U.S. president a short-sighted hypocrite?

After reading this article, I had to ask what (if anything) U.S. President Bush and his cronies could possibly be thinking...

... with Russian President Vladimir Putin bullying his neighbors, manipulating the Russian media and throwing increasingly audacious anti-American tantrums, one would think U.S. policymakers would have the sense at least to maintain relatively modest VOA operations in and around the Russian Federation.

Yet President Bush`s recently released 2008 budget proposal does just the opposite... The White House`s proposed reprioritization of VOA broadcasting moves money out of operations aimed at the large and largely Muslim country of Uzbekistan. Broadcasting into neighboring Kazakhstan is also being cut.

The citizens of both countries live under illiberal regimes, and Uzbekistan`s brutal dictatorship is of the sort that incubates religious fundamentalism and anti-Americanism.

Voice of America`s half-hour of radio and half-hour of television programming in Uzbek ... provide about the only direct contact Uzbeks have with the United States and the only unvarnished news in the region. Meanwhile, the highly controlled Russian media beam their often misleading programming in with ease.

Mr. Bush`s budget also proposes reductions in Ukrainian-language VOA programming to serve a country struggling to Westernize in the shadow of Mr. Putin`s increasingly lawless regime.

Mr. Bush should be eager to encourage democratic forces in Ukraine, as well as in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, not further limit their sources of information about the United States.

The price of such programs is so low that federal financial constraints are hardly an excuse to kill them; a relatively tiny increase in the VOA`s budget would make a world of difference. ...

Gee, could it be that protecting Iranian (and Russian?) oil interests may be be higher on his priority list than supporting fledgeling democracies?

In direct contrast to America's corporate myopia, Ireland has demonstrated both generosity and interest in Ukraine, contributing 1,000,000 euros to support civil service reform there. Full aticle here.

Neither decency nor common sense

This article illustrates why it's as hard to legislate against indecency as it is against stupidity.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps ... said that the FCC is not likely to impose a maximum fine of $325,000 on smaller stations for a violation of federal decency standards.

Still, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves told an audience at a conference sponsored by Common Sense Media and the Aspen Institute that he believed the possibility of a fine as high as $325,000 has an adverse impact on freedom of speech. Moonves explained that since the ceiling on fines has been raised, “People are more afraid of what they put on air." ...

How pathetic is it if media people will only do the right thing when there are unpleasant repercussions for doing the wrong thing?

Right from the top down, it appears the mainstream media industry's concept of "freedom" is merely the lack of responsibility.

Sigh.

US astronaut visits Ukraine, meets President

American astronaut, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, recently travelled to Ukraine, where she met President Yushchenko and visited her ancestral family villages.

OK, true, this has nothing to do with Ukrainian music or radio, but it is still very cool!

Read about it here.

Vancouver audio archives for Feb. 4, 2007

Vancouver Ukrainian audio archives and Nash Holos podcast are now available for download.

At Nash Holos, Sylvia will tell you all about kalyna (cranberries) on Ukrainian Food Flair; Myrna’s travel tip is on Contiki tours for young people, and Fr. Bruce on Із Духові Твоєму talks about the Feast of the Presentation. As usual, a Ukrainian proverb and plenty of great Ukrainian music! CD of the week: Zhyttia (Life) by Millenia of Edmonton.

Chetverta Khvylia archives coming soon.

Mammon strikes again - shoots self in foot

Here's another report of the short-sighted corporate greed dominating the mainstream media industry's executive suites:

Viacom [has] asked YouTube to remove more than 100,000 unauthorized clips from its video-sharing website, YouTube.com.

Viacom said ... “it has become clear that YouTube is unwilling to come to a fair market agreement that would make Viacom content available to YouTube users.”

A YouTube representative said it would comply with the request, and added, 'It's unfortunate that Viacom will no longer be able to benefit from YouTube's passionate audience, which has helped to promote many of Viacom's shows.' "

Well, duh. But no doubt Mammon is happy... for now, anyway.

Wise regulation

As this article illustrates, someone at the FCC has the wisdom of Solomon.

... Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Entercom and Citadel would make payments valued at about $10 million under a proposed settlement of the probe by the FCC into claims of payola in the music industry.

The investigation focuses on claims that stations owned by the nation’s Big Four radio companies accepted cash or gifts from music labels in exchange for playing their songs. ...

