[Imc-g8-2005] Updated Convergence Static Page

[Planet Mail]

Hi,

the independent media convergence static page text has been updated - text 
below.

the mail archive urls have been replaced with some up to date explanatory 
paragraphs - think this is a clearer way of communicating the issues, tasks 
and needs, and the lists are referenced after each para including adding in 
the tech and video lists. have been working on some wider call type texts 
and so used some of that here.

beyong the convergence page, there's also a need to set up more static info 
pages - maybe after the convergence - for useful info re g8, esp if the 
wiki is going to be kept for more core imc organising - there's always been 
a tension between organising wikis and the 'public / outreach' info that 
people want to communicate - so dumping more confirmed concrete stuff to a 
static page is a good idea.

also need to develop a wishlist... fast :)

ciao,
dave

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G8 Media Convergence, London, M14/15

On 14-15 May, in preparation for the 2005 Group of 8 (G8) industrial 
nations summit, Indymedia UK together with the Institute For Autonomy will 
host an independent and alternative media convergence in London. The 
convergence will provide a space for media activists and independent 
journalists to meet each other and plan coverage of the summit and the 
demonstrations which will accompany it.

	From 1-9 July 2005, the leaders of the Group of 8 (G8) industrialized 
nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States), will hold a summit meeting in a remote location in 
Scotland to make decisions about major political and economic issues.  The 
decisions of these eight men and their corporate advisors will literally 
decide the fates of nations. The corporate media will explain to us that 
these men stand for peace, democracy, and human rights.

	At the same time, the multitudes of the global movements will converge in 
Scottish towns and hills to build networks of resistance for humanity and 
against neoliberalism. They will confront the world leaders with positive 
concepts on political and economic issues. They will be connected through 
encounters in real space and the internet, reports from the streets will 
evoke once more the vision that “another world is possible”.

	You are invited! A registration form for the media convergence is here.

	A video invitation is available from http://video.indymedia.org.

Update 16 April 2005
Although this event has been initiated by Indymedia UK, we are hoping that 
it will end up being a place where many different people can meet and begin 
to work together.  We invite participation from all groups and individuals 
who consider themselves part of the independent, non-partisan, 
non-corporate media.

A special invite goes out to people who want to participate in independent 
media but have not yet known how to do so - we don't have the resources to 
train anyone, but we do believe that most people can "be the media", and if 
you can work cooperatively with other people we are confident that you will 
find a way to contribute.  We need your help if the summit coverage is to 
be successful.

We firmly believe that the independent media coverage for this event needs 
to be self-organized.  Indymedia UK does not have the resources or desire 
to have any sort of corporate-style management structures, assigment of 
tasks, etc. So, if you think something needs to be done, you need to get 
involved to make it happen.    If you don't know where to start, just ask 
someone for help on the email list.

If you want to help organize the convergence or the summit coverage, the 
easiest way to get involved is to join the imc-g8-2005 email list. If 
you're interested in participating but can't make the convergence event 
then we want to hear from you - get in touch.

There is also a more private non-publicaly archived email contact:
imc-g8-2005-contact atnospam lists.indymedia.org

As well as a newly set up low traffic one way information announce list, 
where you can be kept up to date with the most important developments.

--------IMC G8 2005 GRAPHIC ADDED

Here are a few of the areas that people are working on - all need 
participation if they are to fulfill their potential - get in touch if you 
want to participate:

Independent Media Centres
There will be a main IMC located in Central Edinburgh to facilitate 
reporting and support media activists. Open several days before the G8 
protests there will be time allocated for training and co-ordination 
meetings. Indymedia is committed to trying to make the IMC a welcoming 
place where peope with little experience of media activism can plug in, 
join street media teams, and get started in the empowering process of 
making our own media. People are needed to help run the centre and to 
provide training, kit needs to be sourced, set up, and run over a full week 
of protests. Space should also be available for video and audio projects.

Various groups are also collaborating to set up a smaller Independent Media 
Centre in Glasgow. There are also plans for other media access points 
closer to Gleneagles where the G8 Summit will be held, but help is needed - 
come to the convergence or contact the imc-g8-2005 list.

