Indymedia Media Centres G8 2005

It's clear there may have to be several media centres, depending on how mobilisation infrastructure develops. This is similar to what imc tried to set up for the Evian Geneva G8 in 2003.

Edinburgh Media Centre

please do no put location or id details yet

Legally hired building secured. Central City Location.
Covering preiod MONDAY 27th June - Sunday 10th July

Team established to work on liaison.

Key Deadline Dates:

UPDATE: 11th May

** IMC can use two additional interconnecting rooms for 2 weeks without charge if we tart them up - I'm happy to take a lead on this - prob 2 days work and £100 materials (build stud plasterboard wall and paint) - this is a good deal!

** IMC can rent 3rd room - cost £175 for one week - recommend taking this offer.

** IMC can go ahead ordering more connectivity etc etc Currently there is 1 meg ADSL connection being already upgraded to 2 meg.

** IMC may get use of a photocopier if IMC provides toner cartridge and paper

** IMC has permission to use lockable storage room for kit.

UPDATE: 24th April

It's a truly great building, and a very nice place for imc to be! Owned by charitable trust - good relations and feedback in all discussions so far.

Since the space is available for the entire week before the main protests and events begin, there is adequate time for set up. Space is therefore available for training workshops directly ahead of the protests etc - a programme of which can be developed.

ENVIRONMENT:
Pretty well situated in central Edinburgh + Good transport links. From the evolving plans for G8 related edinburgh infrastructure, it looks like there will be adequate dedicated info-spaces with stalls, cheap food and booze, evening entertainments, as well as convergence spaces and perhaps large scale camping / crash venue. All this means that pressure on the imc should be much reduced compared to previous mobilisations.

ACCESS TIMES:
To be decided by core imc network collectives.
NB other spaces in edinburgh should also have computers and at least one should be 24hr access.
NB policy of no sleeping at imc.
NB core collective groups need to decide which day the centre will open for public imc access
(ie is this the first day sat 25th june? or monday 27th? etc - how much prep time is needed - when will computer arrive?)

ACCESS:
Two doors from street. Suitable space for check in desk for access to main imc hall.

CONNECTIVITY:

UPDATE: 11th May

Currently has 1 meg ADSL being upgraded to 2 meg soon - we order more

Currently has broadband and wi-fi. Need to boost broadband connection significantly and beef up wi-fi. Chuck in another additional phone line as well.

NB Building is NON SMOKING. A strong stance needs to be taken on this (eg putting in all info materials and signs up on walls), and anyway the main imc space should really be non smoking as people will have to work there for long hours and it's not fair on non-smokers.

TOILETS:
2 x 2 in seperate rooms. No urinals. Washbasins, no hand dryers.
1 Additional.

FIRE:
Building has adequate fire extinguishers, up to date. Need additional C02 electric specific extinguishers.
Fire plan exists with assembly points etc + 1 additional fire exit.

MAIN IMC HALL:

Single large square space. Lots of daylight. Lots of wall space for exhibitions / notice boards.

Lots of space capacity for tables with computers to be arranged as people see fit. Example - if arranged in simple back to back trestle table style straight lines then wouild easily fit 60 machines, with enough space for 20 laptop connection points - and a 'lounge area' with a few sofas and an area for coffeee machine / food storage. Not saying that's how it should be just an idea of capacity.

Tables and chairs: There are 7 hexagonal tables and about 25 university style chairs with those small flip over arm rests. These are not ideal - the hexagonal tables could be used but if you go for this seating arrangement then cabling becomes more complex, though of course it's good for groups of people that want to work together. Either way more tables and chairs will need to be sourced for the hall.

Has good positions for banner hanging, running cables overhead, projecting on walls etc

Power and connectivity of course need more attention, but people are working on that.

Main issue will be COMPUTERS...
- how many? sourced from where? transported how? delivered on which day? networked how and in what way? with what clients? operational by which date? etc etc
NB a few people making enquiries in scotland to source large uniform batches.

CAFE SPACE:

The building also contains a good size cafe space with small kitchen. The space will be open access to all - imc can control access to imc parts of building if it so chooses. The cafe which does cheapish vegetarian and vegan food, tea and coffee, will be open throughout the duration, 10am - midnight each day. Access to imc can be either through cafe are or via other entrance. There is an existing cafe managing group with a core of volunteers who will run the cafe. They have experience of busy times from the edinburgh festival. A series of briefing meetings is arranged for the weeks before for their volunteers where imc can discuss practicalities and a final co-ordination meeting will happen at the start of the two week imc hire period. It needs to be made clear that this particular part of the space is a collaboration - and not soly imc space.

The cafe space is the responsibility of the cafe collective, but they of course will co-ordinate with imc on requirements. It would be nice if some imc volunteers also did some shifts in the cafe as well. The cafe space is cosy and welcoming, pretty big, has tables, chairs and sofas, and will be wi-fi enabled for the g8 - so a nice relaxing space for people sitting around and drinking coffee with laptops. Has sound system, projector, screen etc etc - so possible to show films in evenings, do smaller discussions etc - proposals for specific activities that can be advertised to be suggested in next few weeks.

A few additional open access machines can be situated in cafe area as well.

Have asked about wall exhibition space here as well.

Note: space is not a 'party' space, restricions on music volume at night, no alcohol for sale on premises, core cafe area locked at midnight. It's a very nice chill space which in fact is exactly what's wanted

ADDITIONAL ROOMS:

See 11th May Update Above

There are some additional rooms away from the main imc hall that imc can possibly use. Proposals are being made to the building to see what is possible and will be full report back as this progresses. Possible usage for rooms could be radio / video / print etc.

