July 27, 2003
Support Radio For Peace International
On Monday, July 21, 2003 a University for Peace representative delivered an eviction notice to Radio For Peace International (RFPI), which has been operating since 1987 by mutual agreement on the University campus in El Rodeo, Costa Rica. The Radio stations access gate was locked with chains and patrolled by armed guards employed by the University for Peace. In addition, the radio station was advised to vacate its facilities in two weeks....see RFPI website for full details; emphasis added below.
"To prevent the silencing of this important voice, we the Committee for the Defense of Radio For Peace International encourages you to write Kofi Annan in support of the radio station at: annan@un.org or sg@un.org, and/or to leave a message of concern with the Public Inquiries office at 212.963.4475."
For More Information contact:
Thanks to IndyMedia, Free Speech Radio News, Martin Voelker, and others noted in AirwaveWEB (for Boston and world via webcasting; still looking for other such regional resources) for mentioning or allowing a forum to mention RFPI. One of potentially many who is in a process of (active} listener outreach, complmenting what peace and justice related organizations and individuals formally do as part of their outreach
It's hoped that you don't skip Comment Form: "jump if you must"
This supportive message sent via RFPI-support.html
"I WILL DOUBLE MY CONTRIBUTION IF CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING ( CPB) FUNDING IS ELIMINATED AND KPFK (insert any station) BECOMES SOLELY LISTENER SPONSORED.
Milton Berle 1950's saying "the people own the airwaves."
At times tuning into WMFO (91.5 FM, Medford, MA) or WZBC (90.3 FM) in the Boston area one might expect to hear independent news programming by Martin Voelker, No-U-Turn Radio, John Grebe, Sounds of Dissent (Newton, MA), Thinking Out Loud (91.5 FM, Lowell) and not have interference from two "public" radio stations who serve underwriter interests. Not to mention Boston so-called public radio not picking up Making Contact as other public radio stations have done.
On the heels of this weeks overwhelming vote by the House to undo some of the FCCs pending media ownership rules which would allow greater consolidation in the media market, advocates of LPFM--Low Power FM radio -- are saying We told you so! in the wake of the recent release of the Mitre Report, an independently produced technical study that shows that LPFM stations will not cause interference with full power radio signals unless the LPFM stations are located very close to the full power stations. The Mitre Report recommends lifting the restrictions that have kept LPFM out of urban areas. But, as Kellia Ramares reports from Pacifica station KPFA in Berkeley, it will take more than a technical report to get LPFM into the cities.The Prometheus Radio Project is a non-profit organization created by radio activists to facilitate the growth of the Free Radio Movement and present an ...
A public radio fundraisier on-air comment about reasons for supporting:
We're "Commercial-free", represent "free speech"....
This was stated in between the program 'Subsidized Market/Capital Place' and various mentioning of underwriters. Maybe it's not considered a form of commercial because it not the typical type but it ought to be insulting to anyone listening to hear any me ntion of them being "commercial-free". What about "name dropping" when it's mentioned that donating can amount to 'only so much per day, the price of coffee at Squirmbuck$'?
'PSR (Public Service Renouncement) or if you prefer this arrangement of letters, NRP, National Radio Project) who has not neglected a balanced discussion between the forces calling for further warfare effects in addition to sanctions in Iraq. It goes without saying that corporate local news stations have not mentioned calls for peace, and when they do all too often call attention to the rare handful of arrests and do not discuss peace efforts. How much discussion about the half-life regarding Depleted Uranium in Iraq? A half-life of 4.5 billion years, the former believed to be age of the earth (now considered nearly three times this number). FSRN" reported during Headlines (available in Real Audio via WebActive).
IndyGlobal' Newswire noted that 'PSR planned to resolve this difference in coverage but I didn't expect much. It was momentarily reassuring to hear William Galston and Stephen Zunes though soon afterwards.
All too many public radio listeners I feel gauge the range of discussion as somewhere in between corporate network news and 'PSR and 'BigBangCorp, and appear by their comments to be unaware of independent media in its many forms, Internet and print, and t he many under heard voices.
Barbara Phillips' "What is [corporate] News? Novelty Without Change; one of many references from Charlotte Ryan's Prime Time Activism book. See Alternative Radio.
Are you critical of public radio but yet allow it to continue "as is"? Making Contact being heard on Boston public radio? Ah Things Corporate tangle maybe.
Prison Radio... "All Things Censored".
An organized effort is needed to raise awareness on such general issues such as documented by Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting regarding WBEZ in Chicago not allowing AFSC (American Fri ends Service Committee) a spot because they advocate peace. Can't have that.
Suspect continued "Sizable" support for INS detainees in Boston on 9 January 2003. Will public radio report?