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Opposition and eventual demise

 

Although a wealth of archival materials in both written and recorded formats was produced by the combined efforts of the Four Freedoms Federation, its work was constantly opposed by governmental entities and this eventually led to total demise of the group as a federation. The John Lilburne Institute became independent of the Four Freedoms Federation and it now specializes in academic research projects.

Footnote regarding some of the key personnel: Genie Baskir who acted as representative before the Texas Education Agency; media spokesperson, co-anchor of 4FTN and 4FWS programs and chief negotiator in the purchase of the former Radio Newyork International pirate radio ship; is now headmistress of a small proprietary school in Virginia. John England who was commentator on the 4FWS documentary programs, is now retired. George Gimarc whose Rock and Roll Alternative radio program was distributed internationally by 4FWS to promote the cause of free radio, is now a published author and broadcasting authority on music formats and popular music history. Dr. Eric Gilder is a US citizen from Texas; published author, and as of this date, currently teaching governmental and media studies in Romania and South Korea, who also serves as academic advisor to the John Lilburne Institute. Dr. Gilder is also assisting in the reestablishment of Cuttington University College 120 miles north of Monrovia in Liberia, West Africa, following its destruction during the civil wars. (Update: 2015: Dr. Gilder is Professor of Communication and Development Studies at The Papua New Guinea ý University of Technology and a University Professor and Fellow (on leave) of the "C. Peter Magrath" Center at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania.)

Publications and recordings

 

Partial list of publications and recordings produced by the Four Freedoms Federation:

  • An introduction to the Four Freedoms Federation. Publication, Four Freedoms Federation. 1986.
  • Report on School Textbooks. Official presentation to Texas Education Agency by Dr. Lawrence Ellwell and Genie Baskir (representing Four Freedoms Federation.) Austin, Texas. July, 1986.
  • First Wave of the Four Freedoms, concert. – Poster referencing event in Arlington, Texas. Hosted by George Gimarc of KZEW on September 12, 1986.
  • Fight for Free Radio. – Special 90 minutes production by 4FWS about the history of copyrights and the development of broadcasting in the UK and USA. Distributed in conjunction with concert on September 12, 1986.
  • Don't take freedom for granted. – Publication, John Lilburne Research Institute. 1987.
  • Carolana Mystery. The Lost Page of Texas Heritage (in conjunction with Dr. Kenneth Brown, University of Houston), by England, John. – Publication with recording, John Lilburne Research Institute. 1988.
  • Radio Tiananmen – half-page advertising to promote proposed offshore station – Dallas Chinese Times, Dallas, Texas. August, 1989.

Broadcasts

 

Partial list of radio and television programmes produced by 4FWS for radio and 4FTN for television, between 1985 and 1990:

  • Don Pierson Story – exclusive two-part interview about the creation of 'Wonderful Radio London' and 'Swinging Radio England' recorded and produced in March 1985. Excerpts of this interview were used as part of a commercially released CD together with other research material as the basis for a book about 'Wonderful Radio London'. (The book actually acknowledges this chain of custody.)
  • Big Brother is Watching You! (Four Freedoms and Four Ministries, George Orwell's novel Nineteen-Eighty-Four.) – 45 minutes program produced by 4FWS and broadcast as part of a continuing series on a number of international free radio transmitters. March 12, 1987.
  • Carolana Mystery. – 30 minutes television program produced by 4FTN and featuring an on location interview with Dr. Kenneth Brown at the alleged Carolana site in Houston. Repeatedly aired on various Texas cable stations. 1988.
  • Charter 88 – broadcast series produced by 4FWS and aired in the UK and Europe by various transmitters. 1989.
  • John Lilburne Story – research in both the UK and USA and written and produced by 4FWS for broadcast in four parts in the UK during 1989. The series covered the Star Chamber trial of John Lilburne in 1637 with its relationship to the development of the U.S. Fifth Amendment and the 1966 Miranda Warning. It also covered both his later trials and his fight to introduce a written constitution into England during the rule of Oliver Cromwell. Also included was a description of the genealogical line between John Lilburne and Thomas Jefferson and resulting legacy in the USA.
  • Radio Tiananmen. – 30 minutes radio program produced by 4FWS and aired by KNTU-FM, Denton, Texas. September, 1989.

References

 

  • The History of Pirate Radio in Britain and the end of BBC monopoly in radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom, by Gilder, Eric. – Thesis, North Texas State University. Denton, Texas, 1982.
  • Radio programming. – The Fifth Estate, Broadcasting. February 20, 1984.
  • Dallas to put Radio London back on the air, by Liner, Elaine. Major feature, Dallas Observer. May 31 – June 13, 1984.
  • Pirate stations ship music to London, by Kaye, Roger. – Feature, The San Juan Star. July 8, 1984.
  • Piratensender aus Dallas: "Radio London" versucht sein Comeback. – Feature, Hörfunk Aktuell, Hörzu, Hamburg, Germany. August 3, 1984.
  • Pastor helps launch European religious station, by Johnson, Kay. – Arlington Daily News. December 7, 1984.
  • US cash backs invasion of radio pirates, by Rayment, Tim. – The Sunday Times, London, England. February 10, 1985.
  • Pirate waves. Texans plan North Sea despite European limits on radio, by Barrett, William P. – Front page feature, Dallas Times Herald. July 8, 1985.
  • English radio pirates resist government regulation, by Hogue, Larry. – Feature (about the 4FWS concert and Four Freedoms Federation), The Shorthorn (University of Texas at Arlington). September 12, 1986.
  • Book critics hopes lawsuit gets attention (lawsuit brought by Genie Baskir representing Four Freedoms Federation), by Crowe, Deborah. Arlington Citizen-Journal. April 5, 1987.
  • Federation tries to change history, by Hogue, Larry. – Feature, The Shorthorn (University of Texas at Arlington). May 1, 1987.
  • Activist disputes Magna Carta's significance, by Torbett, Bob. – Feature article, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, Virginia. August 26, 1987.
  • The Frame of Reference to individualism and collectivism, by England, John and Baskir, Genie. Multi-part work in 11 volumes first published by StarText, Fort Worth, Texas in 1990, and then as a limited edition book by the John Lilburne Research Institute, Washington, D.C. 1991.
  • Who is John Lilburne? Textbooks don't tell us, by England. John – Feature article, StarText Ink, Fort Worth, Texas. January, 1992.

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