GACW Declaration - Grupo Argentina de CWTranslation by Walt Fair, Jr., W5ALT
The following declaration concerning amateur radio was
recently released by the Argentinan CW Group (GACW)
and is reprinted here for all to see what concerns our LU
friends.
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BUENOS
AIRES, CAPITAL OF THE
REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA, THE
19TH DAY OF THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER OF 2005, THE
UNDERSIGNED COORDINATORS,
MEMBERS AND SYMPATHIZERS
OF AGRUPACION GRUPO
ARGENTINO DE RADIOTELEGRAFISTAS GACW,
DESIRE TO EFFECT THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION
RELATED TO THE ACTIVITIES, EXAMINATIONS AND
QUALITIES OF THE FUTURE LICENSEES IN THE
AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION:
1. Underscore that we without reservation maintain that
the rules should serve as an incentive to support, not
only the progress of the radio science or art, but also to
preserve traditional operating modes, maintain
sportsmanship in operating competitions, preserve
individual abilities in craftsmanship, stimulate the
education and advancement of new radio amateurs;
these elements are essential in order to keep our
heritage and culture alive, honor our predecessors, and
respect the initiatives of technical evolution.
2. Affirm that the actions and individual initiatives that
suggest the total elimination of the CW examination, or
setting aside of the requirement simply because "it
takes effort to learn," constitute without a doubt, at the
bottom and the root of the subject, another step toward
the loss of identity and weakening of our own roots.
3. That understanding Amateur Radio as another means
to elevate the individual and collective human spirit and
not just mere entertainment, we consider the moderate
effort necessary to obtain the ability to operate
radiotelegraphy a desirable goal, no different than that
of sportsmen or students that, far from being a
hindrance, forms their character, maintains their ability
and improves their personal situation without any doubt
and that the same should be considered a personal skill
to be possessed and exercised, one that contributes to
being recognized by ones peers and imparts an ethical
responsibility to teach the art to others.
4. Reaffirm that the resolution from WARC 2003, that
leaves the criteria to the national administrations with
respect to the CW examination, should in no way be
considered as mandatory for our nation, that said
resolution has only been followed by 11% of the
member nations and that they only represent 12% of the
estimated amateur radio population. (See SPAR)
5. Highlight the actions of countries such as Russia,
Canada and Japan that have decided to maintain this
requirement to obtain an amateur radio license. They
believe that they should maintain a well trained group of
operators, with the ability to perform whatever means of
communication possible in case it should be necessary.
6. That the radiotelegraph operators of our nation
continue to contribute at a level of equality with the
users of other emission modes in the
activity and dissemination of the
Amateur radio Service. (See
http://www.geocities.com/eetecar).
Perhaps they are possibly, those who
do more with more enthusiasm than
other groups, because they are the
guardians of a tradition of our radio
ancestors and they have learned to
keep alive through the ages the flame and mystique of
communications in its simplest form: Morse code.
7. Recommend that the enclose reports from SPAR, The
Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio, of the
US, presented to the FCC in that country and of Andrew
Roos, ZS1AN, advisor of The South African Amateur
League, SARL, be used as valuable elements to be
considered in conjunction with the study of this subject
by the institutions and authorities and that they include
recent studies and statistics with the object of
understanding the evolution of the number of licenses,
age, equipment, vehicles and other available resources,
etc.
8. Reject the opinions, actions and declarations of the No
Code International group, (
http://www.nocode.org/) that
was created with the only goal to work toward abolishing
Morse code examinations in the entire world,
considering the group to be intolerable, discriminatory,
and completely contrary to the spirit and letter of the
Amateur Radio Service of the ITU.
9. Affirm that the present does not pretend to establish
any privilege or special consideration for radiotelegraph
operators, but to maintain in action and thought in favor
of experimentation and operation in whatever mode,
current or future, without consideration of whether the
practitioners only represent a majority or minority, or
Š Copyright 2005 The Society for the Preservation of
Amateur Radio No 2, Dec 2005 Page 13
intolerable, discriminatory and completely contrary to
the spirit and letter of Amateur Radio
whether they should enjoy greater bandwidth than the
rest.
10. Offer an incentive to all amateur radiotelegraph
operators to teach Morse code and share their
experiences and knowledge in the institutions closest to
their residence, or where and if it is possible, using the
Manual of CW by Jacobo Aisemberg LU2YA published
by the Radio Club Neuquen and recommended by
GACW as a study guide.
11. Recognize the contribution of the Radio Club
Pampeano LU1UG, in the city of General Pico, La
Pampa, and its members, for keeping the weekly slow
speed CW course on the air and the FENIX LU Forum,
a group of GACW advisers, for their contribution in
completing this document.
12. Emphasize the development work by the creators and
moderators of the HAMTEC internet forum for their
contribution to technical understanding in all aspects of
our activity, that already has transcended our borders,
serving as the means toward technical capability in the
Spanish speaking world.
13. Recognize the effort made by institutions, in
maintaining their installation operable, keeping course
for those aspiring to be radio amateurs, participating in
local Civil Defense activities in schools and other
environments.
14. Recognize the guiding role, of control and regulation of
the Federal government and highlight the necessity to
establish a FEDERAL program of teaching and practice
designed for the formation of groups of educators, with
the object of maintaining themselves capable of
furthering education in the entire nation.
15. Encourage all individual or collective actions that foster
the improvement, coordination, and unity of radio
amateurs by any means possible, with the object of
improving and consolidating the current situation.
16. Recognize and highlight, among other institutions and
groups, the Radio Clubs Almirante Guillermo Brown
LU3DY and Morón LU1DBQ for their emphasis on
experimentation; to the participants in the programs "La
Radio un Camino Seguro", to the Radio Club La Rioja
LU1SF and Radio Club Catamarca LU5RA, to the Radio
Club City Bell L40E; to those who participated in "La
Radio y los Nińos", to the Radio Club de los Andes
LU8YE, also the Argentina APRS Group and the
AMSAT Argentina organization for the educational and
experimental activities that they support and develop.
17. Support the presentations made by the UARC Union of
Argentinan Radio Clubs, other Radio Clubs and radio
amateurs of the province of Buenos Aires, in opposition
to Resolution N° 900/05 (Secretaría Política Ambiental -
Prov. Bs.As., regarding installation of electromagnetic
field generators in the frequency range above 300 KHz),
soliciting the exception from compliance for members of
the Amateur Radio Service.
18. To be alert to the installation of internet transmissions
over electrical transmission lines (BPL or PLC), that
produce interference in the shortwave spectrum and
other bands and solicit the corresponding authorities to
follow the CCITT guidelines that guarantee the
availability of (shortwave) service without interference to
radio amateurs and listeners.
19. Invite all radio amateurs and institutions to adhere to
this declaration, as a means to express their willingness
to stimulate perfection and to preserve the level reached
by amateur radio, contributing to the teaching of all
modes, without exception, in opposition to criteria based
solely on "popularity."
20. Disseminate and distribute this document and its
attachments to the UARC, CNC, D.G. de Defensa Civil
de la Nación, SPAR and other amateur radio institutions
to whom this might be of informational interest.
Signed,
(List of names not reproduced here)
GACW - Casilla de Correos 9 - B1875ZAA Wilde - Pcia.
Buenos Aires
