HAITI: Sending Hope over the Airwaves

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HAITI: Sending Hope over the Airwaves

By Ansel Herz, IPS (Interpress Service)

		PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan 25, 2010 (IPS) - Throughout the earthquake's aftermath, the voices of many Port-Au-Prince radio stations have been loud and clear. Radio Solidarite 88.5 FM is one of the outlets to survive the tremors. It resumed broadcasts from its small studio, at the top of a two-storey building in the city's centre, once the staff found some gas for their generator just two days after the quake.
The radio hooked up outside the reporter's moto driver's house.(Credit:Ansel Herz/IPS)

"We have tried to say to the population to be strong, we appreciate their courage," said Radio Solidarite Director Georges Venel Remarais. "The international press was talking about violence but we didn't see any. The help is very slow at times, and people get angry. Our work is to say, let's be calm."

Gas to generate electricity is still difficult to find, but the Radio Solidarite staff are able to use their undamaged studio. Read more...

Following the earthquake, WACC launched an appeal to raise funds to rebuild community communications in those areas of Haiti most severely affected by the earthquake. The funds will be used to replace damaged communication structures, to purchase new broadcasting equipment, and to train new journalists. For many years WACC has supported communication initiatives in country.

See details about the appeal here...

See updates in Spanish on our partner network Espacinsular

See updates in French from WACC member Alter Presse in Haiti

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WACC promotes communication for social change. It believes that communication is a basic human right that defines people's common humanity, strengthens cultures, enables participation, creates community and challenges tyranny and oppression.

The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 71 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX. It is an incorporated Charitable Organisation in Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001) with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.