[Imc-finance] Athens Indymedia on the TMF and network funding in general
Ilias
ilias at anti2004.net
Tue Feb 11 10:18:03 2003
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Athens Indymedia on the TMF and network funding in general.
In response to the grant request made by the TMF to Soros' Open Society =
Institute (OSI) and following the letter that our Argentinean brothers =
and sisters have already released on the issue, us, the people of IMC =
Athens would like to say that we totally agree with the points and views =
expressed in the aforementioned e-mail of Argentina IMC. What is more, =
their message was one extremely strong proof of the strong solidarity =
links that exist within our network.=20
We realize that issues such as the grant request of the TMF to Soros =
(and the similar case with the Ford Foundation not a long time ago) do =
actually put these links into great danger. What we have also realized =
though is that the continuous expansion of our network as well as the =
wide gap between the economic resources between the IMC's of the global =
North and South do indeed make the matter of the network's funding a top =
priority issue. Therefore we have come up with some first proposals and =
ideas that will hopefully fire up the discussion around this so =
important issue.=20
Before actually proceeding to our proposals though, we state that we =
also endorse the thoughts of SF Indymedia collective on the TMF =
procedures and the effect the Open Society Grant will have on Indymedia.
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2003-January/001724=
.html
We were very troubled to learn all these details, which once again =
(likewise with the Ford Foundation grand) were not transparently and =
on-time presented to the Indymedia community. We have some questions =
that we would like to be clarified by the TMF. How and why does the TMF =
think that it can actually proceed to such actions, that clearly affect =
the whole network and still claim that it's not doing it in Indymedia's =
name? And is it not at least problematic to ask funding in the name of =
specific IMC's (like Argentina) without asking their opinion first? We =
are both inpatient and curious to read the TMF's response to these =
critics and hope that no similar incidents will take place in the =
future.
On the other hand, TMF requests funding for projects that are crucial =
and central to the evolution , not only of the Indymedia network, but =
the core itshelf of the way Indymedia works. The Open Editing proposal =
is one that would radically change the Indymedia concept. We do not =
argue on the proposal itshelf, but on the way that a handful of people =
ask for funding for something that - to our knowledge - has not be put =
into network wide discussion. The same goes for the internal =
communication system that money has been asked for from Soros. Whereas =
you declare that TMF does not ask money in the "name"of Indymedia, the =
"autonomous" projects you ask money for will have great effects (we =
don't examine here if they are positive or not) on the Network, and =
therefore should be dealt with in a much more collective way.=20
We do not doubt that the actions of TMF's people are driven by their =
good will to help the network and their anxiety to see it functioning =
better. However, acting on their own in this manner, ignoring the =
opinions of the majority of the Indymedia communities, is undermining =
unity in the network and the effort to create network-wide collective =
structures. We do not want the present issue to sparkle further =
divisions and misunderstanding, on the contrary we see it as an =
opportunity to start creating alternatives to the fund-raising scheme =
presented by TMF. We have concluded to some proposals, regarding a =
funding of the indymedia network that will be participatory rather than =
lying upon institutions such as OSI or Ford.=20
Our proposals (which are basically the proposals of Ilias, sent to IMC =
finance about a month ago, sorry for those of you who will read them =
twice :-)=20
1. To insert the notion of the "Indymedia supporter"
Instead of depending on large amounts of money from big donors or =
institutions, why don't we ask for very little from the many? It is very =
easy to open an account in paypal (or another less "capitalistic" =
service) and receive recurring donations or else "subscriptions" from =
the people using Indymedia (and the Indymedia community) and wanting to =
help. With a very small monthly donation ( let's say 2-3$) from a lot of =
people, this sums up to a substantial and continuous fund for =
imc-finance to disperse. The insertion of this feature should be widely =
publicized through front page features in IMC-global as well as the =
"Global North" IMCs as well.
