UK Indymedia Feature Archive
Martial Law Declared in Nepal
04-02-2005 12:33
Nepal: All communication links were cut after the King Gyanendra's announcement of suspending parliament and fundamental rights, on Tuesday, 1st of february.
Airlinks have been closed, roads blocked, other transport links delayed. Armed security forces in riot gear are deployed. Leaders of major political parties, trade unions and student organisations are under house arrest or detained. Army is stationed in the editorial offices of all national dailies in order to censor. Outside of Kathmandu, the Maoist strike is apparently observed.
A student demonstration at Prithvi Narayan Campus in Pokhara was fired on by a military helicopter gunship leaving several protestors badly injured if not dead; all FM radio broadcasts outside of Kathmandu are blocked and those broadcasting in Kathmandu play only entertainment-oriented programmes; the BBC FM station recently established in Kathmandu is forbidden from broadcasting the news in Nepali; news stands outside of the Valley have been closed; and a 72-hour blockade on long-distance public bus travel in and out of Kathmandu is in place.
[ full report] [ Zmag Coverage 1 | 2 ]
First South Coast IMC screening
03-02-2005 00:00
SOUTH COAST INDYMEDIA successfully held its first video evening on the evening of Tuesday February 8 in Worthing, West Sussex. It is planned to be the first of many such events across the region covered by this site and anyone who would like to help stage an event should get in touch.
Painting with the Zapatista in Scotland
02-02-2005 21:06
“The art world belongs to everybody. It is not just for the illuminated that have access to the so-called temples of art. It’s like the history made by the people and now it is up to us to make worlds where many worlds fit, to paint them, to sing them, to write poems to the free men and women and to sing and sing. Let the words and the music and the poems and the colours announce that art belongs to everybody and is for everybody, like this world, like these dreams, like freedom!”. Gustavo C. P.
[Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group | Glasgow Zapatista Solidarity Group | Indy UK Zapatista section | IMC Chiapas | Indy Scotland ]
Be your own journalist!
10-12-2004 21:23
You don't have to register a username to publish here, nor will your article be screened by moderators before appearing online. We do have a set of editorial guidelines, and occasionally hide articles or comments which break them, but this is done after articles appear, so that the flow of information is not held up by bureaucracy. Even hidden articles are not completely deleted from the site; they disappear from the front page but can still be viewed on the view all posts page.
So go on - take the plunge - publish your news!
[ Need help to publish? | More about Indymedia | Get involved | Editorial Guidelines | View All Posts | Explanation of website problems ]
The FBI party - Saturday 27 November, Tufnell Park
18-11-2004 12:57
Indymedia will be five years old on 30 November, the anniversary of the Anti-WTO protests in Seattle [1st ever post on IMC]. Plus the FBI has seized a London-based server that was used by 20 IMC's worldwide. So we'll combine the celebration with the need to raise money for new servers and invite everybody to the Fifth Birthday of Insurrection Party after the Anarchist Bookfair: 8pm - 4am, St George's Church, 49 Tufnell Pk Rd, entry by donation. All proceeds to fund new IMC servers. The rampART is offering limited crash space by prior arrangement for people coming to London for the Anarchist Bookfair...
The line-up is:
- Fun-Da-Mental
- Rhythms of Resistance Samba Band
- The Rub (electronic set)
- Penny Rimbaud (Crass)
- The Unpeople
- The Internationalz
- Angel
- Special guest: the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Please come, have fun and support Indymedia. If you like the site then help us getting a new server off the ground. If you can't come, consider setting up a monthly direct debit with what you can afford - see here for IMC-UK's account details. Or donate one-off via the Sheffield Indymedia PayPal account:
Ahimsa Gone and Returned: Responses to the Seizure of Indymedia Harddrives
09-11-2004 19:56
One month after the harddrives were taken out of the servers Ahimsa I and II in London, indymedia had many responses from civil liberty groups and professional journalist organisations. Legal steps are being taken or considered on both sides of the atlantic. The US State Attorney (ie the lawyer for the US government) has responded to a Motion to Unseal the server seizure court order in the US. A solidarity statement has been signed by more than 10,000 people, parliamentary questions have been asked in the House of Commons, and old hardware has been delivered to various Italian Embassies and to the FBI. Check the Electronic Frontiers Foundation for a factsheet and read on for a round-up of a wide range of responses.
