From rmalina at alum.mit.edu Tue Jan 18 10:21:30 2011 From: rmalina at alum.mit.edu (roger malina) Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 09:21:30 +0100 Subject: [Yasmin_an] yasmin policy In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yasminers Over the past several weeks we have received posts related to the swift political developments that have taken place in North Africa. After some discussion among the yasmin moderators we decided not to post these emails on YASMIN and feel that we need to clarify the yasmin approach and make sure that the YASMIN network is comfortable with the policies the moderators implement. Since the beginning of the YASMIN network we have been working hard to help network professionals in ?the arts and sciences around the mediterranean, bridging the many areas of conflict and tension. We have members of YASMIN in almost all the mediterranean region countries, and have organised events and meetings that help bring people together. Collaborative projects have emerged, in concrete ways that art science collaborations, and art and new technology projects can help create the kind of world we want in the future. There are many lists and blogs that are focused on political discussions and mobilisation and we would like YASMIN to keep focused on its primary mission to help network the arts and sciences around the mediterranean and beyond. Our experience is that political debate via email on yasmin rapidly becomes divisive; there is nothing like face to face dialogue to overcome ancient problems. We hope that the majority of yasminers will share the approach a) YASMIN discussion list remains focused on the topic under discussion, that is organised with moderators and invited respondents to seed the discussions on that topic of the month. b) YASMIN announcements are for art/science and art/technology announcements - in priority for events and opportunities around the mediterranean but welcoming postings from the whole planet. We share the desire to see political evolution in all of our countries including those in the west that seem to be unable to deal with economic, environmental challenges. We face economic and environmental challenges in the decades ahead and it is clear that our political structures are poorly adapted to the kinds of cultural and political mobilisations that will be needed in the years ahead. We hope and are confident that art-science and art-technology collaborations are part of the approaches that will be needed. We thank the YASMINERS whose posts on the recent political developments in the Mediterranean were not approved for their contributions to the debate of how YASMIN can help contribute through art science and art technology to the world we want in the future. The YASMIN moderators Roger Malina, Monica Bello, Soussi Houssine, Ricardo Mbarkho, Dimistris Charitos, Nina Czegledy, Guillermo Munoz, Pau Alsina