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Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - US-funded media like Voice of America must be saved and strengthened
America has always been at its best when it stands firmly for truth, freedom and human dignity. Today, that legacy is under threat. Just as the world needs them most, vital American soft power tools — Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty — are at risk of being dismantled by the Trump administration. I know what that voice sounds like. I first heard it through a shortwave radio in the early 1990s, when I was a university student in China, far from my hometown of Kashgar in the Uyghur region. Isolated and eager to understand the outside world, I tuned in to the BBC and Voice of America. That crackling shortwave signal was my window to freedom. For me, it was more than news — it was a revelation. I never had formal English training. Everything I learned came from programs like Voice of America's Special English and Talk to America. I also tuned into its Mandarin service, which helped sharpen my Chinese. Hearing democracy and dissent in the same language used for propaganda was both jarring and electrifying. Those broadcasts introduced me to American ideals — freedom of speech, democratic movements, political dissent and civil society. They told stories of exiles, reformers and ordinary citizens. They changed my life. As I wrote in my memoir 'No Escape,' those radio signals inspired me to come to America nearly 30 years ago. I became the first U.S.-educated Uyghur corporate lawyer, a congressionally appointed official and a human rights advocate. Over the last two decades, I have given countless interviews to Voice of America's English, Uzbek, Turkish, Persian, Tibetan and Mandarin programs — sharing stories from the very nation whose ideals once reached me across oceans and borders. Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty also played a critical role. As someone with ties to Central Asia, the outlet helped me understand the region's political developments. As former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, I spoke to its audiences about why Americans care about protecting freedom for everyone, everywhere. Two years ago, I visited Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's headquarters in Prague and sat in the same chair once occupied by Václav Havel. I met brave reporters covering the war in Ukraine who were risking their lives to deliver the truth. But my deepest connection is with Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service. When it first launched, I applied to be a reporter, hoping to deliver uncensored news to my people. Since then, I've spoken on its Uyghur, Tibetan and Mandarin programs to explain U.S. policy and offer hope to those still silenced. After 9/11, when China labeled itself a victim of terrorism, I used Radio Free Asia to explain how Beijing exploited global rhetoric to justify oppression. I clarified that America's fight was never against the Uyghur people. I explained a justice system they had never known. My late father, like many Uyghur intellectuals, listened to Radio Free Asia at great risk. It gave them hope to know that the American people stood with them. The journalists at Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service are heroes. They have exposed China's concentration camps, forced labor, abuses against women and children and the destruction of places of worship and sacred sites. Their work helped lead to the U.S. government's recognition of China's actions as genocide and laid the groundwork for the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This seminal law bans products made with Uyghur forced labor and protects American consumers, workers and businesses from unfair and unethical trade. Radio Free Asia's Uyghur journalists have had loved ones imprisoned or sent to camps because of their work for the American people. Now these same journalists face the loss of their livelihoods. We ask them to risk everything for truth. The least we can do is make sure their microphones stay on. These networks are not perfect. At times, editorial decisions have strayed from their core mission. But those rare missteps call for reform, not retreat. These outlets need a reboot, not a burial. Yes, there is waste across government. But gutting the only free media outlets that reach persecuted populations — like the Uyghurs — is not the answer. The U.S. remains the only country with the legislative and policy tools to confront China's genocide. Silencing that voice now would be morally indefensible and strategically short-sighted. Resuming and strengthening these broadcasts is not just a moral imperative — it is a strategic investment in American global leadership. These services don't just report the news. They offer hope — our sharpest weapon against repression. And they show the world what freedom sounds like. Now is the time to call on leaders to restore funding and empower these programs to continue their core mission. Doing so will reaffirm America's leadership and send a message to the world that truth still matters. This isn't a partisan issue — it's a patriotic one. Independent media is one of the most cost-effective and powerful tools in America's arsenal. It doesn't require tanks or troops — only truth and access. Freedom of the press is not just a constitutional principle — it is the beating heart of America's identity and our greatest export. While dictators invest in propaganda, we should be investing in uncensored news and authentic American stories. Don't pull the plug — power it up. Because when America speaks clearly and boldly, the world listens. Nury Turkel is a lawyer and the award-winning author of 'No Escape: The True Story of China's Genocide of the Uyghurs.' He is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
U.S.-funded media like Voice of America must be saved and strengthened
