[Imc-finance] Bolivia Proposal RESPONSE to questions !!!

Tue Jun 29 10:50:13 PDT 2004

Hello, I'm sending this to you directly because possibly BHT has not been on line for the last two days ??? ....

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.... and for this reason, Portland-Indymedia has decided to offer their solidarity and become involved in getting assistance to Bolivia..

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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