New Server(s) Appeal
02-11-2004 22:48
The seizure of the hard drives on Oct 7th in London shut down an Indymedia radio station and around 20 different Indymedia websites from Ambazonia to the UK. Thousands of individuals who have posted hundreds of thousands of articles on these web sites suddenly found their voices silenced by an unknown hand. See the server seizure story for an overview...
Following the FBI raid, a number of Web servers have been offered to the UK site and are already in use. Our immediate aim is, therefore, to build a database server to take the load off the existing one. The current database, or 'publishing server,' for the UK and other Indymedias is often overloaded, especially when uploading larger media files. Scores of people give up in frustration when publishing unsuccessfully time and again.
The best way to help is to set up a regular payment into the Indymedia UK Network account: several people are already contributing £10 a month, but whatever sum you can afford would be much appreciated. Read on for information about how to donate to this appeal.
alt.doc.fest
30-10-2004 16:01
Friday 12th to Sunday 14th November 2004 - 3 days of films from the frontlines of the fight against capitalism
....Political and social commentary, satire, agitprop, direct action, counterculture.....
@ Sheffield Independent Film, 5 Brown Street, S1 2BS, just down the road from the Showroom where the Sheffield International Documentary Festival is taking place.
Donations on the door appreciated, see the server appeal for why funds are needed!
Come down and watch some films and hang out - also books and direct action info.
Films include: XXI Century | 4th World War | Kilometer Zero | In Whose Interest | Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election | Genoa Red Zone | Outfoxed | Chlorine
The IMC Server Mystery
14-10-2004 12:03
Last Thursday the FBI seized the hard disks from the web server that runs Sheffield IMC. This is likely to have been given the go ahead from Sheffield Brightside MP and Home Secretary, David Blunkett. Seven days on and neither the FBI, the Government nor the police have offered any explanation to Indymedia as to why their servers were seized. The Sheffield MP Richard Allan is planning to ask a question about this in the House of Commons on Friday, more info on his blog.
The seizure of the server has affected around 20 IMC sites around the world, including Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nantes, Marseille, Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Italy, Brazil, UK, and the global Indymedia Radio site.
Sheffield Indymedia's presence on the web was quickly reinstated due to there being backup servers, but all the other IMC sites were not so fortunate. It has taken a huge amount of work to get things in the UK running again, and the knock on effects of the server being seized are likely to be felt for a while yet. We hope that users of the Sheffield site will bear with us through this time.
Please sign the Solidarity Petition and also support the Server Appeal.
Main UK IMC Story | Glogal FBI / Legal page | EFF Indymedia Page | The Register: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
US Authorities Seize IMC Servers in UK
07-10-2004 20:43
UPDATE 14th Oct:
Hard drives returned
The two servers recently seized by US Authorities were returned yesterday morning to Rackspace (the hosting service where the servers were first taken from). Indymedia is now weighing additional legal options after this illegal seizure of its servers. Many of the original questions still remain.
Sign the Global Support Declaration
UPDATE 13th Oct: Indymedia UK Call for Solidarity
Indymedia Press Release: 11/12th Oct
Reporters Without Borders Solidarity Statement: "Home Secretary David Blunkett challenged over Indymedia website closures"
Association for Progressive Communications Statement: "APC condemns "arbitrary" seizure of IndyMedia web servers by US and European law enforcers."
Further links to mainstream media coverage can be found at the bottom of this feature. Correspondence between an indymedia activist and Rackspace, and lists of sites that are and are not back on line, can be found on this blog.
