UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
AMARC Information & Publications

AMARC Information & Publications

Known by its French acronym AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters is an international non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement. AMARC's goal is to support and contribute to the development of its members along the principals of solidarity and international cooperation.

AMARC's Declaration of Principles states, in part, that members of AMARC: - believe in the need to establish a new world information order based on more just and equitable exchanges among peoples; - contribute to the expression of different social, political and cultural movements, and to the promotion of all initiatives supporting peace, friendship among peoples, democracy and development; - recognize the fundamental and specific role of women in establishing new communication practices; - express through their programming: the sovereignty and independence of all peoples; solidarity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries; international cooperation based on the creation of permanent and widespread ties based on equality, reciprocity, and mutual respect; non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual preference or religion; and respect for the cultural identity of peoples.

AMARC has two membership categories: regular members and associate members.

Regular members are community radio stations, production groups, federations and associations of community radio stations. Their representatives have the right to speak and vote at all meetings of the General Assembly and may hold elected office.

Associate members are individuals, groups and organizations who are in agreement with AMARC's objectives. They have the right to speak in meetings of the General Assembly but cannot vote or hold elected office.

The following is a selection of some of AMARC's projects and services:

INTERADIO: Published three times a year, INTERADIO is a newsletter exclusively devoted to community radio. It features news, profiles of radio projects, technical tips and reviews, and information about AMARC activities. It is distributed in Spanish, English and French to AMARC members and to a total of five thousand individuals and organizations around the globe.

RESEARCH AND PUBLISHING: AMARC has published a number of studies, conference reports, articles as well as a book featuring the stories of 21 community stations from around the world. Research and publishing is an important activity and plans are to expand it with the inauguration of a publication series about community radio that will commission research and publications on a wide range of topics. Many of AMARC's publications are available in English, French and Spanish.

THE SOLIDARITY ACTION NETWORK: The Solidarity Action Network is an initiative of community broadcasters who attended AMARC 5 in Mexico. The main purpose of the network is to mobilize the worldwide community radio movement in solidarity with community radio broadcasters whose right to freedom of speech is threatened. The network was set up in January 1993 and distributed its first Action Alert in February when a German community radio broadcaster was sentenced to four years in a Turkish prison for interviewing members of the Kurdish Workers Party, considered a "terrorist" organization by the government of Turkey. The Network has also acted in solidarity with community radio stations in South Africa and Serbia.

THE WOMEN'S NETWORK: AMARC's Declaration of Principles makes specific recognition of the "role of women in establishing new communication practices". The Women's Network was established by women attending AMARC's fourth world conference in 1990. Its objective is to promote exchange and solidarity among women working in alternative radio projects. In 1992 AMARC's bylaws were changed to reflect the importance of this network and one of the vice-presidential positions was designated vice-president for women. Maria Victoria Polanco, a Colombian, currently holds this position.

OTHER NETWORKS: Two more recent initiatives are seeking to establish networks similar to the Women's Network. The new networks will be for indigenous peoples and for youth. The Bolivian Cancio Mamani Lopez was elected to AMARC's Board to help set up the indigenous network.

TRAINING AND CONSULTATION: AMARC has developed a network of professionals who can provide training and consultation for all aspects of community radio.

REGIONAL OFFICES: While AMARC's Montreal-based secretariat coordinates work on a worldwide level, regional offices play an essential role of local promotion and coordination of exchange projects. The Latin American office in Lima is one of the most dynamic centres of activity. AMARC and the Interafrican Centre for the Study of Rural Radio in Ouagadougou (CIERRO), a partner organization in the African country of Burkina Faso, are in the process of establishing a regional office for Africa. A European office is being set up in cooperation with the Community Radio Association in the United Kingdom.

A POPULAR RADIO NEWS SERVICE: AMARC is currently working in partnership with Inter Press Service (IPS) on a project to make a popular radio news service available to its members. The first phase of this project will see the service made available in Spanish to radio stations in Latin America and English and French services will be available shortly afterwards.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES: The Sixth World Conference of Community Radio Broadcasters will be held in Burkina Faso, West Africa in early 1995. This will be the first time an AMARC conference will be held in Africa and the decision to hold it there reflects the democratization that is taking place on the continent which has seen the first independent community stations set up in a continent where state monopolies have been the rule.

FOR MORE INFORMATION send us your mailing address and we will post you a membership kit, a sample copy of InteRadio and a list of AMARC publications. Please indicate in which language (English, French or Spanish) you would like to receive information.

You can send email to AMARC from PeaceNet at "web:amarc" or from an InterNet site at "amarc@web.apc.org". Their fax number is 514-849-7129 and their phone number is 982-0351. Snailmail address: 3575 Boul. St. Laurent, #704, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 2T7.

AMARC Publications

================== The following publications are available from AMARC. All prices are in US dollars (Canadian dollars if delivered to a Canadian address) and include mailing. Please use the attached coupon and include payment with your order.

Monographs

========== International Women's Network of AMARC: Resource directory (Second edition, 1993, compiled by Justine Akman and Louise Boivin, 30 pp.) A listing of the names and addresses of over 150 women working in all aspects of community radio internationally. Highlights some of the problems and challenges facing women in community radio and presents an overview of AMARC's International Women's Network and its plan of action for 1993-1994.

