[Imc-communication] UCIMC Video Working Group Statement of Apology

[deva]

Thank you folks for the straight, unambiguous statement you have made 
here. It indicates for people that you understand the implications of 
the now infamous "statement"

Especially living here in the U.S. - the belly of the beast as it were, 
we all at times, in different ways, reflect the overarching arrogance 
of this country. Reading your words, I can see that you understand this 
and actively counter it in your own thinking.

I appreciate and respect the openness of your statement.

I think this is an opportunity to examine these things, and the 
relationship to money and how it colors the thinking.

Regards,
deva
portland imc contributor (and fellow videoista!)



On May 23, 2005, at 6:27 AM, Paul Riismandel wrote:

> This statement was written and consented to at an emergency meeting of
> the Urbana-Champaign Video Working Group last night, Sunday, May 22,
> 2005.
>
> We regret that it is written in English only at this moment. We are
> working on translations to other languages.
>
> May 22, 2005
>
> We, the listed members of the UCIMC Video Working Group, consent to
> the following statement of apology regarding the recent statement made
> by Sascha Meinrath at a press conference announcing the purchase of
> the UCIMC's new building:
> "There's [sic] over 150 Independent Media Centers in 50 plus countries
> worldwide. And this IMC here in Urbana-Champaign is the umbrella under
> which the entire global network operates. We are in essence the global
> headquarters for the Indymedia movement, here in Urbana."
>
> We can speak only for ourselves.
>
> We did not write or give prior consent to this statement made by Mr.
> Meinrath (hereafter, referred to as just "the statement"). However we
> accept our collective responsibility for it having been said and
> communicated, and believe it is our responsibility to respond and
> repudiate that statement.
>
> We feel the need to stand up specifically on this issue in solidarity
> with other IMC volunteers nationally and internationally. We have
> worked in solidarity with other IMCs and IMC activists around the
> world in the past.   We intend to work to repair the trust that may
> have been betrayed by this statement so that we may be able to work in
> solidarity once again.  We take seriously the concerns of our fellow
> IMC volunteers and their criticisms of the statements and actions of
> the UCIMC.
> 	
> We stand by the UCIMC reporter who documented the statement, in that
> the statement was actually said, and his reporting of that quote was
> accurate. We offer no excuses for the statement, regardless of the
> context in which it was made.
>
> We disagree fundamentally with the statement, and do not believe that
> it is true in reality or in effect.
>
> We apologize for this statement made at the press conference.
>
> We do not want to view the UCIMC as the headquarters of the Indymedia
> network, nor do we wish it actually to be the headquarters of the
> network. We do not believe the UCIMC deserves to be headquarters of
> the Indymedia network, and nothing justifies or merits the belief or
> appearance that we are. We do not believe UCIMC can or should be the
> headquarters of the network.
>
> We are very sorry that the statement was made, and that no immediate
> correction to or retraction of the statement was made. We apologize
> for the impression that it has made to the world that the members of
> the UCIMC collective believe ourselves to be the headquarters of the
> Indymedia network. Further, we take responsibility for having allowed
> the statement to be made and not immediately corrected.
>
> We recognize that this statement has caused outrage and sparked
> distrust of UCIMC in the Indymedia network. We are making this
> statement out of respect for this. We wish to thank the IMC volunteers
> from around the world who sent email directly to the UCIMC's email
> list and therefore made it clear to the UCIMC collective, as a whole,
> the impact the statement had, and the damage it has caused.
>
> We are especially concerned about the impression this statement made
> to IMC volunteers working outside of the US.
>
> We recognize that the UCIMC enjoys tremendous privilege as a result of
> the resources and support given by our local community. We also
> recognize that this privilege stems from the immense and
> disproportionate wealth that we have in the US that results from the
> oppressive military and economic policies of our government.  That
> privilege does not equal merit of any kind.  It does not mean that the
> UCIMC has or should have any position in the global IMC network except
> as just another IMC.
>
> We especially regret that the idea that the UCIMC is the headquarters
> of the global Indymedia network evokes US imperialism and hegemony.
>
> We believe that most UCIMC members do not know the details of the
> UCIMC's financial relationship with other organizations and IMCs. We
> are responsible for our own ignorance.
>
> An ad hoc group of UCIMC members is now documenting all aspects of the
> UCIMC's financial relationships, which it is scheduled to have
> finished by June 2, 2005. We expect that this documentation will be
> complete, transparent, and published to the world.
>
> We also believe that most UCIMC members are ignorant about the global
> IMC movement. By and large we do not know how IMCs from around the
> world interact and how decisions of global importance are made.
>
> We, the UCIMC Video Working Group, will work to better inform
> ourselves, and our fellow UCIMC members, about other IMCs and the
> global IMC network. We will join global working groups and encourage
> other UCIMC members to do so.
>
> Finally, we reiterate our apologies to all Indymedia activists,
> contributors and volunteers around the world for our ignorance of
> global issues and our inaction, which led to this statement being made
> and standing uncorrected and unaddressed for more than two weeks.
> Again, we thank IMC volunteers from around the world for contacting
> UCIMC directly to alert us to the impact, effect and damage this
> statement, and the UCIMC's lack of action has caused.
>
> We wish to stand in solidarity with Indymedia activists around the
> world. We regret the damage the has been done to the trust between
> UCIMC and other IMCs,  and we pledge to work to repair that damage
> however we can.
>
> Signed,
> Paul Riismandel, Dave Powers, Dave Berliner, Randall Cotton, Bob
> Illyes, Colleen Cook
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