---------
[2. Microradio: Global
Alt.Media]
[from Agent M]
http://www.radio4all.net/ is
an archive of progressive political radio programming intended for rebroadcast
on microradio. Microradio, when combined with internet distribution, could
create a stronger, cooperative and more accessable global free media. This would
be especially good for countries where computers aren't prevelent.
>Creating Independent Media
>Greetings from Free Radio Berkeley IRATE
>(International Radio Action Training Education)
Months before the police state and riot during the week of WTO actions in
Seattle a number of incredibly dedicated folks came together to create the
Seattle Independent Media Center. Its mission was to provide direct coverage
from the street through all available media. It succeeded well beyond anyone's
expectations and hopes thanks to the hard work of hundreds of media activists
and volunteers. Video and audio feeds were streamed from a web site
bringing the images and sounds of unfolding events in the streets of Seattle to
a worldwide audience. Up to the minute written reports and digital still images,
some sent directly from the street via lap-tops and wireless modems, were
available as well. A daily half-hour video was produced and fed via satellite to
community access TV centers. And, much more, including a web cast radio station,
Studio X (Voices of Occupied Seattle), which provided live running commentary,
reports from the field, etc. to a global audience. Adding to this rich media mix
were several micropower broadcast stations, one operating in Seattle and one
beaming in a signal from the Olympic Peninsula. All of the content created
during the Seattle actions is available on -
www.indymedia.org.
Based on this inspiring accomplishment, many people want to build on
this model and go forward to create independent media centers for their
regions, linking them together through the Internet. With Mayday 2000
events looming on the horizon folks are organizing to create independent media
operations to provide the needed coverage. To that end Free Radio Berkeley is
offering a series of training workshops on micropower broadcasting, internet web
casting, digital audio editing, and more. Everyone is encouraged to set up
micropower broadcasting stations for May Day 2000 despite the ruling by the FCC
creating a low power FM service, a move designed to co-opt people's efforts to
take back their airwaves from the corporate media conglomerates. Check out -
www.radio4all.org and
www.freeradio.org. It would be very
interesting if all micropower stations were linked together for an hour so on
May Day 2000 via the internet as a statement of opposition to the corporate
domination of media resources and our lives in general.
Further, it does not take much in the way of equipment to provide content
to a web site. A mid range Pentium class computer with a good quality sound card
and adequate disk storage plus a portable audio recording deck and microphone.
Using sound editing software such as Cool Edit 2000, one can create radio
programs for wide distribution.
See the web site -
www.radio4all.net - for
this. Information and links are provided on this site for creating audio
content. Video requires a bit more in terms of system capacity but the
principles are similar. Existing micropower and community radio stations are
urged to make use of the content available on the radio4all site, and to
contribute content as well. Individuals and groups can download the sound files
and transfer the audio to cassette for distribution amongst their associates and
in their community. As we approach May Day 2000 and beyond it is important that
everyone give consideration to setting up some type of informational media feed
to cover events in their area. For example check out
the site set up by Radio Lora in Berne, Switzerland to cover demonstrations
at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. That site is:
www.lora.ch/davos/index.htm
The folks who put together the software to run the web servers for the
Seattle Independent Media Center are making the source code available to anyone
who wants to replicate that type of server operation. The site
Watch out CNN, here comes ACNN - Anti Corporate News Network.
>For further information: Call 510-549-0732 or email
>to frbspd@crl.com.
>Web site:
www.freeradio.org
----------------------
[3. Richmond's Rave Permit
ByLaw]
[With this bylaw Richmond does two very important things. One, it
gives complete monopoly to only two venues in Richmond where "raves" are allowed
to be held, and two, it makes throwing smaller, non-commercial events under 500
people absolutely impossibe. With the passing of this bylaw we see the blatant
commercialisation of events and also the payoff scheme arranged for the two
approved venues. Smaller, uncommercialised events can no longer operate legally.
First, they cannot afford the mandatory policing costs; and second, they cannot
rent any venues save the two massive, politrickally-paid off "richmond halls."
No one would throw a 500 (or less) person party in a venue that holds 2000
and costs thousands of dollars to rent. This practically criminalises smaller
events. Celebrations of small pockets of culture are *illegal* through the
expense of this permit system. Agent T-X]
Subject: Richmond passes Rave Permit By-Law today
[Please note this is only a precis of the bylaw and not to be taken as an
official announcement.] This afternoon, Richmond City Council passed By-Law
No.7123 which enacted a new permit process for all commerical entertainment
events past 2 am in Richmond.
