After one and a half year we are back in the Netherlands, and we really have to say we are enjoying the fast internet, ice-skating and filled up book stores as much as we are missing Ethiopia for the people and its warmth.
But fortunately there is enough work to do here to keep us running around. The first version of the community radio manual is now available in English by clicking this link, the Amharic version is nearing its completion. We are working with UNESCO and ICTAD to get the printed versions out soon.
The radiostation seems to be doing very well without us. We have almost daily email contact with our technician Gezahegne. There were some minor problems with the state radio station Fana which started its transmis
sion with an incredible 2000 Watt transmission on all FM frequencies. And thus jamming Jimare. Fortunately, the broadcasting authority acted quickly and Fana is of-air for maintenance now and Jimare can be heard again on the known 102 MHZ.We see the coming of Fana as a healthy but also potentially dangerous development for Jimma. One the one hand is a diversity of media very important for a healthy cultural environment, but one the other hand it could deepen the political dichotomy since Fana is still the radio station of the ruling EPDRF party. Weĺl see how it goes. What we now for now is that when Fana was sending on all frequencies, Jimare got a lot of phone calls with complaints about the fact that they were sending religious and political content. Luckily the community is listening well and is taking its responsibility.In the mean time are busy writing the annual report and finishing the two
documentaries that where filmed by John Treffer. Together we are editing the last things and producing the voice overs. The films and the annual report will be made available on this website as soon as they are finished.The next effort will be to simplify the Linux installation for community radios and to create a website with updates for newer Ubuntu versions, since this version in running on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon. And a good download and community spot for people working in (community-)radio and who are interested in open source.As you see, there is enough to be done in the year to come.
PS If you´ve downloaded the guide and want to install the computers with Ubuntu, please send us an email and I will send you the necessary CD by mail, or if you have a good internet connect, I will make them available on the internet. Right now we're perfecting the CD.
