[CIMC-working] next final draft: Chicago IMC statement on Tactical Media Fund

[Doug Morris]

OK, this is shortened some more, at the bottom:

[en, es, fr]
Chicago IMC statement on Tactical Media Fund

Hi people,

en.
We are concerned about the following aspects of the Tactical Media Fund and 
its Soros grant application for Indymedia:

          1. The use of the Indymedia name and accomplishments
          2. TMF is gathering funds for a number of major Indymedia 
projects, without sharing planning about the projects
          3. The TMF seems to be closed to Indymedia activists and locals 
that may wish to participate.
          4. The TMF application for funds from the Open Society Institute 
of predatory capitalist George Soros is a very serious problem, exposing 
Indymedia to the co-opting power, strategies and influence of this 
establishment foundation.
          5. TMF efforts might seriously interfere with funding efforts, 
both of legitimate independent groups and internally.

We support many of the criticisms that have been raised by the Argentina 
and SF IMCs of the Soros grant and of TMF.

We think it is important to discuss criticisms of TMF and positive funding 
solutions. We think it is possible to work with independent funding groups. 
But, we think that fund raising strategies need to be developed through 
discussion with the Indymedia network.

es.
Tenemos preocupaciones por los aspectos siguientes del TMF y de su Soros 
grant por Indymedia:

          1. El uso del nombre y de las realizaciones de Indymedia
          2. TMF esta recolectando los fondos para un numero de proyectos 
importantes de Indymedia, sin compartir acepillar sobre los proyectos
          3. El TMF se parece ser cerrado a los activistas y a los locals 
de Indymedia que pueden desear participar.
          4. El uso de TMF para los fondos de la OSI del capitalista rapaz 
George Soros es un problema muy serio, exponiendo Indymedia a la energia, a 
las estrategias y a la influencia de cooptacion de esta fundacion del 
establecimiento.
          5. Los esfuerzos de TMF pudieron interferir seriamente con 
esfuerzos de financiamiento, de grupos independientes legetimos e internamente.

Apoyamos muchas de las criticas que han sido levantadas por la Argentina y 
el SF IMCs de la concesion de Soros y de TMF.

Lo pensamos somos importantes discutir creticas de TMF y de soluciones de 
financiamiento positivas. Lo pensamos somos posibles trabajar con los 
grupos de financiamiento independientes. Pero, pensamos que el fondo que 
levanta estrategias necesita ser desarrollado con la discusion con la red 
de Indymedia.

fr.
Nous sommes preoccupes par les aspects suivants du TMF et de son Soros 
grant pour Indymedia:

          1. L'utilisation du nom et des accomplissements d'Indymedia
          2. TMF recueille des fonds pour un certain nombre de projets 
principaux d'Indymedia, sans partager le rabotage au sujet des projets
          3. Le TMF semble etre clpture aux activistes et aux locals 
d'Indymedia qui peuvent souhaiter participer.
          4. La demande de TMF de fonds de l'OSI du capitaliste pre9dateur 
George Soros est un probleme tres serieux, exposant Indymedia a la 
puissance, aux strategies et a l'influence de cooptation de cette base 
d'etablissement.
          5. Les efforts de TMF pourraient serieusement interferer la 
creation de fonds, des groupes independants legitimes et interieurement.

Nous soutenons plusieurs par des critiques qui ont ete augmentees de 
l'Argentine et SF CMIs de la concession de Soros et de TMF.

Nous le pensons est important pour discuter des critiques de TMF et de 
solutions de placement positives. Nous le pensons est possible pour 
travailler avec les groupes de placement independants. Mais, nous pensons 
que des fonds soulevant des strategies doiventeatre developpe par la 
discussion avec le reseau d'Indymedia.

Extra points and links (english only):

To see more concerns, links to articles with powerful criticisms of Soros 
and other major foundations that directly work to co-opt left projects, and 
a link to arguments by 7 IMC locals in objection the Ford Foundation grant 
proposal in September-October, 2002, please see the following note.

The Chicago IMC collective sent the following email to the TMF group and 
Urbana-Champaign IMC on December 30, 2002 with a number of questions about 
the TMF's relation to the Indymedia network:

Open letter to Urbana-Champaign IMC and TMF proposal creators
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-chicago/2003-January/001198.html
[This is a copy of the original note. See links in this note.]

A TMF statement to the Imc-finance list did speak to some of our concerns, 
but the above concerns and others remain:
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2003-January/001686.html

We apologize for the lack of translation of this section.

In addition to necessary criticisms of the TMF, we think it is important to 
focus on positive grassroots solutions to challenges.

To repeat a point from our statement on the Ford grant proposal: We think 
network-wide grant-seeking criteria are needed. At the same time, some in 
our local IMC collective have long thought that some of the issues being 
addressed at a global network level (such as some tech, process, and 
finance issues) may be better addressed through discussions at regional 
Indymedia network levels.

We look forward to further dialog and the development of ***various*** 
Indymedia participatory grassroots fund raising strategies and projects, 
such as an ongoing donation campaign.

In Solidarity,
Chicago IMC