[New-imc] Re: CAIRO IMC

[Jay]

Petros and all,

At 3/30/2003, boud wrote:
>hi petros,
>    IMHO, there is clear consensus that
>
>(1) new-imc will not propose IMC Cairo as an IMC without
>taking the time to go properly through the process.
>
>(2) it is OK to encourage a new group to make a web site
>quickly if they wish to, while at the same time reminding
>them that there is a process to go through.
>
>On Mon, 24 Mar 2003, Petros Evdokas wrote:
>
> > It would really be nice if our friends at the new-imc
> > working-group would ask to consult some activists from
> > the Eastern Mediterranean, or Middle Eastern region in
> > all these deliberations.
>
>During the time period that IMC Cairo goes through the
>full process, volunteers like you from East Medi/ West
>Asia will be quite welcome to build a political
>relationship with IMC Cairo people. IMHO you know this
>perfectly well.
>
>
> > It seems to be a recurring theme among us, doesn't it,
> > to just ignore politics and go for "spreading the
> > technology" crucade, far and wide? What happened to the
> > basic (instictual, for any activist) approach, of
> > building *political relationships* first, before
> > undertaking co-operation?
>
>Several people in Cairo have been building a political
>relationship via jay for about 12 months. jay has forwarded
>many of these emails to the list. For security reasons, their
>emails were kept secret until a few chose to make their
>addresses available a week ago. But you could have asked jay
>for building up contact if you wished to.
>
>There were some crossed emails due to sarai being down.
>
>Here's is jay's message:
>http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2003-March/003584.html
>which IMHO perfectly agrees with (1), (2), (2a) above.
>
>pozdrawiam
>boud

I've just happened to be the point person on the Cairo new-imc application 
because Ian, the primary organizer, sent an e-mail to the new-imc list over 
a year ago inquiring about the forming of a Cairo IMC and I wrote back.  We 
communicated a couple times over the year.  Several days ago Ian wrote to 
me saying the situation was really urgent, so I sent along the information 
to the new-imc list and have tried to act as an intermediary.

I do agree that I could have been more active in soliciting support from 
other IMCs in the region over the last few days.  This was/is an urgent 
situation, and the idea is to set up a temporary site to meet it.  All 
along we've all been saying that this is not a substitute for the intricate 
organizing that has to go on before a permanent Cairo IMC is established, 
both inside and outside of Cairo.

As for opportunities for IMCs in the region to show support, the Cairo IMC 
first contacted the new-imc list over a year ago, and there were lots of 
discussions at that time.  Since then, it's true, other IMCs in the region 
have formed.  I believe Ian and other members of the Cairo group have 
worked with members of the Palestine IMC in Palestine, though I don't know 
if they've met others from the Beirut group or ventured into Israel to meet 
with them.  I have received an e-mail from an active IMC-Israel organizer 
supporting the formation of the IMC Cairo (which he sent to me, though I'll 
ask him to send public support along to both them, and the new-imc working 
group).  Also, Petros, you are a contact for the Cyprus IMC, and blue has 
been acting as a contact for the IMC-Beirut.  Sounds like word is 
spreading.  I'll forward a note along to the imc-palestine saying that an 
IMC Cairo group is forming so they can make contact.

Jay