[Imc-finance] PENDING: PROPOSAL D -- funding request from South Africa IMC

[john freebury]

hey,

Speaking as the liaison for imc-alberta, i support the proposal.

Regarding the concern for the support arriving too late, having just 
gone through a g8 -- funding in advance is great, but many of our 
expenses here in alberta were, at the time, paid for personally --  so 
any amount of funding before or after will still be a huge relief to 
those organizers on the ground, whose capacity is not that of an 
organizer in a g8 country.  If SA spends the funding on what they are 
proposing,  it will be in addition to what has already been worked 
toward and will strategically respond to certain needs and objectives. 
 After this event, it is not as though the sense of urgency  in SA is 
going to go away either -- the SA collective will become increasingly 
significant to that region of Africa as i'm sure it already is.

my comments to ted below (why network funds will necessarily go to imc 
collectives, local and/or network).


in solidarity

john
aimc



ted wrote:

>     We in Victoria have only minor concerns.
>
>#1.  I have mentioned before, about the POWER of bulk purchasing.
>
>1 DVD costs $1500.00  (10 would cost how much...?)
>
it would cost more by the time you've paid for shipping, duties and 
other taxes.  duties to many points in global south are the better chuck 
of the original price.

>
>
>Why aren't we offering to "evaluate" the preformance of the equipment
>(In the feild)...?
>
>I know Canon does it.  They actually supply the equipment and pay of a report.
>(when are we going to BREAK THE CONSUMER MOLD...?)
>
that's a good idea, but the manufacture is looking for controlled 
circumstances and quality feedback, like working with an industry 
professional, one who is not going to immediately box the item and send 
it into the developing world, where the evaluation is likely to  come 
back in a foreign language -- when are the manufacturers going to "break 
the mold"???

>
>
>how much is a camera in a pawn-shop...?
>
again, once you add the shipping and duties, it's probably not worth it.

>
>
>------- OK... after SA and India have made their requests -----
>
>I'd like to see a moritiorum on equipment purchases.
>
>(there is a cheeper way to build "infrastructure".)
>

equipment is a case-by-case reality -- in developing parts of the world 
it might make perfect sense.  i see your point thought about the network 
funding being for the network -- perhaps we are at the stage when that 
needs to be defined, but issuing moratoriums at this stage in the 
discussion seems a bit premature.

>
>
>--------------   # 2.  -------------
>
>Can we get a promiss from SA that they'll try to use the equipment.
>
>and that they'll try to share it out.
>
>That the equipment belongs to the group (SA-IMC) and not a single individual.
>
>And that SA will develope a fair-use policey.
>(I kind of hope the lesser advantaged groups gain a greater access.)
>

That depends on how open or closed the boarders are between countries in 
southern africa, not to mention how open or closed these countries are 
culturally, linguistically, socially.  But that is also why an 
investment into SA now, where there is so much solidarity to overcome 
these barriers would, in my mind, be a smart decision.

>
>
>----------- It is my understanding ----------
>
>I'm assuming that the monies given to IMC-Finance was for the benifit of the
>network as a whole.
>
>That the money is "For Network." activities.
>
>Therefore, under the guise of 'emergancy' I feel this request walks a fine
>line.
>
>We all know it's an individual who's using the equipment, and the network
>benifits from the coverage...    However, is the individual awair the donation
>is for a collective...?   (That it belongs to the whole world.)
>
You are right for flagging this, however, if you look closely at this 
network you realize right-away that in fact it only consists of 
individual imc collectives, who themselves are what create the platform 
upon which "networking" can be said to occur.  There has been the 
absense of any single imc global council or single decision making body, 
but not intentionally.  It may just be the simple fact that the focussed 
imc collective, be that a local or network collective, is where all the 
action takes place, where people are most effective, and where their 
volunteer energies are replenished -- why the SA proposal stands.

Who ends up with the equipment is a question of who provides 
stewardship/care for the equipment. As 100% of the entire indymedia 
network is accounted for through this kind of goodwill and stewardship, 
i would not lose any sleep over it.

>
>
>----------------- My reason for saying this...?  --------
>
>uhmmm.  I hopping this group can being to construct the "ways & means' of
>determing what best to spend the money.
>
>I for one do not suport giving it away.
>
>I'd much rather see it going to building 'network'.
>
>i use indymedia products on my radio show.
>
>Audio clips are more important (to me) than video.
> Audio clips are one thing, streaming audio is better.. (for my use)
>
>Streaming audio at 3am. (doesn't matter what city) is my preferance.
>
>the best guests seem to visit the "over-night-crew." (don't know why that is)
>
>.... IN ALL CASES
>
>it has been the convergance centre.
>
>That is the key to my focus.
>
>with-out it....?
>
>video sound can be converted into audio, and I could read stories from the
>wire.
>
>All I'm saying is that....., from my point of view, access to the interent is
>very important.
>
>----------------- Victoria IMC ---------------
>
>.                         ??????????
>
>it's summer.  People are busy.
>
>At last meeting, we were twinkling about one thing.
>
>That is:
>
>"That we trust that the majority involved in Indy-media, are
>considerate/passionate/decent/honest human beings.
>
>AND, that we trust dissions made, will be for the benifit of the concept,
>rather than for the benifit of a single individual or sector."
>
>
>------------  request discussion about buying on bulk -------------
>
>I'd like to explore some ideas.
>
>But, I'd also like to see a moritorum on equipment purchases,
>AFTER we talked about SA, and India proposals.
>
>ted...   (in victoria.)
>
that discussion is already underway on one of the other lists -- not 
necessarily regarding bulk, but in terms of how to think strategically 
about purchasing equipment and then sharing it between imc's that have 
relatively open national boarders, etc.

In my opinion, this imc-finance list is better suited to looking at a 
proposal once that discussion has already taken place and the ideas have 
been thrown around and then hashed out -- the tech list is a good place 
to start looking for those like-minded souls, there or on the irc's.

>
>
>Ps.  the India proposal might not have been submitted yet.
>(correct me if I'm wrong)
>
not yet (?) -- ciao
john