A peace of history returns

It is a very welcome return of the Voice Of Peace, in many ways. The ex-offshore pirate has now returned online, also with an announced frequency of 1540 (presumably MW, transmitting from the Holy Land).

I remember the VOP was a legend even while still on-air back in the 80's, and - as a pacifist - I always had a lot of respect for the station even though I was unable to hear it myself (except via airchecks). Now I am able to hear and fully appreciate the station.

Format is mostly music interspersed with peace propaganda - hardly surprising, since the VOP was set up to end war and bring peace between Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land. The 'across the board' music policy is reminiscent of Laser 558, yet Caroline's influence is equally obvious - not least with the station promoting Lovin' Awareness.

Abie Nathan, the VOP's founder, was an equally legendary figure. An Iranian Jew who was living in (the current state of) Israel, his commitment to peace went well beyond the radio station. He was jailed for meeting Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and I remember news reports of 'toy exchange' programmes (promoted by the VOP) where kids could exchange war-glorifying toys (eg tanks and fighter aircraft) for peace-promoting toys.

Sadly, Abie is no longer with us. But the VOP's current operators seem to have created a station Abie would doubtless be proud of :)

But don't just take my word for it - to hear the station, visit their site ...

Voice Of Peace website

Disabled but very Able

Found a new web radio station for people with disabilities, namely Able Radio.
Format seems to be a mix of music and talk, with many periods of non-stop music but also - mostly in the evening - a number of programmes covering across the disability movement, such as youth, arts and sports related programmes.
Mistly, the music played seems not to have a bias towards disability. However, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, a one hour programme called Able Showcase features music by artists with disabilities.

Very good to see a full time station for people with disabilities (even if it does mean Radio Ability is now redundant, lol).

Starforce Radio International lives up to its name

Starforce Radio International, streaming via the web, today reached a milestone with at least one listener in Indonesia!

Starforce Radio International started its life, back in 1997, as the Clowne-based FM pirate Starforce FM.

It seems that web radio is the new short wave; capable of international broadcasting, across borders and even listened to by people who speak different languages. Like short wave, it has the drawback that portable listening is still difficult, often impossible. But unlike short wave, reasonable quality stereo music can be broadcast :-)

This morning, recordings of earlier programmes were broadcast. The next live broadcast will take place on Sunday evening, from 7pm to 10pm. Streaming takes place, using Pirate Radio software, via their website as follows:

Starforce Radio International website

Shameless self-promotion

I've just recorded another Radio Ability programme, for February. You can hear this online, streamed using RealAudio, at the Radio Ability website.

Brown all at sea

Listening to Radio Caroline (via the web) this afternoon, I was pleased to hear that Caroline had not lost its rebel streak, also that cheeky dedications are still in vogue.

At approx 2:30, the DJ dedicated a record to "Mr Brown in London". The record? The late 1970's cheesy punk song "Jilted John" by Jilted John. (If you're too young to remember the record, you may still get the joke after reading the Jilted John lyrics). LOL LOL LOL.

OK, so it's not quite the Caroline broadcasts from the Mebo II in 1970. But it's still good to hear Caroline having a go at the Establishment :-)

Radio Caroline website

Caroline is also audible on Sky, channel 0199. In fact, they announce on-air as "Caroline 0199", a throwback to their offshore days when their medium wave frequency used to end with a "9" in metres (eg Caroline 319, Caroline 519)

Notorious Online

Just heard from the Notorious FM crew that they haven't gone away since the raid ... Notorious Online is now an online web radio station.

Notorious Online website