From: Secretariat AMARC <secretariat@si.amarc.org>
Date: 23 December 2011 14:36
Subject: [Amarc-info-en] AMARC LINK
To: secretariat@si.amarc.org
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AMARC link, Volume 15, Number 4, August - October 2011
Declaration for the International Day of the World's Indigenous People
In the world we are living in, the claim to culture as part of the identity requires deliberative spaces and media that permit the survival of the values that characterize each community and culture. It is the same for the effective recognition of the condition of the peoples and the right to self-determination, which make possible the true exercise of citizenship for indigenous peoples. We demand the respect without restriction of the integrity and life of the native peoples that fight for their land right, a fundamental right for those cultures that represent values and development forms integrated and interconnected with the land. It is for those reasons that the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) considers of its duty to express the fact that no recognition of the dignity of indigenous peoples in any part of the world will be complete, if it is not accompanied with the full exercise of cultural sovereignty that gives the full rights to participate in the public space. This makes indispensable to count on community media as participative spaces for those who, because of their ethnicity, are frequently marginalized and denigrated. They have an urgent need of communication spaces that permit the defense of the identity and promote ways of living specific to ancestral communities historically marginalized. It is in this context that AMARC asks governments to include indigenous peoples as social actors in the media systems, recognizing their autonomy and their fights for the defense of their rights that are spreading in every region of the world. AMARC praises also the thousands of radio stations that, on every continent, emphasize a communication that give place to the expression of the cultural diversity that they represent. We also praise community radio broadcasters that are part of the everyday life of indigenous peoples and communities and work for their complete recognition.
AMARC emphasized the World Food Day 2011 under the theme "Food prices – from crisis to stability" The worldwide community radio network of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) covered the World Food Day, on October 16th, with a 24-hour Worldwide Webcast. "Food prices – from crisis to stability" has been chosen as this year's World Food Day theme to shed some light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable.
Again this year, AMARC community radios network, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) produced and broadcasted programs to their communities on October 16th on this campaign against hunger. The World Food Day broadcast campaign unites community radios from all continents on the common struggle against hunger at all levels, local, national and international. The World Food Day programs have been broadcasted in English, French, Spanish, Nepali, Portuguese, Bahasa and other languages. The programs are available in our website. We encourage you to rebroadcast the programs to your communities. Please visit our website http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=wfd_schedule_2011 for downloading the programs. AMARC has called all the community radios members of its network to produce and broadcast programs on their communities on October 16, 2011 and share them with the entire AMARC network via its website on this campaign against hunger. The radios were not only invited to produce a program under this year's theme, their program may also, for example, focus on how their communities fight higher food prices locally, or what causes food prices to explode and what are the solutions. Please visit our website for downloading the programs from our podcast section: http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Food_Day_2011 The 16 Days Campaign against Violence on Women: Putting an End to State Violence
The 2011 international theme of the campaign is « Putting an End to State Violence ». The campaign will denounce the impunity of gender violence committed by state agents by covering three dimensions: (a) sexual violence in and after conflict; (b) sexual and gender-based violence committed by state agents, particularly the police or military; and (c) political violence against women. The 16 days campaign starts on November 25th with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; it continues on November 29th with the International Women's Human Rights Defenders Day; followed by December 1st: World AIDS Day; December 6th: Commemoration day of the Montreal (Canada) Massacre in 1989 and ended with the commemoration of sixty years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th for the International Human rights Day. Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean will dedicate these 16 days campaign to highlight the effort of women and men working to put an end to gender violence. The programs featured will include documentaries, interviews, debates, poetry, music and much more. This multilingual broadcast campaign mobilizes community radios around a global issue and encourages them to use new communication technologies such as the Internet to extend the reach of their voices.
