Four Days of Communications Rights and Tactical Media Production
around the European Social Forum
+
Four day Indymedia centre

Thursday 14 - Sunday 17th October 2004
@ The Camden Centre,
Bidborough Street,
Near Kings Cross,
London WC1

FREE / donations encouraged

See: Full Line Up:
 http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/ImcUkEsfCamdenFlyer

European Forum on Communications Rights
 http://www.efcr2004.net

Autonomous Spaces =  http://www.altspaces.net

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Media Culture and Communications Rights Network (MCCRN)

presents...

Four Days of Communications Rights and Tactical Media Production

Thursday 14 - Sunday 17th October 2004
@ The Camden Centre

RSVP to: info@(nospamplease)efcr2004.net

As Governments and corporations increasingly base their authority on the ownership and control of information - a closer look reveals these areas as the landscape in which crucial struggles are being played out. 'Communication Rights' is at the heart of these struggles.

The media-led battles for hearts and minds are playing a central role in global politics, and Intellectual Property is becoming a major means of corporate control over knowledge and our environment. Technologies of control are being developed and deployed on a wide scale to both keep watch on people, and to limit their free movement.

As we witness the increasing privatisation of knowledge and extensions of repressive cybersecurity regimes, a growing movement around communication rights is making links across physical borders, networks and a variety of different campaigns.

These issues will be tackled by four days of discussion, practical collaboration and media making, taking place alongside the European Social Forum (ESF) in London, and based at the Camden Centre, next to Kings Cross in the Bloomsbury area (one of the two major ESF locations).

The venue will house an ongoing Indymedia centre (IMC) to facilitate the DIY reporting of the ESF, the events in autonomous spaces, as well as covering protests and theatrical interventions; and to also enable synergies in both practical and theoretical ways. All attendees are encouraged to participate in developing and experimenting with horizontal communication, sharing knowledge, creating networks of alternative communication projects and campaigns, and producing grass roots media. There will also be a bar and cheap food available, as well as social events and film screenings. Further IMC media production nodes will be located in other venues, and additional spaces will be provided for some workshops and training.

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The European Forum of Communication Rights (EFCR) takes place the day before the start of the European Social Forum, and tackles one of the most important questions: how to bring together those working at different levels on communication rights - from grass roots activists working on practical projects and street level campaigns, to those engaged in lobbying and advocacy, to researchers and academics. Starting the day a series of keynote speakers, presentations and open-floor discussions will establish what is at stake in the information revolution: who owns what, who has the power, and what it means for us all.

"As the movement around Communications Rights gathers momentum, a multitude of campaigns are confronting the same issues from a variety of directions."

Focusing on the global issues of Security and the Surveillance State, Migration and Borders, and the Corporatisation of our Communication spaces and knowledge, the event aims to find common ground that links these varied strands together to produce vibrant, relevant and powerful campaigns.

Friday explores the emergence of the resistance to technologies of control, looking at tactics, tools and techniques, focusing on Infowar and Signal Jamming, Electronic Commons, IP and Bio Piracy, Biometric ID Cards, Gender and Technology, and Tactical and Alternative Media.

Friday night will see an evening of entertainment with comedy, music, films and a special set of presentations and performance from migrant networks, sans papiers, and people from the global south.

Saturday will include the 10th anniversary celebration of the respected alternative media project www.SchNEWS.org.uk

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Indymedia

Throughout the four days, daily Indymedia meetings will be held to co-ordinate grassroots media coverage. The space will also serve as a hub for other initiatives such as web-radio production, as well as providing information on all of the other events within the ESF that realte to communications rights.

The Indymedia centre facilities and public access computers in the Bar will open each day at 9am.

They will close each day at different times:

Thursday: IMC Closes at 11.00pm
Friday: IMC Closes at 11.30pm
Saturday: IMC Closes at 11.30pm
Sunday: IMC Closes at 10.00pm

There will be daily IMC co-ordination meetings - times tbc.
There will also be daily audio production meetings in the evening.

