This past weekend the Borderhack 2.0 was held at Las Playas de Tijuana, Mexico. A diverse group of activists from the U.S. and Mexico came together to talk about issues related to the border, media and globalization.

Activists shared stories from past mass actions and discussed what strategies would be effective in the future against organizations like the WTO. With the upcoming meeting of the WTO being held in Qutar apparently the effectiveness of mass mobilizations may become more difficult. The possibility of future meeting being held on ships or islands makes planning new types of action important. During the November meeting in Qutar there are plans to demonstrate at stock markets around the world. Other strategies of educating more people about the concerns of the global movement were also thought to be very important. Now that the mass mobilizations have focused the attention of millions of people on the issue of globalization, it is time to start discussing the subject with people in all sectors of society.

Technology was one major focus of Borderhack 2.0. How can the internet and other new technologies be used to inform more people? There were discussions on the formation of an IMC in Tijuana. Members from San Diego IMC, Los Angeles IMC and the Bay Area IMC talked about how they have organized around the idea of creating a form of media that more people can be involved with. The importance of the global Indymedia network was a point that received much attention. Everyone was very supportive of the start of a Tijuana IMC and offered to help. Outreach to existing organizations doing grassroots media was something that I noted is an important part of organizing a new IMC.

Camping and Music was also an important part of the Borderhack event. I am interested to here comments on these parts of Borderhack 2.0. This report was only created from the events on the afternoon of Saturday, August 25, 2001.

Participate in Media!

Hi and hello to the colleagues from LA. It was very interesting to exchange ideas, opinions and bad jokes this weekend in Tijuana. Here you have some pics:

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/desdeamericaconamor/lst

(sorry for the very corporate host but we're just about to create the appropriate indepfrastructure).

And the last bit:

Trying to Hack the Subliminal Borders

"Borderhack" is an appealing word that generally draw diffuse but strong concepts in networking minds. "Tijuana" is another non-marketed appealing symbol, refering to the essence of the city existing thanks and despite a border, a frontier. And then we have the Wall, the visualization of the border itself, a combination of rotten metals and impersonal concrete columns, surveilled by border patrols, stadium lights, TV cameras and all the sensors your senses can't sense.

Then comes reality, beyond symbolisms.

The rest of the report is here (at the bottom of the thread):

http://metamute.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=35&forum=5&6

Thanks for your work and best wishes in your projects!

Great work, Jonathan! Just one quibble: it's usually a LOT more powerful to use a photo that includes people, not just a fence and a banner.