AMARC applauds the confirmation of February 13 as the World Radio Day The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) applauds the UNESCO's decision to celebrate the World Radio Day on February 13th. See the resolution in point 13 of the agenda at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/executive-board/187th-session/main-series/ Let's recall that AMARC supported the Spanish Radio Academy's proposal to UNESCO to establish a "World Radio Day" as part of the UN calendar last June. Since its creation, radio has proven itself to be not only useful, but also the most universal media, free and accessible to the majority of the world's population. AMARC also participated last July into a consultation process among all stakeholders to assess the feasibility of this project, process carried out by independent experts Bruce Girard and Seán Ó Siochrú, who were hired by UNESCO to manage this consultation. The main objectives of the World Radio Day are notably to raise the understanding among the public and the media of the value of radio, including in the context of new media, and the value of actively supporting radio; to encourage decision-makers to support, establish and provide access to radio and to provide a networking focus for radio proponents and practitioners worldwide, to exchange ideas, experiences and resources. AMARC at the United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
Mr. Boutterin presented the action of AMARC in terms of freedom of expression and defense of journalists. This meeting brought together UN agencies and other international organizations. For more information please visit: http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=amarc_pidc_2011_EN AMARC at the FAO experts consultation meeting on Communication for development The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) Secretary General Marcelo Solervicens took part to the FAO experts consultation meeting on "Communication for Development: Meeting Today's Agriculture and Rural Development. Challenges" that was held from September 14th to 16th, 2011 at the FAO headquarters located in Rome.
Mr. Solervicens presented the actions of AMARC and the crucial role played by its members in terms of sustainable rural and agricultural development. For more information please visit the AMARC: http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=fao_amarc_2011_EN&l=EN&nosafe=0
AMARC Asia Pacific Community Radio Training Forum to be held from 11-13 December 2011, in Bangkok, Thailand
Ashish Sen, President of AMARC Asia-Pacific has said that the recent environmental upheavals in Thailand as well as in the entire sub-region has increased the urgency for promoting roles of community radios in disaster risk reduction and relief work. "AMARC will work closely with community broadcasters in Thailand for sharing expertise and will address the issue of disaster management through community radio as a primary concern during the Training Forum," he said. The 'training of trainers' event is hosted by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission of Thailand (NBTC) and is supported by AusAid, Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNESCO, UNICEF, EED, Oxfam-Novib, and South East Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA). Regional and national partners such as the Australian Indigenous Communications Association (AICA), Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB), Media Monitor Thailand, FMYY-Japan, National Federation of Community Radios (NFCR) of Thailand, and the Blue Diamond Society, Nepal will be leading various training workshops in the Community Radio Training Forum.
Sharing of ideas and learning of skills will be based on specific thematic streams of workshops so that broadcasters can directly apply their learning to address the concerns of the communities in the Asia-Pacific region such as food security, good governance, empowering women, improving literacy, generating employment opportunities, improving local governance, and promoting the rights of the marginalised. The Training Forum will organise six thematic workshops and participants will be enrolled into specific workshops during the entire period of the Forum. For latest updates, please visit http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=thailand_Forum_EN
Oscar Beltrán, a member of the radio, is assertive that the radio workforce has received different types of threats. The communicator indicated that there has been an attack against the transmission towers as well as attacks on the electric system. Furthermore, he indicated that Victoria's people protected the radio when they received treats to burn down the radio. Mr. Beltrán reported also that the threats are linked with the position of the radio in front of the mining project in the central department of Cabañas, in El Salvador. Radio Victoria has informed his auditors on the possible environmental impacts of the mining project of Pacific Rim in this region.
AMARC Uruguay denounces the announcement of Gomez's destitution at the head of Dinatel In front of the destitution of the Telecommunications Director in Uruguay, AMARC Uruguay has expressed its surprise and discontent of the decision that has been adopted by the Industry, Energy and Mines Minister, Ing.Roberto Kreimerman. At the head of Dinatel, Mr. Gomez, putted in place and created several spaces and instances for dialogue, participation and promotion that AMARC.uy doesn't want to disappear because of political disagreements. AMARC.uy exhorts the government to cancel this decision as soon as possible, also because the decision signifies a weakening of Dinatel efforts (and especially of its director) to support and improve the community broadcasting sector. AMARC.uy understands that the National Direction of Telecommunications cannot be a space of improvisation and political arrangements, but should be a space of regulation and promotion of the use of the radio space aiming to democratize communications.
