FEB
 APRIL 2008
                      SNIPPETS
                                The Global Media Partnership - Bringing Communicators Together

 

AFRICA

  • HIV / AIDS:  A Baptist World Aid-sponsored conference on HIV / AIDS has been held in the Zimbabwe capital of Harare.  65 Delegates attended from South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, and the host country.  Eleven Baptist conventions and unions, including five from Zimbabwe and three from South Africa, were represented.

    "It was thrilling to hear how Churches in the southern part of Africa are responding to the challenge of HIV and AIDS and poverty," Angelo Sheepers, chairman for the southern region of the All Africa Baptist Fellowship reported.

    Among other topics, delegates discussed institutional and community care, foster parenting and orphan care, HIV and AIDS and the local Church.  A number of Christian Radio and TV Broadcasters in Africa offer help, counselling and practical assistance to HIV victims.  Contact: ehenry@bwanet.org

  • BENIN :  Listeners in West Africa can now hear Trans World Radio's broadcasts in three new languages - Baatonum, Ditammari and Lukpa.  This brings the total languages broadcast by TWR to over 225. "Expanding the number of languages and dialects TWR airs broadens our opportunity to reach even more people with the gospel message" said TWR Chairman, Tom Lowell.  For more information visit www.twr.org

ASIA

  • CENTRAL ASIA:  IRR/TV (Finland ) is planning a 2008 multi-media evangelistic campaign in Central Asia in a city on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

    Preparations are also  moving forward for a mega-city campaign in Jerusalem in Israel.  The campaigns present the Gospel message in both the electronic and the media.  Contact: hannu.haukka@irrtv.fi


  • BANGLADESH:  Dennis Dilip Datta has been given the 2008 Baptist World
    Alliance Human Rights Award.          Datta, a Baptist leader in the Muslim-majority country of Bangladesh, is being recognized for his advocacy for Bangladesh independence, the restoration of democracy, and the establishment of religious freedom in his country. 

    He is the     president of the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh, which takes special interest in human rights causes, Datta became the spokesman for the Churches, to the Government of Bangladesh - and has worked closely with all the churches of Bangladesh against laws enacted by the Government of Bangladesh to control the Ministry and Activities of the Churches.  Contact: ehenry@bwanet.org

AUSTRALASIA

  • CHRISTIAN MEDIA AUSTRALIA (CMA) hold their 30th Annual Conference from May 7th to 9th 2008 in the Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise, Queensland.  Speakers include the President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), the Australian Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Senator Stephen Conroy.  Go to www.christianmedia.org.au
  • The VISION RADIO NETWORK has launched Vision Alectown 87.6 FM in New South Wales.  It is the 315th relay station in Australia's fast growing Christian Radio Network.  Vision's aim is "Connecting Faith to Life", broadcasting a mix of contemporary Christian music plus practical talk on real-life issues. 

    The network also recently launched another station in south-eastern New South Wales, Vision 88.0 FM Bombala on March 15.  The two new stations bring the total number of Vision stations in NSW to 45.  Contact: kmarkwell@ucb.com.au

  • MELBOURNE RADIO 89.9 LIGHT FM is searching for new Premises and new Studios.  They have also recently launched a new online support project, Groundwire providing listeners with a live support-coach to pray with them and answer questions about life and faith.  Source: 

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

  • 2008 COICOM LAUNCHED:  Christian mass media outlets in Panama joined together for an historic one-hour special programme, preparing for the coming international broadcasting convention COICOM 2008.  The Convention will take place in Panama from 7th to 11th October.

    The programme was transmitted from the Hosanna Vision Network.  More than 13 radio stations, 2 television networks, and 6 websites connected for this simulcast.

    The one-hour programme provided information about COICOM, founded in 1992,  with a segment on "New Media"; reaching the New Generation and addressing Global Issues.  Viewers and listeners participated through phone calls and e-mails.

    COICOM is an association of Christian Broadcasters and leaders, which networks with and equips thousands of communicators from over 26 countries.    For more information visit http://www.coicom.com/

  • UNSION:   Unsion Foundation International, has appointed Ray Butler as its new President  and CEO.

    Ray Butler will lead the Unsion Foundation in integrating emerging media technologies to maximise the delivery of family-oriented messaging and programming.  