America has always been at its best when it stands firmly for truth, freedom and human dignity. Today, that legacy is under threat. Just as the world needs them most, vital American soft power tools — Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty — are at risk of being dismantled by the Trump administration. I know what that voice sounds like. I first heard it through a shortwave radio in the early 1990s, when I was a university student in China, far from my hometown of Kashgar in the Uyghur region. Isolated and eager to understand the outside world, I tuned in to the BBC and Voice of America. That crackling shortwave signal was my window to freedom. For me, it was more than news — it was a revelation. I never had formal English training. Everything I learned came from programs like Voice of America's Special English and Talk to America. I also tuned into its Mandarin service, which helped sharpen my Chinese. Hearing democracy and dissent in the same language used for propaganda was both jarring and electrifying. Those broadcasts introduced me to American ideals — freedom of speech, democratic movements, political dissent and civil society. They told stories of exiles, reformers and ordinary citizens. They changed my life. As I wrote in my memoir 'No Escape,' those radio signals inspired me to come to America nearly 30 years ago. I became the first U.S.-educated Uyghur corporate lawyer, a congressionally appointed official and a human rights advocate. Over the last two decades, I have given countless interviews to Voice of America's English, Uzbek, Turkish, Persian, Tibetan and Mandarin programs — sharing stories from the very nation whose ideals once reached me across oceans and borders. Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty also played a critical role. As someone with ties to Central Asia, the outlet helped me understand the region's political developments. As former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, I spoke to its audiences about why Americans care about protecting freedom for everyone, everywhere. Two years ago, I visited Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's headquarters in Prague and sat in the same chair once occupied by Václav Havel. I met brave reporters covering the war in Ukraine who were risking their lives to deliver the truth. But my deepest connection is with Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service. When it first launched, I applied to be a reporter, hoping to deliver uncensored news to my people. Since then, I've spoken on its Uyghur, Tibetan and Mandarin programs to explain U.S. policy and offer hope to those still silenced. After 9/11, when China labeled itself a victim of terrorism, I used Radio Free Asia to explain how Beijing exploited global rhetoric to justify oppression. I clarified that America's fight was never against the Uyghur people. I explained a justice system they had never known. My late father, like many Uyghur intellectuals, listened to Radio Free Asia at great risk. It gave them hope to know that the American people stood with them. The journalists at Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service are heroes. They have exposed China's concentration camps, forced labor, abuses against women and children and the destruction of places of worship and sacred sites. Their work helped lead to the U.S. government's recognition of China's actions as genocide and laid the groundwork for the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This seminal law bans products made with Uyghur forced labor and protects American consumers, workers and businesses from unfair and unethical trade. Radio Free Asia's Uyghur journalists have had loved ones imprisoned or sent to camps because of their work for the American people. Now these same journalists face the loss of their livelihoods. We ask them to risk everything for truth. The least we can do is make sure their microphones stay on. These networks are not perfect. At times, editorial decisions have strayed from their core mission. But those rare missteps call for reform, not retreat. These outlets need a reboot, not a burial. Yes, there is waste across government. But gutting the only free media outlets that reach persecuted populations — like the Uyghurs — is not the answer. The U.S. remains the only country with the legislative and policy tools to confront China's genocide. Silencing that voice now would be morally indefensible and strategically short-sighted. Resuming and strengthening these broadcasts is not just a moral imperative — it is a strategic investment in American global leadership. These services don't just report the news. They offer hope — our sharpest weapon against repression. And they show the world what freedom sounds like. Now is the time to call on leaders to restore funding and empower these programs to continue their core mission. Doing so will reaffirm America's leadership and send a message to the world that truth still matters. This isn't a partisan issue — it's a patriotic one. Independent media is one of the most cost-effective and powerful tools in America's arsenal. It doesn't require tanks or troops — only truth and access. Freedom of the press is not just a constitutional principle — it is the beating heart of America's identity and our greatest export. While dictators invest in propaganda, we should be investing in uncensored news and authentic American stories. Don't pull the plug — power it up. Because when America speaks clearly and boldly, the world listens.
Associated Press
26-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Direct Relief Awarded Seoul Peace Prize for Its Humanitarian Medical Work
Direct Relief has been awarded the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize for its longstanding humanitarian work in delivering medical resources to advance global health and aid communities impacted by disasters and conflicts, the prize committee announced Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The Seoul Peace Prize, established to commemorate the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to world peace and cooperation. The selection process involves approximately 1,300 nominators from South Korea and around the world, including internationally renowned figures from various fields. 'By promptly and efficiently delivering medical supplies, Direct Relief has not only protected lives and ensured psychological stability, but has also instilled hope for a new beginning,' the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation said. 'It has demonstrated humanitarianism and made a significant contribution to the advancement of human welfare.' The Seoul Peace Prize has been awarded every other year since 1990. As the 17th recipient of the prize, Direct Relief joins a distinguished group of laureates including former Czech President and human rights champion Václav Havel, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, renowned economist Muhammad Yunus, and Doctors Without Borders. 'Direct Relief is deeply honored to receive the Seoul Peace Prize,' said Dr. Byron Scott, CEO of Direct Relief. 'This recognition affirms our belief that public health is a requirement for societal health. When communities have access to healthcare, they build resilience against the destabilizing forces of disasters, conflict, and poverty.' Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. From its beginnings in 1948—when Estonian immigrant William Zimdin started sending food, clothing, and medicine to post-war Europe—Direct Relief has upheld one defining principle: every individual deserves high-quality health care, no matter their circumstance. Over the past seven-plus decades, that commitment has guided the organization to become one of the world's largest humanitarian nonprofits, delivering over $16 billion in medical aid and $350 million in grants to 136 countries and all 50 U.S. states since year 2000.