The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations welcomes government's procurement of community radio broadcasting equipment According to the Chronicle of 3 September 2011, Transmedia Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Florence Sigudu-Matambo, indicated that the equipment which comprises of transmitters, antennae and general hardware has been delivered. However, the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) is baffled by the Transmedia Corporation CEOs statement that installation of the transmitters and antennae will commence after the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ), is finished with the licensing process. Installation of community radio equipment should not be dependent upon BAZ's licensing of community radios. Transmedia and BAZ are two separate entities, with the former being mandated with making certain that requisite broadcasting infrastructure is available, and the latter ensuring that interested broadcasting players are licensed. In the past, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity, George Charamba has indicated that the broadcasting infrastructure in the country creates no room for new broadcasting entries. Therefore, it is ZACRAS' conviction that the acquisition of broadcasting equipment will put to rest the excuse of poor infrastructure as the reason for the non-licensing of alternative broadcasting players. Since 2003, ZACRAS has been representing the interests of community radio initiatives in Zimbabwe. Presently, the Association has a membership of eleven community radio stations which have proper structures and the support of the communities where they are based. Two of the Association's members, Radio Dialogue in Bulawayo and CORAH in Harare, are equipped with broadcasting equipment which will enable them to start broadcasting once they are granted licenses. ZACRAS therefore urges his Excellency the President of Zimbabwe ,Robert Mugabe, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirayi, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Webster Shamhu , and the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders to expedite the process of appointing a properly constituted BAZ. This will result in the calling for applications and subsequent licensing of community radio stations in a credible and transparent manner. The regulatory authority should ensure that real community radios with a clear mandate of advancing community developmental issues are licensed. The ZACRAS Harare Declaration of 2011 defines community radio as being "for, by and about the community, whose ownership and management is representative of the community, and pursues a social development agenda, and is non-profit making". Therefore, community radios must not be hijacked as propaganda machinery for self-serving individuals and organisations at the expense of communities' need to articulate their issues. To this end it is ZACRAS' view that, the decentralization of the state controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio stations which churn out party propaganda at the exclusion of alternative voices should not be mistaken for community radios. The Association maintains its position that the licensing of community radios is consistent with the democratization and development of Zimbabwe. It is ZACRAS' firm conviction that it is only when communities have access to information and can freely express themselves that they are able to participate in governance issues from an informed point.
IMS-AMARC to Support Setting up of Community Radios and Production Groups in Tunisia
The mission built on the joint community media assessment mission by AMARC and IMS last July, and included, first of all, a radio production training on September 26th and 27th at Radio 6 in Tunis including the basics of radio production for community radio, such as programme format, planning and standardization of a radio programme, writing for radio and interview techniques. The training was attended by 10 to 12 participants from Radio 6, the production group in Jendouba and ALT-MST-Sida in Tunis. Three features resulting of the workshop has been broadcasted by Radio 6. Secondly, the mission included a planning workshop on setting-up community radios from September 30th to October 2nd in Kasserine (Central Tunisia). This workshop included drafts for community radio structures, guidelines and plans of action with clear steps, responsibilities and deadlines. The workshop was attended by 30 to 35 participants from the above mentioned community radio projects. Finally, the trainings also included guidelines for coverage of the October 23rd elections and further collaboration, such as technical and training needs assessment.
Radio Sawt El Managem shortly on air in Gafsa The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), International Media Support (IMS) and the Syndicat des radios libres de la Tunisie (STRL) has confirmed that radio Sawt el Managem, located in Gafsa, will broadcast within due date established by the regulatory authority of Tunisia. As part of the mission that AMARC and IMS took upon in collaboration with the STRL in order to develop the radio broadcasting landscape in Tunisia, a delegation composed of representatives from AMARC and STRL went to Gafsa on Tuesday October 25th They evaluated the situation of community radio stations in the region and noted the progress of the preparatory work in order to launch Radio Sawt el Managem within the due date appointed by the Instance Nationale de Régulation de l'Information et de la Communication (INRIC). For this purpose, a high-fidelity material permitting the covering of the whole region was given to the station officials as a donation, with the commitment of the beneficiaries that it will be use strictly for non-profit purposes. The airing of radio Sawt el Managem accompanies the setting up of the associative communication sector as a result of the opening of the radio broadcasting spectrum within the framework of the Tunisian revolution.
The Suitcase Radio has arrived in Tonga
This is the second community radio station to be established within the Regional Women's Media and Policy Network coordinated by FemLINKPACIFIC and the "Generation Next" project has been a successful model of involving young women to pick up a tape recorder, produce programmes from local communities and take to the airwaves: In the coming week listeners across Tongatapu will be able to tune in to the demonstration broadcast of Tonga's first women-led community radio station Le'o 'o e Kakai 98FM dedicated to promoting UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security), Peacebuilding and Dialogue using the suitcase radio technology.