Room #1 Currently in use and good order. Would have to be hired seperately, though if participatory training comes as part of proposal then cost much lower. Has existing sufficient power sockets.

Room #2 Currently not in use, though has been used previously. Has existing sufficient power sockets.

Room #3 Connects to room #2. Not in use. To get it up to usable standard some plaster board would have to be replaced etc. This is totaly possible for a few volunteers estimated time 2 days, estimated total cost £80 - 100. Building keen on such a proposal.

A couple of other rooms exist, but these are either venue office rooms or store rooms. These rooms will be locked. Store room keys to stay with building.

ARTS ROOM:

There is a small room that is used for arts exhibitions by an autonomous artists collective. They have content scheduled for the g8 period. We have proposed 2 things:

1) IMC provide content for the room instead during the g8 - eg picture / graphic exhibition on walls, and video (tv or projection) within.

2) If existing artists collective want to retain sole control over room for their own content, we have made it clear that the room needs to both be in the spirit of the main building for the g8 period, and also functional - ie the room will become another space for people to hang out in and they need to take into consideration that the building will see periods of heavy usage, unlike standard day to day current usage.

ADDITIONAL:

Building houses two photocopiers, but are owned and used by group there - have asked about securing use if imc provides new ink cartridge and paper.

Glasgow Media Centre

UPDATE: 23rd April 05

Several groups now collaborating towards Glasgow base.

Several venues are being looked at - one is available for more of an info-space and some video editing rather than a full on open access media space.

A space in glasgow will be useful for the cre8 summit carnival day and the make borders history glasgow events as well as a lot of people returning from the faslane blockade. it's clear that on other days that the space may not be needed by so many folks.

One idea was to call it something like the Glasgow Independent Media Alliance in collaboration with Indymedia etc - kind of like the way people in the states have done with previous mobilisations - eg see the "NYC Grassroots Media Coalition" imc centre for the RNC protests last year: http://www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org/mediaspace/?p=main

See 22nd april report email to imc-g8 list here

Mobile Media Centres / Support Vehicles

Since many events may take place over a wide distance and many in rural areas without indymedia infrastructure it will be be necessary to organise mobile units.

UPDATE 11th May

£500 has been agreed for mobile media internet connectivity, wireless network and a suite of 20 LTSP laptops.

proposal
http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-process/2005-March/0317-g2.html

support
http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-process/2005-March/0320-0m.html

confirmation
http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-process/2005-March/0330-40.html

We will be able to bring quite a bit of wireless kit (depending on the topology a network up to 1km2) as well as a LTSP laptop internet suite of 20 computers.

depending on the final location of the truck we can do a live webcam stream as well.

We can provide photo and audio/video upload facilities or a radio stream?

If anyone has a rickshaw/trike we can try to build somthing truely mobile like this
http://psand.net/itrike/

End March Update: 1 Satellite truck confirmed - comes with 20 computer suite.

Ideas include satellite trucks to provide connectivity.
Vehicles with mini media centres - eg suite of 5 laptops.
Vehicles with video + audio equipment.
Rapid response media teams.

Some may make up a fully functioning mobile media centre, others may just provide logistics support to media activists on the ground.

POWER KIT

To set up with off-the-grid facilities for 5 laptops running 12 hours a day for 7 days straight, would require about 3000 pounds for the solar and wind gear. The batteries in the setup (a) would cost about 640 pounds, and would be enough to keep the centre running (again, 5 laptops, 12 hours a day) for 7 days.

CONFIRMED VEHICLES

Van 4 - Satellite Truck - comes with suite of 20 computers, and photo upload facility, WiFi connectivity- will be based at Rural convergance centre.

POSSIBLE VEHICLES

Van 1 - Power Truck - contact made in Birmingam - Trailer Office (no use of actual truck) - expenses required

Van 2 - faslane related - 5 computers - no power (estimate need soalr panel / 4x£45 batteries / inverter £50)
Van 3 - possible extra camper van

Van 5 - Possible extra power truck (a la BGG)

WIFI

Plans for various wifi hotspots

Media Access Points - Convergence centres / Campsites

Depending on how things develop there's a desire to set up media access facilities / media centres where ever the main convergences of people will be.

UPDATE: 23rd April 05

There are several evolving plans / discussions for various large scale campsites / crash spaces.

IMC has been in discussion with relavant groups for locating imc / alt media facilities at these spaces.

If a rural based campsite then it's the obvious place to deploy the satellite and power trucks. A large (waterproof!) tent will also be needed, but if imc cannot source this then offers of assistance have been made. There are some mainland european media groups who have expressed an interest in helping with this infrastructure. The idea for different themed 'zones' has been suggested - it has also been suggested that imc facilities are located within a common general infrastructure central zone that would include legal and medical etc

Currently the negotiations and discussions about these spaces are still in play, and so there's little else that can be said. Once things are finalised things will be much clearer, but for now it's clear that such alt media facilitiesd need to be where ever the large concentrations of people are.

* Rural Convergence Campsite - Marquee available - Camps to be split into 'zones' - Participation in camp spokescouncil requested.

* Urban Convergence Spaces (liase to ensure access points + conectivity)

* NB Meadowbank Stadium has been suggested by the local council as mass accomodation space, but is currently booked by the police as their main barracks - has 4 massive halls and pitch area - see google location map
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