on grants to state that they favor 
the rejection of funds for the indymedia network from all 
capitalist-associated sources and groups against indymedia's principles.

Discussion:

Here are the links for statements from these three locals against receiving 
any indymedia funds from corporations, as a point of principle (note that 
it is at least 3 of 7 locals that made statements, that take this stance, a 
significant proportion):

IMC Barcelona statement
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2002-September/001521.html
To quote: "IMC Barcelona declares itself against accepting any donation 
whatsoever that comes from companies, associations or non-profit 
organisations which are linked to profit-making companies or whose ends are 
in opposition to the principals of Indymedia."

Chicago IMC statement on grants
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2002-November/001561.html
To quote: "To protect our individual and collective autonomy, we believe it 
is necessary for the IMC network to clarify and state as part of a 
principle of unity about economic democracy or as a local membership 
criteria that:
         -funding will not be accepted from corporations or other 
organizations acting against the intent of the IMC Principles of Unity in 
advancing grass roots democracy, diversity, mutual aid, and open publishing.
         -funding should come preferably with no conditions attached
         -if conditions are attached to funds given by progressive funding 
sources, then such conditions must not be against the Unity principles and 
membership criteria of IMC locals and notice of such conditions should be 
posted to the IMC-Finance list for review and comment by imc participants 
from diverse locals. "

IMC Melbourne statement
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-communication/2002-September/002329.html 

To quote: "we think that the Ford Foundation money, and money derived from 
corporations in general, should be refused as a matter of principle."

Further, in this regard...
IMC-Athens statement on Ford Foundation grant
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2002-September/001495.html
To quote: "we don't believe that a grant from an institution with ties to 
the multinational complex can be totally "innocent". Besides the issue of 
"defamation" that it will cause (in Greece the imcs' will be certainly 
discredited if indymedia accepts this funds), it creates a very bad 
precedent of dependence."
This seems to be in spirit of the above three statements.

As for process in getting funds for IMC, the SF IMC Proposed this, which 
was echoed by other imcs in terms of transparency of grant process making 
as a major issue of concern:
SF-IMC Statement on FF Grant
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2002-September/001516.html
To quote:
"We do not think building trust between individuals and IMCs in the network 
can be done successfully when a small group claims autonomy and seeks 
funding for the entire Indymedia network, on behalf of the entire Indymedia 
network. It seems clear that the Ford Foundation had every intention of 
granting money for *regional gatherings*, which intrinsically involved and 
impact *all* IMCs, not just UCIMC."
"We propose any group or individual that is attempting to get funding for 
the entire Indymedia network, on behalf of the entire network, must notify 
imc-finance in good faith, with enough time for a meaningful public 
commentary."

The above statements apply similarly for the Soros grant because of seeking 
funds for network IMC uses.  Hopefully this can all be cleaned up (see 
previous note for possibilities).

Here is a link to statements on grants by IMC locals and some indy people:
http://docs.indymedia.org/twiki/bin/view/Global/ImcFinance
see this line:
collectives opposing it [ford grant]: argentina, italy, athens, 
melbourne,san fransisco, barcelona

In addition:

Unfortunately, like Ford inc, Soros has ties to CIA and has interlocking 
efforts with foundations and bodies interested in controlling and 
channeling the development of alternative media. (See next note for 
references on this.)

Hence, Soros funds are bad source for funds for indymedia.

Most that was said about the Ford grant in relation to indymedia, should 
stand for Soros as well.

My opinion on independent media projects other than Indymedia receiving 
funds is that folks involved should serious consider the implications of 
such funds.  OK, FAIR and Democracy Now! and other groups took such 
funds.  However, they may not have had indymedia's advantage of research. 
And, most groups do not have our unity principles.  We want to encourage a 
higher standard of decentralized democracy *in practice*.

It is a good thing to clean up funds from capitalists, hence the TMF idea 
is good. This can be done by removing both the strings attached to money 
(by not making conditions or claims in grant proposals nor by accepting 
them in the grant offers).  If such is not done, the corrupting use of 
capitalist foundation money, for indymedia, is best left with the 
capitalist sources.

Soliciting funds from Soros on behalf of Indymedia is against the very 
strong positions by locals who stood against the Ford grant.

Some of funds are for indy network regional or global planning 
gatherings.  Same issues as ford grant.

The indymedia network as a whole needs to consider and develop guidelines 
on grants.

While I have no problem with a bunch of indymedia people starting up a fund 
raising effort...  Indeed, I argued for such a few months ago...

I don't see why major indymedia strategic issues should be discussed by a 
bunch of indymedia organizers *only* on a non-indymedia list.  Nor do I see 
why the funding for a capitalist like Soros with many very problematic ties 
(though he seems to hvae some nice rhetoric) should be sought out by any 
imc local -- this effects us all.

It seems it would be best to work out at least such issues in tandem with 
indy discussions.

These are my own opinions solely.

Best, Doug
Doug
IMC Chicago co-liaison