[New-imc] Themes and such

[torstein]

Dana, Arc, everyone,
I think this was a brilliant wording of what I tried to say, and I
believe also of Arc's reply. Thank you, Dana!

Because this discussion started here in new-imc, I believe it should
continue here, at least untill the case is settled for the suggested
"housing IMC". The reason for this is that moving the discussion to
the syndication list prematurely implies that a decision has been
made to use syndication instead of making a new IMC like "climate IMC".

So let's have a principled discussion here, not just about housing,
but also about other "subject IMCs". Let's think ahead on this, for
a while, and then when a decision has been made, split the discussion
up into propriate aspects & lists (tech, syndication, editorial etc).

My 0.02 norwegian kroner.. ;)
torstein of indymedia.no


Dana Williams wrote:
> Everyone,
> 
> I definitely like the idea of expanding into specific topics, and like Chuck0,
> think there are good reasons to do it. But, someone suggested something else
> yesterday that sounded even easier (at least first).
> 
> I think it was Arc, who brought up creating special sections for the Global IMC,
> not unlike how local IMC sometimes have special sections. Since Global is a
> "wire" for all the independent IMC, it's sort of a syndication service. Having
> specific sections for the Global IMC wouldn't be all that unlike have a paper
> with Nat'l/Int'l, Regional/Local, Sports, Culture, Entertainment, Opinion,
> Business/Labor, and etc. sections, right?
> 
> Local IMC's could forward all the topic-specific stories about things to the
> individual sections, like the "Housing Editor for Global". This would avoid the
> need for a new collective to form (which would prevent f2f nearly always), but
> would allow people interested in a topic to search it out. All interested in
> housing would goto the subsection on the Global page, and this would be a useful
> tool for doing what Chuck was aiming for: people finding out about how others
> are handling similar situations in geographically diverse areas. And it seems
> like something that could be handled in the same sort of way that the Global
> newswire works now, too.
> 
> Since things like "housing", "forests", "police", and, yes, even "climate", are
> topics that affect people nearly everywhere on the planet, it seems vital to
> allow people to exchange alternative information. But, creating a new collective
> to deal with this doesn't seem to be a task that IMCs are easily suited for.
> IMCs are predominantly for exchanging information-- not necessarily organizing
> or social activism. Yes, they can be used for that, but the DC Indymedia can
> only do so much before needing another group, like Homes Not Jails. So, why not
> use the Internet for what it's good for-- exchange information. I'd imagine that
> after awhile, a Housing subsection at Global IMC would attract enough interest
> and activism, that it would accomplish the same as a new collective. Maybe?
> 
> Just my $0.02 (sorry for not making change for my non-English speaking friends).
> 
> Peace,
> Dana

-- 
"Efficient and enduring terrorization can be achieved only either
by capital punishment or by measures to keep the relatives of the
criminal and the population in the dark as to the fate of the crimi-
nal. This aim is achieved by transferring the criminal to Germany
... The prisoners are, in future, to be transported to Germany
secretly, and further treatment of the offenders will take place
here; these measures will have a deterrent effect because:

A. The prisoner will vanish without a trace.

B. No information may be given as to their whereabouts or their fate."

(Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel in a communication on
the Nacht und Nebel-decree, issued December 7, 1941)