The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear Listmembers, A while ago people were asking what groups working in Iraq would be worth supporting. In that regard, I'm forwarding this message from Jo Wilding, whom many of us will know from her courageous and humane reporting from Baghdad. best wishes, Fay ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Fay Dowker Physics Department + + Queen Mary, University of London + + E-mail: f.dowker@qmul.ac.uk Mile End Road, + + Phone: +44-(0)20-7882-5047 London E1 4NS. + + Fax: +44-(0)20-8981-9465 + + Homepage: http://monopole.ph.qmw.ac.uk/~dowker/home.html + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 20:24:32 +0100 (BST) From: Jo <gurneyernie@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Iraq indymedia Iraq Indymedia Some of my friends in Baghdad are setting up Iraq Indymedia. They want to start publishing an English and Arabic newspaper as well as the traditional web based Indymedia – also in both languages – because comparatively few Iraqis currently have web access. It’s the first time in their lives they’ve had the chance to get their voices heard. The US/UK military victory was inevitable as soon as the attack began. The real struggle for Iraqi people starts now. Now is when they have to fight for their freedom, their peace, their democracy. Now is the time they need the attention of the world, need to be heard. If the occupiers’ and multinationals’ machinations in Iraq are allowed to happen out of sight the way they did in Afghanistan and the Balkans then we will have failed the Iraqis. The legitimisation of existing power brokers, the importation of favoured new leaders, the use of Iraq’s debts, the privatisation of oil and public services, the awarding of lucrative contracts to rebuild and, for example, for building the mobile phone network, all need to be constantly scrutinised and opposed. We need to be taking direct action against the companies engaging in the grab for the spoils. Rebuilding has to be a reparation, not an investment. We need to be undermining dependence on those companies by changing our own lives, setting up local structures, growing more food locally, making clothes in our own areas, buying less stuff, whatever it is we can do in our own lives, building our communities and becoming more self governing so governments have less power. We need to support the Iraqi people in getting their voices heard and Indymedia isn’t the whole solution, but it’s a good start. They need loads of equipment – computer stuff and office furniture and stuff, but it’s going to be cheaper and easier to get it there than transport it from here. They need money, for buying stuff, for renting a building to serve as the Independent Media Centre, for bills and for running the satellite modem they’ve got access to now, which is the only way to e mail just now. They could do with a satellite phone and another satellite modem as well, both of which it would be feasible to carry out there in luggage. Expertise and skills training might also be useful. I’m really excited for them, so if there’s anything you can donate or do to help, let me know and I’ll forward it to them. __________________________________________________ Yahoo! Plus For a better Internet experience http://www.yahoo.co.uk/btoffer _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk