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MESSAGE FROM AMARC PRESIDENT
On behalf of the International Board of Directors
of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
(AMARC), I am pleased to invite you to join us for
the 10th World Conference of Community Radio Broadcasters.
AMARC 10 will be held from 8 to 13 November 2010 in
Ciudad de la Plata, in the province of Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
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Conference summary
DAMARC
General Assembly
New
Board
Resolutions
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1.- Message from the AMARC President | |
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| Dear
Colleagues,
Warm regards,
Steve Buckley
President of AMARC
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| 2.-
AMARC 10 | |
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Conference
summary
The World Association of Community
Radio Broadcasters, AMARC held the AMARC 10 Conference
“Communication Comunitaria” in Ciudad
de la Plata, Argentina from 8-13 November 2010. The
venue of the Conference was Pasaje Dardo Rocha. The
AMARC 10 World Conference was the first to be held
in South America, where community radio was first
established in the world some 60 years ago. AMARC
community radio grouped in AMARC Argentina came together
with other media and journalists’ groups in
the country to host AMARC 10. The Conference was attended
by up to 512 community radio representatives and stakeholders
from 89 countries from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe,
Latin-America, North America and MENA. (A list of
participants is attached as annex)
The week-long Conference was organized around the
following themes: Communications for a better world,
Recovering memories, building futures; Communication
rights are human rights; Reinforcing community radio
social impact; Community radio actions and strategies
and ended with a day dedicated to networking and solidarity,
social and cultural events. It combined panel sessions
with open inter-active sessions and policy definition
plenary sessions; capacity building interactive workshops
and parallel workshops organised with partners in
order to develop capacity and knowledge on specific
topics.
The conference allowed community radio practitioners
and stakeholders to achieve the following important
results:
• Clarify the situation of community radio
and confirm the existence of a worldwide communication
rights oriented network and explore strategies to
increase the legal recognition of community radio
as a crucial development tool and democratic mechanism
ensuring media pluralism;
• Exchanges best practices and explore strategies
to increase the social impact of community radio,
among others in
o the reduction of poverty and seeking development
objectives;
o ensuring gender equality and women rights;
o defence of children rights, indigenous peoples;
minority languages;
o confronting new challenges due to natural or man-made
disasters;
o ensuring conflict resolution and democracy building;
• Exchanges of best practices leading to strategies
to reinforce the sustainability of community radio
through content development and capacity building
strategies to ensure appropriate use of new technologies
and social media, engaging with civil society, multilateral
and government stakeholders at local/national/international
levels;
The conference adopted the Declaration of la Plata,
elected the members of the international board of
directors of AMARC and gave the 6th AMARC Solidarity
Prize to the Haitian community radios in recognition
for their role in supporting the Haitian population
following the earthquake in February 2010.
The AMARC 10 conference also adopted the strategic
lines of action of the AMARC global network for 2011-2014
by building on the rich exchanges, content and debates
in plenary, seminars and workshops. The new president
of AMARC, Maria Pia Matta indicated that challenges
ahead are to deepen the social impact of community
radios to confront the world challenges of the 21st
century; to increase sustainability of community radios
and; to express solidarity with journalists persecuted
and advocate for the establishment and further recognition
of community radios in order to increase pluralism
of the media.
Inauguration Ceremony
In the inauguration ceremony, Florencia Saintout,
(Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of the University
of La Plata) highlighted that her faculty was the
first one favourable for alternative journalism in
Argentina and in Latin America. She indicated that
the situation of alternative radios has changed thanks
to new legislation and the work done by alternative
communicators. Ivan Maidana (Culture & Education
Secretary of La Plata Municipality represented local
authorities. Gabriel Mariotto from (AFSCA) highlighted
the new legislation on audiovisual services in reference
to alternative communications, facilitating new voices
to be heard. Steve Buckley, AMARC President highlighted
that AMARC has become a truly global social movement
noting successes and challenges to community radio
worldwide. Finally, Janis Karklins (UNESCO) through
teleconference highlighted the role of UNESCO on communications
for development and saluted AMARC work.
