[Imc-finance] Money from Ford Foundation? Lack of respect !!!

[Anna]

hi red kitten, hi all,

i'm sorry - i don't understand. where do you see the lack of respect? i 
think you want to say that it's not ok to tell others what to do? (i agree 
with that). but if it's EITHER respect for local autonomy OR democratic 
structures i don't understand what democratic structures are, i'm afraid. 
could take a little moment to explain what you mean?

thanks

Anna
indy.de

At 13:00 15.09.02 +0200, red kitten wrote:
>Hi.
>I didn't have time to read much about the "Ford Foundation finance affair" 
>but i'm already pissed off.
>Not because of that money or because of the decision of one or another IMC.
>
>I'm pissed off because i read mails which show a TOTAL lack of RESPECT and 
>CONFIDENCE.
>Some people are always theer to talk about 'grassroot democracy', 
>'autonomy and decentralization', etc, but as soon as they don't agree with 
>the decision made, this all become 'undemocratic'.
>
>Such discussion have already happenned during the last Europe IMC Meeting 
>(Jan. 2002 / Berlin), about finance and relationship with mainstream media 
>and/or journalists. IMCs have different experiences and are working in 
>different situations. Some talk to mainstream medias, other refuses, some 
>accept to work with activists or political groups, others don't, some get 
>money from funds other refuse it, etc... They choose their own way, 
>because ONLY THEM can judge the situation, see what can be positive for 
>them and what could endanger their practice.
>
>Plenty of things i've heard in Berlin aswell as things i read on mails 
>lately are PATERNALISTIC and AUTHORITARIAN. Weither you choose for 
>autonomy and RESPECT it, or you choose for a DEMOCRATIC global structure 
>that can decide everything.
>
>chEErz
>
>respect /// solidarity /// love2all [ ...and kill the bastards ]
>
>/// r e d . k i t t e n ///
>
>
>At 18:16 15-09-02 -0400, you wrote:
>>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
>>
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