Film plans and Video Team coordination
Film makers and groups are already working on G8 2005 Films such as the 
Camcorder Guerillas and SchNEWS, doing pre-interviews, following the 
preparations, and working out how to share content. During the G8 there is 
a need for teams of video volunteers with cameras to cover the various 
events and protests - are you planning on bringing a video camera to the 
G8? There will be some co-ordination of coverage, training for getting 
footage online quickly, film screenings and more. Interested? Can you help? 
Come to the convergence or contact the imc-uk-video list or the imc-g8-2005 
list.

Photo Team + Picture Desk
In the same way that video teams can be co-ordinated, some co-ordination of 
photo teams is also planned. While nowerdays almost everyone seems to have 
a camera, most often those pictures don't see the light of day and remain 
unpublished. The photo teams can co-ordinate coverage to ensure that 
pictures get online quickly and are archived in a meaningful way. That also 
means having facilities specially set up to deal with photos at the Media 
centres and at forward media access points as close as possible to where 
events are occuring. Anyone with a camera can participate, but people with 
more experience are also needed. People with cameras often also need some 
legal and paractical advice for shooting on the streets - Indymedia aims to 
distribute a short set of advice guidelines and run a training session 
before the protests. Interested? Contact the imc-g8-2005 list.

Audio Teams + Radio - broadcast and internet streaming
Volunteer audio reporters are needed to provide audio coverage of the 
protests, actions and counter conferences - Recording, interviewing, 
editing and uploading audio reports. Several groups are also interested in 
producing streaming radio coverage as well as producing audio programmes 
for broadcast on communty stations around the world. Can you help? Come to 
the convergence or contact the imc-g8-2005 list.

Mobile Media Centres
Because of the distances between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Gleneagles (where 
the Summit will be held), it's clear that having Mobile Media Centres would 
be of significant benefit. There is already a Satellite truck earmarked for 
this purpose but more vehicels are needed. Do you have a vehicle such as a 
suitable van that could be donated? or are you already planning on bringing 
some sort of media vehicle? Are you interested in participating to create a 
mobile internet cafe? Come to the convergence or contact the imc-g8-2005 list.

Tech
There's an urgent need for wide variety of tech kit to enable the multiple 
media centres and mobile vehicles. Do You have access to batches of similar 
spec computers or contacts that could be useful in sourcing tech kit? Do 
you have access to anything else that could be useful? Can you donate kit 
or money? Please let us know. Contact the imcuk-tech list at imc-uk-tech 
atnospam lists.indymedia.org or the imc-g8-2005 list.

Legal
Beyond the obvious need to provide legal briefings for volunteer reporters, 
it's clear that over the last few years Indymedia has itself been a target 
for repression by the police and authorities. Indymedia in the Uk has 
strong backing from a wide range of groups and networks, from civil 
liberties groups and privacy campaigners to journalist groups - while an 
attack on Indymedia is therefore not anticiapted, there exist serious 
issues of wider repression at events such as G8 Summits. Often public order 
policing becomes indistinguishable from military style operations, and when 
mixed with sensationalist mainstream media coverage can create a climate of 
fear that has in the past been used for justifying serious repression. 
Indymedia, alternative media and citizen reporters therefore have an 
important role to play in monitoring and recording any abuses, beyond 
simply reporting the truth - Join us as we prepare to cover the G8 Summit 
in Scotland.
Reclaim our media!

...a Zapatista Vision
“We will make a network of communication among all our struggles and 
resistances. An intercontinental network of alternative communications 
against neoliberalism
(and) for humanity.
This intercontinental network of alternative communication will search to 
weave the channels so that words may travel all the roads that resist
(it) 
will be the medium by which distinct resistances communicate with one another.
This intercontinental network of alternative communication is not an 
organizing structure, nor has a central head or decision maker, nor does it 
have a central command or hierarchies. We are the network, all of us who 
speak and listen.
[Second Declaration of La Realidad for Humanity Against Neoliberalism, 1997]

imc-uk, 16.04.2005 14:48