Wednesday
Dec232009
UPDATED Iran Video: University Demonstrations for Montazeri, against Regime (22 December)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 10:01
"This month is the month of blood; Seyed Ali [Supreme Leader Khamenei] is overthrown"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPmJI9WiOg8[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPmJI9WiOg8[/youtube]
Latest Iran Video: 100,000s in Last Goodbye to Montazeri (21 December)
Latest Iran Video: Mourning Montazeri (21 December — 2nd Set)
Latest Iran Video: Mourning Montazeri (21 December — 1st Set)
The Latest from Iran: Momentum against a Sinking President? (22 December)
Sharif University, Tehran
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph7bpKN2dYc[/youtube]
Azad University, Tehran
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84xGBiDCqTs[/youtube]
Elm-o-Sanat University, Tehran
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMOqkqmlkO0[/youtube]
Kurdistan University
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h984_bCa5yk[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgBJEfDRg7A[/youtube]
Reader Comments (9)
Scott:
Do you any information on what is occurring with the passage of the VOICE Act? I know Congress is Congress, but what could be taking so long? I think it's clear that the Green Movement would not have spread throughout the country without the ability of Iranians to send video/reports out of the country, then have VOA and the internet broadcast it back.
$50 million dollars to facilitate the flow of information out of and back into Iran - while a drop in the bucket compared to other Iran-related expenditures - would be a tremendous boost for moderates/reformists in Iran. I don't know how much you know about the on-the-ground situation in Iran, but in my experience the penetration of independent news is only moderate. Only about half the population has access to satellite TVs or the internet, and VOA seems like it would materially benefit from more programming funds. Radio obviously has a much broader reach, and Radio Farda is very popular, but (at least in the city of Shiraz) you need a satellite to get a clear feed! Otherwise the signal, in for example a car radio, is usually too weak. That's crazy to me. After moving the earth in a "war on terrorism" for the past eight years, we can't assist the first large-scale democracy movement in the Islamic Middle East with a clear radio signal?
Lee,
Thanks for a great question. I need some time to do some checking on the latest status of the Act....
S.
Lee, Scott,
The $50 million funding for the Voice Act is part of defense appropriation for 2010 budget. The Act has passed the senate but it has not been scheduled for conference in both houses of Congress yet. Last time I contacted my senator for an update, I learned that some part of defense budget such as funding for the Voice Act will be not scheduled for conference until first part of 2010. Simply put the defense budget will operate on the same funding level as 2009 until its 2010 budget is approved. Furthermore, I doubt with the healthcare legislations consuming the U.S. Congress the Voice Act will get scheduled for conference any time soon. And with the troop surge in Afghanistan, Department of defense my chose to allocate the money to other urgent expenditures even if the $50 M for voice Act is fully funded.
Lee,
Even if the $50 million is approved and fully funded it will be for the three broadcasting companies such as Voice of America, Radio Liberty, and Radio Farda. These broadcasting entities are operated like many other news organizations. They are highly structured, they have a narrow focus and they run under watchful eyes of their sponsor and their own lawyers. I have watched their programs and I am not certain about their reach and their effectiveness. I have numerous examples but I will not bore you with that.
I personally prefer much less structured small radio operators with one agenda and one agenda only; to reach Iranians in Iran for disseminating News and getting news by listening to those who are in the heart of struggle for democracy in Iran. I listen to the political program of one such radio station and I am amazed with a four-member staff how far and how deep they reach Iran. This radio station, however, is struggling to stay on the air due to lack of money to pay bills. Iran regime fears them so much that they knocked off their satellite service in the middle of live broadcast on 16 Azar and they have not yet been able to sign up with another satellite operator. For now only Iranians that have access to the Internet can hear this radio station in Iran.
In the last few months I have tried to get help for this radio station by reaching out to sponsors of the Voice Act in the U.S. Senate. As it stands now the way the legislation is currently drafted even if the $50 M is fully appropriated, not a single dime can be allocated to the radio stations like the one I mentioned. I have not given up but I know in my heart of heart that it is a waste of time to count on U.S. Congress and the Voice Act.
I thought of other sources of funds such as corporation or donation by private citizens. I found out big corporate donors do not see any immediate return on their investment so they are not interested. And as for funding by private citizens, much structure is needed and I am open to suggestions
This is the corrected copy.
