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- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!tulane!ukma!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
- From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
- Subject: Part II of: Origins of activ-l and MAP: The PACH Project (autopost)
- Message-ID: <1992Dec19.093006.14803@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
- Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Sender: news@mont.cs.missouri.edu
- Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Organization: PACH
- Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 09:30:06 GMT
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Lines: 369
-
- Progressive Alliance ClearingHouse -- Part II
-
- [See "Thinking About Effectiveness" auto-posted earlier, which
- is Part I of the PACH project]
-
- ====================================
- PART II: Description of PACH Project
- ====================================
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- --> [Send the 1-line message GET PROJECT PACH-2 ACTIV-L to ]
- [LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET for a copy of this file. ]
- --> [Send GET ACTIV-L ARCHIVE ACTIV-L to above address for a ]
- [listing with brief descriptions of other files available]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- In order to fulfill goal (5) above, and in working towards the other
- goals, we need a central network for communication and cooperation
- among peace groups, for sharing and disseminating information and
- resources, and for the coordination of activist projects; a
- Progressive Alliance Clearing House (PACH).
-
- The PSN-EN Project:
- ===================
-
- As part of this overall project, we would link electronically (and
- otherwise) Progressive Student Newspapers (PSNs) and form a PSN-EN
- (PSN Electronic Network). The advantages for the PSNs are clear, and
- include the sharing or articles, ideas, and advice among editors, and
- a massive increase in the amount of information available to PSNs, as
- via PeaceNet and other components of PACH to be discussed below.
-
- However, the greatest benefits of this project will come from the
- information access made available to potentially millions of students,
- as well as activists without access to computers, who currently are
- effectively insulated from receiving vital information by the
- mainstream news media; vital information which the PACH network,
- through the PSN-EN, could provide.
-
- In addition, the PSN network would go a long way toward linking
- campus peace groups with each other, and with the activist world at
- large. While one of PACH's purposes is the coordination of activism in
- general, the PSN network could facilitate the planning and
- carrying out of campus activism, -- a higher-quality, more effective,
- more informing campus activism at that.
-
- This includes national campus activist drives and themes (e.g.
- "X-Week"), speakers' tours, and informational tours, e.g. national
- campus tours of videos like "Voices From Panama" and "COVERUP: Behind
- The Iran-Contra Affair," etc, which could be put together more quickly
- and efficiently, at a lower average cost, and with a higher overall
- quality due to access to more organizations and resources.
-
- On the financial side, to which we later return from a wider
- perspective, cooperation between the PSN network and national
- progressive newspapers/publications (NPNs) like The Nation and In
- These Times, would clearly promise substantial benefits to both
- parties, in terms of revenue (and possible re-running of NPN articles)
- for PSNs, and additional subscription revenue for the NPNs. Perhaps
- most importantly, this would facilitate increasing substantially the
- number of students getting quality alternative (i.e., what the
- mainstream censors out or distorts) information. So along with PSN-EN,
- we've alluded to a second component of PACH, namely these NPNs. I
- should mention here that Charlie Forcey has interned at The Nation
- this past summer, and has contacts there, e.g. Neil Black.
-
- This idea is not new; Activist Mailing List (AML) member Charlie
- Forcey, editor of Princeton's Progressive Review, gives an overview of
- the Network of Alternative Student Papers (NASP) and New Liberation
- News Service (NLNS) in the appendix, and the Progressive Review is now
- part of a network of over a hundred PSNs. But this idea needs support.
-
- The Info-coop
- =============
-
- A database of PSNs' articles, NPN's articles and other resources (see
- below) would be the informational heart of PACH; this "information
- coop" (info-coop) would allow an activist -e.g. someone writing an
- article for a PSN- to ask for a variety of different categories of
- information, for example for:
-
- "FAIR's report `The Media Goes To War...";
- "Greenpeace's [latest] calendar of upcoming events",
- "LADB's Central America Update, 10/3/90";
- "Amnesty's '88 report on `death squads' in El Salvador"
- "Zeta Magazine's [or WOLA's or..] address";
- "What legislation is/upcoming in the House/in committee re..?"
