[New-imc] Online form: Proposed new IMC! (Caucasus Indymedia)

[Goren at riseup.net]

Submitted by: Michael "Goren" Lunkowsky <Goren at riseup.net> on Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 @ 12:39:17 am (-0800)

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Opera/9.20 (X11; Linux i686; U; en)

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proposed_imc_name:
Caucasus Indymedia

proposed_imc_url:
kavkaz.indymedia.org

current_url:


city:


state:
Caucasus, especially North Caucasus

country:
various

contact_name:
Michael "Goren" Lunkowsky

contact_email:
Goren at riseup.net

contact_phone:
021-1459660 (New Zealand)

tech_name:
Michael "Goren" Lunkowsky

tech_email:
Goren at riseup.net

tech_phone:
021-1459660 (New Zealand)

focus:
regional_focus

critical_dates:


supporting_groups:
Association of Anarchist Movements, Anti-War Commitee, various human rights and anti-war organisations

introductory_statement:
Caucasus is an extremely unique region with its own specifics. It consists of enourmous number of local nations, languages and cultures that interacted historically in a very complex and unique way. Now the region is divided between various state systems that conflict with each other and try to inspire national conflicts between the nations, and Russia-inspired dirty war in Chechnya already took lifes of more than 300000 people. In the same time, Russian anti-Chechen and general anti-Caucasus propaganda is extremely powerful and all Russia-based resources that protect different points of view are repressed. Activists from Russian-based Indymedias have to block and hide postings about Caucasus in fear of such repressions.
There are some resources run by Chechen separatists, but the latter are poisoned by Islamic fundamentalism and Chechen nationalism and are not much more free and tolerant to other points of view than official media. 
In this circumstances having a truly independent, pluralistic, inter-nationalistic media center for that region is an essential task. It would cost some effort, but it's worth it.

resources:
Given the situation in region, it's easy to understand that we don't have much technical possibilities right now. In fact, we are an internet-based group of people spread around the world, many of us are social and political emigrants. Nevertheless, some of us are sufficiently technically-skilled people and most of us are keen to learn and organize.

outreach:
We have contacted various local communities of Caucasus as well as groups involved in anti-war struggle. The interest in such a project is enormous.

identity_makeup:
Of course, we can't claim to represent Caucasus society in all its diversity, such a task would hardly be possible. Also, as mentioned above, the war and difficult political situation led to a fact that many of us don't actually live in the region. Nevertheless, we do our best to contact local communities and to get them involved in a process of sharing the information.

steps_represent_diversity:
Regardless of the war and overall difficult political situation, many locals still have access to the Internet. There, they usually tend to stay in their own virtual ghettos and are, as a rule, not very eager to contact with other groups. Our activists try to get in touch with them and provide them with access to some sort of the media to represent their opinion in informational environment. Having an IMC would be a great asset to this cause.

steps_involve_new_workfields:
Usually attempts to involve individuals in newer workfields are made as soon as we manage to contact them. We try to organise workshops, conferences and lectures as much as it's possible to do locally, and provide all possible help via internet.

username:
Michael "Goren" Lunkowsky