    Unsion Foundation operates the Unsion Television Network headquartered in Quito, Ecuador.  It serves the global Hispanic marketplace by providing high quality family value programming via satellite, UHF and able distribution systems.

    For more information visit www.unsionfoundation.com

EUROPE

  • EUROPEAN COMMISSION:  The European Commission has added the Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld standard (DVB-H) to the EU List of Standards, which encourage harmonising telecommunications across the EU.  The addition of DVB-H is a new step towards establishing a Single Market for Mobile TV in Europe that will enable EU citizens to watch TV on the move.   Visit http://www.europa.eu/

  • GERMANY:  Jürgen Werth, director of Evangeliums-Rundfunk (ERF) in Germany, was given the 2008 NRB "Individual Achievement in International Broadcasting" award for his commitment to global radio ministry. 

    Jürgen Werth joined ERF in 1973 as an editor and in 1986 he became editor-in-chief to the radio department.

    Since 1994 he has served as Director of ERF.  He is also a well-known song writer-performer and author in Germany and served two terms as a Board Member of the Fellowship of European Broadcasters.  Contact:  lothar.ruehl@erf.de

  • EUROPEAN COMMISSION:  An EC Report says Denmark and the Netherlands have the highest broadband penetration rates in the world - at 34% and 33% respectively, compared with the USA at 22%.  Growth in cable Broadband was particularly strong in Germany, Poland and UK; Fibre Access to broadband is growing fast in Sweden, Lithuania and Estonia.  Wireless Access is popular in the Czech Republic, Ireland and Slovakia.  Visit http://www.europa.eu/

  • ALBANIA - RELIEF FUND:  On 15th March 2008 a weapons' depot near the capital city of Tirana, Albania, blew up, causing blasts that lasted for 14 hours.  More than 300 homes were destroyed and there were 30 known dead with over 350 injured and dozens more missing.

    The Albanian Government has provided temporary housing and food for those whose homes were destroyed but no attempt has been made to meet the deeper needs of victims, beyond the physical. 

    Valët e Ungjillit (Gospel Waves), Trans World Radio's partner in Albania, has established an Albania Relief Fund to help carry out two initiatives.  The first is a Creativity Centre for the local children, who have suffered in great numbers.  Gospel Waves is partnering with World Vision and local churches to provide singing, dancing and acting classes for young children, to give them something positive to think about while also building into their futures.

    The second initiative is a daily Radio Programme entitled "The Answers:  When the whole world is shaking", which addresses the difficult questions that people are asking in the aftermath of the tragedy.  The programme will provide biblical answers to renew hope for the future.  Contact:  kvalentova@twr.org

MIDDLE EAST

  • SAUDI ARABIA:  FEB member Pavlos Hatzopoulos, a well-known Concert Pianist, recently performed private and public Concerts in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by the German Embassy.

    The Concerts included Bach's famous chorale "Jesu Joy of Men's Desiring".  The public concert was in the King Fahd Cultural Centre in Riyadh.  Pavlos commented:  "The performances served in the most natural way to help in the Christian-Islam dialogue."   Contact:  ph@pavlos-hatzopoulos.de

  • SMS:  Middle Easterners and North Africans love to send text messages to each other from their mobile phones.  SAT-7 ARABIC now posts texts daily onto its screen and SAT-7 ARABIC is now receiving over 3,000 texts a month!  Viewers often write to say how thankful they are for the broadcasts or to ask for prayer.  A text from Algeria said:  "I feel SAT-7 is like a friend in lonely times.  May God bless all that you do."
    Contact:      admin@sat7trust.org

  • EGYPT:  Jos Strengholt has completed a doctoral thesis on Arabic Christian Radio. For information about the book, visit www.strengholt.info

  • SAT-7:  "Who Do You Say That I Am?"  is a programme designed to answer false claims about the life and teachings of Christ.  This programme will help Arab Christians respond to many false teachings in a scholarly, respectful and well reasoned manner.  Topics will include:  "How was the Bible written?", "Why Christians Believe Jesus is the Son of God," and "The Truth about the Crucifixion."
    Contact:  admin@sat7trust.org

