Ok now the 2008 US elections are over and the dust is settling here domestically but the world continues to move and shake. Russia continues make headlines with renewed alliances planned with Cuba and a deeper alliance with Venezuela both countries not being on the best of terms with the United States. Standing up to US interest abroad continues to be a theme from Moscow carried on by current President Dmitry Medvedev and his closely aligned political ally Vladimir Putin. It should be very interesting to see what is said daily on The Voice of Russia and Radio Havana Cuba as events unfold. China already has and continues to have more impact on the US and world economies so monitoring China Radio International and CCTV-9 television are probably good bets to keep up with financial issues directly effecting our pocket books here at home. Do not dismiss broadcast from those we may not see eye to eye with totally as propaganda because knowing what the other guy is saying is more than half the battle in determining how to shape our own message and theme as we take our side to the world.

Although on the shortwave radio side broadcast times and frequencies have been cut back for many mainstream broadcasters lets not forget the vast amount of technology we have at our disposal in our day. Internet streaming, pod-casting, and satellite radio have a vast amount of broadcasting from abroad we can monitor so we do not totally have to get our news from the sensationalism often portrayed by the ratings driven US media. Radio Australia, the BBC, CBC in Canada, and yes the Voice of America still are wonderful sources of the latest news and breaking events around the world that often slip under the top stories reported on our domestic networks here at home. So what ever your monitoring method grab your favorite beverage and listen to what the world is saying because whether we like it or not we are in a global system that directly effects legislation and policies here at home that influence our way of life.