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Indymedia Public Access Point for DSEi - thanks to all imc'istas

london imc'istas | 13.09.2003 18:02 | DSEi 2003 | Anti-militarism | Indymedia | Technology | London

A big thankyou to all of the imc'istas who helped set up and run the indymedia access point at ground zero, right next to the ExCel centre at St Annes Parish Hall, as well as everyone who helped and contributed to the reporting, both on the streets and behind the computers in london, the rest of the uk and further abroad - as well as the radio crew who streamed on the net over several days and the video folks who managed to publish a lot of good footage.

indymedia access point for dsei protests
indymedia access point for dsei protests

door into imc access point
door into imc access point

indymedia mobile satellite node
indymedia mobile satellite node


The access point facilities in a side room at St Anne's hall were available during the day, but the hall was used by other groups for accomodation in the evenings. Internet connectivity was provided via satellite set upon the roof, not the first time we've tried to use it, but certainly the first time we've made it work in london! (Big thanks to psand.net for sorting it!) The computers were blagged and borrowed from ace folks including ComTech in Brixton.

The police showed regular interest in the hall and seemed a little shocked when the satellite kit was unloaded - "what's this, it looks like communications equipment?!" they also threatened to use section 44 of the terrorism act on that occasion, and later did use it against people seting up the access point.

There were some quite sublime moments, such as the time when GR began dismantling their big orange cardboard tank to carry it outside the hall and load it into a van... the forward intelligence team (FIT) officers began reporting furiously into their radio and taking notes, and before you could say 'threat to national security', two riot vans were on the scene, a police helicopter hovered above the hall and a senior police officer visited in person to check on the situation - excessive policing - nah!

It was a great learning experience, made all the more exciting by the participation of imc'istas from local collectives around the country, as well as those abroad who ensured reports filtered to other indymedias around the world. The next time something big like this comes along we'll be even better prepared, and can set up a much bigger fully functioning media centre.

Well done everyone!

Do Indymedia!

london imc'istas

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

great work imc

13.09.2003 19:36

great coverage of the DSEi week. why not print some imc logo t-shirts and flog them through the site to generate funds?

radged


thanks for the bed!!

15.09.2003 13:23

thanks to indymedia for the place to sleep :)
such a close location was excellent so we could get up early and harass the delegates. people that buy arms get up early, the bastards!

oxymoron: peaceful terrorist


sleeping space was not down to indy...

17.09.2003 09:06

the sleeping accomodation was nothing to do with indymedia.

indymedia just had the use of the side room where the computers were set up for the access point. the access point facilities were open roughly 8am ish to 8pm ish during the day - there was also a photo desk operation at the front door during those hours, but the use of the hall for accomodation was down to other groups organisation, and not indy.

clarification


You Rock!!

19.09.2003 19:48

Thanks to all of you for some great coverage! Wish I had been there. Next time.

Alice