- "Details of covert operations `reform' bill"
- "Contents of CoverAction Inf. Bulletin's [or..] latest issue"
-
- Etc; the key role is to get vital, otherwise censored information to
- millions of students (and eventually, to the public at large)
-
- There are other categories of information which are useful for
- activists; in the AML library, I have compiled the following resource
- files:
-
- * American Friends Service Committee catalog of publications/videos
- * Fairly large file of progressive publications
- * Fairly large file of progressive/peace groups
- * File of quotes (e.g. Dom Helder "When I gave food to the poor,..")
- * File w/various ill-publicized but important statistics
- (e.g. stats of reverse robin-hood of the 80's; application of DP)
- * File describing "Socially Conscious Investments" from Working Assets
- Money Fund and other groups; plus related items
- * Files with government tels/addresses; media and Senate label-ready
- addresses, etc.
- * File with AI and other independent/peace groups' videos
- * We will be scanning in [thanks->Dave Ratcliffe] the entire Amnesty
- International '90 catalog of publications, which includes a
- comprehensive listing of over 100 country reports; also, South End
- Press's catalog of publications; list of speakers on issues, etc.
- * File of Advertisers from progressive publications, for advert-coop.
-
- Between PeaceNet and UseNet and the PSN-EN, one part of the nuts and
- bolts of the info-coop would be a moderated UseNet newsgroup
- "misc.peace.pach," making available to the PSN network, to the UseNet,
- PeaceNet, and other on-line activists, resources from: these
- components; plus items from the AML library, especially resource
- files; and articles from PSNs and eventually from NPNs; finally, AML
- and or alt.peace.pach would offer a human resource: the technical
- support necessary to build the PSN-EN, helping PSNs get on line, etc.
-
- Two bits of technology would be very useful here: first, an archiver
- which would enable instantaneous "replies" to the list of questions
- above, and to obtaining resource files; an activist, e.g. someone
- writing a PSN article, could send the archiver a command like "send
- nader.tax.stats" or "send AI.rprt.ES" to receive these files. A second
- piece of technology to be implemented would be an automatic poster
- which would periodically post resource files; indices of AML/info-coop
- files; and introductory files "about PeaceNet" or "about PSN-EN" etc;
- these posts would automatically go not just to the proposed PACH
- newsgroup but also to alt.activism and other groups when appropriate
- (e.g. soc.rights.human; soc.culture.l-a)
-
- So PACH (or, it's electronic component) would include:
-
- (1)The PSN-EN; (2)PeaceNet, EcoNet, UseNet, etc; (3) NPN's;
- (4)Linking electronically with national peace groups (creating UseNet
- access/audiences for groups on PeaceNet, putting "on line" groups
- which are not, etc)
- (5)A Central database with info from (1)-(4);
- (6)A clearinghouse for progressive advertisers as a financial base.
-
- As to this last item, it would encompass more than just agreement
- between the PSN-EN and various NPNs; here's an excerpt from a recent
- letter:
-
- ...Ms. magazine's no-advertising decision is exactly the wrong
- solution to the right(ly defined by them) problem... what the Left
- needs is a good source of $, which the Right has because they promote
- agendas beneficial to those *with* $, hence, to belabor the obvious,
- they are given $ by these elites to publish, put things on TV, etc; so
- PACH comes in by having a centralized clearing house of names and
- addresses of progressive advertisers, both national and the many, many
- small locals (which will have to provide much of the sustaining
- $-blood; few multi-billion-$ corp.'s are likely to advertise with
- PSNs/NPNs). Left publications help them grow as we get PSNs to
- improve, cooperate, and so, expand audience; they help us grow w/$..
