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                       :: A M A R C   6 ::
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   The Sixth World Conference of Community Radio Broadcasters

                W a v e s   f o r   F r e e d o m

               Dakar, Senegal, January 23-30, 1995


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                    An International Movement
                    -------------------------

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) is
a non-governmental organization for cooperation, sharing of
services and promotion of community radio broadcasting.

AMARC's history began with the first World Conference of
Community Radio Broadcasters, held in Montreal, Canada, in August
1983. Held to mark the United Nations' International Year of
Communications, the conference attracted some six hundred
participants from thirty-six countries. In 1986, at a second
conference, held in Vancouver, participants elaborated the
structures of a permanent organization which was officially
established at AMARC third conference, in Managua, Nicaragua in
1988.

AMARC 4, held in Dublin in 1990, was devoted to consolidating the
new association. In 1992, the 500th anniversary of the Europeans'
"arrival" in the Americas, 500 people from more than fifty
countries attended AMARC 5 in Mexico. This meeting further
developed the network and prepared it for new challenges. New
expectations are being voiced, including the need for AMARC to
open up to new regional realities -- especially in Eastern
Europe, Africa and Asia. Youth groups want to find a place in
AMARC and indigenous peoples are making their specific needs
known.

Women have always attended AMARC gatherings. Over the years, they
have gradually built a network of women active in community
radio. This network will have a strong presence, during a special
women's meeting and throughout AMARC 6.

Over the years, AMARC conferences have allowed hundreds of
participants to make contacts and share experiences, resulting in
an international community radio movement based on the solidarity
forged between men and women who, on a daily basis, develop new
practices of democratic communication.


                   AMARC 6: Waves for Freedom
                   ---------------------------

Waves for freedom will be the theme of AMARC's sixth world
meeting, the first to be held on African soil. It is a timely
choice, inspired by both the struggle for democracy in Africa
today and the birth of independent radio broadcasters. African
radio has been about courageous endeavours and commendable
experiments. However, given the often uncertain legal and
material contexts, such accomplishments are fragile.
Nevertheless, community radio projects are taking shape in South
Africa, Namibia, Mali, Burkina Faso and Kenya and other African
countries.

In November 1993 a new broadcast law was introduced in Senegal,
the host of AMARC 6, and radio broadcasting officially ceased
being a state monopoly. The new law handed responsibility for
regulation of the airwaves to the state-owned national radio and
television service, a situation in which the national service is
both the referee and a competitor.

To date, there is just one independent radio station in Senegal.
Founded by a journalists' cooperative, it operates in the
capital. However, many associations and NGOs are working on
community radio type projects for both rural and urban areas. A
few community radio stations should be on the air before AMARC 6.

The state radio network has four regional services and is
currently exploring ways of establishing local radio stations in
rural areas.


     What is community radio's present status in the world?
     ------------------------------------------------------

"Waves for Freedom" is a theme very much in tune with the
reflection underway in many countries around the question of
democratization--and the role of the media in this process. These
concerns are not just relevant to Africans, but to communication
practitioners throughout the world, North and South. Recent
initiatives calling for the strengthening of free speech rights
are evidence that this demand is a priority related to the goal
of building more democratic civil societies. Community radio can
play a vital role in democratization. Given its role as a medium
which gives a community a voice and helps it mobilize, community
radio must constantly review its practices (whether recent or
more deeply anchored in history), learn from the experiences of
others and constantly renew its involvement in the community's
development.

The major themes for discussion at AMARC 6 will be grouped around
the following questions:

-    How can we talk about the democratization of communication
     in the present world situation?
-    What threats and opportunities are presented by new
     technologies?
-    Is community radio a viable option for the year 2000?

Other issues include community radio's legal and economic
environment, and its role in community development and
empowerment.


               Debating, discussing, listening...
               ----------------------------------

Several formats for debate and discussion are planned in order to
best exploit the wealth of experience possessed by the hundreds
of persons, from every corner of the planet, who will attend
AMARC 6.

With plenary sessions for synthesizing, workshops for deepening
discussions in smaller groups, video presentations on specific
experiences, excerpts from radio programs and consultations with
experts... participants will be very busy during the conference's
few short days.

Among the questions likely to attract attention: How is the
democratization of communication faring in South Africa following
the country's historic elections? What role does community radio
play in situations of ethnic conflict, war or social crisis? For
example, in Bosnia, Zaire, Haiti or Mexico? We will also examine
whether women occupy a significant place in radio and look at
their activities in Tanzania, Peru and France.

AMARC 6 will be an opportunity to generate for joint actions for
reinforcing community radio, both in individual countries and
collectively on the international scene. Finally, AMARC's mandate
as an association serving the international community radio
movement will be discussed during the General Assembly.