Fourth seminar on communication rights and legislation of AMARC Brazil : the community radio concept must be broadened
Adilson Cabral, professor of social communication at the Universidad Federal Fluminense (UFF), emphasizes that geographical limits are placed at the forefront of legislation concerning community radios. For him, a community is an interest group. Dioclécio Luz, from the Universidad de Brasilia, explained that restrictions applied to community radios find their roots in the legislative formulation of the Ley de radiodifusion communitaria of 1998. The opening roundtable included Maria Pia Matta, AMARC president, who presented AMARC's vision towards community radio broadcasting regulation, Santiago Marino, consultant for AMAURC Argentina's legislation program, who shared his legal experience in Argentina with the new communication law of 2009, and the director of services execution of the communication department who was supposed to share the department's propositions for community radios, Demerval da Silva Junior. The people present at the seminar criticized Mr. Da Silva, who did not bring forth the government's official position. Representatives of radios and other organizations where hoping for a clear position from the federal government on the formulation of the new law.
AMARC Brasil 9th Assembly AMARC Brasil invited its members for the 9th AMARC Brasil assembly, which took place from the 12th to the 14th this past august in Rio de Janeiro.
On the 13th of august, a presentation of the legislative programs and a training seminar form news agency Pulsar were followed by a discussion on the programs set to be put forth in the following years. There was also discussion on AMARC Brasil's legal status. In the afternoon, the presentation of candidatures for the council of the women's network and the subsequent elections took place. The elected individuals on the Board for 2011-2013 are: · Arthur William – Unirr (National Representative) – RJ · Denise Viola –individual member (Women's network) – RJ · Dioclécio Luz – individual member – DF · Rosmari Castilhos – Ilê Mulher – RS · Rosa Gonçalves – Rádio Comunitária Independência FM – CE
Subtitutes:
· Manoel Peixoto (Bael) – Abraço Norte Ceará – CE · Domingos de Morais – Rádio Comunitária Nativa FM – PA
On the last day of the presentation, the politico-cultural, specific and organizational objectives have been defined y AMARC Brasil statute was approved.
AMARC Brasil into the executive coordination of Fale Rio
Fale Rio (Frente Ampla pela Liberdade de Expressão e Direito à Comunicação) elected its coordination during the plenary session of the movement that took place on August 15th, in Brazil. AMARC Brasil, in the person of Arthur William, integrated the coordination, wihich includes 13 entities.
AMARC participates actively to the International Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy 2011
AMARC and ARCQ organized as well a seminar on community radio sustainability challenges and public policies on October 17th, at the very beginning of the FIESS, during which several members of AMARC took the floor, among which the president Maria Pia Matta and the Secretary general Marcelo Solervicens, representatives of radios from around the globe as well as delegates from governmental bodies, such as Christine Saint-Pierre, Quebec's Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women. This series of workshops permitted to put together the visions of the various actors involved in this sector to discuss the various financing and functioning models of community radios and the public politics in this realm. This seminar also permitted to agree on a declaration whose aim was to suggest recommendations to public bodies of Canada and elsewhere in order to favor the sustainability of community radio. This Community Radio Day ended up with the launch of the World House of Community Radio.
Launch of the World House of Community Radio CIBL 101,5 Radio-Montréal, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) and the Quebec Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ARCQ) launched of the World House of Community Radio, on October 17th 2011, in Montreal, Canada. This launch ended the Community Radio Day. This event was linked to the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy (FIESS), that was unfolded from October 17th to 20th 2011. The creation of the World House of Community Radio mainly aims at emphasizing at the international level, the expertise in community radio broadcasting that has been developed in Montréal over the last decades. This centre of development, promotion and production will make possible a synergy between those organizations with international and local dimensions. The emphasis will be on community radio as a third sector of communications and as a fully-fledged actor of the social economy. The setting up of AMARC's international secretariat, ARCQ's office and CIBL 101,5 Radio-Montréal's administrative office and studios in neighbouring spaces will facilitate the development of innovative projects in the field of community radio broadcasting. Louise Beaudoin, Michel Arpin and John Parisella have kindly accepted to be the ambassadors of the World House. This launch was a great success and several big names made speeches, such as Ms. Louise Beaudoin, who's an ambassador of the World House.
