[Imc-finance] PROPOSAL G: Responses to concerns

[bht]

Dear IMC-finance,

Here are the answers to the questions that were asked by IMC-Uruguay and
IMC-Chiapas.  Portland-indymedia and Bolivia-indymedia contributed to this
response.  Bolivia added their names and a paragraph to explain anything
beyond how i'd answered the proposal.  I've included a translation, and
the spanish, in case my translation is not very good.

Bolivia-INDYmedia, held a collective meeting about this whole thing, and
this is all they were able to contribute...

Please take into consideration that Bolivia-indymedia is BUSY right
now!!!!  At this moment Bolivia is heading, yet again, into very radical
times....

BOLIVIA UPDATE: For the last month and a half, massive protests have been
taking place, becoming more frequent and more massive everyday.  Bolivian
cities, especially La Paz has seen a number of protests, streets and
avenues are periodically blockaded, and demonstrations are taking place at
all times of day or night.  In the countryside, campesinos have been able
to seal off some of the main routes that connect Bolivia's major cities.

Protestors are opposing the governments call for a referendum scheduled
for July 18th, a referendum that does not include the nationalization of
gas and oil reserves, something that 81% of the population of Bolivia is
demanding.  President Carlos Mesa has assured the World Bank, the IMF, and
transnational gas companies that Bolivia will respect contracts signed in
1997.  Contracts that will guarantee the consortium Pacific LNG, for a
minimum of 36 years -- 82% of the proceeds for exporting natural gas.

MEDIA ASPECT OF THIS PROPOSAL:   nothing more revolutionary than,
identifying that the Aymara are the collective-grass-roots force behind
the revolution.  the Aymara paid with blood for this revolution.  The
Aymara are on the front-lines just now.  They are the most excluded group
in Bolivia.  Giving them the opportunity to make media, learn computers,
and contribute the the global debate will be an honor for Global-imc, and
a definate contribution to the world, as we watch and give solidarity to
this nation in their struggle against neoliberalism.

PLEASE CONSIDER FUNDING THIS PROPOSAL !!!

solidarity, kim-from-portland

...............................................................................................................................................................
1-     The proposal isn't clear, we don't understand what relation is
among the proposal and the Indymedia network or the local collectives.

The computers are going to be installed in the zone of Villa Ingenio in El
Alto, in a parochial school where they will be used by the El Alto
indymedia collective.  This is where we have already been working for the
last three months, creating alternative media, collaboration between
Indymdedia La Paz and El Alto Collective.  In Warisata, they are going to
establish an IMC-Warisata, people with whom we have permanent contact
with, and they currently have no ability to create or distribute media. 
Indymedia La Paz is the collective that is in permanent contact with these
collectives and we are assisting them in this installation process and are
going to continue to help them, one the computers are installed.

Las computadoras serán instaladas en la zona de Villa Ingenio en El Alto,
en la escuela de la parroquia donde serán utilizadas por el colectivo de
indymedia de esa zona que ya viene trabajando tres meses talleres de
comunicación alternativa con indymedia La Paz. En Warisata se va a
establecer un IMC-Warisata con quienes se tiene contacto permanente y que
no tienen ningún medio de difusión actualmente. Indymedia La Paz es el
colectivo que permanentemente está en contacto con estos colectivos y que
acompañará el proceso de instalación y de acompañamiento cuando ya estén
funcionando.

2- What collective of Indymedia did the request?

Portland-Indymedia made the request, because we have been granted
free-computers to send to Bolivia.  The reason we set about finding
computers for Bolivia, is because we were in contact with them, and found
out about the great need for computers, to enable the locals, who are
radically excluded from all forms of participation with the Bolivian
society.

3- We think that the presence of computers does not assure the formation
of a indy group. It is not logical. If there are interested persons surely
voluntaries of Indymedia Bolivia can help with the process.

Volunteers from La Paz-Bolivia-Indymedia are in direct communication with
members of the Warisata community: Chalo Gosalvez and Claudia Espinoza and
Patricia Costas.  Warisata will form an Indymedia once they receive
computers with the help of La Paz-Bolivia-Indymedia.

4- Also, we don't understand the need to send a foreign technician when in
a local or regional level surely it's possible to obtain this technical
support.

Good point!!  We do not care who the technician is !!!  We do care that a
technician does commit to a minimum of four months.  Two months for each
site.  Six months would be better.  We want to teach many people how to
build and repair computers, and how to run a network and operate various
software.  This is extremely important.

We (portland-indy) asked for $600.00 to send a tech down to Bolivia. 
Bolivia-IMC will find a good technician who will want to be paid $600.00
for four months work or hopefully for six months work.



Regarding questions from Chiapas (that were not answered above):



> We would like some more detail as to whom and which
> IMC's in Bolivia will receive the computers.



Basically La Paz and El Alto, two IMC-Collectives in Bolivia will be using
the computers set up in El Alto.



La Paz-Bolivia-Indymedia will be assisting Warisata, an all indigenous
town, will be creating a new IMC.


> What are the specs on the computers?  We have a lot of
> experience here in Chiapas recieving obsolete or
> damaged equipment that has caused more headaches than
> what it is worth.
>
> A proposal came up here that perhaps some price
> comparisons could be made in Bolivia and Chile on
> computers with similar specs to see if there could be
> a more local recycling effort.



Good points.  We are aware of communities in Ecuador that now have
non-functioning computers, mainly because of power outages and lightning
strikes.  We have techs at Portland-IMC putting together a price list. 
Once we receive the money for this grant.  Bolivia-IMC will make the
decision about what equipment will be shipped from the U.S. and what
equipment will be bought in Bolivia.  This could reduce shipping costs
considerable, but potentially reduce the amount of computers that will be
available for use at the two sites.  We assume that a serious effort to
put our heads together will produce the best outcome.  With sustainability
of the project as the goal.



> We are also in agreement with IMC Uruguay in that we
> think that local IMC Bolivia techs should be used for
> installations instead of sending a foreign techie.
>



We agree too.  Good suggestion.   Again, we would like to be able to offer
this tech-south-american-technician $600.  for his services(travel
expenses).  The exact type of tech will depend on whether Bolivia wants to
use Free-software of Microsoft.

> Finally, we would like to hear the thoughts of
> IMC-Bolivia on the proposal.
>
----- Original Message -----

From: <silviopaez at riseup.net>
To: "Kim Alphandary" <kalphandary at earthlink.net>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 12:41 PM
Subject: Proposal

> Hola Kim:
>
> Nos parece que las respuestas están correctas y aumentamos lo que se
precisaba.
>
> Abrazos
> Chalo
>
>
> - The proposal isn't clear, we don't understand what relation is among
the proposal and the Indymedia network or the local collectives.
>
> Las computadoras serán instaladas en la zona de Villa Ingenio en El
Alto, en la escuela de la parroquia donde serán utilizadas por el
colectivo de indymedia de esa zona que ya viene trabajando tres meses
talleres de comunicación alternativa con indymedia La Paz. En Warisata
se va a establecer un IMC-Warisata con quienes se tiene contacto
permanente y que no tienen ningún medio de difusión actualmente.
Indymedia La Paz es el colectivo que permanentemente está en contacto
con estos colectivos y que acompañará el proceso de instalación y de
acompañamiento cuando ya estén funcionando.



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