I have to report the sad news of the death of Abie Nathan, tonight in Tel Aviv, at the age of 81. Abie's name will not be known to many in the UK. Until a couple of years ago, I had barely heard his name, but attending the (Offshore) Radio Day 2006 in Amsterdam, I was able to plug the gaps in my knowledge. Abie was an Israeli campaigner for peace, to such an extent he set up his own offshore radio station, the Voice of Peace, to bring the message of peace to a troubled and divided Middle East. I got to learn more about this man and to respect him for his beliefs and what he stood for and his tenacity in getting across his message for peace. There's a good obituary in the International Herald Tribune.
My parents' lives were ruined because of World War 2 and even growing up in my teens I was aware of the continuing conflicts in the world, that brought misery to those unfortunate people caught up in them. It's ironic that tonight I posted John Lennon's "Imagine" - John gave money to help fund the "Voice of Peace". I now dedicate the track to Abie and I salute a great man, may he rest in peace and may his memory live on in future generations. Sad news but let us be thankful for him and his contribution.
The above photos of Abie Nathan and the "Voice of Peace" ship are reproduced by kind permission of Dr. Martin van der Ven and his website http://www.offshore-radio.de.
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