GACW - Casilla de Correos 9 - B1875ZAA Wilde - Pcia. Buenos Aires

IN THE CITY 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 decidedly 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 tradicional 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 the techncal evolution.

2. Affirm that the actions and indiviual initiatives that suggest the total elimination of the CW examination, or setting aside of the requirment simply because "it takes effort to learn," which constitute without a doubt, at the bottom and the root of the subject, are another step toward the loss of identity and weakenig 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 desireable 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 possesed and exercized, one that contributes to being recognized by ones equals and imparts an ethical responsibility to teach the art to others.

4. Reaffirm that the resoultion CAMR 2003, that leaves the crtiteria to the national administations with respect to the CW examination, should in no way be considered asmandatory for our country, 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 contributing at a level of equality with the users of other emission modes in the activity and disemination 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 en 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 an 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 whether they should 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 schools closest to their residence, or where and if it is possible, using the CW Manual of CW by Jacobo Aisemberg LU2YA published by the Radio Club Neuquen and recomnended 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 advisors, 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 radio clubs, 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 in the entire nation.

15. Encourage all individual or collective actions that foster the improvement, coordination, and unity of radio amaterus by any means possible, with the object of imporving 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 Niños", 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, en 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 - 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 this service without interference to radio amateur and listeners.

19. Invite all radio amateurs and instituciones to adhere to this declaration, as a means to express their willingness to 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 on "popularity."

20. Disseminate and distribute this document and its attachments to the UARC, CNC, D.G. de Defensa Civil de la Nación, SPAR y other amaeur radio institutions to whom this might be of informational interest.

Raúl M. Diaz LU6EF
Arnoldo J. Corda LU7EE
Héctor Ombroni LU6UO
Fernando Fernandez LW2DX
Alberto U. Silva LU1DZ
Juan C. Parra LU9DO
Carlos G. Vanhovan LW1EXU
Héctor Torregiani LW4EZT
Orfilio Guevara LU9FLX
Nestor García LU2DCY
Carlos Affranchino LU1AC
Enrique Perez LU9EXG
Elena Ditdoff LW2DNF
Clive Formigoni LW9DJK
Héctor Vasallo LU8DLB
Mariano Artola LU7DMV
Héctor Morales LW8DGV
Hernán Lopez LU5ECZ
Angel Madroñal LU1DSU
Mario Lorenzo Togno LU5EE
Juan Batipallia LU3AGI
Esteban Toribio LW1DTZ
Guillermo Necco LW3DYL
Ivan Centurión, Aspirante

... more signatures follow.