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ESF Breakfast Radio Show on Resonance 104.4 FM (fri 15 - sun 17):

Live and Direct On The Airwaves... Each morning during the ESF tune into Resonance FM 104.4 to get one hour of the latest news and views from the Indymedia ESF Breakfast Show...

7am - 8am each morning
Friday 15th, Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th
Broadcast on Resonance FM 104.4 and streaming on
 http://www.resonancefm.com

One hour roundups from each day's events - the shows will be created from audio material culled throughout the day from the Indymedia and alternative and community media volunteer reporters - content either uploaded on the newswires or taken from other streaming projects.

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Spaces - Other Media Production Nodes

BEYOND ESF:  http://www.wombles.org.uk/auto
will have a media centre room with round 15 computers and perhaps wireless. Access will be until 11pm approx.

RAMPARTS SOCIAL CENTRE:  http://www.rampart.co.nr
East London - indymedia access point - The RampART Centre will have around 20 imc/alt media computers and a crew working on video production, as well as streaming radio on the web - see  http://www.rampartradio.co.nr
LISTEN:  http://radio.indymedia.org:8000/rampART.m3u

RADIO STREAMING AT ALLY PALLY: AMARC and Community Media Association are trying to gain a space at Ally Pally to stream from - this is still under negotiation, ESF have said there is no room in Alexandra Palace and are now considering a proposal to site the studio in a vehicle in the car park.

OFFICIAL ESF MEDIA CENTRE: will be at allexandra palace. 25 computers and space for 50 laptops. Computers should run on open source / free software after efforts by media activists. Accreditation available to community and independent media after lobbying by indy activists, but must supply a covering explanation if applicants do not posses press card. See  http://www.fse-esf.org

It is still unknown if there will be any net-connected public access computers at the official ESF and Ally Pally, other than the official esf media centre that you'll have to be accredited to access. Latest Update (7th October) - looks like is no public internet access at Alexandra Palace!!

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Thursday 14th October
9.15am-6.30pm

The European Forum of Communication Rights (EFCR) takes place the day before the start of the European Social Forum, and tackles one of the most important questions: how to bring together those working at different levels on communication rights - from grass roots activists working on practical projects and street level campaigns, to those engaged in lobbying and advocacy, to researchers and academics. Starting the day a series of keynote speakers, presentations and open-floor discussions will establish what is at stake in the information revolution: who owns what, who has the power, and what it means for us all.

"As the movement around Communications Rights gathers momentum, a multitude of campaigns are confronting the same issues from a variety of directions."

Focusing on the global issues of Security and the Surveillance State, Migration and Borders, and the Corporatisation of our Communication spaces and knowledge, the event aims to find common ground that links these varied strands together to produce vibrant, relevant and powerful campaigns.

Keynote Speakers Include:

* Dr Cees J. Hamelink has published over 250 articles, papers and numerous books on Communication Rights, and initiated the People's Communication Charter movement.
* Sean O'Siochru CRIS Campaign Ireland (Communication Rights in the Information Society) and Coordinator, World Forum on Communication Rights, Geneva December 2003.
* Dr. Claudia Padovani Dept. of Historical and Political Studies, University of Padova and CRIS Campaign, Italy.
* Roberto Verzola Currently the secretary-general of the Philippine Greens, Roberto Verzola was one of the founders of the progressive information and communications technology (ICT) movement.
* Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng Director of Isis-WICCE, (Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange) Uganda. Ruth Ochieng is also a member of the International Coordinating Committee of Women Human Rights Defender (WHRD) and WSIS Africa Gender Caucus.

Participating panel speakers and organisations include:

* Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform in Thailand
* Simon Davies, Privacy International
* Gus Hosein, Privacy International
* Mark Littlewood, No2id Campaign
* Hagen Kopp, IOM campaign
* Steve Buckley, AMARC
* Karen Banks, APC
* Arun Kundnani, Institute of Race Relations
* Ben Hayes, Statewatch

And speakers from Defy-ID, Indymedia Estrecho (madiaq collective), with more to be confirmed.

