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<DIV><FONT size=6>Amateur Radio exhibition reflects unity in
Europe</FONT><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>European Radio Societies exhibit
in the European Parliament</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<P align=left><FONT face=Tahoma>From the 26th until 30th of April 2010, European
radio societies will provide information about the Amateur Radio service in the
European Parliament building.</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face=Tahoma>Under the motto <EM><STRONG>European Amateur
Radio Benefiting Society</STRONG></EM> and sponsored by <STRONG>MEP Birgit
Sippel</STRONG>, who supports the goals and the socio-political importance of
Amateur Radio, this exhibition will offer the possibility to become informed
about this service.</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face=Tahoma>“I am very much looking forward to sharing
information on this radio service with my colleagues, their assistants and
anyone else who is interested”, Mrs. Sippel said when she was approached to
sponsor this undertaking. </FONT></P>
<P align=left><STRONG></STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>Even though the Amateur Radio
service exists since 1908, and many countries even have special laws to regulate
it, the service is often unknown in public. Many politicians have never heard
about this radio service, making this a very good starting point for the
exhibition that you are about to view. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>In the European Union alone, about 350,000 people of all
ages are fascinated by this hobby. They operate their radios, socializing with
others throughout the world while generating a large amount of international
goodwill in the process. This combination of communication, technology and
sports bonds them together and makes Amateur Radio unique. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Through personal contacts and demonstrating practical
examples, the exhibitors will illustrate the Amateur Radio service, its
structures and benefits for society. Young people that are extremely interesting
in space exploration will often find themselves in the hobby, allowing them to
actually communicate via self operated satellites, or speak to the International
Space Station (ISS). However, a contact to the other side of the globe with
self-built equipment and very limited antennas fascinates youngsters as well.
<BR>These technology-infected youngsters are likely to become engineers or high
tech specialists, benefiting the wealth and growth of the EU. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Amateur Radio also helps in cases of emergencies, even as
recently the earthquake disaster in Haiti or the Tsunami of 2006 has
demonstrated. Amateur Radio operators were always the first to communicate to
the outside world, since the telecom infrastructure was destroyed. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>During the exhibition, 10 students from a school in
Brussels will contact the ISS, which will be a highlight of the exhibition. In
the meantime, models of the ISS and an Amateur Radio satellite will be shown.
Visitors can also test their skills in telegraphy – better known as Morse Code –
which is still one to the easiest modes of shortwave operation in low signal
conditions. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Some European directives affect the Amateur Radio service
as well. They will be presented and discussed. Future European legislation may
also affect the service, making it necessary to inform visitors about special
needs that this fine hobby has.</FONT> </P></BODY></HTML>