-
- This is clearly necessary if we're serious about the goals at the end
- of the introductory file, e.g., a national progressive cable channel. We
- conclude with a diagrammatic sketch of PACH, followed by a table of
- short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
-
- A D i a g r a m m a t i c S k e t c h o f P A C H
- =========================================================
-
- work together
- (millions of students) <--- [PSNs] <-----------> [Campus Peace Groups]
- ^ information
- |
- v
- _______ ________ ___________
- /PeaceNet\ tech/ \ articles / \
- | EcoNet |<->[misc.pach]->| PSN-EN | <-------> | Nat'l PNs |
- \__etc___/ ^ asst\________/ $ \___________/
- / | |
- / |$ |$
- _/ | |
- [UseNet] <- ##############|######################|##############
- | # [Network of Progressive Advertisers] #
- | # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #
- v # * I N F O - C O O P * #
- [other] # - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #
- [people] # Resource File Libr.; Archiver; Automatic Poster #
- ####################################################
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- [There should be dashed lines of "info" from PeaceNet etc box, via
- misc.pach, to PSN-EN and NPNs; lines from Resource Library (and
- Info-Coop in general) to various components, etc. Eventually we want to
- reach tens of millions of Americans, having linked not just with PSNs
- but with local/regional progressive newspapers/TV stations.]
- ==================================================================
-
- Short-, Medium-, and Long- term goals:
- ======================================
-
- Short Medium Long
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- Create misc.pach at UseNet Create PSN-EN finish PSN-EN;
- Automatic posting software with:NASP/NLNS; work on PACH,
- Quality/organized archiver PeaceNet,EcoNet; electronic&non
-
- Build contacts with NASP/NLNS Work on: Reach out
- Build contacts with PeaceNet Database software to all U.S.
- Build contacts with Nation,etc $-coop peace groups
-
- Contact Institute for S&C Dev. start reaching out: National
- [who do Zeta;NLNS;SouthE Press] to campus groups; cable &
- groups not "on line" newspaper
-
- AMLers advertise project, and PeaceNet,AML,misc.pach ???
- use their contacts to bring people use contacts ???
- people in to bring people in ???
-
- ##################################################################
-
-
- APPENDIX: Re Institute for S&C Change; NLNS; NASP; FAIR project:
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- [From inside front cover of Fall 1990 South End Press Catalog:]
-
- "South End Press is part of the non-profit Institute for Social and
- Cultural Change. Related projects include: *Zeta* Magazine, a monthly
- political publication; the Publishers Support Project, a vehicle for
- sharing publishing experience and equipment with progressive media in
- the U.S. and around the world; Speak Out!, a speakers bureau
- presenting 50 knowledgeable activists and writers; and the New
- Liberation News Service, providing articles, photos, and graphics by
- and for the student movement. If you would like more information on
- any of these projects, please write to us at our editorial office,
- 116 Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115"
-
- [Also contact FAIR re speakers, media/PSN advice, and cooperation on
- the whole PACH project itself -- contact (and self-descriptive info as
- below for Institute) FAIR with David Ratcliffe [dave@sgi.com ||
- dave@ratmandu.csd.sgi.com] -- Harel]
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- [CBFORCEY%PUCC.BITNET (Charlie Forcey)]:
-
- ..The Nation internship went well and gave me some strong contacts
- there. These may be useful for your project if you can specify exactly
- what you want from the Nation and it doesn't cost them much. Neil
- Black [general manager of The Nation -HB], who you mentioned, is
- extremely nice and will do whatever he can to put more of the Nation
- into our hands.[..]Part of my internship was to continue and finish a
- manual for student journal(s/ists)[..]working on the manual brought me
- into close contact with NASP people[..]and NLNS people. My paper is
- part of the network (now over a hundred papers strong) and is working
- to computerize the article sharing
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Network of Alternative Student Papers (NASP) was founded in 1985 (or
- so) by students working for a vigorous student and community paper in
- Vermont called The Gadfly. It has floated around for a number of
- years (California, etc) in an effort to keep it decentralized and
- build national members. For those years, its primary function was to
- maintain a mailing list of alternative student papers that would, in
- theory, mail their issues to each other using the list. Money and
- disorganization prevented most papers from doing so. Recently, NASP
- has moved to Boston and the THISTLE, MIT's radical student bi-weekly.
