[Imc-finance] IMC West-Vlaanderen on Imc-Finance and TMF - english.

[evan@protest.net]

let me first aplogise for replying to this email. I'm not a liason and for
that reason have kept quite at many times when i would have liked to
contribute.

On Wed, 5 Feb 2003, PseudoPunk wrote:

> - - Imc-finance can only accept money 'no strings attached'

What does 'no strings attached' mean? I know this sounds like a stupid
question, but it is real. We have a very hyprocrtical attitude toward
money. On one hand we say we only want money with no strings. Then on the
other hand we have put a lot of effort in to forcing donars to have
strings. We have told them they must specify which project they want to
support. Do you now mean we can not accept money for specific projects?
Because to me, saying you must use this money for x project, is a string
attached to that money, and it is ok.

> - -  TMF, and other funds are allowed to do fundraising but without
> mentioning indymedia. If they get money, they can donate it to indymedia
>  'no strings attached'

Again this is a major change to the way fundraising has been done. To
force all fundraising through imc-finance, refuse to allow project
fundraising, and to refuse to allow people to mention the name indymedia
effectivly says money can not be raised.

An example. After the FTAA summit in Quito there was a bus accident where
one activist was killed and several others seriously injured. Indymedia
Ecuador helped organized and put their name on a NON indymedia effort to
raise money for these activists. They money had the very clear string that
it was for these activists, for their hospital expenses and to send
Sherley's body back to her family in Bolivia.

Another example is there are many groups who collaborate with indymedia
during a covergence or on other ongoing projects. In Uruguay there is a
collaboration between Ecos, the communiy radio network, and indymedia on a
number of projects including running a media center during protests, the
ecos website, etc... Are you saying that if Ecos wanted to apply for a
grant they must lie and not mention their ongoing projects and
collaboration with indymedia? The same could be said for Freespeech TV,
Deepdish TV, Paper Tiger, and dozens of other groups who have formed the
backbone of indymedia over the years.

My point is that you are coming to consensus on things because you want to
protect against what you see as abuse. I agree we should have standards.
But let's make them realistic standards which are in line with the
practicies which have been incredibly sucessful at growing and sustaining
the indymedia over the past three years.

> - - Imc Finance can only accept money where we know and accept where it
> comes from

If you are saying that only imc-finance can accept money then by this
statement you are in effect calling for a complete restructuring of
indymedia.

If you are just saying that imc finance can no longer accept anonymous
donations then please state it clearly so we can understand. On the other
hand if you are just saying we accept money from who we choose to accept
money from then it is hardly worth mentioning.

I have come to realize that there exists a huge gap between the way most
indymedia activists think we deal with money and with the historical
reality of how we actually HAVE dealt with money. It is a shame. Until we
can address the issue of people knowing the history and practices then
attempts at reform will either be ignored or very distruptive to the life
of the thing we call indymedia..

in solidarity,
evan