World Radio Day 2016

“21 years ago, early on January 17, 1995, in Hyogo Prefecture, in the middle of Japan, a big earthquake took place, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Its magnitude was 7.3. Lifelines such as roads, electricity, railways, water, gas and telephone were no longer operational at all. 6,434 people died. Many people were forced to live in parks and schools. One month later, Hyogo Prefecture launched ‘Disaster FM’ broadcasting station, airing information on the safety of victims and the evacuees. It broadcast for 45 days, with 67 volunteers taking part. This demonstrates the power of FM stations and effectiveness in case of disaster. A similar radio station was launched on March 11, 2011, after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Radio is close to people, is a valid mass media at times of disaster and emergency.

România Internațional, 11.02.2016, 21:47

(Mikio Kohara, 65, reporter, Osaka, Japan)

“When all other means of communication fail, radio remains the only option. A powerful quake struck Nepal recently and all means of communication have failed. It was the ham radio operators who managed to establish a means of communication so as to convey vital messages. I believe there is another man-made disaster, when nations obstruct the free flow of information and restrict citizens access to different opinions. The modern communication means such as television and the Internet are encrypted and its very easy for governments to block citizens access to information. When such things happen, radio, the short-wave radio in particular, provides us with alternative viewpoints in different countries. Short-wave radio helps us have a better understanding of the world we live in. Radio brings the peoples of the world together and helps restore harmony and solidarity in the world. So keep radio alive!

(Mahesh Jain)

“Listening to short wave radio is always a way to hear different views and cultures from around the world, you cannot get by looking at a web page or from watching TV.

(Stephen Cooper)

Happy World Radio Day 2016 to all the hard-working & devoted contributors of RRI and its valuable listeners! Every year we celebrate February 13th as World Radio Day. This year, the theme of World Radio Day 2016 is the role of radio in times of emergencies and disaster. Disasters are an inevitable occurrence in human life and human societies have always been faced with different types of disasters, particularly natural ones. These disasters range from famine, drought, floods, earthquakes and outbreak of infectious diseases, to such crises as wars or environmental disasters. Consequently, there is a great need to collect data from victims, to provide training, to offer proper information and maintain communication. Sometimes, radio reporters are present in places where disasters occur. In case of natural disasters, radio stations, be they local, national or international, play key roles in educating, informing maintaining communication and monitoring people affected by disasters. Radio stations also help by securing a wide public participation and creating national or international solidarity. Using this model, different radio stations can interact effectively in an effort to manage natural disasters, in an integrated way.

(Mitul Kansal, Haryana, India)

Radio has brought me free learning and education about your country and all over the world. Radio has opened up my mind to use my imagination, which has a greater effect than television. RRI broadcasts programs which have something for everyone. Your radio station travels around the earth to the rich and the poor, the able-bodied and the disabled. Radio is a gift and a source of escape for us. On World Radio Day, our message is about ‘why we love it and why we need it today more than ever. A day to remember the unique power of radio to touch lives’ and bring people together across every corner of the globe.

(Shahzad Shabbir, Pak France International Listener’s Club, Pakistan)

“Dear friends, we wish you all a very happy World Radio Day! It is a day of great importance for us! Radio is a simple, cheap and easy instrument and means a lot in terms of mass communication around the glob. It works when all means of communication fail during emergencies. When TV or the Internet are out of service, radio works. The popularity of radio has reduced significantly in urban and semi urban areas, that is in more developed regions. It remains the symbol and the favourite means of communication for the poor. Some of the national and international broadcasters have cut traditional broadcasting. The number of radio listeners has decreased significantly, but some radio stations manage to keep their audiences. Radio France International, China Radio International, the Voice of Indonesia, NHK World, Radio Romania International and some others produce good radio. Radio is meaningful to me. I started listening to the radio in 1986. Apart from gaining information on cultural issues, news, tourism, language or education, you also get a free trip to a foreign nation.

(S B Sharma, SBS World Listener Club, India)

“Radio is definitely a peaceful weapon of democracy. I am writing you from the western region of Kisii, 400 kilometres from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. I am 39 years old and the third born into a family of nine. Both of my parents never went to school, to be able to ensure the future of their nine children and to help us study. My passion for radio and journalism started in the high school years, between 1990 and 1993, because of the power of short-wave radio during those years. Everybody was listening to breaking news about wars and other disasters. In school, I teamed up with members of a journalism club (…) Whether in English, Swahili or other languages, here in Africa, radio is supreme, it remains the prime source of information. Our thirst for properly presented news is greater here than anywhere on earth. SW radio is a crucial source of information and morale for those living abroad. Even though the existence of a radio station cannot be really evaluated in terms of human life, there are moments to reflect on this (…) Radios in Africa rarely report on sensitive issues making headlines on Africa and that is why I follow international media to get information about my country. Precisely, radio is a powerful weapon of democracy.

(Mogire Machuki, Kisii, Kenya)

“I have been reading you message for World Radio Day 2016. My first reaction was that, even I am 67, I have been so lucky and blessed to live in a part of the world with no disasters. But I might add, that my father, born in 1914, sat at night under the attic of his fathers farm, and listened to the BBC-broadcasts in Danish, which many other people did in the occupied part of the world, – and just a small thing for us today. Whenever my wife and I drive in our car, we put on the radio- no matter what station or program we are listening to, traffic information comes in to help us drive at safe routes. So, radio is still actual, in use for us !

(Hans Verner Lollike, Denmark)

“Friends at Radio Romania International, I congratulate you on the occasion of World Radio Day, the day chosen by UNESCO to celebrate the Radio. I wish you progress and success!

(Mohamed Elsayed Abd Elraheim, Egypt)

“I wish a very Happy World Radio Day to all of you! I must say that you are doing such a nice job in keeping us all informed about the various events taking place in the world through radio programmes & web pages. The fact is that whenever we need to know about you and various related things, you are the best choice and you have a nice way to do that. I would also like to say that your website is a very nice source of information, entertainment and knowledge. I think radio is a window of knowledge. By radio I found lots of information, knowledge, entertainment and others

(Mr. Najimuddin, President of the International DX Radio Listeners Club in Murshidbabd, West Bengal, India)