2. An annual network-wide indymedia fundraiser
Once a year, the IMCs of the Global North could launch a fundraising =
campaign to support the global fund. This could be by organizing events =
(concerts, parties, screenings etc) or asking for really low-value =
donations from as many people as possible. We believe that if this would =
happen pretty much simultaneously and as a common IMC effort, it could =
be pretty successful in financial terms as well as terms of building =
unity and solidarity links within the network (as we would be working =
for another common goal).
3. Specific network-wide or individual IMC's fundraisers
Finally there could be specific initiatives for supporting single =
projects, organized by the network of IMC's, groups of IMC's, or even =
individual ones. To bring an example: during the days of protests in =
Argentina and worldwide this December (at the "anniversary" of 1 year =
from the Argentinazo) IMC-Athens hold a fund raiser to support =
IMC-Argentina, using the following method: we subtitled an IMC video on =
Argentina, copied it in CD's and distributed it for 5 euros during a =
public screening of the video, as well as in other occasions. This way =
we managed to raise some 450$ and wire them to IMC-Argentina. If this =
could have been organized by some other IMC's as well, the 2.800 $ given =
by the global fund today to IMC-Argentina, could have been covered that =
way...
There are many other practical ways that we could come up with, but the =
idea is the same: grassroots fund-raising, very few money by each =
"donor" but with the idea that we are all donors, coordination and =
decision-making through the collective procedures of IMC-Finance. In =
this way we shall be able to avoid having any kind of links with =
institutions, corporations, States and the rest of the establishment. We =
need to make this clear: we do not wish to have anything to do with =
them.=20
Finally, we urge all IMC collectives to take a stance on these issues, =
which we apprehend as tremendously important and crucial to the =
evolution of the Indymedia project.
In Solidarity to all,
The IMC-Athens collective
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"> </FONT>
<P align=3Dcenter style=3D"TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Athens Indymedia =
on the TMF=20
and network funding in general.</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><?xml:namespace =
prefix =3D o=20
ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> In response =
to the=20
grant request made by the TMF to Soros' Open Society Institute (OSI) and =
following the letter that our Argentinean brothers and sisters have =
already=20
released on the issue, us, the people of IMC Athens would like to say =
that we=20
totally agree with the points and views expressed in the aforementioned =
e-mail=20
of Argentina IMC. What is more, their message was one extremely strong =
proof of=20
the strong solidarity links that exist within our network.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">We realize that =
issues such=20
as the grant request of the TMF to Soros (and the similar case with the =
Ford=20
Foundation not a long time ago) do actually put these links into great =
danger.=20
What we have also realized though is that the continuous expansion of =
our=20
network as well as the wide gap between the economic resources between =
the IMC's=20
of the global North and South do indeed make the matter of the network's =
funding=20
a top priority issue. Therefore we have come up with some first =
proposals and=20
ideas that will hopefully fire up the discussion around this so =
important issue.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Before actually =
proceeding=20
to our proposals though, we state that we also endorse the thoughts of =
SF=20
Indymedia collective on the TMF procedures and the effect the Open =
Society Grant=20
will have on Indymedia.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: =
10.0pt">http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-finance/2003-Januar=
y/001724.html<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">We were very =
troubled to=20
learn all these details, which once again (likewise with the Ford =
Foundation=20
grand) were not transparently and on-time presented to the Indymedia =
community.=20
We have some questions that we would like to be clarified by the TMF. =
How and=20
why does the TMF think that it can actually proceed to such =
actions,<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that clearly affect the whole =
network=20
and still claim that it’s not doing it in Indymedia’s name? =
And is it not at=20
least problematic to ask funding in the name of specific =
IMC’s<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(like Argentina) without =
asking their=20
opinion first? We are both inpatient and curious to read the TMF's =
response to=20
these critics and hope that no similar incidents will take place in the=20
future.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">On the other hand, =
TMF=20
requests funding for projects that are crucial and central to the =
evolution ,=20
not only of the Indymedia network, but the core itshelf of the way =
Indymedia=20
works. The Open Editing proposal is one that would radically change the=20
Indymedia concept. We do not argue on the proposal itshelf, but on the =