  • IRAQ:  The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East reports the shooting of Father Yousif in front of his home in Baghdad.  Several men were seen leaving the scene.  Father Yousif ran a Christian school and was threatened with death if he did not close the school.  Father Yousif refused.  This murder was in the Karada District of Baghdad.  Another Pastor has been advised by the Iraqi National Police to leave Baghdad.  They said that they have received intelligence that he and his family will be killed if he does not leave.  Contact:  office@frrme.org

UK

  • CHILD PROTECTION ONLINE:  The UK Government has outlined new regulations for child internet safety, including new codes of practice for social networking sites such as Bebo and Facebook.  The regulations include clear standards on privacy and harmful content; clearer classification of computer video games, and better information for parents on blocking access to websites.  The Report, written by Dr Tanya Byron, concludes that some games harm the development of children's belief and value systems and desensitises them to violence.  Source: The Times

  • BLASPHEMY LAWS :  The House of Lords last month voted to abolish Common Law Blasphemy offences.  Baroness O'Caithan, however argued for keeping them and said that: " the fundamental question is: should we abolish Christian beliefs and replace them with Secular beliefs?"  Several Peers shared the Baroness's concern about the signal this would send to the public, resulting in a drift towards secularism.

  • CHRISTIAN RESEARCH:  "Taking the Pulse: Is the Bible Alive and well in the Church today?" is a survey undertaken by the Bible Society, reflecting the views of 3000 Church Leaders and Members in the UK, across a range of Evangelical, Liberal, Catholic, Methodist and URC Churches. 

    It found that only 58% of Church Leaders and 35% of non-Leaders read their Bible daily; the favourite Bible version is the NIV (37%) followed by the Jerusalem Bible (12%), and most people express dissatisfaction at their personal level of understanding of the Bible.  

    To read the Survey go to:     http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=209

  • BBC:  The BBC Religion and Ethics website has been nominated for a prestigious Webby Award.  Founded in 1996, the Webby Awards are the leading international awards honouring excellence on the Internet and have been dubbed "The Oscars of the Internet".

    Winners are chosen by the public and a panel of international web experts in a range of categories.  This year nearly 10,000 entries were received from over 60 countries worldwide.  The winners will be announced on May 6 2008 and honoured at the 12th Annual Webby Awards in New York City in June.  Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

USA

  • BOEING:  Boeing is receiving signals from its DIRECTV 11 Satellite launched in March 2008.  DIRECTV 11 is a Direct to Home (DTH) satellite and will enable DIRECTV to continue expanding its line-up of High-Definition Television (HDTV) programming to U.S. customers.

    DIRECTV now has capacity for 150 National HDTV Channels and 1500 local Channels.  Source:  "Satnews"

  • HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA:  A new three-year study of the top movies at the International Box Office Overseas, indicates that moviegoers outside North America prefer movies with Christian content and Biblical Morality.

    20 of the Top 25 Movies Overseas from 2005 through 2007 (80%) had strong or very strong Christian content and/or Biblical morality, making almost $8.16 billion out of about $10.2 billion.

    The study was released in April 2008 by Movieguide    ®, a family guide to movies and entertainment, which just held its 16th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala in February at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. 

  • FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION :  An FCC Auction has assigned more than 1,000 licenses for most of the 700 mHz band.  Final bid amounts came in at just under 19.6B/USD.  The 700 MHz spectrum has excellent propagation characteristics and it will be used in expanding advanced services in rural areas of the USA, particularly for mobile broadband and mobile video.  Source:  "Satnews"

DIARY DATES

  • CMA - Christian Media Australia 2008 Conference from May 7th to 9th 2008 in the Holiday Inn Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

  • CHRISTIAN ARTISTS SEMINAR:  The 28th International Christian Artists Seminar will be held from 2-7 August 2008 in Doorn, Netherlands, offering over 80 different meetings and workshops. Visit www.christianartists.org for more information.
     
  • COICOM will hold their 17th International Congress from 7th to 11th October 2008 in Panama.  For more information visit http://www.coicom.com/

  • FRANKLIN GRAHAM will speak at the Taipei Franklin Graham Festival in Taipei, Taiwan from October 30th to November 2nd 2008.
  • FEB CONFERENCE 2009:  THE NEXT FEB CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN
    SOFIA, BULGARIA AT THE PARK HOTEL VITOSHA FROM MARCH 19th TO 22nd 2009.  DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.
    _________________________________________________________________________________
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