Horacio Verbistky
The Argentina journalist Horacio Verbistky was the
keynote speaker of the inauguration Plenary of AMARC
10. In his presentation he explained the process that
lead to the new audiovisual services legislation in
Argentina recognizing the three sectors of communications,
(public, commercial and associative). He insisted
that it is no longer enough for the states to avoid
restrictions on freedom of expression and civil society
needs to be part of that process to promote freedom
of expression and democracy.
Community radio representatives or stakeholders -
Franklin Huizies from South Africa; Sharon Bagwan
Rolls from Fiji, and Gustavo Gomez from Uruguay, reacted
to the presentation of Horacio Verbitsky highlighting
conditions of community radio in their regions.
Frank LaRue
The plenary on Community Radio in the 21st Century:
Principles for Plurality and Diversity counted on
keynote speech by Frank LaRue, United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression, discussed
a set of key challenges to freedom of expression which
apply, particularly, to community media. Censorship
laws in many countries (including the North and West),
he said, penalize freedom of expression. In this context
he also rejected the criminalization of the unauthorized
use of radio frequencies (or 'pirate radio'). Secondly,
physical violence against journalists is persistent
around the globe, particularly violence against non-professionals
from community radios, blogs and other grassroots
media. Thirdly, he said that media concentration and
the links between media power and political power
(in countries such as Guatemala, Italy and elsewhere)
reduces media pluralism. LaRue rejected limits to
transmission power for community radio which assign
these media a role as 'second-class media' and 'poor
people's radio'. Finally, he pointed to increasing
surveillance by state and private sectors.
Amy Goodman
In plenary 7 on Breaking the Silent Barrier: The
Role of Alternative Media in the Promotion of Social
Justice, Amy Goodman from the US based news organisation
Democracy Now, intervened in the closing Conference
of AMARC 10. She highlighted the importance of community
media. She analyzed the situation in Iraq after the
occupation by US lead troops and analyzed the role
of community media in regards to the policy of the
US government overseas indicating that the US public
is misinformed. She stressed the importance of the
power of community radio “for being closer to
the communities”.
The workshop, round tables, resolution
texts and audio are avliabable on the AMARC 10 website
Visit the web page: http://amarc10.amarc.org/index.php?p=amarc10_workshop
More informations by visiting http://amarc10.amarc.org

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AMARC
General Assembly
The open AMARC General Assembly addressed organizational
issues on “Building a Strong New Global Sector
for Communications for Development,” consisting
of:
• Approval of narrative and financial reports
by the International and the Regional Boards of AMARC
and the Women International Network (AMARC-WIN);
• Adoption of the La Plata Declaration; (attached
herewith)
• Definition of the Strategic Plan of AMARC
for 2011-2014; (attached herewith)
• Adoption of resolutions presented by the members;
(attached herewith)
• Elections of members of the International
Board of Directors; and
• Distribution of Solidarity Prizes to Haitian
representatives of Community Radios
The Community Radio Movement Strategic Plan
2011-2014
Following debates the AMARC members present adopted
the strategic plan of 2011-2014 confirming that AMARC’s
goal is to combat poverty, exclusion and voicelessness
and to promote social justice and sustainable, democratic
and participatory human development. In pursuit of
this goal AMARC’s purpose is to amplify the
voices of the excluded and marginalized through community
media and new ICTs, to support popular access to communications,
and to defend and promote the development of community
radio worldwide.
The main strategic objectives to achieve
in the next 4 years are to:
Objective 1: To promote and defend policy,
legal and regulatory conditions that enable community
media to operate. This means to develop: policy research,
advocacy and partnership for community media and communications
rights at local, regional and international levels;
Also, country level solidarity activities and partnerships
including urgent actions alerts and strategic country
level missions and; participation and advocacy on
media and gender equality at international meetings.
Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing
and capacity building for community media sustainability.
This means to develop communication with members and
stakeholders and strengthening of AMARC network and
organisational functioning; knowledge sharing on sustainability
and good practice including training, publications,
exchanges and support for sector associations and;
strengthening the regional and international networks
of the
AMARC Women International Network (WIN).
Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental
and humanitarian impact of community media. This means:
to develop news and feature services in Latin America,
Africa, Asia and Europe, including special reports
from international events; social action on HIV/AIDS,
Health, Environment, Climate Change, Migration, Anti-Racism,
Food Security, Children rights, Water & Sanitation;
Disaster prevention, mitigation and response to natural
and human-made humanitarian disasters and emergencies
and; Promotion of Women’s rights and gender
equality, including training and guidance materiasl
and broadcast campaigns.
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AMARC's
new board
The new board of directors of AMARC following
AMARC 10 is composed by:
Maria Pia Matta, President, Chile.
Emmanuel Boutterin, Deputy President,
France.
Franklin Huizies, Treasurer, South
Africa.
Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary General.
Maria Eugenia Chávez, Vicepresident
for the Women International Network, Mexico.
Ashish Sen, Vicepresident for Asia-Pacific
Region, India.
Oumar Seck Ndiaye, Vicepresident
for Africa, Senegal.
Carlos Aparicio, Vicepresident for
Latin America & Caribbean, Mexico.
Mariano Sanchez, Vicepresident for
Europe
Sony Esteus, Vicepresident, Haiti.
Silvia Richardson, Vicepresident,
Canada.
Wilna Quarmine, Vice president, Ghana.
Sawsan Zaida, Vicepresident, Jordan.
Steve Buckley, Outgoing President
( ex-officio, member of the Board of Directors, without
voting rights for one year)..

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Resolutions
Please note some of the resolutions adopted by amarc
general Assembly:
+ Creation of an AMARC Action
Committee for the protection of Community Broadcasters
+ Condemning the Ampatuan Massacre
and the Culture of Impunity in the Philippines
+ Calling for the Immediate
Release of the 43 Community Health Workers in the
Philippines
+ Support Palestinian Civil
Society Call for BDS
+ Radios Comunitarias y Lenguas
Originarias o Minorozadas
+ Amarc WIN Resolutions on Sexual
Orintation, Gender CR, Equity Access, WIN Desk at
the AMARC International Secretariat
+ Institute the AMARC Purple Award
+ Response and preparedness of Community radio facing
Disaster Situation
+ Australia Aboriginal special measures
complete textes and resolutions here:
http://amarc10.amarc.org/index.php?p=amarc10_workshop
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| 3.-
Legislation | |
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| AMARC
welcomes community radio breakthrough in Nigeria
Montreal, October 19th, 2010. The World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) today welcomed
the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria
to give the go-ahead for community radio in Nigeria.
In a speech at the opening of the Africast 2010 conference
in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan announced that
the Federal Executive Council had approved guidelines
proposed for community radio licensing by the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian broadcasting
regulator.
The President stated further that government had
devolved to NBC, the power to consider and issue the
licenses without recourse to the presidency, once
the applicant meets the legal conditions.
The move is a crucial breakthrough for Nigeria’s
Community Radio Coalition, which has been campaigning
for such a move for several years since Nigeria returned
to multi-party democracy.
Steve Buckley, AMARC International President said:
"We greatly welcome the announcement by President
Goodluck Jonathan confirming approval of proposals
from the National Broadcasting Commission to proceed
with community radio licensing in Nigeria. We especially
applaud the delegation of licence assessment and decision
making to the regulatory body as another important
step in democratising Nigerian media law and regulation."
Oumar Seck Ndiaye, AMARC Africa President, added:
“We congratulate the President and the Government
of Nigeria for taking this bold step towards the development
of community broadcasting, along side private and
state broadcasting, to ensure the access of all people
of Nigeria to information and communication, consistent
with recommendations of the African Charter on Broadcasting
which has been endorsed by African governments.
Top
Hungarian
Media Law and EU Presidency: an outrage to fundamental
rights
A The European chapter of the World Association of
Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC Europe and the
Community Media Forum Europe, CMFE, express their
deep concern about the new audiovisual law adopted
the 21st of December by the Hungarian Parliament.
«While Hungary has assumed the six-month rotating
presidency of the European Union on January 1st 2011,
this law undermines basic freedom of expression rights»,
said Mariano Sanchez, President of AMARC Europe.
AMARC Europe and CMFE are particularly concerned in
regards to the case of the Budapest based Tilos Radio.
« Differently to what have been outlined in
some media outlets – said Pieter De Wit, President
of CMFE - Tilos is not a private commercial station,
but a community radio which values and importance
have been stressed by the European Parliament resolution
of 25 September 2008 on Community Media in Europe,
recognizing the importance of the sector as an effective
means of strengthening cultural and linguistic diversity,
fostering tolerance, intercultural dialogue and pluralism
in society, and contributing to intercultural dialogue.
»
Along with Hungarian media producers, AMARC Europe
and CMFE therefore demand that the Hungarian Parliament
shall rescind the Media Law (CLXXV), as adopted on
December 21, 2010, and shall similarly annul Chapter
2 (VIII/B) of the related Act CLXIII. of 2010, and
the Government of Hungary shall initiate a new media
legislation.
AMARC Europe and CMFE also request:
* To the Hungarian Government, to adopt the «
AMARC Declaration of Principles for Regulatory Frameworks
on Community Radio Broadcasting », endorsed
by the "Joint Declaration on the Diversity of
Broadcasting", made by the United Nations' Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and
the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media;
to also implement in the audiovisual law the principles
from the Council of Europe regarding Community Media
as adopted by the Committee Ministers on 11 February
2009;
* To the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE) representative on freedom of the
media, to monitor the application of the new law,
in especially in regards of the possible misuses for
political purposes
* To the European Union President, M. Barroso and
the European Commissioner V. Reding to investigate
possible violations of the principles enshrined in
the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
AMARC Europe and CMFE offer any help with expertise
and welcome feedback to this letter
more info:
Amarc Europe: Francesco Diasio, Secretary General
+32.484.309 822 fradiasio@gmail.com
CMFE: Pieter de Wit, president, +31634150581 president@cmfe.eu
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| 4.-
News from community medias | |
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News
in English by Agencia Púlsar
Púlsar is the news agency for the World Association
of Community Radios - Latin America and the Caribbean
(AMARC ALC). From a digital space, the agency takes
up the journalistic tradition of the region's community
radios in contesting the ways in which the realities
of the people are displayed.
Since August, Agencia Púlsar has been presenting
daily updates with news translated into English. The
stories maintain the format, focus and information
which characterizes the agency.
Online since 1995, Púlsar gives a regional
outlook on the Latin America and the Caribbean's current
affairs. Stories with clear, reliable, rigorous and
relevant information.
The translation of the stories is possible thanks
to the collaboration of online newspaper The Argentina
Independent.
The stories can be visited here: www.agenciapulsar.org/english
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FCC
CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI COMMENDS PASSAGE OF LOCAL
COMMUNITY RADIO ACT
“The Local Community Radio Act signed by President
Obama is a big win for radio listeners. Low-power
FM stations are small, but they make a giant contribution
to local community programming. This important law
eliminates the unnecessary restrictions that kept
these local stations off the air in cities and towns
across the country. I commend Congressmen Mike Doyle
and Lee Terry and Senators Maria Cantwell and John
McCain for the successful passage of this legislation
and their longstanding commitment to local community
radio. The FCC will take swift action to open the
dial to new low-power radio stations and the valuable
local service they provide.”
Top
AMARC
Denounces killing of Dr Gerardo Ortega in the Philippines
AJanuary 26, 2011, Kathmandu. The World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) condemns the
killing of another broadcaster in the Philippines,
Dr Gerardo Ortega of dwAR-AM of Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Province last January 24, 2011.
We are extremely saddened by the senseless assassination
of another Philippine colleague and we express our
deepest sympathies to Dr Ortega’s family, colleagues
and friends. Dr Ortega, according to testimonies by
AMARC members in the Philippines, showed early in
life his desire for genuine and pro-people change
in the Philippines. In college, he was a member of
the nationalist League of Filipino Students and, as
a broadcaster, was a staunch defender of the environment
against destructive mining that marginalizes indigenous
peoples and his beloved province, Palawan.
AMARC is fully aware of the sad “body count”
of slain journalists in the Philippines. Dr Ortega
is the third to have offered his life for pro-people
journalism under the Benigno Aquino administration
and the 142nd since the country was supposed to have
regained democracy in 1986.
AMARC expresses alarm over the unabated killing of
journalists and calls upon the new government to put
a stop to them and deliver justice to all the victims.
During its 10th World Conference in La Plata, Argentina
last November, AMARC unanimously approved a resolution
calling for such and it is most unfortunate that our
appeals are unheeded (http://amarc10.amarc.org/index.php?p=amarc10_workshop&l=EN.)
As we call for justice for Dr Ortega, we again call
on the Philippine government to stop the killings
of journalists, deliver justice to the victims, and
provide a democratic atmosphere where freedom of the
press is guaranteed. AMARC will remain vigilant over
the culture of impunity reigning darkly over the Philippines.
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Community
"Suitcase" Radio to Amplify Civil Society
Collaboration
Following the renewal of Femlinkpacific's annual
community radio licence, the suitcase radio station
operators convened its first community radio roundtable
which brought together civl society groups keen to
find out more about the opportunity to 'take to the
airwaves'.
Participants at the round table reaffirmed the role
of community radio as an important advocacy tool to
reach out to the rural and remote communities while
linking women’s access to communication and
information technology:
Suli Waqa, from the Fiji Transgender Empowerment
Project of the Fiji Arts Council believes that community
radio is an important link in encouraging community
participation at the grassroots level.
“Community radio allows for the participation
of diverse community in information sharing through
the community segments at the grassroots level,”
said Waqa.
Another CSO participant, Andrew Prasad of the FASANOC
Stop HIV programme highlighted that community radio
provides the opportunity to spread awareness on HIV,
AIDS and sexually transmitted infections while being
a medium to reach out to the remote areas.
“Community radio gives an opportunity for discussions
on the issue of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted
infections especially targeting at the sporting population
namely young girls and boys. It also gives our program
a medium to reach out to the grassroots level and
recognise sports as a powerful tool to advocate on
health and social issues like HIV and AIDS,”
Prasad added.
Save the Children Fund’s Child Protection Policy
Training Coordinator Susie Anise agrees, saying that
community radio is both a tool and a resource that
enables the voice of the voiceless to be heard.
“Community Radio gives communities particularly
marginalised populations the avenue to share their
experiences and to highlight issues which are of concern
to them,” Anise said.
Linda Austin, a student from the University of Queensland
who was part of the consultation believes that community
radio offers the everyday person a chance to contribute
an authentic voice to contribute to dialogue processes
on issues on issues which are important for their
community and/or country, without being filtered or
compromised.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Cancer Society
Davila Toganivalu said that community radio offers
another avenue and tool to reach out to people in
a specific location.
“The community radio is an important tool which
can help my organisation reach specific target groups
in a community focusing on issues which are of importance
to my organisation, which is also relevant for the
community. Community radio can also provide my organisation
with information on what the people at the grassroots
level need so that we can provide a better service
to them,” she added.
Radio programme ideas from radio dramas, panel discussions,
vox pops themes to broadcast events were generated
during the roundtable, with a particularly focus on
empowering rural women and communities, as well as
to enhance ciivil society documentation and communocation
capacity. .
According to Femlinkpacific's Executive Director,
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, the suitcase radio which began
operating on May 5 2004, has demonstrated the potential
of community radio:.
“We believe community media is a key component
of the media landscape and community radio is able
to generate such a range of content that for and by
the community and so the community radio roundtable
has been an opportunity on the partnership within
our CSO community especially to make information available
in a range of formats for rural and remote areas of
Fiji, while also providing the communities where the
suitcase radio travels to, to have a radio channel
of their own!"
(Ends)
For more information visit www.femlinkpacific.org.fj
or email sharon@femlinkpacific or info@femlinkpacific.org.fj
AMARC
& PPF Field Mission to Pakistan
A report of the AMARC & PPF Field Mission to
Pakistan for Assessing the Communications Needs of
Flood Affected Communities has been uploaded in the
Pakistan Floods webpage http://asiapacific.amarc.org/pakistan_floods/
The report is available a
t http://asiapacific.amarc.org/documents/Report_of_AMARC_PPF_Field_Mission_to_Pakistan.pdf.
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| 5.-
Calls, activities, projects | |
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Call
for Action to Mark the One-Year Anniversary of the
Ampatuan Massacre In The Philippines
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters,
AMARC and its member in the Philippines KODAO Productions
are calling on all community radio broadcasters to
participate in the Global Day of Action on November
23 to mark the one-year anniversary of the world’s
biggest atrocity perpetrated against journalists.
This Global Day of Action follows a Resolution of
AMARC 10 that was unanimously approved in La Plata,
Argentina on 13 November. The Global Day of Action
is being commemorated in coordination with the International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate,
the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
(NUJP).
More here: http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=ampatuan_massacre
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AMARC-WIN
16 Days of Activism to eliminate violence against
women
A Montreal, December 13, 2010. Reinforced by the
exchanges at the AMARC 10 World Conference, the Women
International Network of the Association of Community
Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) celebrated the 16 days
of activism against gender violence with an international
campaign broadcast from November 25 to December 10,
2010. As indicated in La Plata Declaration, "Community
radios express their solidarity and denounce all forms
of sexual and gender violence, from domestic violence
to armed conflict.” Visit: www.amarc.org/16jours
. The campaign was broadcast by local community radios
and networks and on the Internet in several languages
and in all continents. The AMARC-WIN 16 Days Campaign
highlighted activities, groups and individuals who
are committed to denounce and fight against gender
violence and to encourage each and everyone in their
various capacities to act to eliminate it.
The 16 days of activism against gender violence began
November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women, followed November 29
with the international day of women human rights
defenders, the December 1: World AIDS Day, December
6 the commemoration of the Montreal (Canada) massacre
in 1989 and ended December 10, International Day of
human rights, with the celebration of the 62th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Throughout
these 16 days the Women’s International Network
of AMARC broadcast radio productions and activities
on the Internet.
Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle
East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America
and the Caribbean highlighted and supported during
those 16 days the efforts of women and men working
to end violence against women. Radio programs include
documentaries, interviews, reports, advertisements,
music and much more. This
multilingual broadcast campaign mobilized community
radios around the world and encouraged them to use
new communication technologies such as the Internet.
We encourage you to listen to the broadcasts, to download
and broadcast them to promote the struggle against
gender violence. To access the archives please go
to the following address: www.amarc.org/16jours
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AMARC Covered World Food Day 2010 under the theme:
United Against Hunger
Montreal, October 21th, 2010. The World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC covered the
World Food Day, on October 16th, 2010 with a 24-hour
Worldwide Webcast emphasizing this year theme: United
Against Hunger. Listen to the programs of the international
webcast at http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Food_Day_2010
In partnership with the FAO, AMARC community radio
network produced and broadcast programs to their communities
on October 16, 2010 on this campaign against hunger.
There are 1 billion people suffering from hunger world
wide. According to FAO, Asia Pacific and Africa regions
are the ones that suffer the most. The World Food
Day broadcast campaign unites community radios from
five continents on the common struggle against hunger,
it also motivates community radios to use new technologies
such as internet to further amplify the voices of
the excluded and marginalized and reinforce community
radio contribution to rural development.
