PRINCIPLES OF UNITY

1. The Independent Media Centre Network (IMCN) is based upon principles of equality, decentralization and local autonomy. The IMCN is not derived from a centralized bureaucratic process, but from the self-organization of autonomous collectives that recognize the importance of developing a union of networks. The IMC-Grenoble upholds this principle. Its creation refers to a very strong intention of local autonomy and independence from a centralized and Parisian IMC-FRANCE.

2. All IMCs consider open exchange of and open access to information a prerequisite to the building of a freer and fair society. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

3. All IMCs respect the right of activists who choose not to be photographed or filmed. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

4. All IMCs, based upon the trust of their contributors and readers, shall use open web based publishing, allowing individuals, groups and organizations to express their views, anonymously if desired. **see appendix: Open Publishing document --> still in proposal phase, at this address: http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/imc-communication/2001-April/001707.html The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle. Open Publishing and management of the central column is an integral part of its charter.

5. The IMC Network and all local IMC collectives are non-profit. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

6. All IMCs recognize the importance of projects of social change and are committed to developing non-hierarchical and anti-authoritarian relationships whether it be in one-to-one relationships or in group dynamics. Therefore, IMCS will organize themselves collectively and be committed to democratic, direct, participatory, consensual decision-making which is transparent to their members. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

7. All IMCs recognize that contributing individual work to one’s local group is a prerequisite for participating in its decision-making process. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

8. All IMCs are committed to caring for one another and our respective communities both collectively and as individuals and will promote the sharing of resources including knowledge, skills and equipment. The IMC-Grenoblerespects this principle.

9. All IMCs shall be committed to the use of free source code, whenever possible, in order to develop a digital infrastructure, and to increase the independence of the network by not relying on proprietary software. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle.

10. All IMC's shall be committed to the principle of human equality, and shall not discriminate with reference to race, gender, age, class, culture or sexual orientation. The IMC-Grenoble respects this principle but prefers the following formulation : ‘All IMCs shall be committed to the principle of human equality and fight all types of discriminations (racisme, homo/lesbophobia, sexism… and the list is long)’

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP

Each IMC and Global Working Group is expected to:

A. Agree with the NIMC Mission Statement and ImcNantesPrinciples of Unity, IMC-Grenoble agrees with the enonciated principles. The collective IMC-Grenoble charter includes this mission and principles.

B. Have a committed membership substantial enough to sustain a functional IMC The IMC-Grenoble has ten people cell nucleus (physical meetings happen every 15 days)

C. Have open and public meetings (no one group can have exclusionary 'ownership' of an IMC) IMC-Grenoble’s meetings are open and announced on the connection page of the collective.

D. Work toward developing a local Mission Statement or Statement of Purpose. Network Mission Statement may be adopted or used on an interim basis. The IMC-Grenoble collective wrote its charter stating its founding principles.

E. Establish and publish an editorial policy which is developed and functions democratically and with full transparency. This point is described in the second part of the charter stating founders principles of the IMC-Grenoble collective.

F. Agree to the use of Open Publishing as described in the NIMC Editorial Policy. the IMC-Grenoble supports Open Publishing. The site will be opened and the Open-publishing column activated.

G. Use consensus: open, transparent, egalitarian decision-making. The IMC-Grenoble only takes its decisions this way.

H. Have a spokesperson(s) willing and capable of participating in the global decision-making process and meetings as a liaison/representative, with a clear understanding of the responsibilities that come with this role The IMC-Grenoble collective members are often in attendance in the global or thematic lists. The role of the spokesperson(s)bdepends on collective decisions. This role is rotating and revocable.

I. Participate in the key IMC Network Communication Methods that pertain to the health and vitality of the Network and that contribute to the work of the IMC. Assure that at least one person from your local IMC participates at any given time on the IMC-Communications list ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ Several people of the collective have subscribed on the IMC-COMMUNICATION list, and report back on the local lists??????

J. Have no official affiliation with any political party, state or candidate for office. The principle of political independence is a founding principle in the charter of the IMC-Grenoble collective.

K. IMCs shall in no way engage in commercial for-profit enterprises. IMC-Grenoble is in complete agreement with this principle.

L. Display an 'i' logo local version on your website and literature. The IMC-Grenoble will do it... as soon as its site works.

M. Include the current cities of the IMC Network on your site, preferably on the front page. IMC-Grenoble will do it... as soon as its site will be functioning.

NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

1. Network Membership is open to any group that accepts the above criteria for membership. In the case of several requests from the same city or region, we will encourage them to meet and work together.

2. Network Membership in the NIMC will be confirmed by the New IMC Working Group, which is accountable to IMC-Process and ultimately to the NIMC decision-making process.

DEFINING OUR TERMS:

For more clarity and precision, please find the definitions of a few terms as they are used in the IMC context.

• NIMC =Network of Independent Media Centers

• Open =means that diverse people and groups are welcome to attend and that no attempt is made to exclude people based on their sex, race, gender, class, age, ability or religion.

• IMC Network Communication Methods: international email lists, IRC discussions and logs, phone calls and conference calls, and face-to-face meetings.

• Local versions: acknowledges the many variations of the name and the logo that will occur depending on the language and culture of the local IMC.

P.S.: IMC-Grenoble regrets that the text of the integration process is not feminized.
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