Available in English, French and Spanish. $8.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Pan-African Meeting: Airwaves for a Pluralist Africa (AMARC, 1992, compiled by Eugenie Aw, 43 pp.) A report on the pan-African meeting of participatory radio producers held in Benin in June 1992, in collaboration with the Inter-African Center for Studies in Rural Radio at Ouagadougou (CIERRO). Includes extracts of presentations on radio and popular participation, women's radio projects, training, networking, and documentation centres and proposals for concrete actions and activities for African radio producers, including the formation of the Pan-African Network of Participatory Radio Producers.

Available in English and French. $10.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Report on Participatory Radio in Southern Africa (AMARC, 1992, Justine Akman, 38 pp.) This study outlines the major developments of participatory radio initiatives in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland, to May 1992. With the unbanning of the African National Congress and Namibia's independence from South Africa, independent broadcasting became a possibility in these countries for the first time. There is reason to believe that broadcasting in Swaziland and Lesotho may also change in the near future. The report looks at current and future community radio initiatives in these countries.

Available in English. $7.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Towards a Democratic Radio Broadcasting Media in South Africa: A discussion paper (AMARC, 1991, Libby Lloyd, Justinus Maluleke, Joe Mngadi, Don Ngubeni and Sticks Zikhali, 21 pp.) The paper is the result of a radio study tour in Canada by four members of Radio Freedom and an independent South African journalist. It points to community radio as a means of satisfying some of the short- and medium-term needs of South Africans, and identifies some potential radio models.

Available in English and French. $7.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Proceedings of the Seminar: Participatory communication, community radio and development (AMARC, 1991, compiled by Jacques Gauthier, 22 pp.) This seminar, organized by AMARC, allowed for an exchange between non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and community radio broadcasters in the North and South. The report presents the comments and experiences of NGOs and community broadcasters from all continents on development issues such as education, popular participation, culture, human rights, and native issues.

Available in English and French. $7.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

The Right to Communicate: AMARC 4 Conference Report (AMARC, 1990, compiled by Bruce Girard, 71 pp.) The proceedings of the Fourth World Conference of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC 4) held in Dublin, Ireland, in August 1990. The conference's theme was "The Right to Communicate." This report contains the keynote speech by Irish journalist, socialist and activist Eamonn McCann, as well as an overview of community radio around the world, and discussions on themes such as technology, international solidarity, management and local participation.

Available in English, French and Spanish. $10.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Study on Local and Rural Radio in Africa (AMARC, 1989, compiled by Eugenie Aw, 55 pp.) The results of a preliminary study coordinated by AMARC and the Inter-African Center for Studies in Rural Radio at Ouagadougou (CIERRO). The report looks at the situation of participatory radio in 12 African countries: organizational structures and their status, programming and evaluation methods, and funding. It also presents a set of recommendations to strengthen and improve the sector.

Available in English and French. $7.00 $5.00 for AMARC members

Books

===== A Passion for Radio: Radio Waves and Community (Black Rose Books, Canada 1992, edited by Bruce Girard, 212 pp.) Written by people actively involved in community radio, this book presents the experiences of 21 alternative radio stations located in as many countries on every continent of the globe. $24.95 ($19.95 plus $5.00 shipping)

Radio Apasionados: 21 experiencias de radio comunitaria en el mundo (CIESPAL, Ecuador 1992, edited by Bruce Girard, 277 pp.) The Spanish translation of A Passion for Radio with a preface by Francisco Ordonez, director of CIESPAL's Radio Department. $20.00 ($15.00 plus $5.00 shipping)

La Passion Radio: 23 experiences de radio participative et communautaire a travers le monde (Syros, France 1993, edited by Pascal Berque, Evelyne Foy and Bruce Girard, 273 pp.) The French translation of the book A Passion for Radio with two additional chapters. $29.00 ($24 plus $5.00 shipping)

Cassettes

========= Noticias de Ultima Ira (AMARC/CEDEP, Ecuador 1991, Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil, 4 cassettes) A series of 52 episodes recounting the most striking events of the first 100 years of the conquest of the Americas. Using a radio news format, reporters take us back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, providing a different view of the conquest while emphasizing indigenous cultures and perspectives. The short (two and a half to five minutes) reports are self-contained. $20.00 $15.00 for AMARC members

Newsflash from the Past: Tuning in to a new history of the Americas (AMARC, 1992, 3 cassettes and 79 page booklet) An English adaptation of the series Noticias de Ultima Ira by Jos Ignacio Lopez and Maria Lopez. $20.00 $15.00 for AMARC members

Contre-histoire des Ameriques (AMARC, 1992, 2 cassettes and 81 page booklet) A French adaptation of the series Noticias de Ultima Ira by Jose Ignacio Lopez and Maria Lopez. $20.00 $15.00 for AMARC members

Periodical

========== InteRadio: The newsletter of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC, 12-24 pp, three issues a year).

Available in English, French and Spanish. $10.00 per year for individuals and community radio stations $25.00 for institutions Free for AMARC members

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                                 AMARC
     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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From: caribdesk@IGC.APC.ORG (Bob Thomson)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.devel-l
Subject: Re: Msg of Wed, 14 Jul 1993 from 'Eliza
Date: 15 Jul 93 22:11:32 GMT


Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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