Message-ID: <9511112352.AA06830@cln.etc.bc.ca> Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 16:57:40 -0800 From: Valerie Bruce <mailto:vbruce@CLN.ETC.BC.CA> Subject: Re: Wind Up Radio...ideal for 3rd World? To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
>Adrian C Phillips wrote
>
>>--
>>Now that technology is providing us with the universal access to the
>>airwaves, the primary issue becomes one of programming. What is the
>>sense of allowing rural and impoverished people access to to airwaves if
>>the predominant programming addresses urban and capitalist issues.
>>
>>What next, the wind-up tv to allow the Masai to look at American soap operas?
>
Maarten van der Heijden replied:
>This shows too much disdain for the impoverished. Thay may not be rich, but
>they surely are not stupid. The ANC of South africa had its own radio in
>times when Nelson Mandelea was still in prison. Maybe this is the reason why
>the radio is being built in South Africa, from the design af an Englishman
>who shopped aroud for two years with his product.
>
I don't think the suggestion is that people in Africa are stupid. He's talking about relevancy to one's life. If radio programming focuses on the issues/concerns/needs of the urbanite, of what relevance is it to the masses of people off in the jungles of Zaire or wherever. I think that's Adrian's point. However, the world is certainly shrinking, and I don't see how the process can be stopped. The day of satellite cell phone access to every corner of the globe is coming, and I assume universal access to integrated TV/ radio/computer technology is not all that far behind. How is this going to affect the average citizen off in the boonies who is trying to eke out a living?
Radio can be used to educate, if there's a will to do so.
>Any radiostation will transmit a form of propaganda,
They all do, no matter what country.
Valerie Bruce Vancouver, B.C. Canada