[New-imc] IMC BAGHDAD

[i-mad at riseup.net]

Hey all,

It is I-Mad from IMC Beirut.

P.S. I have sent this email to the process list as well, and it has been
held by the moderator.. I need some feedback urgently!

I am currently in Baghdad to help the Al Muajaha group set up there own
IMC. I have met with the group, and they are all excited and enthusiastic
about their paper which is technically doing fine.

Few problems I have noticed

•	Only three of those I met (totaling to 10) have heard of Indymedia before!
•	The paper that they issue, Al Muajaha, is sold for around half a dollar
to cover the print cost and pay for the rent of the office (which they are
not managing so far)
•	Their control over the website is practically non existent though they
advertise the webpage on their paper and through their print work. (though
Mike is working on giving them control)

>From what I noticed hanging out with them, they can be a great Indymedia
project. I talked to many of them about the project and they are all
excited now. We are meeting on Friday (tomorrow) to discuss Indymedia
extensively and go over the membership criteria and principles of unity.

I am writing to update you on the situation here since a lot of ambiguity
has been surrounding the issue!

I am in contact with Mike (who I believe is on this list as well) from IMC
Bristol to shift control to the group here. But I believe this should not
be done before few stuff are agreed upon

•	More people should be invited from Baghdad, the current group, though
very enthusiastic about the project, it is only diversity comes with the
age aspect (they range from 16 to 35)
•	None of the people involved are activists or currently involved with any
kind of struggle, let alone left issues. (though I believe people are
welcomed in Indymedia, yet activists are needed on board)
•	The first issues I saw from the print edition were good, covering most
of the violations committed by the Coalition occupation forces, but the
last one is just a typical corporate newspaper. It has a last page of
variety news (i.e. Ben Afleck and J Lo broke up) – only two of the
articles published are written by Al Muajaha staff, the rest are a
collection of news from various news agencies! - though they explained
that it was a mistake due to the school start and a hasty decision.

I am working with them on all the above, and they seem interested. Noting
that except for me they are all locals (the group amounts to 25 people,
and I am working with them to issue an invitation to more people from
various leftist groups and activist circles around the city)

Things here are not the usual circumstances, thus it is very hard to get
people together, especially with bombings and stuff. Add  to it most of
the people can afford transportation fees.

But after seeing what things are like here and the way the corporate media
is covering the news I believe an IMC Baghdad is highly needed! Things are
not what they seem like, and the group here has managed to reveal a lot of
the news that the Coalition forces are subjecting to media black out!

For any further inquiries please email me!

In-Solidarity
No Border No Nation No Occupation!
I-Mad!