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/* Written 11:53 am  May  9, 1994 by resystom in web:amarc.radio */
/* ---------- "Cuban radio conference results" ---------- */
Latin American Community Radio Conference
COMMUNITY RADIOS: DEVELOPING THE PRACTICE OF DEMOCRACY

"On the basis of the community's tastes and interests, community
radio extends the use of democracy in society.  Community radio is
defined by its own objectives of service to the community and
active community participation in the endeavors of the radio.
Community radios contribute to free expression on the part of
social, political and cultural movements, as well as to the
promotion of all initiatives aimed at peace, democracy, development
and friendship among the peoples of the world."

The above is a brief summary of the conclusions reached by 120
community radio broadcasters from Latin America, the US, Canada and
Germany who gathered in Havana, Cuba, from November 23 to 26, for
the Latin American Community Radio Conference.

The statement issued following the conference also indicates that:
"Community radio stations may be large or small, low- or high-
powered, private or collective, church- or state-run, licensed or
in the process of obtaining legal status.  Community radio stations
may operate with unsophisticated equipment or have achieved a
higher technological level."  In addition, the participants agreed
that their community-based nature should not prevent their radios
from producing competitive-quality programs nor from becoming
financially viable ventures, though their objectives are not profit
oriented.

The participants pointed out many new challenges facing community
radios, including: reaching a broader audience so as to avoid
remaining on the fringe; creating opportunities for real debate in
a democratic and pluralistic atmosphere; recovering the magic of
radio language by using all available resources and formats;
ensuring continuing training for broadcasters to as to
professionalize the quality of programs; pressuring for national
legislation that will legalize community radio stations.

It was concluded that community radio should be dynamic,
refreshing, colorful and deeply rooted in the real-life experiences
of our people and of all those who defend their cultural values and
national identity.  In this way they will be better able to stand
up to the plans of neoliberalism and thereby offer our peoples some
hope for the future.

                   ..........................
 This article is from InteRadio, Vol. 6, No.1., the newsletter
of AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters.
     InteRadio is published in English, French and Spanish.
       To suscribe or for information, contact AMARC at:

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