PROGRAMME

The European Forum on Communication Rights
Thursday 14 October 2004
9.15am - 6.30pm

9.15 Doors open

9.45 - –10.00 Welcome (MCCRN representative)

10.00 - 10.45 Keynote Cees Hamelink (with response speaker)

10.45 - –11.45 Framework on Communication Rights Defining Key Issues in the European Context
Speakers Sean O’Siochru and Claudia Padovani

12.00 - 1.30 Communication Rights Grassroots Experience and Social Realities
Speakers Roberto Verzola (Philippines) and Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng (Uganda)

1.30 - 2.30 Lunch Break
(cheap food is available from the venue and there are many pubs and shops in walking distance)

2.30 - –2.45 Introduction to the Afternoon (MCCRN representative)
The afternoon focuses on three global issues and aims to find common ground that links these varied strands together to examine how to produce vibrant, relevant and powerful campaigns. Each panel will have short contributions from speakers, followed by an open floor discussion.

2.45 -– 3.45 The Security State and Technologies of Control
As civil liberties crumble under the wave of repressive anti-terrorism legislation being introduced across Europe, the UK is becoming a testing ground for new levels of surveillance and control. While migrants will be tagged with satellite tracking devices, the general population will be required to carry 'Biometric Microchip Identity Cards' to access healthcare, welfare benefits and local services like transport, with all data being stored in a vast national information system of linked databases accessible by thousands of government departments and other 'interested' parties.

What are the latest developments, what are the strategies of different campaigners, how are they working together to form broader coalitions to prevent this repressive wave from obliterating fundamental human rights and freedoms?

3.45 –- 4.45 Migration Freedom of Movement and Free Communication
Despite increasing tendencies of global governance directed at the flow of migration and communication through databases like the Schengen Information System, biometric controls etc, people continue to move and communicate. This panel will explore the connections between free movement and free communication, looking at institutions like the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) as well as the movements against these types of global governance and the ICT tools they are using.

4.45 –- 5.45 The Corporatisation of Our Communication Spaces and Knowledge
The growth of corporate power in europe is reflected in increasing concentration of ownership in media and communications. Safeguards to preserve pluralism have been insufficient to keep in check the big corporations unaccountable power over public life. This panel looks at the rise of corporate power in Thailand and Italy and its base in major communications corporations. It asks what measures are needed to counter the corporate communications hegemony and asks "is another communication possible?", as well as drawing parallels with other areas such as Intellectual Property.

5.45 - 6.30 Closing Session

Note: The Camden Centre has a licensed bar which will be open through the evening.

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FRIDAY 15th OCTOBER:

9.00 - 12.00 From Genoa to Guantanamo
Confronting and discussing human rights abuses across the world, from Genoa through to Guantanamo. Including: Garethe Peirce, Camp X-ray Detainee Lawyer; Heidi Giuliani, Mother of Carlo Giuliani; Massimo Pastore, Genoa Legal Forum Lawyer; Rachel Shabi, Journalist; Gwyn Rodgers, Chair; with more to be confirmed.

12 - 1.00 FILM Weapons of Mass Deception : Danny Schecter's New Film
Documentary revealing the collusion between the military and the medias "coverage" of the Iraq war.

1.00 - 2.30 Inforwar: Media Deception & Disinformation Vs. Dissent & Direct Democracy
The corporate media, propaganda and how grassroots action can interpret the truth beyond the lie. Speakers from: Indymedia uk and Ireland, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, Quebec media activists and others.

2.30 - 4.00 Resisting the Security State and Technologies of Control
Campaigns of resistance against the erosion of identity, public space and freedom of movement and protest. Speakers from: No2ID, Privacy International, Defy ID and others.

4.00 - 4.30 FILM BREAK (film tbc)

4.30 - 5.30 Intellectual Property and Electronic Commons
Opposing corporatisation and ownership, and exploring the alternative strategies for managing our knowledge. Speakers from: AMARC, Genewatch, UK Food Group and others.

