[New-imc] RE: Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia

[jesse at bastardrecords.com]

Hi there!

This is salaud from Portland Indymedia (and the Web Radio project).  I
have never written to this list before, but this message that was
forwarded on to the portland list has caused me to respond to what I feel
is a critical issue to our networks.

I don't easily find a time when I think it is necessary to accuse someone
of wrong doing personally.  Many will attest to this.  But, for our safety
and function I must.

Petros is not operating in accordance with the principles of unity that we
have agreed to.  I and many others have witnesed first hand his
distructiveness.  He has put activists (indymedia and otherwise) in danger
in portland.  He has spread lies and used vindictive tactics to further
his agenda.  In short, he is NOT trustworthy at this point.

His agenda and vision is incredibly narrow.  His vision is that every
thing within an indymedia group should have a strict inflexible process
where every issue, meeting, action, etc. is subject to an entire group,
organization, etc. consensus.  If an indymedia group doesn't fit HIS model
(so much for democracy) he accuses it of being in need of "audit" or
"overhaul".  WTF? An "audit" or "overhaul" of a local group by some larger
group is so against the spirit of indymedia and locality that I don't even
know if his vision of the world is anywhere near ours.

I feel strongly that the most important principle that we hold is autonomy
in action.  That implies that every local group or instance of the
indymedia tactic, down most especially to the individual, should work
together as THEY have consented upon explicitly or implicitly. Portland
works on the basis of mutual trust and not process.  We use process when
it is absolutely necessary.  Most decisions and action are carried out by
individuals.  This makes us very effective.  My experience is that
portland imc is the most democratic thing I've ever been a part of. 
Everyone has the same power.  That is, the power to do what one wants to
on their own volition without interference.  When there is a need for
consensus, it is strictly respected as we are individuals using a tactic
and not a group or organization.  Portland indymedia model is working and
we all agree to it.

Petros comes from the outside of that working model, sees that it is not
HIS model, that he can't mold or change it into what he wants to accumlate
power, doesn't do any work on his own to engender trust, and proceeds to
attack those individuals in public.  My biggest fear is that he is, in
fact, on a mission to disrupt indymedia work.

Martha,
   You will not survive Petros' help.  He believes only in HIS version of
how a group should function.  If you don't conform, he will begin
attacking you as he has plainly done with portland and eugene.  These
attacks will start by trying to block your formation as an IMC, then if
he can't block it, come in the form of words spoken publicly and by
lying to people in your community about you or your group.

I have been one of the last hold-outs in portland IMC willing to work with
Petros.  I can no longer do that.

love=solidarity,
salaud

> Hello,
>
> I wanted to thank you, Jay and Bht, for contacting Martha
> Blake about the Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia project. I
> would like you to have a copy of a letter I sent to her on
> May 7th, about the same subject (copy below).
>
> It's obvious from my letter that while I'm offering to help
> out I'm also at the same time choosing to be guided by an
> awareness of the problems we face within IndyMedia, instead
> of wanting to push them under the carpet as we often seem to do.
>
> In particular, the severe problems with lack of democratic
> process which were reported and discussed here in our
> new-imc work group, regarding the Portland-imc and
> Eugene-imc groups, *must* guide us to forming this new
> alliance (our Archives contain a lot of materials on this
> subject for those unfamiliar with the issues.)
>
> A strategic assessment of our entire US West Coast situation
> has to be a part of this new relationship:
> We're still experiencing the terrible aftermath of the
> ongoing split between the San Fransisco imc groups; the
> Eugene and Portland groups seem to be still in strong need
> of an audit (if not a complete overhaul); it was reported
> that the Seattle imc recently went through a down-sizing.
>
> All of it put together says that we need to keep building
> our new imc groups on the "Left Coast" a lot more carefully,
> and with attention to democratic process, transparency, and
> a stronger committment to the politics of social change.
>
> I would like to be an ally in this process.
> Below is my letter to Martha. I'm also sending a copy of
> this to other imc activists in the region who I know are
> very concerned about what's happening within some indymedia
> groups and the direction they are taking.
>
> Looking forward to working with you on this project,
> Petros
> ----------------
>
>
> Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 11:18:52 -0700
> From: Petros Evdokas <petros at cyprus-org.net>
> To: "Martha P. Blake" <mb at gorgeweb.com>
> Subject: Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia
>
> Hello Martha,
>
> I'm a member of the new-imc work group. A letter from you
> from a few days ago, was forwarded  to the group (copy below).
>
> I'd like to offer my help. I can help in a number of small ways:
>
> - help you with suggestions on how to assemble a local imc
> group which will be in harmony with our general imc
> guidelines and policies,
>
> - help you avoid the pitfalls encountered by the Portland
> imc group (right near you) into which it has proudly plunged
> real deep,
>
> - help you with the process within the new-imc work group.
>
> If you're into a slow and steady rhythm of work towards
> actualizing the project, we can do this sanely and efficiently.
>
> IndyMedia is the unofficial organ of expression of a large
> section of the planet-wide resistance to the domination by
> corporate and authoritarian state power. We fulfill our
> mission by being committed to both radical politics and to
> free- journalism. If you feel comfortable with these
> politics to be guiding us, I'd be very happy to communicate
> further with you about the project.
>
> We are going to need more help to do this, both from other
> members of the imc-work group, and also from organizations
> and individuals in your area, who might eventually become
> supporters or members of your local indymedia.
>
> Things I can not help with:
>
> - most technical issues,
> - any lack of accountability or sense of responsibility by
> other imc participants (we have plenty of that, unfortunately).
>
> The bioregion you are in, a mighty big river in a land of
> volcanoes, with its particular environmental needs and
> economic concerns, is a perfect setting for high- quality
> imc projects. I am located about 2hrs drive west of you, and
> I'd like to be an ally.
>
> Please let me know how any of this sounds.
> Thanks,
> Petros
> http://petros-evdokas.cyprus-org.net/
> ------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> imc-portland-workerbees mailing list
> imc-portland-workerbees at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/imc-portland-workerbees
>

