I have a guilty conscience, of a sort. Back around the time that CBC was starting on plans to dismantle the Sackville SW site, I was going to write a letter to the PM and Opposition Leader stating the obvious reasons that shortwave and international broadcasting was critical --
1) It’s very difficult to block radio signals. After all, radio signals do not respect borders. This works to the advantage of anyone that has a message that they want to reach a certain audience. Unlike the Internet – a government cannot easily and selectively block an “IP address” Somehow the signal’s going to get through. 2) No wire is needed to receive a radio broadcast. A simple ten buck radio with shortwave capability , or even medium wave capability (in some corners of the world) can receive these signals. 3) MOST OF ALL – there is no way a sinister authority can detect WHO is listening, when it’s a radio signal. The Internet? IP addresses connected to a particular website? You see what I’m saying. No one knows WHO’S listening in. Historically – if you consider the VOA, BBC, CBC, etc. to be “the good guys” – we have used our capability to get our message across to those in countries where, some would prefer that the message may not go through. We used that during the Second World War – and even had messages to the French underground. Reference the movie “The Longest Day”. But Germans also listened to the BBC and VOA – and Americans and British, conversely, heard Axis Sally, Lord Haw Haw, and various women identified collectively as Tokyo Rose. During the Cold War, statements and treatises went BOTH ways. And important cultural exchanges as well. Why do I feel guilty? I never mailed the letter. Greg From: Swlfest [mailto:swlfest-boun...@hard-core-dx.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Sundstrom Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:57 PM To: swlfest@hard-core-dx.com Subject: [Swlfest] BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror "The BBC has made its international news website available via the Tor network, in a bid to thwart censorship attempts." https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50150981 Giddyup.
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