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Threats to journalists and activists

Why is this an important topic for European journalists to cover? Simple - because from this research we know how russian secret services are integrated in the economic, public and politic systems in Europe. Also we see how random the choice of people to poison can be: opposition leaders, activists, journalists, former colleagues - it can be anyone. And they all move freely in Europe. They know where to get the information, they have access to data. This is worrying, and I think European media, journalists, investigators must give attention to this, because the European public must know these details about the regime Western leaders want to find peace with.

It is quite certain that these secret services have access to booking.com’s database in real time.The terror that since the russian revolutions is part of the state, is actually already in Europe. And European public - sand worse: politicians are choosing not to see it. 3 hour interview with Elena Kostyuchenko with english subs: https://youtu.be/CobxH2gH4pM

Our pols don't comprehend that there are those who laugh at our open society and vulnerability and see it as rot. Laughing, they send their kids to live here, get their health care here and drive a mercedes, and the irony of the contradiction is lost.

• The independent outlet The Insider has published an investigation into a series of poisoning attacks targeting Russian journalists and activists in Europe. In October 2022, Elena Kostyuchenko, a journalist for Novaya Gazeta and Meduza, was poisoned in Munich, and Irina Babloyan, who works for Ekho Moskvy, was poisoned in Tbilisi. In May 2023, Natalia Arno, the president of the Free Russian Foundation, showed symptoms of poisoning. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/08/15/the-most-likely-explanation
• https://www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/how-they-tried-to-kill-me/
• Kostuchenko's poisoning, https://kyivindependent.com/meduza-russian-journalist-allegedly-victim-of-poisoning-in-germany/

UKRAiNATV

• https://networkcultures.org/events/24hr-ukrainatv/
• first more or less comprehensive text about the philosophy of ukrainatv, run out of krakow and now also kyiv (@collidor, together with carbon) https://networkcultures.org/tactical-media-room/2023/12/21/stream-art-or-the-third-avant-garde-introduction-to-hybrid-togetherness/

UKRAiNATV ready for the opening at Framer Framed

• ▷https://youtube.com/@streamartstudio?si=RrAwsmXniGC9DWex
• ▷https://m.twitch.tv/streamartstudio
• ▷https://ukrainatv.streamart.studio

efir62 In this episode we will take a look at how people are adapting to live, find peace, and create in times of crisis. we're talking to Mykhailo Mazepa and Sofi Bondar about turning war barricades into furniture (architecture meets activism). Aircraft will share his synth-wave pop journey across Europe. Fat Frumos, the force behind Suck Puck Records, dives into the breakcore and rave scene ecstatic rituals. Beats'n'Beans will discuss their tea ceremonies and their upcoming appearance at UKRAiNATV during Unsound. Satin de Compostela previews one of the next efir editions which will be focused on rituals, magic, and spirituality in postindustrial world. We'll also connect with Norway and converse about our experiences during workshops in the Academy of Fine Arts in Trondheim. And don't miss Sofia's tale of wrestling with Polish bureaucracy at the airport (real-life drama). It's a packed lineup, all about the gatherings and rituals that shape our lives. Yevgeniy Demydenko will set some tranquil vibes with his saxophone solo. To top it off Romek will unveil our plans for the 4TH SEASON @ UKRAiNATV and we’ll give stage to our one and only Gleb with his PINK CORE set.

• https://www.twitch.tv/inc_void
• https://networkcultures.org/tactical-media-room/2023/10/05/ukrainatv-manifesto/
• UkrainaTV promo (3 minutes): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dtiJ45Rtep2-i-_6FVd5zyPJ17CMmeYe/view
• In case you want to meet the three members of the Krakow-based UkrainaTV, they are in Amsterdam next week from March 6-11. Let me know if you want to make an appointment. They give two public presentations, one at our Spui25 conference on Thursday and a workshop on streaming art at Framer Framed on Friday. More here: https://networkcultures.org/events/save-the-date-inc-conference-9-10-march-2023-in-between-media-hybrid-tactics-in-the-crisis-era/

Crisis reporting

• Institute of Mass Information in Kyiv https://fixersandjournalists.humanities.uva.nl/
• The Russian press in Exile petition to the EUropean Parliament
  
• Independent_Russian_Journalists_Relie File:Independent Russian Journalists Relief.pdf
• UKRAiNATV #EFIR 42 (01/S3SON iii) https://www.youtube.com/live/t87V0aOhbhk?feature=share

Resources

• Nextcloud folder for the Tactical Media Room.  !pwd protected
• Shaping the NVC Community (Nonviolent Communication) Response to the Russia-Ukraine War https://nvctraining.com/nvc-library/video/shaping-the-nvc-community-response-to-the-russia-ukraine-war?highlight=WyJ1a3JhaW5lIl0=

how to talk about the russian invasion

Resources, fellowships, and grants for journalists and media workers affected by conflict.