- There the network took a more serious turn, recruiting more actively,
- purging the mailing list of defunct addresses, and organizing national
- meetings that got things rolling in new directions. Proposed projects
- include: BITNET mailings of issue copy to member papers, advertising
- syndicate to pay NASP's expenses, a large national conference in the
- winter, and last but not least, The New Liberation News Service
- (NLNS).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- NLNS was conceived by this group and a number of other NASPers around
- the country, but it was actually brought into being this summer by
- Jason Pramas who is their single paid staff member. The idea, as you
- all may have read elsewhere, was to revive the concept of the old
- Liberation News Service, and produce timely, reprintable, and
- important packets of articles which are then sent to all the member
- newspapers. The first packet is out and another one is on its way
- soon. I can't judge too well what the quality of the articles are
- going to be like since I am reluctant to judge their first one. There
- were several good articles, in my opinion, and a number that I don't
- think should have been included. The idea is excellent though and the
- school year is just beginning. There is talk, but so far no action,
- on a BITNET version of the packet which would be much faster and
- cheaper for all.
-
- NLNS Contact: Jason Pramas, NLNS // P.O. Box 325 // Kendall Square Branch
- Cambridge, MA 02142. (617) 492-8316
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- Jason may be reached electronically at: dmstern@ATHENA.MIT.EDU
- --HB
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- The FAIR media campaign is just beginning this Fall with Princeton
- planned as one of their first campus visits sometime in November. I
- will, of course, know more about their effectiveness then, but for
- know I can outline what they hope to do. They plan to provide two
- things to campuses: 1) a number of speakers on issues of media bias
- and media strategies for activists. These events are intended for
- general audiences (hopefully large), though they are willing to work
- in a workshop format with a sponsoring student newspaper. 2)
- financial and logistical assistance for student papers in desperate
- need or just starting up. Funding is apparently coming through by
- January and will support a few papers a year with small grants. They
- have a comprehensive packet that explains all of this in more detail.
-
- Contact: FAIR, Renu Nahata // 130 W. 25 St. // New York, NY 10001.
- (212) 633-6700.
-
- ##################################################################
-
- "Those who wish to play a meaningful role in influencing public
- policy or changing its institutional base must begin with honest
- inquiry, in community with others if it is to be effective. [...]
-
- "There will be little hope for further progress unless the means to
- carry out these first steps are preserved and enhanced: networks
- of local organizations, media and publishers who do not bend to
- state and private power, and so on. These first steps interact:
- the organizations will not function without access to information
- and analysis, independent media and publishing will not survive
- without the participation and intellectual and financial
- contributions of popular organizations [...]
-
- "There are no magic answers, no miraculous methods to overcome the
- problems we face, just the familiar ones: honest search for
- understanding, education, organization, action that raises the
- costs of state violence for its perpetrators or that lays the
- basis for institutional change -- and the kind of commitment that
- will persist despite the temptations of disillusionsment, despite
- many failures and only limited successes, inspired by the hope of
- a brighter future.
-
- --Conclusion of Turning the Tide, by Noam Chomsky.
-
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- feedback --> pach@pencil.cs.missouri.edu is always welcome (if or more
- general interest, CC to activ-l@umcvmb.bitnet). It is suggested that
- you read part I first; request "proj.intro" from
- harelb@mssun7.msi.cornell.edu for a copy if one is still not archived
- at the time of this post; try using the GET command with PROJECT
- PACH-1 first.
-
- ======================================
- To get a file named FILE NAME from the
- archiver (files are two words separa-
- ted by a space), send the 1-line message
-
- GET FILE NAME ACTIV-L
-
- to: LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET
- [or: LISTSERV@UMCVMB.MISSOURI.EDU]
- ======================================
-
- Use GET with the file ACTIV-L ARCHIVE for a listing of
- files available with the GET command.
-
- e.g., send GET ACTIV-L ARCHIVE ACTIV-L to LISTSERV@UMCVMB.BITNET to be
- emailed the index of archived files.
-
-