 | United
on the airwaves - Jews and Muslims |
Radio
harmonyIt's the oldest conflict in the world... from David
and Goliath to the hills of Lebanon, Jews and Muslims have been at war. But
in Bristol the two sides are making peace over the airwaves. Inside Out
West looks at the world's first radio station made jointly by Jews and Muslims. Bridging
the gapWatch the world news, and youd think that Jews and Muslims
are two races which never speak to each other.
Yet their words for peace
are almost identical - "Salaam" and
"Shalom". Back
in 2006 two Bristolians decided to bridge the gap with radio. A moderate
Muslim called Farooq Sidique, from the Bristol Muslim Cultural Association, met
Martin, a progressive Jew, who works with students at the University of Bristol.
 | | Shopping
together - Georgia and Shabana |
They wondered if a joint radio
station could tell the world about what the two faiths have in common. Farooq
is very positive about he meeting of the two religions: "Who'd
have thought this would happen in Bristol? "You know how everyone felt
after the Berlin Wall came down? "Well for years we've had this wall
between us - and now its coming down. It's extraordinary."
The
station has brought together two young women who were strangers, and strangers
to each other's faith. Georgia and Shabana will now present a funky fusion
show celebrating food, music and culture. We followed them shopping for
Kosher and Halal sausages, and sharing each others religious services. Following
the experimentInside Out West's cameras have been following the experiment
throughout. It's been quite a rollercoaster journey for the radio station.  | | On
air - the two communities come together |
First the technical
kit was dropped by the delivery company and wrecked.
Then the American
Station Manager, recruited for his world class experience in faith based radio,
quit unexpectedly. With just three weeks till launch, they had no kit and
no boss. On Thursday February 1, 2007 the station finally hit the air. The
first broadcast went well and the station promises much for the future and for
race relations. But can it bridge the gulf in the longer term? And
can the voices of moderate Jews and Muslims penetrate the storm of global extremism?
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Inside
Out - West: Friday February 2, 2007
