from : The Messenguerillia
subject : [messengers] the revolution will not be motorized

Surely many of you must still be wondering what this Messenguerilla thing really is:

Well, it all started out with a locally formed group who - reflecting on the development of major messenger events - felt they wanted to contribute something positive. After some initial thoughts a plan was quickly drawn up to go to the ECMC in Hellsinki and add some special ingredient to it. Like-minded couriers from various places were contacted who were likely to share the vision. The network grew quickly and included various organizers of former CMWC’s, ECMC’s, NACCC’s, Global Gutz, and countless alleycats, and rumours has it that even an IFBMA council member was involved. It was obvious that there was enough know-how to qualify this movement. The ECMC organizers in Hellsinki were the only ones who were informed about the plan of the Messenguerilla and knew the true identities of its members from the beginning. They knew they had nothing to fear.

The Messenguerilla organized races within the official ECMC race. Several areas on the race course were brought under control and alternative checkpoints were hosted... It is the nature of the guerilla that its plans are kept secret until fully implemented and to agitate anonymously. Therefore hundreds of masks were hand-produced by the Messenguerilla and brought to Hellsinki to provide access to the movement for everybody . Each individual wishing to join the movement received a mask which had to be worn in Messenguerilla controlled areas. They were given the opportunity to participate in the guerilla-race as long as the main race was going on each of the two days. It was possible to combine the official and the guerilla-race but also to do them one after another. At all times cheese fondue was served at Messenguerilla headquarters. All this for a starting fee of just five Euros.

The money to cover all of the expenses of the Messenguerilla had been raised by hosting alleycats and afterparties before Hellsinki. The entry fees, donations by the racers, and what is left in the Messenguerilla war chest adds up to around 1800 US dollars. This money is to be contributed to the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund.

It is the sort of money you could not expect from a sponsor, no matter how big and dedicated they claimed to be. The sponsor wants to buy the image of the cool bike messenger and might even be willing to pay a fair price for it. However, this is business and does not deserve our gratitude. Neither does it take away our prerogative to criticize.

Furthermore, it is the goal of this movement to remind everyone that even the very big messenger events are not all about consumption. There is always room to bring in your own creativity. The Messenguerilla would like to stand as a living example of what such creativity can accomplish.

We hope this is just the beginning of a movement...

The Messenguerilla
July 2006

from : The Messenguerilia
subject : [messengers] the revolution will not be motorized


For those of you who are still wondering what this Messenguerilla thing is:

It all started out with a locally formed group who - reflecting on the development of major messenger events - felt they wanted to contribute something positive. After some initial thoughts a plan was quickly drawn up to go to the ECMC in Hellsinki and add some special ingredient to it. Like-minded couriers from various places were contacted who were likely to share the vision. The network grew quickly and included various organizers of former CMWC’s, ECMC’s, NACCC’s, Global Gutz, and countless alleycats, and rumours has it that even an IFBMA council member was involved. It was obvious that there was enough know-how to qualify this movement. The ECMC organizers in Hellsinki were the only ones who were informed about the plan of the Messenguerilla and knew the true identities of its members from the beginning. They knew they had nothing to fear.

The Messenguerilla organized races within the official ECMC race. Several areas on the race course were brought under control and alternative checkpoints were hosted... It is the nature of the guerilla that its plans are kept secret until fully implemented and to agitate anonymously. Therefore hundreds of masks were hand-produced by the Messenguerilla and brought to Hellsinki to provide access to the movement for everybody . Each individual wishing to join the movement received a mask which had to be worn in Messenguerilla controlled areas. They were given the opportunity to participate in the guerilla-race as long as the main race was going on each of the two days. It was possible to combine the official and the guerilla-race but also to do them one after another. At all times cheese fondue was served at Messenguerilla headquarters. All this for a starting fee of just five Euros.

The money to cover all of the expenses of the Messenguerilla had been raised by hosting alleycats and afterparties before Hellsinki. The entry fees, donations by the racers, and what is left in the Messenguerilla war chest adds up to around 1800 US dollars. This money is to be contributed to the Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund.

It is the sort of money you could not expect from a sponsor, no matter how big and dedicated they claimed to be. The sponsor wants to buy the image of the cool bike messenger and might even be willing to pay a fair price for it. However, this is business and does not deserve our gratitude. Neither does it take away our prerogative to criticize.

Furthermore, it is the goal of this movement to remind everyone that even the very big messenger events are not all about consumption. There is always room to bring in your own creativity. The Messenguerilla would like to stand as a living example of what such creativity can accomplish.

We hope this is just the beginning of a movement...

The Messenguerilla
July 2006