[Imc-communication] seeking thoughts about a conference

[Bradley Stuart]

Hi Jay and all,

I think there are certainly folks in our movement that will feel it  
is a bad idea to share information with people working for government  
intelligence.

Others will think it is a fine idea.

It brings to my mind some articles I want to share now.

My Adventure Presenting Animal Rights Philosophy to the FBI
author: Charlotte Laws
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/06/341029.shtml

vs.

Press Officer Turns Down FBI Offer to Speak at HQ in Quantico
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/342298.shtml

UPI states ALF press officer REFUSES to speak to FBI class
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/342348.shtml

Full text of FBI letter and ALF refusal to speak to class in Quantico
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/342351.shtml

good luck with whatever you do and thanks for mentioning it.

As for me, I'm with Jerry in regards to the FBI.

sincerely,
bradley

a volunteer with Santa Cruz IMC

* * * * *

On Aug 5, 2007, at 5:57 AM, Jay wrote:

> Hi Imc-Communication,
>
> This is Jay from IMC Philadelphia.  I'm writing to ask for thoughts
> about a conference at which I've been invited to speak.
>
> In early September in the U.S. there will be a conference called the
> Public Intelligence and Policy Summit
> (http://www.oss.net/extra/page/? 
> action=page_show&id=137&module_instance=4)
> sponsored by the Global Intelligence Partnership Network
> (http://www.oss.net/extra/tools/parser/index.cgi?url=/html/parse/ 
> index.html).
> The main organizer of this group and the conference is Robert Steele
> (http://www.oss.net/extra/news/?module_instance=1&id=2733), a
> self-described "intelligence evangelist" and previous member of the
> U.S. "intelligence community" who is claims to be trying to change
> the way governments and society consider "intelligence," transforming
> it into an open source system.  He is directly approaching those who
> gather "intelligence," whether they be non-governmental,
> governmental, military, law-enforcement or other entitites, and
> challenging them to change their ways.  I'm not sure I fully grasp
> his methods or ultimate goals, and I have a lot to learn, but it's
> definitely an unusual effort.
>
> Through some roundabout communication I was invited to speak to the
> conference, to introduce the concept of collective participatory
> information sharing, using Indymedia as an example.  I'm scheduled to
> give a half hour presentation, describing Indymedia in the most basic
> way, and I will be receiving an honorarium which I plan to donate to
> activist efforts in Philadelphia.  Even though formal public speaking
> takes me well outside my comfort zone, I do believe we should take
> advantage of most opportunities to talk frankly about the positive
> things Indymedia has accomplished, even (especially?) with those who
> find themselves diametrically opposed to our goals.
>
> The conference audience will be composed of a wide range of people
> interested in "collective intelligence," from progressive activists
> to law enforcement/military intelligence people who appear willing to
> entertain conversations about doing things differently.  I don't
> expect to change the mind of anyone in the "intelligence community"
> by my giving a basic talk about indymedia.  Though, introducing the
> kind of real intelligence we've building here does have the potential
> to be mind-opning.
>
> I'm writing to this list to invite anyone who's interested in
> "collective intelligence," especially anyone who's more familiar with
> the oss.net organization than I am, to let me know your thoughts,
> both about the conference and about  ways to represent Indymedia
> honestly and productively in a speech there.
>
> In solidarity,
> Jay
> P.S. Robert has suggested some of the conference will be broadcast on
> a U.S. cable TV network, albeit not the most popular one (C-SPAN --
> http://www.c-span.org/).  So, unfortunately, you may one day turn on
> the TV and see my smiling face.
>
>
>
>
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