[New-imc] Online form: Proposed new IMC! (bulgaria)

[val at truefire.com]

Submitted by: Val Todorov <val at truefire.com> on Tuesday, June 17th, 2003 @ 1:49:40 am (-0700)

Client Variables
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HTTP_USER_AGENT:
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.0.3705)

Online Form Fields
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imc_name:
bulgaria

city:
Sofia

state:


country:
Bulgaria

contact_name:
Val Todorov

contact_email:
val at truefire.com

contact_phone:
727-507-8538

tech_name:
Val Todorov

tech_email:
val at truefire.com

tech_phone:
727-507-8538

supporting_groups:


issue_focus:
yes

critical_dates:


resources:
I\'m a professional web developer since 1996, working in the Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP paradigm. I can personally contribute tech expertise, time, effort and possibly host the site bulgaria.indymedia.org, or alternatively pay a minimal fee to host the site at a third-party provider.

outreach:
I\'m a Bulgarian living mostly in the USA in the last 12 years but with close connections with my fellow Bulgarian peace and anti-corporate globalization activists. I\'m currently in Sofia, Bulgaria and took the opportunity to gather a group of very enthusiastic young (and not so young :-) Bulgarians who not only recognize the need but really strive to find (and if necessary build) an alternative source of media coverage which is lacking in the current national media space, totally dominated by the neoliberal doctrines. Most of the people involved now are at the core of the progressive Club for Prognostics and Sci-Fi at the Youth Center, Sofia, Bulgaria. Atanas Slavov is a leading individual there. Also, there\'s a group of independent translators and peace activists, represented by Blagovesta Doncheva who just joined us. I\'m sure that after the site starts functioning many other activists and progressive people will join and actively participate. Bulgaria is a small countr!
y and the need for such alternative outlet is in the air. 

introductory_statement:
The initial goal is a two-way exchange of alternative issue information, news and coordination of events. I read the mission statement of the Russian russia.indymedia.org and I would say that we\'d like to have a 95% similar approach: the emphasis will be on translating and distributing of international independent news and issue articles (English > Bulgarian); as well translating and producing local coverage, globally accessible (Bulgarian > English). The sense of connection and belonging to the global progressive processes is a very important long-term goal. At this point, the neoliberal mantra of T.I.N.A. (There Is No Alternative) to the destructive processes of the corporate globalization is virtually not challenged and overwhelmingly dominating the media and the popular consciousness in this poor Balkan country, which was turned into a wasteland of the IMF and WB with the neoliberal \"assistance\" of the Western \"experts\". We\'d like to change this.