It is ironic that that this happens now, just days before Indymedia is due to participate in the European Forum on Communications Rights being held alongside the European Social Forum and several other days of discussions about electronic civil liberties and community media. For more information on these events see www.efcr2004.net
[ Original Press Release | Global Indymedia article and comments | IMC FBI pages]
VENEZUELA: 23 de Enero Neighbourhood
14-08-2004 20:32
Venezuela Referendum Nears - Solidarity Week Starts In London
09-08-2004 12:03
This Sunday, Venezuelans will vote on whether to keep their controversial president, Hugo Chávez. Elected with a promise to redistribute Venezuela's enormous oil wealth (before Chávez it was the number one supplier to the US) this referendum will be a chance to find out if he still has the support of the people. Having failed to oust him with a traditional (US backed)coup in 2002, and a general "strike" (bosses lock-out) the following Christmas, the opposition's referendum might actually end up strengthening his legitimacy.
This week, groups in London held a week of solidarity with the Venezuelan people and their right to self-determination without US interference. Daily events (see programme) took place at the rampART creative centre in Whitechapel, starting on Monday 9th with the opening of a "Latinamerican Liberation" exhibition. The main event is a picket of the US Embassy on the day of the referendum, Sunday 15th, from 2pm; meet beforehand in Hyde Park near Speakers' Corner for a 'Bolivarian picnic'.
Final event at the rampART from 6pm sunday, party and what next, plus indymedia access point.
Check out: Latest programme details | Rampart venue website | MultiMap venue map |
opening night review, photos | day two | full week review
New topic created: See Venezuela 2004 for all related posts.
Sheffield Indymedia Radio links live to Baghdad
15-07-2004 13:46
On Wednesday 14th July, Sheffield Indymedia participated in a live link-up to the first Internet radio stream from Baghdad.
Media activists from Radio LoRa in Zurich and the StreamTime Foundation have travelled to Iraq to set-up a number of community radio initiatives starting with a stream on 30th June from Halabja in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Halabja was the scene of chemical genocide on the 16th of March 1988, which saw 5000 dead and 10000 injured, and the remaining 36000 inhabitants were forced to flee their homes. The program was produced by Streamtime in collaboration with the Kurdish Communist Party and can be be heard here.
Oxford dances in the streets for the carnival
13-06-2004 11:49
As part of the Cowley Road Carnival, Oxford indymedia set up its first public live outdoor indymedia centre! It's behind the Zodiac, together with the Hammer and Tongue poetry slam space. It's open to everyone, there are computers to upload pictures and post articles, come and use the media centre!
All day, Oxford Indymedia will offer live reports and pictures from the carnival. Follow the links below, they will be continuously updated with more pictures and reports!
Report | Pictures [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] | Indymedia centre report and pictures
Summit Comes To An End With Violent Repression In Guadalajara
30-05-2004 22:25
The Third Summit of Head of States and Governments from Latin America, the Caribbean and European Union (III ALCUE) has come to an end last night in a tense environment, and with a soft and indirect condemnation to the US military torture in Iraq, commercial agreements without popular support, violence against demonstrators at the end of the general demonstration and around 100 detainees and disappeared, as well as 30 injured. [Call for Solidarity, Update 31.06.2004]
More reports: [1, 2, 3]
Audio: [Houston Indymedia | Guadalajara Imc | Guadalajara Imc - part 2]
Guadalajara Indymedia/ | Mexico Indymedia
Community Radio Needs You
25-05-2004 08:52
The community radio movement has grown worldwide over the last 30 years establishing a new tier of broadcasting that is challenging the traditional public and commercial sectors.
But just as community radio in the UK is starting to finally get a foothold, intense lobbying from the commercial sector to restrict community radio could limit its growth and even possibly kill it at birth.
