[can.politics] Global, Political, TV channel

fred@mnetor.UUCP (Fred Williams) (05/23/85)

	Several weeks ago I posted a suggestion that increased
communications between the major powers could do much to ease world
tensions.  Specifically, I suggested a television channel dedicated
to open political discussions and presentations to be broadcast 
world wide. Although I probably included non-political subjects as
well.

	The idea being that increased communications would bring
greater understanding and hence a decrease in political tension.

	I asked for comments and promised to post the results, so here
they are.  The points made by the respondents follow:

	1)	It is too difficult to keep out partisan propaganda.

	2)	Suggestion: Can we get Soviet scientists to participate
	in 'net.politics'?

	3)	Suggestion: Can we get cable TV companies to broadcast
	proceedings from the U.N. on a dedicated channel?

	4)	The medium could be used for hostile communications and
	even friendly messages could on occasion be 'misperceived'.

	5)	Suggestion: What about limiting content to purely
	cultural topics?

	6)	The plan could be useful *if* any discussion is *firmly*
	mediated by a skilled third party.

	Other comments could be sorted into one of the above points.

	Item 1 seems to be a major drawback. Numbers 5 & 6 seem to
offset the objection somewhat, but limiting content to cultural
topics might limit the effectiveness. Also, where do you draw the
line between cultural and political topics?  Who decides?  How do
we avoid charges of censorship, and partisanism? How does one
spell 'partisanism'??

	Item 2 would be desireable, but would not Soviet scientists be
subject to some sort of control if they are living in the Soviet
Union?  Are not our scientists subject to some sort of control here?
These are, (of coarse), rhetorical questions expressed in order to
spark some sort of dialog on the net. I'm not trying to criticize
anyone.

	Item 3 might be interesting to try. Is there sufficient incentive
for the cable companies to carry the proceedings?  Would the Soviet
Union and the U.S. both take part?  Would China?  

	Item 4 could be controlled under some form of mediation I suppose.

	Items 5 & 6 are addressed under item 1 above.

	So suppose we proposed a global TV channel, broadcast from 
satellites with the content controlled by a commitee responsible to,
say the United Nations. Suppose further that there were a firm and
clearly stated 'constitution' forbidding hostile or false messages,
and whatever else deemed necessary.  Would it work?  Would anybody
watch?  Would you?  

Cheers,		Fred Williams.

sophie@mnetor.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (05/23/85)

> 
> 	Several weeks ago I posted a suggestion that increased
> communications between the major powers could do much to ease world
> tensions.  Specifically, I suggested a television channel dedicated
> to open political discussions and presentations to be broadcast 
> world wide. Although I probably included non-political subjects as
> well.
> 
> 	The idea being that increased communications would bring
> greater understanding and hence a decrease in political tension.
> 
Call me cynical, but it is my opinion that major powers are not really
interested in a decrease in political tension.  You see, if they didn't
have an "ennemy" to fear anymore, then they wouldn't need all these 
bombs anymore, and they'd have to replace their war economy by a peace
economy.  

The U.S. government would have to stop sponsoring defense
research, which would really hurt big business which depends so much
on government handouts.  It's not NICE to bother big business!!!

The U.S.S.R. could always find another ennemy.  Why, isn't China headed
by a bunch of pinko-commies trying to export their revolution to the
rest of the world?  That must be stopped before it gets out of hand!

Personally, I think your idea is very good.  I doubt very much that it
would work, but I certainly believe that if we don't take peace in our
own hands, nobody else will, so we've got nothing to lose by trying.
-- 
Sophie Quigley
{allegra|decvax|ihnp4|linus|watmath}!utzoo!mnetor!sophie

nixon@utai.UUCP (Brian Nixon) (05/24/85)

The United Nations operates a few short wave radio stations.