[Imc-communication] Bomb Number Five, Salaam / global indymedia article / anti-war Movement

Thu Aug 10 17:10:06 PDT 2006

In this letter:
- "Bomb Number Five, Salaam", global indymedia article
- webservers
- global indy politics
- anti-war Movement in the US and EU

Dear Friends,

Raida's most recent article from Lebanon is now on the front page of our
  global indymedia (imc) website.

Sue S. wrote to the editorial group to arrange for it yesterday. It took
the group a long time to act on it (triple the allocated time period,
during which there was not a single comment, endorsement, or block). But
I'm thankful to report that a committed colleague from the UK imc with a
decisive initiative took care of it (thank you Chris!).

The article is here:
"Bomb Number Five, Salaam"
by Raida Hatoum
http://www.indymedia.org
and
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2006/08/844430.shtml

Even though the main servers (global indy and uk) will take most of the
weight this time, we should still expect the possibility of both
Cyprus indymedia servers being flooded with visitors again. I see that
the new disgusting actions of the Israeli invasion forces yesterday -
dropping leaflets to the population openly threatening military
operations in the heart of Beirut - are drawing world attention, and
probably more people to our websites.

I know that our articles are helping to build the anti-war
mobilizations. It's awful that part of it all that simply the disgust
that viewers and readers experience from the photos, instead of a higher
social, political, or spiritual consciousness organized into direct
action entities hammering against the system that generates and profits
from war, but that's reality today in the world. We are a global
community reduced to being Spectators; radical editors and organizers
need to adapt to that. Let's hope that other activists and community
organizers can take it from there, and help our people to return back
from the vegetative state and rediscover the joy and freedom of being
active human beings.

The present Gaza/Lebanon emergency is one of the weirdest, I believe,
tests for the Peace Movement in recent years. If nothing else, it's
helping to bring out into the forefront of awareness the organizations
and individuals who are genuinely committed to internationalist
solidarity, and not just posturing and posing as "revolutionaries".

The present paralysis of our global indymedia editorial group reflects
the domination of global imc by certain types of US and Western European
activists. Sorry to be so blunt when writing about this on public
forums, but we need to be honest about our organization's deficiencies.

IndyMedia belongs to the entire global Liberation Movement - in fact,
it's the nearest thing we have to an unofficial organ of expression -
and everything about it, especially our editorial and political
deficiencies, concern everyone in the Movement, all over the world.

It's no secret that right now, within the countries of the EU and the
US, the Peace/anti-war Movement is conflicted about what it's doing:
It has not yet thrown its full weight or committment into activities
against the slaughter of Lebanon and Palestine by the US and Israel.

The Peace Movement in those countries of the "advanced" Imperial West is
still trying to find its way. Demostrations against the US/Israeli war
are being initiated by exceptional "non-mainstream" Left and progressive
people, while in the few instances where the "official" Peace
organizations and the Left are participating, the mobilizations seem to
be lacking the spirit and determination exhibited against the invasions
and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Still, it's a good beginning and we need to do everything to support
them (including the offer of supportive criticism). Our prime support,
of course, must keep being directed toward helping Lebanon to continue
surviving and resisting.

Thank you all, for your help, your dedication and support,
Petros
_______

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