[cma-l] Haiti: community radio appeal / inc. video reports

[Steve Buckley]

Community broadcasters mobilise in support of Haiti

Community radio broadcasters are mobilising worldwide in response to 
the earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January. In an unprecedented 
global response in solidarity with the Haitian people, community 
radio broadcasters have organised appeals for emergency and 
humanitarian relief and have offered equipment and technical 
expertise to support Haiti's community radio stations.

An AMARC volunteer team arrived in Port-au-Prince on Sunday 24 
January carrying equipment for SAKS (Society for the Animation of 
Social Communication), a community media production and support 
centre in Port-au-Prince, whose offices were destroyed when the 
earthquake struck. Sony Esteus, Director of SAKS and AMARC Vice 
President, is accompanying the international team as they travel to 
Leogane, Grand Goave, Jacmel and other locations that are among the 
worst hit areas outside of the Haitian capital.

Radio Saka, the local community radio of Grand Goave, was reported 
back on the air, but at reduced power, and helping to mobilise local 
relief efforts. Radyo Zetwal Peyizan, in Fondwa, was completely 
destroyed however its staff escaped unharmed and AMARC is assisting 
to provide replacement equipment. AMARC estimates around 12 community 
radios are in areas directly affected by the earthquake. The 
AMARC-SAKS mission will assess the impact of the earthquake on the 
community radio sector, provide basic repairs and support to 
community media workers, and assist community radio to contribute to 
the humanitarian relief operation.

Major international media support organisations are on the ground 
working to help restore Haiti's damaged communications infratructure: 
International Media Support, Internews, Reporters Without Borders, 
are among the organisations collaborating in Haiti with AMARC to 
avoid duplication and to assure an effective response to the disaster 
and the challenges of providing immediate relief.

AMARC has called on community radio broadcasters worldwide to support 
the Haiti relief effort, not only by broadcasting humanitarian 
appeals, but by providing equipment, technical support and other 
resources to enable community radio in Haiti to play a central role 
in assuring access to information and enabling the populations 
affected to communicate their needs and concerns.

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Video reports now available from AMARC-SAKS Haiti mission

Haiti - Radyo Zetwal Peyizan destroyed
Video by JaneRegan | January 31, 2010 |
http://www.youtube.com/JaneRegan#p/a/u/0/hA_nXAWMXxc
A visit to Radyo Zetwal Peyizan (Radio Star of the Peasant) in 
Fondwa, Haiti, and an interview with the director to talk about how 
the earthquake destroyed the radio and about the importance of 
community radio stations in Haiti. The visit was carried out by SAKS 
(Society for the Animation of Social Communication) and AMARC.

Haiti - SAKS office destroyed
Video by JaneRegan | January 31, 2010 |
http://www.youtube.com/JaneRegan#p/a/u/1/--gHkdYklZQ
An interview with Sony Esteus, director of SAKS (Society for the 
Animation of Social Communication), a small non-profit that works 
with community radios and promotes popular communication in Haiti.

Further information:

For news updates, further information and offers of equipment, 
technical and other support to assist community radio in Haiti, 
please visit: http://www.amarc.org/haiti or write to secgen at si.amarc.org

Through service to members, networking and project implementation, 
the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters AMARC, brings 
together a network of more than 4,000 community radios, Federations 
and community media stakeholders in more than 115 countries. The main 
global impact of AMARC since its creation in 1983 has been to 
accompany and support the establishment of a world wide community 
radio sector that has democratized the media sector. AMARC advocates 
for the right to communicate at the international, national, local 
and neighbourhood levels and defends and promotes the interests of 
the community radio movement through solidarity, networking and Cooperation.