The World Food Day programs were broadcast in English,
French, Spanish, Nepali, Portuguese and other languages.
The programs are available in our website. We encourage
everyone to share them and for radios to rebroadcast
the programs. Please visit our website http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Food_Day_2010
for downloading the programs from our podcast section.
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Big Secrets , Less Democracy
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters,
AMARC, denounces the climate of censorship and repression
against managers and organisers of wikileaks.
The reaction of governments to the information distributed
by wikileaks ignores the need for citizens to exercise
their right to be informed on the actions of their
governments. It is disturbing that in this hostile
context against freedom of expression there have been
actions that question the fundamental right of access
to information.
AMARC, a world association assembling community radios
from all continents over the world, believes it is
necessary to place this discussion on the context
of access to information as a fundamental right in
a democratic society. We note that it is the same
governments that usually promote transparency as a
key value of democratic coexistence that seek to repress
today the distribution of basic information giving
wider access and knowledge to citizens of the actions
of public authorities. In this perspective, there
is a need for governments to recognize that technologies
such as the Internet are spaces for public accountability
and offer tools that facilitate good governance and
transparency. This should lead to changes to the culture
of secrecy that has governed the state policies of
the main superpowers. It is necessary to recognize
that citizens have the right to interact with government
management and to expand the domains open to public
scrutiny.
We express our solidarity with all those that make
openly available information about States’ violations
of human rights, because those actions highlight the
rights of citizens to act in defence of human rights
and the rule of law. We believe that States must abstain
from actions leading to direct or indirect censorship
such as putting pressure on the providers of services
associated with media development or by blocking the
free access of citizens to the media.
We affirm the need to protect communicators from
countermeasures related to the exercise of their communication
rights. Such protection should be based on recognition
of the fundamental right of access to information
and of freedom of opinion and expression and should
consider in formation as a public good protected by
principles recognized by international law.
Community Radios have experience of acts of repression
and censorship. We have learned that when media is
silenced, all society looses the opportunity for free
coexistence. We also know that censorship cannot silence
all the voices of an organized citizenship willing
to express itself. We call upon the international
community to stop all actions of global censorship
against wikileaks and to assure full respect of international
standards of freedom of expression.
Maria Pia Matta
President of AMARC
Santiago December 29th, 2010
AMARC and Pakistan Press Foundation Appeal for Setting
up Community Radio in Flood Affected Areas in Pakistan
August 24, 2010, Kathmandu. The World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and the Pakistan
Press Foundation (PPF) appeal to the Government of
Pakistan and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory
Authority (PEMRA) to allow setting up of emergency
community radio stations in areas that have suffered
from the current floods in Pakistan.
We call upon all concerned agencies in Pakistan to
be flexible and responsive to proposals for the establishment
of community based broadcasting mechanisms so that
any information gap that exists is fulfilled and relief
operations are made highly effective. AMARC offers
its knowledge and expertise in setting up emergency
broadcasting mechanisms, gathered from working around
the world in similar situations of natural disasters.
The important role of community radio in times of
natural disaster for aiding relief operations as well
as for supporting rehabilitation and rebuilding has
been proven many times over. In recent times, examples
of the positive power of community radio was seen
in the earthquakes of Haiti and Chile where AMARC
played an important role in facilitating the setting
up of emergency broadcasting stations. It was not
so long ago that community radios were brought to
the forefront of the efforts to provide relief and
rehabilitate those affected by the tsunami and floods
in Indonesia.
AMARC and PPF highly appreciate the valuable work
being carried out by radio stations in the flood affected
areas. There is a need to complement theses efforts
by bridging the gaps of information at the very local
levels and among displaced peoples. This can be effectively
achieved by setting up emergency community radio stations.
AMARC, PPF and all other AMARC members in Pakistan
offer sincere condolences to the families of those
that have perished in the floods in Pakistan. We offer
our solidarity and prayers to those that have suffered
huge emotional and material losses and extend our
support to those that are engaged in helping the affected.