'The Fourth World War' erupts in Sheffield on Sunday 2nd May
29-04-2004 18:39
This is the Sheffield Indymedia's first ever screening of the latest film from Big Noise Films who also made Zapatista and This Is What Democracy Looks Like at 6pm on Sunday 2nd May at The Showroom Cinema.
The Fourth World War was shot by the award-winning New York film collective Big Noise Films on the frontlines of struggles spanning five continents. It is the untold human story of men and women who resist being annihilated in the current global conflict.
Whilst the US media was crowded with talk of a new world war, narrated by generals and filmed from the noses of bombs, the human face of the so-called "War on Terror" was rarely seen. The Fourth World War weaves together images and voices of the war on the ground - from the front lines of struggles in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Palestine, Korea, to Seattle and Genoa, New York and Iraq.
- "The Fourth World War"
- Big Noise Tactical Media
- USA 2003
- 80 mins.
Schnews tour in Leeds sun 25th at packhorse pub
20-04-2004 22:55
As part of their 10th birthday celebrations some of the SchNEWS crew from Brighton are hitting the road again! Schnews, are a radical news and action colective, who have put out the ace news sheet Schnews for 10 years.
Scnews will be showing some short films, talking about SchNEWS and getting your message across, about the G8 coming to Britain next year (with people from Leeds ARC, the local Dissent! network associated group).
@ the packhorse pub woodhouse lane, sunday 25th april 2004 from 7.30pm
if the upstairs room is free we will use it otherwise, we will be in the bar area downstairs
Indymedia launch at Bradford with beyondtv!
14-04-2004 11:24
This Saturday, at the 1in12 club, Albion street, Bradford (click for a map)
“Hey, we are going on a tour of the North West of the Uk! Films, spoken word, musicians and mayhem.
We concentrate on short films making sure a lot of them are funny and upbeat. We show them in a social atmosphere and invite local musicians, poets and Dj’s to add to the mix
We’re planning a performance-led night of films with musical interludes by a new Manchester beat combo. They haven’t got a name yet but might be called ‘The Band of Death’
It’s experimental, we admit it, but it’ll be funny whatever happens!”
BEyONdTV eats from the hands of environmental activists and then bites the nose off the BBC. Independent Video and Audio media has never been so easy to get hold of.
Beyondtv.org is
•an open publishing site for on-line video, audio, text news, positive projects, underground events, and other interesting groups.
•a source of low-cost digital/internet video technical knowledge
•a distribution network for a wide variety of films for screenings and inspiring club visuals both on-line, and via CD-Rom and VHS.
Come & Experience Beyondtv for yourselves at
The 1in12 Club, Albion St, Bradford Saturday April 17th 2004
Workshops & indymedia from approx 5pm
Earthquake Djs & Dancing from approx 9pm, cheap
SchNEWS 10th Anniversary Tour
13-04-2004 10:55
SchNEWS is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a tour across the UK from April 10th to 30th. The weekly direct action news sheet was born in a squatted Courthouse in 1994 as part of Justice?, Brighton's campaign against the Criminal Justice Act. It has been part of the anti road protests [M11 1 + 2, Newbury], the big Reclaim The Streets events of the nineties, worker’s struggles such as the Liverpool Dockers, fights against privatisation of public services and many activities around social centres and sustainable futures.
Since the PGA conference in 1998, SchNEWS includes global news: the Global Street Party at the G7 Summit in Birmingham, J18, the WTO protests in Seattle, Nov 1999, which brought the anti-capitalism movement to the attention of the world and marks the beginning of the indymedia network.
In the spirit of the 90s uk protest movements, SchNEWs links up party & protest, and excels in a tongue-in-cheek approach to authorities (crap arrest of the week). The anniversary tour includes workshops on alternative media, short films, info on the upcoming G8 summit in Britain [dissent], launch of the Indymedia handbook, music, party ...
schNEWS tour dates | Tour info | Fantastic Night with SchNEWS!