Tasmanians support East Timor, South East Asia’s poorest Country

Tasmanians will be given the opportunity to show their support for East Timor, South East Asia’s poorest nation, on Sunday February 26 2006 at the Republic Bar, Elizabeth St, North Hobart from 12 - 4pm, where event organisers hope to raise $10,000 for a student-led youth community radio station in East Timor

The fundraiser will be a massive celebration of East Timor's independence and an opportunity for Tasmanians to play a role in the building of a new nation. Community radio in East Timor provides a platform to spread messages at a grassroots level, on issues such as primary health care, improved agricultural methods and development ", said Tasmanian East Timor Activist and event coordinator, Cate Davey.

Mayor Rob Valentine will open the fundraiser event, which will include screenings of documentaries "Martial Lawless" by Sydney journalist's - Adam Gartrell and Christian Tancred and "Islands of Hope" by Jock Cheetham which includes a piece on Dili's newest newspaper Diario Tempo and upgrading of the Dili Hospital pathology lab, as well as kids martial arts display, East Timorese handicraft stalls for sale, live music and a barbecue. The Eye Doctors, who run an eye surgery project in East Timor, and Oxfam, who campaign for fair trade with East Timor, will run stalls showing their support of the cause.

There is a $5 donation entry fee at the door and raffle tickets will available for purchasing at the event. All monies raised will go towards Radio Rakambia, which has recently been asked to vacate the current rented premises in Dili, and now needs $14,500 to buy the bricks, windows, doors and soundproofing material to build another studio. Volunteers will provide the labour for the construction.

In a country where less than 43 percent of the population is literate, and where access to television is restricted due to poverty and shortage of electricity, the radio becomes a powerful medium for the dissemination of information in East Timor.

Radio Rakambia is run entirely by volunteers, and they broadcast a mix of news, current affairs, discussion forums and entertainment for 16 hours a day. They also have a mobile broadcasting unit, and visit rural areas to present the concerns and voices of the people outside the capital, Dili.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). For more information about how you can support community radio stations in East Timor, visit www.apheda.org.au or call 02 0264 9343.

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.
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Last Modified: Thursday, 23-Feb-2006 15:11:22 EST
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