• fellowship & grant opportunity for collaborative journalism - share with your friends in need: https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/jobs/apply-collaborative-journalism-fellowship
• https://nias.knaw.nl/fellowships/safe-haven-fellowship/ The NIAS Safe Haven fellowship supports scholars, artists, writers and journalists who are not able to do their work in their current location because of the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The call for 2024/25 will be open from 15 January - 18 March 12:00 PM CET
• Call for Applications: Display Europe Micro-Grants – European Cultural Foundation We invite individual journalists and small media organisations to apply for a micro-grant. https://culturalfoundation.eu/stories/call-for-applications-display-europe-micro-grants/
• Commitee to protect journalists https://cpj.org/statements/
• small individual grants for media and cyber activists in need/at risk https://wiki.techinc.nl/MeshNet#Funding
• I am doing art projects in support of the new JX Fund run by the Reporters without Borders. It’s a fun project involving animation and merch like T-shirts and All the frog it’s will go to the JX Fund.https://twitter.com/sophiakornienko/status/1511714026044198914?s=21&t=AMrsglWqI0TpdOKwVMVCeQ
• The PEN Charter ~ PEN Ukraine PEN affirms that: Literature knows no frontiers and must remain common currency among people despite political or international upheavals. In all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works - https://pen.org.ua/en/hartiya

Resources for digital security, alternative communication methods, and tech volunteering.

• https://wiki.techinc.nl/MeshNet#Funding
• dComms Decentralized communications that work with or without the Internetdcomm.net.ua. This is a useful tool for regular people for connecting with family & friends, if their internet is flaky : https://dcomm.net.ua/
• Learning security courses https://wiki.techinc.nl/TacticalMediaRoom/Workshops#Learning security courses
• Online, self-paced courses offered to journalists https://totem-project.org/
• the Free University Moscow created this new and for some here probably useful Telegram channel: https://t.me/FreeStudentMedia. (NB in Russian only though, so it seems)
• Here’s another mailing list if you want to share events & local (Dutch?) opportunities: https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/17-meetings
• Educational content on data security for volunteering developers. https://dev.to/cossacklabs/10-tips-for-volunteering-devs-from-data-security-engineers-102a

Digital Rights and Online Safety

• https://www.accessnow.org/guide/staying-safe-online-in-the-context-of-conflict-in-gaza/
• Digital rights experts will help activists, NGO workers and lawyers to request their data that is held by Europol. Webinar: Activists and NGOs under watch! Are you are in Europol’s databases? - European Digital Rights (EDRi). Invite for lawyers, journalists, activists: https://edri.org/take-action/events/webinar-activists-and-ngo-europol-databases/

Support for academics, researchers, and cultural workers affected by conflict.

• It might be good to add a note somewhere in that list on how the same need is urgent for academics and cultural workers at risk (from Ru & Be, I’d say). No need to expand the initiative, a mere alert/extra sentence would help in flagging this broader need. (Ellen) We are writing an open letter to the ministry of foreign affairs in NL. I already mentioned this here, really need support in placing the letter. We are finishing it on Thursday (Kris)
• New media project initiated by international scientific community to open up the discussion in Russia and Ukraine about rebuilding of scientific life after the war. https://www.t-invariant.org/

• Senior EU official calls for a ‘Radio Free Russia’ to help exiled media Vĕra Jourová says the bloc has a moral duty and the project would not necessarily mean a new station https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/senior-eu-official-calls-for-a-radio-free-russia-to-help-exiled-media?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

• Got a reply from @EUparliament Human Rights chair @MariaArenaEU saying immediate measures to grant emergency visas to independent journos/ temp shelter in the EU is a priority. I know many independent Russian information workers have trouble accessing EU visas, grants denied! (17 05 2022) https://twitter.com/sophiakornienko/status/1526655159203405825
• UvA professor Ellen Rutten wants European university for refugee academics https://www.folia.nl/international/150626/uva-professor-ellen-rutten-wants-european-university-for-refugee-academics

Organizations and initiatives focused on civil rights, political participation, and advocacy.

• GONG is a civil society organization founded in the 1997 to encourage citizens to participate more actively in the political process. GONG works on improvement of human and civil rights. GONG promotes culture of dialogue, openness, transparency and accountability in the public sphere through research, advocacy and education, individually or together with individuals and organizations who share GONG's values.www.youtube.com live:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkOUw6ldlzqMj8LYB71uZUA
• Don’t help Putin and Lukashenko silence anti-war voices - Access Now https://www.accessnow.org/putin-lukashenko/
• invite for lawyers, journalists, activists: https://edri.org/take-action/events/webinar-activists-and-ngo-europol-databases/
• https://thisisnotgoogledocs.waag.org/Products/Files/DocEditor.aspx?fileid=1711&doc=RDRqd005Q0YrdHJOczVMQmJrL21JVjRjN0pEdlVKSUhJYi9UTlNMRytWQT0_IjE3MTEi0

Media and Journalism

• possible speakers on historical peace in East Europe: Vladimir Pastukhov (Russian politicologist, born and studied in Kyiv), Ekaterina Shulman, Tatiana Weizer, Evert van der Zweerde from Radboud university, Gulnaz Sibgatullina, Ilya Budraitskis and now imprisoned Kagarlitskiy, Sana Valiulina

Social and Political Activism

• Call: Grip op polarisatie - https://www.sidnfonds.nl/call-grip-op-polarisatie
• I have started an association of Belarusians in Netherlands.We are already at 34 members! https://www.belarusians.nl/nl

Open Source and Digital Infrastructure

• Zo bouw je een open source infrastructuur voor een conferentie - PublicSpaces Deze tweede conferentie van PublicSpaces wilden we onze digitale infrastructuur volgens publieke waarden en met open source tools opzetten. https://publicspaces.net/2022/06/22/zo-bouw-je-een-open-source-infrasturctuur-voor-een-conferentie/

Open source intelligence

• https://restofworld.org/2022/osint-viral-ukraine/
• https://t.me/avtozaklive It’a journalist legal project, that tracks protests and detentions and unlawful actions of police in Russia