5.30 - 6.30 The Media Circus - Networking Resistance
How Indymedia and other activists are reclaiming the commons and building networks of resistance. Including launch presentation on the "Eyes on International Financial Institutions (IFIs)" film portal website [ http://www.ifiwatch.tv]

6.30 - 7.30 FILM: XXI CENTURY: PART 3 of 7 "...and nothing but the truth"
How the mainstream media sold their souls and worked as the propaganda machine of the iraq war. Interveiws with: Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal, Howard Zinn, Greg Palast, Amy Goodman and many others.

7.30 - 8.00 Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination
Reports and video highlights from theatrical interventions on the streets so far.

8.00 - 9.00 Comedy from Mark Thomas tbc

9.00 - 12.00 No Vox: The Evening of "Have Nots"
Film, music, bands and presentations of the struggles of the 'Have Nots' in the ESF / WSF processes. Speakers and short films from: Untouchable Dalits (India), MNLM Brazil, Unemployed movements, Homeless groups, Intergalactic network, and Sans Papiers.

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WORKSHOPS AT:

The Bartlett School
Wates House
22 Gordon Street
London
WC1

(ten minutes walk from camden centre - rooms capacity 40-50 people)


1700 - 1900 Thistuesday.org: Migration, Labor, and Transnational Organising (Room 433)
Developing Thistuesday.org - a transnational website platform tracking the struggles of migrant workers.


WORKSHOP: Networking Communication Rights in the EU - 15th October

Building on the European Forum for Communication Rights (14 October 2004) the main goal of the proposed Workshop is to give a platform for organizations involved in media and communication issues to meet, exchange views and develop possible cooperation.

Speakers and participants will come from academia as well as NGOs and civil society organizations in general. Scholars should help in mastering our understanding of contemporary critical communication issues in the European context and the role of civil society therein, while civil society organizations will bring their grassroots experience and creativity in setting the scene for European networking and advocacy on these issues.

The structure for the half day workshop would be the following.

Chair: Jason Nardi (APC-Italia)

0.5 hour ­ Introduction to Workshop and the Global Governance Project (GGP), its rationale, the framework, the work conducted by the European team, first results and ideas for the future (Sean O’Siochru & Iginio Gagliardone)

1 hour ­ Presentations on communication issues. Invited speakers will discuss issues starting from commenting on the GGP European team work, and identify challenges and possible strategies for civil society, (proposed names (tbd): Steve Ward, Robin Mansell, Laurence Lessig, Stefano Rodotà, Armand Matterlart, Annabelle Sreberny, E. Remondino, F. Heyndrickx (president ECCR), Bart Cammaerts…)

1 hour ­ Short interventions by civil society organization, groups, coalitions, networks who can present their experience in working and networking around communication and rights at the European level, taking into consideration the framework offered by the GGP and the proposals set out by the European team for future cooperation (5 to 10 minutes each ­ proposed organizations: IFJ, Statewatch, IPJustice, Privacy International, More Colours in the Media, Multiple Voices, Media watch, WSIS-EU caucus, Heinrich Boell Foundation…)

1,5 hour­ Debate on how to proceed, future meetings, priorities to be discussed, methods, resources, cf. Ideas for working together (facilitated by Claudia Padovani & Bart Cammaerts)


Ideas for working together:

The following are some of the ideas that we have developed for future actions, starting form the GGP experience. They will be briefly mentioned in London to promote discussion.

Further develop framework application in terms of: the international dimension, national dimension, selection and mastering of key issues in the European context, tool-kit production

Possibility to develop a complete new European version of the Project: framework revision, identification of resources, actions and methods, final goals, tool-kit development, etc.

Mapping European social mobilization on communication issues (conduct a survey, build a directory, apply network analysis to this reality)

Exploring strategies for fostering EU-civil society relation on communication and information policies
Connection to local authorities and other relevant actors

Developing communication means or connect existing channels (lists, websites)
A European calendar of events relating to communication rights

Topics to be developed/considered in the future: communication and labour contexts/condition; challenges brought by the enlargement process, Europe and financing of digital divide…

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SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER

0900 - 1000 Indymedia / Alt Media Roundtable Discussion and Breakfast

1000 - 1200 Community and Alternative Media
Debate, strategy, organising and exchange around creating media alternatives in Europe and at different levels.

