[Imc-alternatives] Taking a back seat... again

[strypey at riseup.net]

Kia ora koutou

Great to hear about the imminent launch of the new Philly site and the progress
on converging the Indymedia CMS efforts. All of this bodes well for Indymedia as
a global network and the Alternatives project in particular.

It's been a surreal few months for me. 2 of our more active Aotearoa Indymedia
editors were among the 17 people arrested in dawn raids around the country,
which started on Oct 15. They were among the 12 the state attempted to charge
under the Terrorism Suppression Act, luckily this attempt failed and those
charges will not be laid. However, they are still among 16 of the 17 who face
charges under the Arms Act. They and their whānau (families) continue to endure
being at the centre of a massive propaganda campaign against activism, being
waged through the corporate media.

This issue consumed much of my available time and energy through the rest of
October and November, until our friends were finally released on bail. Just as
it looked like things were going to start getting back to normal, a family
emergency came up which is going to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks.
After all this I am going to need some time out, so I will be going to a rainbow
gathering, camping, tramping, hitching, spending some time with family and
friends, and mostly afk through Dec and Jan, and possibly Feb if I join the crew
walking from Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) to Waimangaroa (site of a planned open
cast coal mine) to campaign against fossil fuels:
http://www.walkingthewalk.org.nz/

Keep up all the great work you are doing everyone, have a great summer solstice,
and I will be back with you in the new year.

Ka kite ano
Strypes