Declaration of Montreal on Community Radios and the Social and Solidarity Economy
Declaration: Community Radios and the Social and Solidarity Economy We, representatives and allies of community radios of Quebec, Canada and all over the world, gathered in Montreal on October 17th, 2011 for the International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy (IFSSE), declare that: 1. Community radios are party of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). They belong to this other model of economic development based on citizen participation, a non-for-profit service and a purpose centered on common good, not on the interest of investors. As a result of their collective property and local nature, they guarantee local radio service, cultural diversity and freedom of expression for the communities they served. They constitute a rampart against media concentration that diminishes the diversity of voices and opinions as well as centralizes information in few media outlets. 2. The SSE is recognized by various states and international organizations, among which International Labour Organization (ILO) for its role in job creation and economic development. 3. During the last forty years, community radios have become a worldwide movement of the third sector of communications in over 130 countries, besides public and commercial media. In this regard, they represent a reality of the social and solidarity economy in the communications sector. 4. Community broadcasting has been recognized by several international organizations, including UNESCO and FAO for its role in fighting poverty, exclusion and marginalisation, particularly of women, and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The Freedom of Expression Rapporteurs of the UN recognize that access to community radios is an essential component of freedom of expression and the right to communicate. 5. States can play a vital role by adopting regulations and policies that enable the establishment and sustainability of community radios. By supporting the independence of their governance structures, of their contents' choices and of their financing mechanisms, states can allow them to reach their full potential in the democratization of the societies, on sustainable human development and cultural diversity promotion. 6. Some states have already adopted public policies and regulations that contribute to the sustainability of the community radio sector. Canada, France, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentina and Australia have implemented policies and regulations that are models that may serve as a starting point. 7. The International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy (IFSSE) is a unique space that gathers various SSE actors in a spirit of openness and sharing that goes beyond particular interests, thus allowing an extensive reflection on the strengthening the SSE sector and the definition of local and international strategies in order to transform the social and solidarity economy enterprises and organisations as essential actors of democratic societies. We recommend to the FIESS to include in its recommendations to: • Demand that authorities consider community radios as being part of to social and solidarity economy • Demand that public authorities adopt politics well adapted to the specificities and needs of community radios • Call upon enterprises and organizations from the SSE to give priority to community radios in their communications strategies • Call upon community radios to contribute to the development of the social and solidarity networks, by giving them visibility and promoting this promising economic sector • Reinforce the International Forum for the Social and Solidarity Economy as an arena to bring together approaches, strategies and mechanisms of promotion of the social and solidarity economy recognized by governments and international institutions • Demand that authorities in Québec, Canada and worldwide develop, maintain and reinforce policies and regulations that enable community radios as Social and solidarity economy enterprises and organizations to promote communication rights and combat poverty, exclusion and to promote social justice and sustainable and participatory human development. • To request the UN Economic and Social Council to recognize the economic sector represented by the social and solidarity economy. The declaration is available online at: http://www.amarc.org/fiess/documents/DeclarationRC_FIESS_en.pdf. Please share it widely.
AMARC will change address on November 19th
2, Sainte-Catherine East Street, suite 102, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 1K4 AMARC will joint with CIBL community radio and ARCQ (Association des radiodiffuseurs communautaires du Québec) in a new building, the World House of Community Radio. The setting up of AMARC's international secretariat, ARCQ's office and CIBL Radio-Montréal's administrative office and studios in neighbouring spaces will facilitate the development of innovative projects in the field of community radio broadcasting. The building will be LEED certified, which means that it will be environmentally friendly. With this relocation, AMARC will have more visibility.
Resources Please visit the new section of publications and written resources such as articles, manuals and others on community broadcasting issues at the AMARC Website http://www.amarc.org Using the wiki platform you can also add new documents or send them to the International secretariat at secretariat@si.amarc.org
Coming Activities - November 25 to December 10, 16 Days Campaign Against Violence on Women 2011 - November 28 to December 9, Durban, South Africa, COP 17 - November 25 to December 10, 16 Days Campaign - December 5 to 9, Marrakech, Morocco, Training mission to Morocco - December 11 to 13, Bangkok, Thailand - Asia Pacific conference - January 24 to 26, Dakar, Senegal, AMARC Africa Capacity Building Conference - March 7-8 2012, Tunis, Tunisia, Annual Meeting of AMARC's International Board of Directors - March 9-10 2012, Tunis, Tunisia, Middle-East and North Africa Conference - March 12 to 14 2012, Gafsa, Tunisia, Tunisian community media conference
The International Secretariat Marcelo Solervicens, Secretary General Valérie Fournier-L'Heureux, Assistant Secretary General Marcia Cornejo Figallo, Accountant Sylvie Gilbert, Accounting Consultant Ricardo Costa, Project Consultant Nick Fillmore, Project Development Consultant Armando Navarrete, Webmaster Consultant Jean Philippe Théberge, ICT 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 association, so they will be published 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 130 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 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMARCnews AMARC © 2011
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