                       Related Activities
                       -------------------

The African meeting will take place on the 20th and 21st of
January (just before AMARC 6). The agenda will cover the rapidly
evolving African situation and the emergence of new radio
projects. African participants will also work to define AMARC's
role regarding support for their movement's development.

The women's gathering will take place on January 22. The women
active in community radio have always taken advantage of AMARC
gatherings to share their practices and experiences, and to ask
AMARC to develop specific initiatives promoting women's
participation in radio and ensuring that their voices be heard
loud and clear.

This meeting, will take place before AMARC 6 and will be an
opportunity to: examine the practices of women in community
radio; clarify AMARC's mandate concerning supporting the
development of the network of women in radio; and, finally,
review the actions to be implemented and the proposals to be put
forward in the context of preparations for the United Nations
conference on women to take place in Beijing, in 1995.

AMARC 6's official opening will be on January 23. The 24th, 25th
and 26th will be devoted to conferences, debates, workshops and
regional meetings.

The 27th and the 28th will be set aside for AMARC's General
Assembly. Non-member participants will be offered a choice of
possible activities.


                      The Solidarity Prize
                      --------------------

At AMARC 5, the Dominican Republic's Radio Enriquillo was awarded
the Solidarity Prize in recognition of its support for the
Haitian people in the aftermath of the coup in Haiti and the
muzzling of the media there. AMARC has decided to renew this
initiative and a second Solidarity Prize will be awarded at AMARC
6.

The prize will be awarded to a radio station or organization
which has shown distinction, under particularly difficult
circumstances, in the defence of its community's right to freedom
of expression. If you want to propose a candidate for this prize,
please contact AMARC's secretariat as soon as possible for
further information.


                         Radio du Monde
                         --------------

Radio du Monde, an FM radio station will be set up on the
conference site. Programming will include: news, music of every
origin, radio "magazines", participatory programs and live
artistic activities. This station will reach both the population
of Dakar and AMARC 6 participants.

Please feel welcome to either send in advance, or bring with you,
material for possible broadcast purposes.


                  A radio and cultural festival
                  -----------------------------

There will be cultural activities throughout the conference,
allowing you to savour the local culture.

Don't forget to bring, or send us, visual or audio material,
posters, print material, photos and promotional material about
your radio station.

AMARC 6 will be international community radio's grand festival!
So bring your most beautiful national costumes and cultural
productions so that we can really bask in the international
culture of the peoples of the world!


                            Join us!
                            --------

Over 300 participants--from Australia, Italy, the United Kingdom,
Sweden, Ecuador, Brazil, the Philippines, Russia, Vietnam,
Canada, Mali, Burkina Faso, the United States, France, Palestine,
Cuba and Namibia--will be in attendance.

Active or interested in community radio, these participants are
also, members of coalitions for the democratization of
communication, technicians, leaders of women's groups,
journalists, communicators, video film-makers, researchers,
computer scientists, audio artists.

                        To participate...
                        -----------------

AMARC 6's site will be the seaside "LE MERIDIEN" hotel complex.
This complex, located about fifteen kilometres from Dakar, is
capable of welcoming over 500 participants. All conference
activities will take place there.

Concerning accommodation, several options are available. All of
them include hotel accommodation, meals, documentation,
conference registration and social activities.

Plan A: single occupancy (all meals included)
Plan B: double occupancy (all meals included)

Plan A1: January 20-29, 1995 (ten nights)              US$1,100
Plan A2: January 22-29, 1995 (eight nights)            US$950
Plan A3: January 23-29, 1995 (seven nights)            US$850

Plan B1: January 20-29, 1995 (ten nights)              US$900
Plan B2: January 22-29, 1995 (eight nights)            US$775
Plan B3: January 23-29, 1995 (seven nights)            US$700

Additional nights will be payable at rate of US$100 per night
(including meals), regardless of the plan selected.

                            Air Fares
                            ---------

Special fares have been negotiated with four airlines:

     1.   AIR AFRIQUE (the conference's official carrier) is
          offering:
          - a 50% discount on all inter-African flights
          - a 65% discount on departures from Paris
          - a US$821 fare on departures from New York

     2.   AIR FRANCE
          - a 20% discount on all flights arriving from Asia or
          the South Pacific

     3.   IBERIA
          - excursion fares on flights from Latin America to
          Madrid and Dakar

     4.   ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
          - a 30% discount on the Addis Ababa - Dakar - Addis
          Ababa route

Mention AMARC when approaching representatives of these
companies.


                      For more information
                      --------------------

Local Organizing Committee
Avenue A Fadiga x Thann
P.O. Box 7369
Dakar-Medina, Senegal
Tel: (221) 22.57.92      Fax: (221) 22.58.01


AMARC International Secretariat
3575 boulevard St. Laurent
Suite 704
Montreal, Quebec  H2X 2T7
Canada
Tel: (514) 982-0351      Fax: (514) 849-7129
Email: amarc@web.apc.org