AMARC calls to End Harassment of Community Radios
in Thailand
July 22, 2010. Kathmandu. The World Association of
Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC is deeply concerned
by the reports about the restrictions imposed on community
radio stations in Thailand including the closure of
several stations. Recent reports state that using
the emergency decree, authorities have shut down 26
community-radio stations in nine provinces and pressured
six others to discontinue their services, and as many
as 84 community-radio stations have been blacklisted
and their activities closely monitored. It is further
reported that at least 35 people related to these
media outlets - like radio hosts, station chiefs and
executives - are facing legal action for allegedly
mobilising their listeners to the red-shirt rally
in Bangkok, for broadcasting what was going on at
the rally site and for distorting information. “However,
there are no clear details to substantiate these charges,”
said the Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR)
secretary-general Suthep Wilailert. He was reported
to be speaking at a seminar about the fate of community
radio stations under the state of emergency.
Article19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
clearly states that “everyone has the right
to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and
to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
As an advocate of fundamental human rights including
the right to communication and information, and as
the global network of community broadcasters, AMARC
calls upon the Government of Thailand to ensure that
community broadcasters are not harassed for the political
views they hold. “Community radio stations speak
on behalf of the people of the community and it is
wrong to execute the messenger. I appeal to the Government
of Thailand and the concerned authorities to not to
arbitrarily oppress community broadcasters under any
pretext,”said Imam Prakoso, Vice President for
South East Asia in the AMARC Asia Pacific Regional
Board. Expressing concerns over the closure of the
stations and legal actions underway against community
broadcasters, he has called to uphold the internationally
accepted rights of community radio stations to freely
and independently broadcast views on political, social,
and economical, as well as all other issues that concern
the lives of the communities that the stations serve.
As the world’s biggest broadcasting movement
with more than 5,000 member community broadcasting
stations and advocates worldwide, AMARC believes that
democracy and social justice is only achievable when
there is a free press.
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| 6.-
Natural Distasters | |
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Solidarity
with Community Radio Stations in Flood Affected Areas.
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters,
Asia Pacific (AMARC-AP), sends it greeting to all
community radio station affected by the floods which
have recently occurred in Queensland, New South Wales,
Victoria and Tasmania.
AMARC-AP also offers its condolences to all those
who have lost loved ones or been personally impacted
by the unprecedented flood events.
In the recent past our region has been impacted by
tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other
natural disasters.
In the aftermath of these catastrophes, Australians
have demonstrated a generosity and warm heartedness
that has brought relief, succour and friendship during
and after the recovery and reconstruction period.
AMARC-AP recognises the important role many community
radio stations have played in the aftermath of these
disasters and we extend to all community radio stations,
their volunteers, staff and their wider communities
our solidarity and thoughts in this difficult time.
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| 7.- Coming Activities | |
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• 24 – 26 February, 2d AMARC Euope Conference:
• March 8, International womens day;
• March 21, Radio Voices Without Frontiers;
• Date to be confirmed, Conference in Haiti;
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| 8.-
The International Secretariat | |
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Flor Maria Balbin, Administrative Assistant
Monica Sahagun, Administrative Assistant
Dominique Legendre, Accountant and Financial Assistant to Projects
Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary General
Ricardo Costa, Project Consultant
Nick Fillmore, Project Development Consultant
Armando Navarrete, Webmaster consultant
Dear Member, renew your Membership
For more information on how to proceed, please contact
your regional office or at the international secretariat@si.amarc.org
Please send us news from your Radio or asssociation,
so they will be publish in the next AMARC Link.
Through service to members, networking and project implementation, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters AMARC, brings together a network of more than 4,000 community radios, Federations and community media stakeholders in more than 115 countries. The main global impact of AMARC since its creation in 1983 has been to accompany and support the establishment of a world wide community radio sector that has democratized the media sector. AMARC advocates for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighbourhood levels and defends and promotes the interests of the community radio movement through solidarity, networking and Cooperation. For further information visit : http://www.amarc.org
AMARC © 2010
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