Talk:World Guide

From Infoshop OpenWiki

I just discovered this wiki so forgive me if I'm missing discussions that have already happened... but I'm not really sure I get the point of sections like this. It doesn't seem to provide anything that Wikipedia doesn't already do better. A brief history of the country from a radical perspective and links to a few key informational resources I can understand, but shouldn't it be more about networking radical groups then just basic info about the countries? Has there been consensus about this elsewhere? I don't want to start re-writing articles unless folks agree... --Dowcet 07:37, 29 Apr 2006 (PDT)

The World Guide will be a collection of informational entries about countries and similar subjects. Most of these entries will contain factual material, but the guide will also be an alternative kind of reference guide. What Wikipedia provides is irrelevant. There are many almanacs, encyclopedias, and world guides that are in print, but very few that have been written from an anarchist/radical point of view. Infoshop is developing a series of alternative reference works in cooperation with our supporters and comrades. The Infoshop OpenWiki will also have information and material about radical groups around the world. WikiSysop 15:55, 29 Apr 2006 (PDT)

[edit] a discussion on the World Guide

Here's a quick exchange of thoughts I had with another openwiki volunteer.

The World Guide, as I envision it, would become the anarchist version of the CIA Factbook. It's kind of like we are creating a World Almanac with an anarchist spin, or like an Almanac with the Zinn's "People's History..." infused with the content.

Yeah we should clarify that. It has the potential to be a really helpful guide. I would add to that, information on the state and economy in the country- some of the govt's most egregious agencies, how they have historically dealt with protesters, etc. For the economy a description and critique of it, its relation to the World Bank/IMF. Other things might be the general political climate (what are people angry about? confidence in state? level of nationalism?) or the environmental degradation that has taken place. Essentially information that is useful to both the local anarchists and outsiders who may be visiting for a mass summit, conference, etc.