Lee, Scott,
The $50 million funding for the Voice Act is part of defense appropriation for 2010 budget. The Act has passed the senate but it has not been scheduled for conference in both houses of Congress yet. Last time I contacted my senator for an update, I learned that some part of defense budget such as funding for the Voice Act will not be scheduled for conference until first part of 2010. Simply put the defense budget will operate on the same funding level as 2009 until its 2010 budget is approved. Furthermore, I doubt with the healthcare legislations consuming the U.S. Congress the Voice Act will get scheduled for conference any time soon. And with the troop surge in Afghanistan, Department of Defense my chose to allocate the money to other urgent expenditures even if the $50 M for the Voice Act is fully funded.
Lee,
Even if the $50 million is approved and fully funded it will be for the three broadcasting companies such as Voice of America, Radio Liberty, and Radio Farda. These broadcasting entities are operated like many other news organizations. They are highly structured, they have a narrow focus and they run under watchful eyes of their sponsor and their own lawyers. I have watched their programs and I am not certain about their reach and their effectiveness. I have numerous examples but I will not bore you with that.
I personally prefer much less structured small radio operators with one agenda and one agenda only; to reach Iranians in Iran for disseminating News and getting news by listening to those who are in the heart of struggle for democracy in Iran. I listen to the political program of one such radio station and I am amazed with a four-member staff how far and how deep they reach Iran. This radio station, however, is struggling to stay on the air due to lack of money to pay bills. Iran regime fears them so much that they knocked off their satellite service in the middle of live broadcast on 16 Azar and they have not yet been able to sign up with another satellite operator. For now only Iranians that have access to the Internet can hear this radio station in Iran.
In the last few months I have tried to get help for this radio station by reaching out to sponsors of the Voice Act in the U.S. Senate. As it stands now the way the legislation is drafted even if the $50 M is fully appropriated, not a single dime can be allocated to the radio stations like the one I mentioned. I have not given up but I know in my heart of heart that it is a waste of time to count on the U.S. Congress and the Voice Act.
I thought of other sources of funds such as corporation or donation by private citizens. I found out big corporate donors do not see any immediate return on their investment so they are not interested. And as for funding by private citizens, much structure is needed and I am open to suggestions
EuroNews will start a Persian programme, according to Benita Ferrero-Waldner:
http://74.6.239.67/search/cache?ei=UTF-8&p=euronews+persian&rd=r1&fr=moz35&u=www.iran57.com/Euronews%2CFarsi%2C07%2C29%2C08.doc&w=euronews+persian&d=Rbhx1N29T18R&icp=1&.intl=de&sig=NH0wDYd3PS.jG1lPJriJRg--
Unfortunately the feedback page gives no clear indication on the launching of this programme (see answer to 20.10.09): http://www.euronews.net/services/feedback/4/
Megan,
Very grateful for this information, as I have been unable to give attention to Lee's question today.
S.
Thanks for the info Megan, I appreciate it.
I agree that the three entities have limitations, but I think they provide an invaluable service by just playing real videos and conveying real facts. We don't need excellent journalism (though that should certainly be the goal!), but just a mirror to bounce some of the things coming from Iran back into Iran. I believe 100% that the $50 million would have a tremendous impact to the extent it allows more people inside Iran to tune into Voice of America, Radio Liberty, and Radio Farda. In other words, I don't disagree with you that perhaps the funds would ideally be distributed differently, but the VOICE act is a whole heck of a lot better than nothing and would give the US a great return on its investment. After all, I've read that each F-22 fighter we buy costs around $350 million, or seven times the additional funding the VOICE Act would provide.
Scott,Lee,Megan et.al.--just saw this exchange on Voice Act,clear radio signals back into Iran as Lee suggests via small indie station.
Lee,Q: how much does the independent station need in dollars to get back on satelite signal, 'mirror' broadcasting at minimum?
Once we know the amount, and a monthly figure ongoing, seems we could get a 501(c) (3) like FDD as depository for citizens solicited for this station to fund? Besides friends & individuals I can think of right off, this should be an interest to U.S. students, campuses to support their peers in this fight, '79 Gdansk/Solidarity movement.
What do you think? Publish my email,Scott, as I don't have website,etc. BTW, nice work on EA--stumbled on this yesterday via DemDigest! Regards,Billy
Billy,
Thanks very much for joining us. I look forward to further discussions,
S.