RTI deeply regrets not being able to broadcast English programmes on the FM transmitters in Slovakia. RTI believes these programmes have done no harm and in fact have helped many expand/gain a greater understanding of the English language, enabling many on lower incomes to potentially increase their chance of being able to compete in the European job market on an equal footing to those with higher income levels. RTI will remain committed to assisting projects such as AIESEC in Slovakia, the new English and IT coaching project for under privileged children in the Tatry region, and will continue speaking to student groups about the benefits of being able to conduct business meetings in both Slovak and English. HAVE YOU SAY! Should you wish to make comment about this decision please write, in either Slovak or English, to: Radio Tatras International, 80-88 Collingdon Street, Luton, LU1 1RX, UK. or e-mail:englishonfm@rti.fm
N.B. names will not be published in full
THE CAMPAIGN LETTER REMAINS THE SAME
We are using a similar CAMPAIGN LETTER to the one the last time we were stopped from broadcasting in English in the Slovak FM service of RTI. Should you wish to support RTI please copy this letter and send it to: englishonfm@rti.fm
Dear RTI,
It is with great regret that I read the news that the English spoken programming of RTI have been withdrawn again because of regulatory issues: only Slovak spoken programs are now allowed.
I think it is unbelievable that in a time where a united Europe tries to come closer together, a governmental institution of a member of the European Union makes such requests.
I congratulate the regulatory board of Slovakia in this narrow-minded step, which shows how far these guys are off from reality. In a time of globalisation it is absolutely necessary to speak English, young people get accustomed and learn English by listening to RTI. A lot of my friends from other central European Countries as well as from the Western World love the English programmes on RTI.
In a time of unification this is absolutely the wrong signal to the world. Nobody looses his identification with his/her country when they are able to communicate in a different language to his/her mother tongue. This is a signal of separation and when young people need the English language to gain work, especially those on lower incomes, banning the RTI shows is hurting the people that most need the help RTI was giving young Slovak Citizens.
FM Closure Comment - call for a thorough investigation
I read the blog page with dismay. Whether you'll ever get to the bottom of all this is, I think, doubtful, but it certainly sounds as though you have grounds to call for a thorough investigation. John
Cornelia V - Ireland Miriam Rae - UK Barbara Bell - UK Steve Way - UK Andrew Armstrong - UK Elisabetta Servadio - UK Margaret McCarthAnthony Hatcher - UK Nick Maskell - UK Radoslav Mlynarcik - SK Dave Smith - UK C. Spenser - UK Radoslav D. - SK Dave Wheeler - UK John C. - UK Ning Jia Stephen Mead - UK M. Allen - UK
RTI was born on 09 April 2005, although the idea was created several years earlier. Since the enforced closure of RTI-FM the station is kept alive by a small group of highly respected and dedicated volunteer broadcast professionals.