Highlights:
- permit process takes effect May 1, 2000.
- it requires an application to be submitted a minimum of 10 business days
prior to the event.
- it will cost $100 to process (this includes the actual cost of the
permit).
- promoters and vendors must have a City of Richmond business licence.
- promoter will have to provide details on such matters as: provisions for
first aid & security, crowd control, post-party neighbourhood clean up,
hours of operation, sound-proofing plans and parking and transportation
arrangements. As well they will be required to have proper insurance and to
provide access to free potable water as well as space for community-based drug
& health awareness displays.
- there must be a minimum of 1 police officer for the first 500 persons and
a further officer for each additional 250 persons.
- currently events can only take place at Riverside Banquet Hall and
Riverside Palace.
After meeting with a group of promoters on March 7th, city planners did
make some ammendments to the by-law as per requested - however some of the key
drawbacks were left intact: including the minimum policing requirement; and the
monopoly to provide venues given to Riverside Banquet Hall and Riverside Palace.
To add any other venue to the list will require a full by-law ammendment!
Some positive concessions were made though, including:
1) waiving the need for a permit before advertising, promoting, or
organising an event. Thus anyone who plans or promotes an event but does not get
a permit will have the sole responsibility of cancelling or finding another
adequate and legal space elsewhere.
Resulting from our meeting they had removed "advertise" but left "promote
and organise". However I pointed out that to promote and advertise is
essentially the same thing in our industry as well as the fact that it would be
impossible for one to apply for a permit if one hadn't even organized the event.
I couldn't believe they actually wanted us to have a permit before we even
organized the event!! [This is logically impossible-- Agent T-X]
2) changing the minimum police requirement from "1 for the first 250
patrons + 1 per 250 thereafter" to "1 for the first 500 patrons + 1 per 250
thereafter".
**After much discussion they did not believe that smaller events did not
require police - even though Vancouver doesn't require police on events 600 or
under.** However they did indicate that they would look at the data on this at
the first review period. Fortunately they also did bring down the costs for the
police - such that poicing costs would currently cost around $520 for an event
of 500 or under. [For a non-commercial event, this cost prohibits the event.
Agent T-X]
**In my opinion, the most unacceptable stipulation is the legislated
monopoly on the supply of venues. I intend to follow this up with legal counsel
to see if it is legal for them to legislate such a monopoly. Zoning by-laws as
well as the other stipulations in this by-law should be sufficient to avoid
having raves in venues that would impact negatively on Richmond.**
If you have a problem with this or any other stipulation I advise you write
a letter to the City of Richmond indicating your feelings. You can send any
comments to: Mayor Halsey-Brandt, City of Richmond 7577 Elmbridge Way Richmond,
British Columbia Canada, V6X 2Z8; Phone: (604) 276-4123;Fax: (604) 276-4332; or
e-mail the Mayor's Assistant (Hilda Ward) @
hward@city.richmond.bc.ca]
A copy of the new by-law should be available on the City of Richmond
website for public viewing sometime soon. You should be able to find more info
at this url in a day or two:
Unfortunately we find ourselves in the position again where we've taken a
positive step forward that will need some fine-tuning for it to be truly
inclusive & effective. However it is a huge first step that needed to be
taken and brings us that much closer to something more acceptable.
Dave @ High End Productions
-------------------
[4. stimuli]
[musik]
[dnb]
Check out Tamara's show and the Tech Itch and Decoder set
Dara's show Velocity every week. NYC
DnB Arena, of course
[other musik]
[other things]
pomo storytelling machine
---------------------
[5.
deployment]
::techno deployment across canada and the west
coast::
mar24[vic] Jae Chubb &
Spencer @ Neptune Soundbar
mar25[vic] Q LIVE @ Neptune
Soundbar
apr01[van] FOOL'S DAY
PARADE. 12 noon. 1055 Beach Ave., start.
apr3[van] LTJ BUKEM @
Sonar
apr9-16[washington DC] A16:
IMD/World Bank DEMO.
apr15[vic] Pilgrims of the
Mind LIVE @ Neptune Soundbar
may6[van] <STC> musikal resistance @ la quena.
7-11pm