Under settlement terms proposed recently, the broadcasters would devote $7 million of airtime to independently produced music. The four group owners would additionally pay $3 million [towards] training to member stations to stop payola. In addition, the companies would draft compliance plans detailing which practices are unacceptable.

another scapegoat for Canada

Well, isn't this convenient. According to this article Canada is set to deport a family to Russia because during the Soviet era, the dad did surveillance for the KGB.

Heaven knows I am no fan of the KGB, but this man has not been found guilty of any crime here or elsewhere.

But, this is Canada, so I guess it's inevitable that more of our tax dollars would be squandered on yet another witch hunt.

It apparently doesn't matter whether East Europeans lie to get into Canada (as some are accused of after WWII), or they don't. They still end up as targets for deportation either way.

Meanwhile, drug lords, mass murderers, human traffickers and similar scum enjoy the best our country has to offer, free from worry because Canadian officials and media are too busy harassing harmless senior citizens who have lived productive lives.

Bureaucratic incompetence? Or perhaps that despite over a century of helping to build this country, East Europeans *still* aren't really welcome in Canada?

Ukrainian means Canadian ... since when?

Apparently, when it involves an expensive piece of Ukrainian artwork, at least according to this article.

Interesting how the Canadian media establishment fawns over the work of this "European" artist who never set foot in Canada, yet mocks Canadians of Ukrainian descent who actually help build this country.

Details here ... there's a scan of the article and a photo.

H/T to pumpernickel.

Vancouver audio archives for Jan 28, 2007

Archives are all updated to Jan 28 now, including podcasts. (I made a goof on the RSS feed a few weeks in a row. It's been a rough few weeks...)

On Nash Holos, Sylvia talks all about buckwheat, Myrna has more on her 3 (count 'em!) upcoming tours to eastern Europe, and Fr Bruce shares some thoughts about New Year's Resolutions that may help you keep yours. Plenty of Great Ukrainian music ... CD of the Week is Zyma (Winter) by the Nowystski Sisters.

Chetverta Khvylia, hosted by Pavlo Manugevych, brings you news, views and music from Ukraine... exclusively in Ukrainian.

Enjoy!

Radio special this Saturday in Regina

Just received from Victoria Muzychuk in Regina:

Tune in this Saturday, January 27th, for a special 1 hour edition of Muzyka Ukraine (just this one Saturday only) from 11:00am to 12:00pm CST on CJTR Regina Community Radio 91.3 FM.

"Muzyka Ukraine" airs on CJTR every Wednesday afternoon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm CST.

If you live in Regina, you can listen to Muzyka Ukraine at 91.3FM on your radio dial, or on Channel 806 on MAX TV. You can listen from anywhere on the internet at CJTR's web page (just click on "Tune In").

Muzyka Ukraine will be featuring a variety of contemporary and popular Ukrainian music for your listening enjoyment!

Vichnaya Pam'yat, Aussiegirl

The world just lost a rare treasure in the passing of blogger AussieGirl.

I had never actually met Aussiegirl in the flesh. We had never even spoken on the phone. Yet I considered her a dear friend. Ever supportive and encouraging, she was a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine. Truly a rare and precious gift.

Aussiegirl launched her blog as a tribute to her parents who came to the United States from the USSR where they had survived the Holodomor and communist persecution, then being shipped off during WWII as forced labourers under the Nazis, living in a DP camp and then fighting attempts at repatriation to the USSR (and to certain death) under the Yalta agreement.

This was a woman who appreciated her parents' experiences and sacrifices. And to honour them, she encouraged other bloggers, including me, to get out there and do their duty as "citizen journalists," all the while fighting for her life. She sent me many encouraging and helpful emails, and we often exchanged pleasantries as well as commiserating with and comforting each other during low times. How she found the energy to spread such genuine love and befriend so many total strangers is beyond me.

She was in my life for far too short a time. I shall miss not only her wise counsel and support, but also her wit and wisdom, and the spunk that allowed her to share it.

If you haven't yet visited the late Aussiegirl's blog, do go there and read the archives. You will be doing yourself a favour. It's called Ultima Thule and is here.

Another Canadian politician plays the race card

I don't usually comment on politics on this blog, but since the NDP just jumped on the race bandwagon chasing the ethnic vote, I just had to...

Contrary to this article in today's Globe & Mail, "generations past" DID openly discriminate against those who were white and Christian.

Just ask the Ukrainian community. Oddly enough, neither the government nor mainstream media has shown any interest in their story, much less advocated for our proposed public educational campaign, to be funded with money initially taken from Ukrainian immigrants during WWI ... and has yet to be returned.

Might it be that the interest of the present generation in injustices long-past only runs skin deep?