World Radio Day 2023: Radio promotes peace and reduces conflicts

This statement was made by Vu Hai Quang, vice president of Voice of Vietnam (VOV), in his article written on the occasion of World Radio Day.

In the context of the world facing instability and armed conflicts, this year has seen UNESCO, together with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) chose the theme of World Radio Day as "Radio and Peace”, with the aim of highlighting the role radio plays in promoting peace and security. This serves to reduce conflicts and push up reconciliation and tolerance.

This theme also recognises the power of radio in bringing people together, fostering understanding and dialogue, thereby helping to build more peaceful communities.

Radio promotes understanding and dialogue

Broadcasting plays a vital role in preventing conflict and promoting peace on a global scale.

Furthermore, radio brings information and official opinions to the public in the fastest way that other forms of media may not be able to, especially in areas of conflict or crisis, only radio is capable of reaching the audience.

By promoting dialogue, radio can reduce tensions and build mutual understanding between communities.

Indeed, it is also the most effective tool for promoting peace by spreading messages of nonviolence, tolerance, and reconciliation.

Broadcasting can reach a large number of listeners in any condition, including the visually impaired, drivers, manual workers, people in remote and border areas, as well as helping to heal divisions between communities by advancing common goals to achieve common values.

During times of conflict or crisis, radio can also provide useful information and advice to those in need, thereby helping to reduce the impact of violence and promote stability.

In short, radio represents a powerful and effective tool used to promote peace and security, playing a great role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting dialogue to reduce conflicts.

Radio promotes peace and an early end to war

During the anti-American war in Vietnam, radio and print newspapers were the two most popular forms of media. However, it was very difficult for print newspapers to be distributed between the North and the South due to the two front lines being separated by the Ben Hai river. Indeed, coverage was not wide enough to provide news to a large number of the public and it did not travel fast enough to deliver news in a timely manner.

Only radio was capable of meeting all of these requirements in wartime.

Radio at that time played a vital role in reporting and orienting public opinion about the American war of aggression in Vietnam.

It also served as a bridge, a belief and hope of army and people in the South towards the North. Indeed, sometimes songs or broadcasts from the North were also secret commands to launch a battle or stop an attack in the South.

Broadcasting at that time, in addition to providing information on Party guidelines, as well as State laws and policies, was also a great source of encouragement to the entire Party, people, and army as it was reflected by President Ho Chi Minh's immortal saying, "Even if we have to burn the whole Truong Son mountain range, we must be resolute for independence."

Broadcasting was therefore a mission to let peace-loving people in the world understand the senseless war of the US in Vietnam, encouraging both American soldiers and those from the Republic of Vietnam had to surrender their guns.

Surely, those who were born and grown up before the total liberation of the South know the legendary voice of Trinh Thi Ngo on Radio Voice of Vietnam with English programmes from Vietnam to Havana, Cuba, broadcast into the US territory, creating a wave of protests against the war in Vietnam within the US itself.

During both the anti-French and anti-American wars in Vietnam, radio made positive contributions to spreading a message of patriotism and promoting national unity, encouraging the entire Vietnamese army and people to be ready to sacrifice both life and property to bring peace and achieve a swift end to the wars.

In conflict, although radio stations on both sides have different views on war, there is one thing in common and that is the same desire to end the war as soon as possible and restore peace.

It can be said that radio played an important role in promoting peace and ending the war in Vietnam.