>
> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia
> From:    "Petros Evdokas" <petros at cyprus-org.net>
> Date:    Thu, May 13, 2004 11:02 am
> To:      "imc- new" <new-imc at lists.indymedia.org>
> Cc:      "Martha P. Blake" <mb at gorgeweb.com>
>          "bht" <criticalmasser at riseup.net>
>          "Jay" <jaypsand at yahoo.com>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
> I wanted to thank you, Jay and Bht, for contacting Martha
> Blake about the Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia project. I
> would like you to have a copy of a letter I sent to her on
> May 7th, about the same subject (copy below).
>
> It's obvious from my letter that while I'm offering to help
> out I'm also at the same time choosing to be guided by an
> awareness of the problems we face within IndyMedia, instead
> of wanting to push them under the carpet as we often seem to do.
>
> In particular, the severe problems with lack of democratic
> process which were reported and discussed here in our
> new-imc work group, regarding the Portland-imc and
> Eugene-imc groups, *must* guide us to forming this new
> alliance (our Archives contain a lot of materials on this
> subject for those unfamiliar with the issues.)
>
> A strategic assessment of our entire US West Coast situation
> has to be a part of this new relationship:
> We're still experiencing the terrible aftermath of the
> ongoing split between the San Fransisco imc groups; the
> Eugene and Portland groups seem to be still in strong need
> of an audit (if not a complete overhaul); it was reported
> that the Seattle imc recently went through a down-sizing.
>
> All of it put together says that we need to keep building
> our new imc groups on the "Left Coast" a lot more carefully,
> and with attention to democratic process, transparency, and
> a stronger committment to the politics of social change.
>
> I would like to be an ally in this process.
> Below is my letter to Martha. I'm also sending a copy of
> this to other imc activists in the region who I know are
> very concerned about what's happening within some indymedia
> groups and the direction they are taking.
>
> Looking forward to working with you on this project,
> Petros
> ----------------
>
>
> Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 11:18:52 -0700
> From: Petros Evdokas <petros at cyprus-org.net>
> To: "Martha P. Blake" <mb at gorgeweb.com>
> Subject: Columbia River Gorge IndyMedia
>
> Hello Martha,
>
> I'm a member of the new-imc work group. A letter from you
> from a few days ago, was forwarded  to the group (copy below).
>
> I'd like to offer my help. I can help in a number of small ways:
>
> - help you with suggestions on how to assemble a local imc
> group which will be in harmony with our general imc
> guidelines and policies,
>
> - help you avoid the pitfalls encountered by the Portland
> imc group (right near you) into which it has proudly plunged
> real deep,
>
> - help you with the process within the new-imc work group.
>
> If you're into a slow and steady rhythm of work towards
> actualizing the project, we can do this sanely and efficiently.
>
> IndyMedia is the unofficial organ of expression of a large
> section of the planet-wide resistance to the domination by
> corporate and authoritarian state power. We fulfill our
> mission by being committed to both radical politics and to
> free- journalism. If you feel comfortable with these
> politics to be guiding us, I'd be very happy to communicate
> further with you about the project.
>
> We are going to need more help to do this, both from other
> members of the imc-work group, and also from organizations
> and individuals in your area, who might eventually become
> supporters or members of your local indymedia.
>
> Things I can not help with:
>
> - most technical issues,
> - any lack of accountability or sense of responsibility by
> other imc participants (we have plenty of that, unfortunately).
>
> The bioregion you are in, a mighty big river in a land of
> volcanoes, with its particular environmental needs and
> economic concerns, is a perfect setting for high- quality
> imc projects. I am located about 2hrs drive west of you, and
> I'd like to be an ally.
>
> Please let me know how any of this sounds.
> Thanks,
> Petros
> http://petros-evdokas.cyprus-org.net/
> ------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> imc-portland-workerbees mailing list
> imc-portland-workerbees at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/imc-portland-workerbees
>