way that=20
a handful of people ask for funding for something that – to our =
knowledge – has=20
not be put into network wide discussion. The same goes for the internal=20
communication system that money has been asked for from Soros. Whereas =
you=20
declare that TMF does not ask money in the “name”of =
Indymedia, the “autonomous”=20
projects you ask money for will have great effects (we don’t =
examine here if=20
they are positive or not) on the Network, and therefore should be dealt =
with in=20
a much more collective way. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">We do not doubt =
that the=20
actions of TMF’s people are driven by their good will to help the =
network and=20
their anxiety to see it functioning better. However, acting on their own =
in this=20
manner, ignoring the opinions of the majority of the Indymedia =
communities, is=20
undermining unity in the network and the effort to create network-wide=20
collective structures. We do not want the present issue to sparkle =
further=20
divisions and misunderstanding, on the contrary we see it as an =
opportunity to=20
start creating alternatives to the fund-raising scheme presented by TMF. =
We have=20
concluded to some proposals, regarding a funding of the indymedia =
network that=20
will be participatory rather than lying upon institutions such as OSI or =
Ford.=20
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Our proposals =
(which are=20
basically the proposals of Ilias, sent to IMC finance about a month ago, =
sorry=20
for those of you who will read them twice :-) =
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">1</SPAN></B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">. <B>To insert the =
notion of=20
the "Indymedia supporter"<o:p></o:p></B></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Instead of =
depending on=20
large amounts of money from big donors or institutions, why don't we ask =
for=20
very little from the many? It is very easy to open an account in paypal =
(or=20
another less "capitalistic" service) and receive recurring donations or =
else=20
"subscriptions" from the people using Indymedia (and the Indymedia =
community)=20
and wanting to help. With a very small monthly donation ( let's say =
2-3$) from a=20
lot of people, this sums up to a substantial and continuous fund for =
imc-finance=20
to disperse. The insertion of this feature should be widely publicized =
through=20
front page features in IMC-global as well as the "Global North" IMCs as=20
well.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">2. An annual =
network-wide=20
indymedia fundraiser<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Once a year, the =
IMCs of the=20
Global North could launch a fundraising campaign to support the global =
fund.=20
This could be by organizing events (concerts, parties, screenings etc) =
or asking=20
for really low-value donations from as many people as possible. We =
believe that=20
if this would happen pretty much simultaneously and as a common IMC =
effort, it=20
could be pretty successful in financial terms as well as terms of =
building unity=20
and solidarity links within the network (as we would be working for =
another=20
common goal).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">3. Specific =
network-wide or=20
individual IMC's fundraisers<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Finally there =
could be=20
specific initiatives for supporting single projects, organized by the =
network of=20
IMC's, groups of IMC's, or even individual ones. To bring an example: =
during the=20
days of protests in Argentina and worldwide this December (at the =
"anniversary"=20
of 1 year from the Argentinazo) IMC-Athens hold a fund raiser to support =
IMC-Argentina, using the following method: we subtitled an IMC video on=20
Argentina, copied it in CD's and distributed it for 5 euros during a =
public=20
screening of the video, as well as in other occasions. This way we =
managed to=20
raise some 450$ and wire them to IMC-Argentina. If this could have been=20
organized by some other IMC's as well, the 2.800 $ given by the global =
fund=20
today to IMC-Argentina, could have been covered that=20
way...<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">There are many =
other=20
practical ways that we could come up with, but the idea is the same: =
grassroots=20
fund-raising, very few money by each "donor" but with the idea that =
<B>we are=20
all donors</B>, coordination and decision-making through the collective=20
procedures of IMC-Finance. In this way we shall be able to avoid having =
<B>any=20
</B>kind of links with institutions, corporations, States and the rest =
of the=20
establishment. We need to make this clear: we do not wish to have =
anything to do=20
with them. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Finally, we urge =
all IMC=20
collectives to take a stance on these issues, which we apprehend as =
tremendously=20
important and crucial to the evolution of the Indymedia=20
project.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">In Solidarity to=20
all,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; =
mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">The=20
IMC-Athens collective</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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