"... in China today, young fighters for democracy listen to VOA radio. ... Radio listening -- unlike the Internet -- cannot be easily monitored or blocked. Although radio signals can be partially jammed, they can never be completely silenced -- unless the U.S. Government decides to end these broadcasts, as it was proposed by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). Let's hope and pray that will NEVER happen as long as there is no freedom of expression in China or as long as the Chinese people want to learn about America."
Following a bipartisan action in the U.S. Congress to block the Broadcasting Board of Governors' proposal, the Federal agency which runs the Voice of America has suspended the termination of VOA radio and television programs to China but is still considering reducing radio broadcasts. Ann Noonan said that these radio programs from the United States are especially needed by women and their families. They provide critical information and give hope and encouragement to the poorest and the most oppressed segments of the Chinese society, said Ms. Noonan. Prior to joining CUSIB, she founded Free Church for China, an NGO which researches and documents religious persecution in the PRC. CUSIB has been contacting BBG members to urge them to continue VOA radio and satellite television to China.
The discussion following Ms. Noonan's presentation focused on Chai Ling's new book A Heart for Freedom. Ms. Ling is a Tiananmen Survivor and founder of All Girls Allowed, an organization which works to end forced abortions, gendercide, and trafficking of children in China. Other panelists included Tibetan author Jianglin Li, and former New York State Assembly member Ellen Young.
The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB),www.cusib.org, is a nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization working to strengthen free flow of uncensored news from the United States to countries with restricted media environments.
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