[Imc-finance] Money from Ford Foundation????

[Ilias]

I was just reading my mails, and i saw the e-mail from IMC-Argentina 
about the Ford Foundation donation(?). Initially i thought that this is 
still a rumour, but then i checked the imc-finance mails. And what do i 
get? Not only is this thing a rumour, it seems to be in a very mature 
stage, and if i understood well (in on of sacha's mail) the deadline is 
September 15th. Like, today????

I don't want to cause a fight here, but this is UNACCEPTABLE. This is a 
matter of HUGE importance, and the individual imc's get to hear about 
it one day before it is settled? Why wasn't the issue put forward to 
imc-finance for translations and open discussion?

Again, excuse me if i my tone is a bit angry, but i feel (i hope that i 
am wrong, honestly) that the management of the issue has been totally 
undemocratic and unparticipatory so far. Anyone could understand that a 
donation from a foundation like this is something that affects the core 
of what Indymedia is: it's strategy, it's whole nature... and therefore 
a network-wide discussion is nessecary before even getting close to 
accepting or not the money.

The notion that some imc's are free to accept the money and some are 
free to reject it is totally false, since the money (as i understand) 
are supposed to be spent on NETWORK issues (organizing international 
meetings) and not the needs of a single, or a couple imc's. If the 
people involved proceed in accepting the money, whithout having a 
network-wide discussion first, we will have a very bad precedent for 
the democratic function of the network. And our relationships will be 
cast in doubt and disbelief..

To the bootom line: NO DEADLINES for the issue until we get it 
straight. The vast majority of indymedia people throughout the globe 
haven't even heard of this thing, and the facts must be brought forward 
by the people who know them. 

So someone has to bring forward the historic of the proposal and the 
proposal itself in detail. Then we must have translations in as many 
languages as possible and a local discussion should occur in each imc. 
And only then should we start discussing approving or rejecting it.
If this procedure does not take place, many imc's - imc athens 
included - will feel left out and alienated with the network.

Speaking for myself, i am totally against receiving the money. But this 
is another issue, the first priority is to understand and make public 
what is really going on..

In solidarity (and regrets if i have been too harsh)
 
-- Ilias