New Directions Radio: Two Amateur Ham Radio Conferences You Don’t Want to Miss

Enlarge Image Image Gallery There are several communications-oriented projects bidding for the time and energy of amateur ham radio operatives. Perhaps you'll consider making one of them "your thing" in 1979.  PHOTO: FOTOLIA/BLUE WREN

Here Comes 1979!

It's sobering to know that 9/10s of our present decade has already passed into history. Especially when — upon looking back — we have to realize that the few faltering steps forward taken by humanity in the 70's were accompanied by a far greater number of possibilities that slipped by without ever being brought to fruition. The fact is that both committed time and focused energies are necessary to convert any worthwhile potential into actuality, and because these necessities are all too rare there are limits to what can be accomplished.

But – in this final year of the decade – there are several communications-oriented projects that will be bidding for our time and energy. Perhaps you'll consider making one of them "your thing" in 1979.

Two International Conferences

The first of these calls for commitment involves two international conferences that are scheduled to be held in Europe this year: The U.N. Conference of Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) — which will meet in Vienna between August 21 and 30 — and the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) that's scheduled to begin next September in Geneva. At UNCSTD, world governments will present their views upon how science and technology can (and should) be used to promote the development of poorer countries. And, at WARC, these same governments will review frequency allocations in the radio spectrum and revise the ground rules that discipline international radio communication.

The tacit assumption underlying both of these conferences are that governmental policy reflects the wants and needs of the people governed. Of course, we know that this is, all too frequently, not the case. In fact, the policies of most governments actually tend to reflect and support the interests of the more powerful elements within the country ... while the needs of poorer and less powerful groups are, many times, ignored.

Back in 1976, at HABITAT (the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements ... which was held in Vancouver), an attempt was made to correct this imbalance. At that time, a Non-Governmental Organizations Forum was established in an attempt to provide the conference with people-oriented input.

And, a similar NGO Forum is planned for the UNCSTD. Better yet, there is a movement afoot to insure that this Forum will include the matters of communications technology and communications access in their presentation. Karen Paulsell is coordinating efforts to set up conference workshops on communications-related topics and is also heading up an effort to write position papers for presentation at the NGO Forum (and perhaps at the WARC, also). A West Coast meeting of interested parties will likely be held this winter. If you'd like to be a part of this movement, write Karen for details — filling her in on your interests and the kinds of help you can offer — San Francisco, California.