Greetings on World Radio Day 2023 with the theme of Peace.
\nAs all other things in life radio can be used for the best or for the worst.
\nSpreading false news or real news. The Russian attach on Ukraine has made this
\nclear. It is obvious that the task of the radio is to give real news
\nabout life, whether you like them or not. Cruel actions are not acceptable,
\nwhether they are done by you friends or by your enemies. That can be a
\ndifficult balance also why it can be difficult to verify so called facts.
\nTelling the truth will in the long run give basis for peace. (Hans Verner Lollike)<\/p>\n
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The Russian attack on Ukraine has now been going on
\nfor almost a year. Nobody really believed that something like this could happen
\nin Europe. The independent public service radio stations have provided
\nexcellent coverage of events in Ukraine but it is a fact that a radio service
\nunder the direct control of a government can be used to further the goals of a
\nsmall group of people as in this case in Russia. A radio station can easily
\nloose its editorial independence and become the mouthpiece of a dictatorial
\nr\u00e9gime. There are numerous cases of exactly this. Not only can a radio service
\nbe restricted to voicing the policies and opinions of a dictatorship but
\njournalists wanting to portray the truth are likely to find other employment.
\nIn the case of Russia, any criticism of government policies or the attack on
\nUkraine can lead to a prison term. Even to mention the word WAR can have that
\neffect. This it is of vital importance to have access to
\nindependent public service radio stations which are totally free from
\ngovernment control. Their reporting will give the audiences the information
\nneeded to form an opinion about what is actually going on in the world thus
\nhelping create an environment of peace and stability. Journalists and reporters are already doing a great
\njob in reporting on what goes on in today’s world and they all need our support
\nas it can sometimes be difficult and in some cases even dangerous as there are
\nforces wanting to prevent factual and independent reporting. (Christer Brunstrom, Sweden)<\/p>\n
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I feel that radio, and short-wave in particular,
\nhave a role in providing peace across the world especially in times of
\nconflict. For citizens on both sides of a conflict, entertainment through Music
\nor Talk Shows can take the listeners mind to a different place away from the
\nscary situation they are in and give them momentary relief from the stress they
\nare in. (Roseanna Lakeland, UK)<\/p>\n
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Shortwave radio presents a unique opportunity to engage
\nlisteners and build the pathways for understanding other cultures. Like reading
\na book, listening to the radio involves just one sense. Thus it is possible for
\nthe undistracted listener to be completely immersed in the broadcast. If
\nthe broadcast is educational, cultural and fact based the listener may devote
\n100% of their attention to that show. If encouraged, the listener may
\nalso request a QSL which is a valuable opportunity for the broadcaster to
\ncommunicate with them again. The listener’s curiosity may be piqued
\nabout a certain subject which they can later research. Or they may store
\naway their colorful QSLs and\/or pleasant memories of tuning in to a
\n far away station until they have a chance to visit the country they
\nspent so many hours listening to. Just as the author of a good book can form a
\nlifelong bond with the reader, so can shortwave radio. I am amazed at the
\nnumber of listeners who started with shortwave half a century ago and are often
\nfeatured on DX program segments. DXers frequently mourn long gone radio
\nstations as they do close friends who have passed on. Shortwave radio is a
\npowerful medium that can emotionally connect with listeners for many decades. Shortwave radio can vastly broaden the horizons of
\nindividuals around the world. Radios are relatively inexpensive and
\nbroadcasts reach every point on the globe. Powerful broadcasts cross
\ninternational borders with ease. Radio frequently offers a voice that is
\ndifferent than what the listener hears in their local community. That can lead
\nto a deeper understanding of distant countries and cultures. Better understanding
\nand the freedom to hear new ideas is a building block for the antonym of war;
\npeace. (Timothy Brockett, USA)<\/p>\n
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The use of electromagnetic waves to transmit sounds over
\nlong distances turned out to be an extremely efficient and cheap way of
\ntransmitting information. What is more, radio messages ensure the comfort of
\nreception, because they do not require the involvement of the sense of sight,
\nwhich is why the radio can be listened to by both the driver on the
\nroad and the farmer in the field. The spoken word remains an attractive
\nmeans of conveying information and providing entertainment. Broadcasts, debates
\nand radio podcasts successfully compete for the attention of listeners with
\ninternet media, television and the press. Living in peace and a sense of
\nsecurity is a basic human right. Unfortunately, it is constantly violated.
\nRadio may be an effective tool for fostering both peace and the dissemination
\nof false information. Radio plays a significant role in dispute mediation.
\nThrough the distribution of information about each group’s viewpoints, radio
\ncan mitigate conflicts between competing groups or races. Radio can enable competing
\nparties communicate with one another and find a peaceful solution to their
\ndifferences. In other words, radio has unlimited possibilities to build bridges
\nbetween people, but it can also become a powerful tool for sharing lies. (Pavel Nikodym, Poland) <\/p>\n
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