New York Times
25-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
America's Most Shameful Vote Ever at the U.N.
In the spring of 2007, I interviewed Václav Havel on a bench in the garden of Prague's Czernin Palace. The playwright and former Czech president discussed his shifting views on the war in Iraq, the role of art in unfree states, the dangers of political obsession and indifference — and his yearning, 11 years after he had quit smoking, for a cigarette. We also spoke about the importance of truth, particularly in matters of international diplomacy. 'I think we can talk to every ruler but first of all it is necessary to tell the truth,' Havel said. Turning to Vladimir Putin — or 'Ras-Putin,' as he called him — he added: 'With me, he gets more and more suspicious. We have to tell him plainly what we think of his behavior.' Havel's comment — which followed the murders of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya and the prominent critic Alexander Litvinenko but preceded Russia's invasion of Georgia, its seizure of Crimea, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the poisoning, imprisoning and death of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the massacre at Bucha and the obliteration of Mariupol — comes to mind after the single most shameful vote ever cast by the United States at the United Nations. On Monday, for the third anniversary of Russia's brutal lunge toward Kyiv, the Ukrainian government put forward a resolution in the General Assembly demanding Russia's withdrawal of its forces and accountability for its war crimes as the basis of a 'comprehensive, lasting and just peace.' Ninety-three countries supported the resolution; 65 abstained, including China. Among the 18 who opposed it were Russia, North Korea, Nicaragua, Belarus, Equatorial Guinea and, vomitously, Israel and the United States. Later, the United States won a wan 10-0 approval for a Security Council resolution (with five abstentions, including from Britain and France) that called for an end to the war without mentioning who started it. This is supposed to be a mark of realism, on the view that scolding Moscow for its sins will do nothing to advance a diplomatic end to the war. On a broader level, it's also meant as one in a series of moves to woo Putin back toward the West and away from his partnership (as the junior member) with China's Xi Jinping — what foreign-policy pundits are calling a 'Reverse Nixon,' in contrast to the 37th president's efforts to detach China from the Soviet orbit. But the effort is bound to fail, and not just because Moscow, with its no-limits friendship with China and a pliant administration in the United States, finds itself today in a very different strategic position than the one Beijing was in the early 1970s, when it had blown up its society in the Cultural Revolution while coming close to full-scale war with Russia. Havel would have understood the deeper reasons. In his 1978 essay 'The Power of the Powerless,' Havel explained the ways in which communist regimes like the one in Czechoslovakia maintained control. It wasn't simply, or even primarily, through the threat of force. Rather, it happened through the construction of a 'panorama' of mutually reinforcing slogans that most people found relatively easy to go along with, even if, at some level, they knew they were based on outrageous distortions and obvious lies. Putin spent the first part of his career as a low-level enforcer of that system. He's spent 25 years in power perfecting it from the top, creating a world in which his dictatorship is 'sovereign democracy,' political opposition is 'terrorism,' the Jewish president of Ukraine is 'a neo-Nazi' and the biggest war in Europe in 80 years is just a 'special military operation,' undertaken as a defensive measure against an aggressive NATO. At nearly every turn, he's been able to get away with it, often with the reluctant acquiescence of Western leaders, from George W. Bush to Angela Merkel, who looked away from his misdeeds for the sake of diplomatic comity. But he's never had a bigger accomplice in deceit than Donald Trump. By participating in the moral and factual inversions that Putin has deployed for his invasion of Ukraine, the Trump administration isn't setting itself up as some sort of evenhanded broker to end the war. It is turning the United States into an accessory to Russia's crimes — or at least to the lies on which the crimes are predicated. Unlike Nixon, who moved China toward our corner, at least for 30 years, Trump is moving America toward Russia's corner, while betraying an ally and breaking the Atlantic alliance. At this point, Tucker Carlson, Putin's preferred poodle, may as well be secretary of state. In his essay, Havel movingly described the ways in which tyrannies are brought down: when a handful of brave souls decide to 'live within the truth,' which gives their 'freedom a concrete significance.' Their early acts of truth-telling — like refusing to participate in sham elections or other regime fictions — will exact an initial price as the government amps up its means of repression. But over time the regime's panorama of lies will gradually, then suddenly, fall apart. It's exactly what happened just 11 years after Havel foresaw it, with the fall of communism and the Berlin Wall. This administration, like its predecessor, had the opportunity, through an easy U.N. vote, to live within the truth when it came to Russia and its malevolence. Instead of working to deconstruct Putin's panorama of lies, it opted to keep it in place, to reinforce it, to build on it. It's a choice that will haunt, and shame, America for years.
