[Imc-g8-2005] Contributing to G8 costs...

[Notts IMC]

Hiya,

Steve wrote:

> To me it seems out of order first getting into big debt
> without consulting us and then wanting to use our event
> (and presumably other IMCs) to pay it back. We're really
> being used. It's a very unhealthy relationship. There's
> a real hierarchy there.

You use the word 'wanting'. Isn't it a proposal/request to get the profits
of the party to pay for the costs made at the G8, rather than a
demand/order?

> Sheffield wasn't really invited to help with stuff in
> Scotland at all. All we got was an invite to join a
> list to help with coordination.  There was no
> explanation of what that actually meant or what was
> planned or how much money was needed or anything.

That's not true. There were various invitations to people to come to a G8
convergence meeting in London, where things were planned in detail. A
startpage special [1] about the meeting was on the UK startpage for over 2
weeks, if I can remember well. Sheffield IMC is part of the UK neywork,
just like Nottinghamshire IMC and the others. It was clear throughout the
network that there would be various media centres throughout Scotland
during the G8. To me it makes sense that these cost money.

> Also the IMC coverage was heavily criticised by many.

Sorry? Could you explain? I have only heard positive remarks about it,
like: 'it's one of the best coverages IMC UK has ever done of such a large
scale event'.

> There was no centre running on the Wednesday morning
> (day of action) when it was most needed and the people
> who were supposed to be running it could not be found or
> were in bed.

Ehh, what media centre are you talking about? Edinburgh? Stirling?
Glasgow? I was up from 4 that morning, working in the Edinburgh media
centre.

> To me it feels like one group has gone off and done
> their own thing, spent a load of money and then want
> other groups to pitch in to the debt they incurred.

As I can see it, no one is saying you SHOULD give money. Sheffield IMC is
part of the UK network, and the network spends money on things... Servers,
publicity, coverage etc. It's like you're saying that if the network
decides to get for example a new server, than maybe you wouldn't
contribute to that, as 'no-one asked you' or 'you never wanted it'. Sorry,
but I'm of the opinion%2