I completely endorse that. Let us ask UNESCO to organise the National Free Radio Day next Feb.
Rajen -- Rajen Varada Director Technology For The People 102, Katlekad, Madikeri Taluk Kodagu, Karnataka Skype rajen.varada Mobile: 9538444616 mail:[email protected] <[email protected]> www.tftpeople.org <http://www.labournet.in/> ------------------------------------------- On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 10:08 AM, Stalin K <[email protected]> wrote: > I propose 9 February - the day the Supreme Court of the world's largest > democracy ascertained that airwaves is a public property. > > In any case, 9th Feb should be our National Free Radio Day. > > Stalin > > On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 12:48 PM, sajan venniyoor <[email protected]>wrote: > >> UNESCO this week approved a >> proposal<http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105801>from Spain to >> proclaim an annual >> *World Radio Day. *After consulting a number of stake-holders, they >> chose *13 February *as World Radio Day. The date commemorates the >> establishment of U.N. Radio <http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/>in >> 1946. >> >> Frankly, this is not a particularly inspired choice. >> >> The three 'official' options were: >> July 27 - Marconi's first public wireless transmission of morse code >> (1896) >> October 6 - Birthday of Roger Fessenden, radio pioneer (1866) >> October 30 - The day Orson Welles broadcast his famous *'War of the >> Worlds' *radio play in the US (1938) >> >> Among the alternative dates suggested was 30 November, the date of birth >> of Jagdish Chandra Bose (1858), physicist, biologist and pioneer of radio >> broadcasting. This date was suggested by 13 respondents, the largest >> number, compared to the single respondent who mentioned 13 February. You >> can read the World Radio Day Feasibility Study >> here<http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/news/wrd_study.pdf> >> . >> >> One can only be thankful that they didn't pick 24 March (anniversary of >> the murder of Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador) or 15 April >> (sinking of the *Titanic *which, come to think of it, would do nicely as >> Public Service Broadcasting Day). >> >> Sajan >> >> >> UNESCO Turns On the Radio <http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105801> >> By A.D.McKenzie >> >> PARIS, Nov 11 , 2011 (IPS) - The demise of radio has been predicted for >> many years, but the medium is adapting, transforming and proving to be a >> cost-effective tool in development, experts say. >> >> "Radio is cheap, portable and has enormous potential for local and >> national growth," says Mirta Lourenço, chief of the media development >> section of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural >> Organisation (UNESCO). >> >> The Paris-based agency this week approved a proposal from Spain to >> proclaim an annual World Radio Day set for Feb. 13 which will be observed >> in a variety of ways by UNESCO’s 195 member states. >> >> "The aim is to promote community radio and also to celebrate the service >> radio provides," Lourenço told IPS. "It was felt that radio had not been >> adequately recognised for its many services to humankind." >> >> During the organisation’s two-week General Conference, which ended >> Thursday, member states agreed on goals that that included raising >> awareness about the continued relevance of radio especially for >> "marginalised groups", and encouraging the creation of new channels by >> indigenous and community organisations. >> >> UNESCO says that about one billion people (or one in seven of the world’s >> population) still do not have access to radio. >> >> "We need to expand access because in a way radio is irreplaceable. Once >> you buy your radio set, you have it for life and the information you >> receive can make a big difference especially in rural communities," >> Lourenço said. >> >> World Radio Day would also be used to highlight the need to "empower >> civil society on the right to communicate," UNESCO says. It should help as >> well to "enhance networking among broadcasters" and to promote human and >> citizens’ rights. >> >> Radio has been used negatively for propaganda during both world wars, and >> also to incite violence, as in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. But UNESCO points >> out that it also has a specific role in emergency communication, disaster >> relief and other areas. >> >> The agency has drawn up an ambitious programme, supported by Sweden, to >> strengthen radio in rural areas in Africa so that broadcasters can produce >> quality programmes about local concerns including agriculture and >> healthcare. >> >> Stations run by rural women would be part of the project as well as >> education on how to use new communication technologies such as texting to >> reach audiences who could then text back questions or comments. >> >> "From what I’ve seen in many developing countries, radio is generally the >> cheapest form of media for people who may not be able to buy a newspaper >> every day or afford television," says Jamion Knight, a Paris-based former >> radio journalist who worked in the Caribbean. >> >> "Having access to radio allows you to get information not only on what is >> happening in your community but also on what is happening around the world, >> and people are able to share information, which makes for a powerful tool," >> he told IPS. >> >> Knight used radio to highlight issues such as post-partum depression, a >> condition that had not been discussed much by media in the region. Such >> reports can give women the support needed to address their feelings. >> >> Radio can also be used to help rehabilitate offenders, UNESCO says. One >> creative project was the development of "prison radio" in Jamaica, the >> first of its kind in the Caribbean. >> >> Both inmates and correctional officers were trained to produce and >> broadcast programmes in a scheme supported by UNESCO and the Canadian >> International Development Agency. One of the aims was to prepare prisoners >> for reintegration into society. >> >> It is not clear, however, whether these and other initiatives will be at >> risk in the funding crisis that UNESCO currently faces. >> >> On Thursday, at the closing session of the General Conference, the >> agency’s director-general Irina Bokova launched an Emergency Multi-Donor >> Fund to help fill a shortfall resulting from United States’ withholding of >> dues following the admission of Palestine to UNESCO on Oct. 31. >> >> The U.S. funding cuts, based on laws dating from the 1990s, leave UNESCO >> with an immediate deficit of 65 million dollars to the end of 2011, and a >> further gap of 22 percent in its 653 million dollar budget for 2012-2013, >> according to the agency. >> >> To cover the funding gap to the end of 2011, Bokova told the General >> Conference that the organisation had already begun a thorough review of all >> of its activities planned for November and December. >> >> "I have temporarily interrupted certain activities to revise their >> costs," Bokova said. >> >> Meanwhile, the government of Gabon has announced a donation of two >> million dollars, and UNESCO has set up a site where the general public can >> make donations online. >> >> Whatever the outcome of the funding debacle, World Radio Day should still >> be a boost to broadcasters, who will see their medium celebrated globally >> for its positive aspects. >> >> The date commemorates the establishment of U.N. Radio in 1946 and was >> proposed by Bokova after discussion in which several countries suggested >> days that were linked to national developers of radio. >> >> These pioneers included Canadian-American Reginald Fessenden, the >> "inventor" of audio broadcasting who was born on Oct. 6, and Italian >> Guglielmo Marconi, who is believed to have made the first wireless >> transmission of morse code on Jul. 27, 1896. >> >> Oct. 30, the day when Orson Welles first broadcast ‘The War of the >> Worlds’ radio play in the United States in 1938, was also proposed but >> ultimately rejected. The play caused panic among some listeners who >> believed that Martians were invading Earth. >> >> Welles’ broadcast showed the power of radio, and the impact it could have >> on communities. With World Radio Day, UNESCO says it wants to highlight and >> promote that capability, but for development and social change. >> >> >> >> Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to >> www.crforum.in >> > > > > -- > Stalin K. > Director > Video Volunteers - Empowering Community Voices > Phone : (W) 0832-2281032 (M) 99235-94635 > Skype: stalink1234 > www.videovolunteers.org/ > http://twitter.com/videovolunteers > Watch our videos: indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org > > > Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to > www.crforum.in >
Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to www.crforum.in
