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News :: UCIMC |
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IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
Current rating: 6 |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
17 May 2003
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A new Independent Media Center, IMC Baghdad, is up and running. Although limited by the vast infrastructual damage caused by twelve years of sanctions and the recent war of aggresion by the United States and its tiny "coalition," this new IMC, the latest fiscally-sponsored project of UC IMC is ready to meet the challenge of constructing real democracy, instead of the Bush-imposed "demockracy," in Iraq. Although it awaits official integration into the worldwide network of more than 110 IMCs operating in more than 40 countries, IMC Baghdad is now operational. |
 Baghdad IMC Is Operational |
Help support Al-Muajaha
by Sam
we didn't ask for millions or billions. We're asking about 25 or 30 thousand dollars only just to bring some equipment in order to make the work. Because we don't have an office, we don't have computers, we don't have the telephones, we don't have electricity, we don't have anything, A dozen Iraqis "unconnected with either the previous Ba'athist regime or with the successor American government" came together and have been working on this project [with very little $, electricity and phone on and off and *very* limited equipment]. They are now printing their first [bilingual Arabic-English] issue of "Al-Muajaha, the Iraqi witness," already posted at http://www.almuajaha.com/
They have written this request for funding:
15 May 2003
To Whom it May Concern, The staff at Al-Muajaha like to say and express all the troubles that we are facing. First we don't have funding, although we put a lot of announcement in the website, and in all the hotels in Baghdad that full with press and TV channels. We were asking for a small help, but no one responded. That's right, they said it's a great thing, no one did it before, especially for young people like us, but what we get until now it's just compliments - which it can't be exchanged in any bank. You know that don't make any sense, because they paid for this war billions. One missile cost more than $1 million. They're paying a lot of money for those war things, but no one paid any attention for a group of young people trying to do a precious thing for the Iraqis, and Iraqis trying to represent the masses. No one, no one - and by they way, we didn't ask for millions or billions. We're asking about 25 or 30 thousand dollars only just to bring some equipment in order to make the work. Because we don't have an office, we don't have computers, we don't have the telephones, we don't have electricity, we don't have anything, and you going to see the pictures of the first issue - it's good, but we shot these shots by cheap camera. We try to be independent. If you don't help us to do that, should we go three different ways to do it?
1) Should we ask American military for help?
2) Should we ask the Parties and Factions for help?
3) Should we ask the fancy people in Iraq for help? These will be the same thing. Our repsonsibility as Iraqi youth, to make a start for Iraqi independent media, as the base of a great building, but you know that great pressure is on the base. We as Iraqis not used to ask anyone for help, like the very difficult life for 30 years. When we asked now it is because we are witnesses. We call our paper "The Iraqi Witness." We want to tell you that we are independent media and you can support us, but we are not for sale.
al muajaha staff
They are sponsored by Voices in the Wilderness.
In their Mission Statement, they say, "Al-Muajaha is an independent Iraqi newspaper representing all levels of Iraqi society. We aim to help the world understand Iraq, and to help Iraq understand the world. For decades, almost
all governments in the world, including our own, abused and terribly ignored the basic humanity of the Iraqi people, Al-Muajaha aims to provide an open forum for all Iraqis to freely debate current issues, and in so doing educate themselves and the world. We aim to support the legitimate desires of the Iraqi people by providing a voice for them that reach the world,
and we hope to promote understanding of the fundamental equality of all peoples
and nations under both human and divine law."
Checks should be made out to "UCIMC" and have "IMC-Baghdad" in their
memoline.
Checks can be sent to:
Urbana-Champaign IMC
ATTN: Treasurer
218 West Main St.
Suite 110
Urbana, IL 61801
There are two options for making donations on-line:
Network for Good -- link available at:
http://www.ucimc.org/info/display/support/index.php -- 100% of the
donation goes to the UCIMC (i.e., one avoids paying Paying Paypals fees).
PayPal (if folks insist):
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=donations%40ucimc.org&item_name=IMC-B
aghdad+Donation&item_number=IMC-Baghdad&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD
If donors want a copy of our tax determination letter, it is available
online at: http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/6802/index.php<< |
 Baghdad IMC Is Operational |
See also:
http://www.almuajaha.com/
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Re: IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
by Sam
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 3
17 May 2003
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This website and project is supported by indymedia, However it is not quite correct to describe the site as 'indymedia Iraq', as as yet there is no independent indymedia collective in Iraq, and the site has not gone through the new IMC process.
The hope is that a Iraq indymedia collective will coallece around the site (once internet access is availible in Bagdad) and that they will choose to go though the new imc process.
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Thanks For The Clarification |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
17 May 2003
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Sam,
Thanks for the clarification. I realize that IMC Baghdad is in a nascent state, which is why I used the term "it awaits official integration into the worldwide network..." The new IMC process procedure still needs to go its course before it is an official IMC.
We all look forward to this being expeditiously accomplished in a nation that desperately needs the help of Indymedia to provide it with the means to overcome the propaganda juggeernaut of the US occupation forces.
And we here at UC IMC will do everything in our power to assist your work. You have our full support for your invaluable efforts. |
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Re: IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
by Sam
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
17 May 2003
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I'm UK based, I'm on the e-mail list and compliled this information from there.
I too will do all i can to support this project- It's hands in pockets time people...
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Re: IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -3
24 May 2003
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Dear ML,
Please let these people learn freedom and build a successful capitalistic society before you try to destroy it from within. They have had enough of it from Saddam.
Jack |
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Re: IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
by Jaafer
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
23 May 2005
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what is happening to almuajaha website? |
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Re: IMC Baghdad Is Operational |
by Jaafer
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
23 May 2005
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what is happening to almuajaha website? |
