I have this idea, a sort of crusade I've adopted.

Pacifica has been under attack since before the Internet was in widespread use and well before audio compression and affordable broadband made transmission feasible. But beginning with the FreePacifica LISTSERVE in 1995, these technologies have been put to use in the battle to regain Pacifica.

If we can win Pacifica back and rebuild the network, those 200 programmers and associates who have been drawn to Pacifica’s mission are one hell of a human resource. Not even the largest commercial network can rival the potential of our pool of human talent and intellect.

These include our raconteurs, jokers, poets, analysts, social architects and thinkers. Our writers, talkers, hard scientists like Michio and George Reiter, historians like Buzzanco, activists, spokespersons and no-prisoner fireballs like Amy Goodman. Audio freaks, ethnomusicologists, unnamables and Knights.

Then there is this HUGE sea of Pacifica’s listener-supporters, this landscape of eyes and ears and minds.

All the technological tools that only the big networks could afford in 1990 are home appliances now. If we could expand the idea that is living over at A-Infos http://www.radio4all.net, and make each of us available to others, as the expertise is needed. With such a usable, open-access, fast database, we have a real good shot at steadily accomplishing our MISSION.

And in so doing, we could offer the best educational model to those coming up.

Education by example.

We could show the power of cooperation and sharing information through long distance collaborations, while providing a dynamic source of vital and accurate information, culture and art. With the primary sources of information, wisdom and expression actually coming out of the local communities Pacifica serves.

People power...

So since this crisis has brought us together, let’s get to know each other over our networks. And let’s try to pool this resource before some resolution (or another crisis) sends us all spinning off in our separate directions again.

-Onward, Scooter