1200 - 1300 WSF and ESF Communication Priorities, Methadologies and Strategies
Social Forums use of commuication technologies and the relationship to wider movements around Communications Rights

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1400 - 1900 "How Direct Action Can Save the World": Schnews 10th Birthday Conference
Organised by  http://www.schnews.org.uk - the weekly direct action newsletter

Direct action works. Active, popular opposition to oppressive rulers has been the force of change throughout history. This conference provides an opportunity to hear about resistance first hand, find out how you can get involved, to discuss, plot, and organise serious resistance to the suicidal onward march of capitalism.

1400 - 1500 WORK: Our lives, their profits ­ how we fight exploitation
Anne Jones, mother of Simon Jones and campaigner for workplace safety; Edgar Paez, international secretary of Columbian trade union SINALTRAINAL

1500 - 1600 WEATHER: Climate change - capitalism's legacy to the world.
Speakers from Climate Change campaigns

1600 - 1700 WAR: The warmongers and how to oppose them.
Mark Curtis, director of the World Development Movement and author of Web of Deceit; Ewa Jasiewicz, human rights activist and journalist imprisoned by Israeli government; Jo Wilding, activist, writer and witness to the seige of Falluja

1700 - 1900 WINNING: How direct action can save the world.
Speaker on opposing the G8 visit to Scotland in 2005; SchNEWS?; Anne, Edgar, Mark, Ewa, Jo and everyone else!


WORKSHOPS AT:

The Bartlett School
Wates House
22 Gordon Street
London
WC1

(ten minutes walk from camden centre - rooms capacity 40-50 people)

1030 - 1200 Indymedia Women Workshop (Room 129)
Women only workshop. A space for discussion and collaboration for women activists working on Indymedia.

1200 - 1400 Resisting the Clash (Room 129)
Actions against false 'cultural' divisions, proposed by grassroots speakers from Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel

1400 - 1600 Community Media Strategy Workshop (Room 101)
Building on the previous two days of communications rights discussion to develop common strategies.

1400 - 1600 Activist Research and Copy-left (Room 129)
Examining the potential of research, from and for, social movements. Open research for free use.

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The MCCRN grouping is made up of progressive electronic networks, community and alternative media groups, freedom of expression and civil liberties advocates, grass roots, communication rights, social and gender justice advocates. These groups have been active nationally, regionally and internationally in activities and processes concerned with policy formulation, decision-making processes, alternative strategies and grass-roots activism.

Activities around the ESF have included lobbying for 'Media Culture and Communications Rights' as a main theme or plenery within the ESF 2004 as well as lobbying for open source and free software usage and contributing to the debate around communications issues and IT / Media infrastructure at the ESF.

Article 19, Association For Progressive Communications (APC), volunteers from Babels, Community Media Association UK, Computer Aid International, Creative Forum, members of the CRIS Campaign (Ireland, UK, Italy), E-Hippies, GreenNet, GreenNet Educational Trust, volunteers from Indymedia Centers in the UK, France and Germany, Privacy International, Women Connect UK, World Association of Christian Communications (WACC), World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

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This four day programme has been developed to counteract the lack of content addressing communication rights within the European Social Forum programme. As thousands of participants from diverse movements gather to meet and discuss, the urgency of Communication Rights issues and the freedom to communicate must be at the core of any vision of another society.

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LINKS AND CONTACTS:

EFCR website:
 http://www.efcr2004.net

EFCR contact:
info@(nospamplease)efcr2004.net

Indymedia UK Network:
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk

IMC Media Centre organising wiki website:
 http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkImcEsf

Indymedia mailing list:
 http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-esf

Autonomous Spaces and Initiatives:
www.altspaces.net

Official ESF website:
 http://www.fse-esf.org

Unofficial ESF website:
 http://www.esf2004.net