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Armenian Mountainous Village Shamut Gets Information from Space

When Garnik, a peasant of Shamut, appears in the center of the village, people surround him immediately to know the latest news and events in Armenia. Garnik himself learns about this news when talking with his Yerevan relatives by cell-phone. Garnik has willy-nilly become an alternative source of information for the peasants, as there is no television broadcasting in the village, and Armenian TV channels (H1, Shant, Armenia) could be watched only by those, who can afford to set up a satellite antenna on the roofs of their houses.

However, according to the peasants, besides news on TV they would like to receive alternative information. That is why any kind of information, told by Garnik, becomes a topic for hot discussions. Armenian village Shamut is one of the highest villages of Lori region at 1500 meters high above sea level.

There is one road only to the village, which stretches after Shamut and ends in Atan village of Lori region (1700 meters high). Shamut and several other villages of Lori are deprived of television because of the complexity of geological feature and land form, as the main broadcastings aired from the TV towers are inaccessible here.

When Garnik, a peasant of Shamut, appears in the center of the village, people surround him immediately to know the latest news and events in Armenia. Garnik himself learns about this news when talking with his Yerevan relatives by cell-phone. Garnik has willy-nilly become an alternative source of information for the peasants, as there is no television broadcasting in the village, and Armenian TV channels (H1, Shant, Armenia) could be watched only by those, who can afford to set up a satellite antenna on the roofs of their houses.

However, according to the peasants, besides news on TV they would like to receive alternative information. That is why any kind of information, told by Garnik, becomes a topic for hot discussions. Armenian village Shamut is one of the highest villages of Lori region at 1500 meters high above sea level.

There is one road only to the village, which stretches after Shamut and ends in Atan village of Lori region (1700 meters high). Shamut and several other villages of Lori are deprived of television because of the complexity of geological feature and land form, as the main broadcastings aired from the TV towers are inaccessible here.

Shamut receives print media only once, maximum twice per month together with pensions and allowances through postal service. But these are mostly week-old newspapers. “Newspapers are brought a few days later, but we are pleased even they reach us,” says Vazgen from Shamut. According to rural customs the “new” papers immediately after being looked through are used for other purposes. “We wrap the bread and cheese, take to pasture to have a break,” says Hrant.

According to RA Law “On Television and Radio” the state should create necessary conditions and take measures to receive public television and radio (at least one radio and one television channels) program throughout entire country. Technical part of the programs’ dissemination is provided by the “Television and Radio Broadcasting Network of Armenia” CJSC.

Financed from the state budget the company sets up a common antenna for villages like Shamut and provides Public TV broadcast in the area with a small broadcaster. “However the peasants can add both Armenian and Russian channels. But we are responsible for Public TV and Radio only,” says the company’s executive director Ashot Simonyan.

Today there are 90 villages in Armenia, where due to this method only programs broadcasted by Public TV and Radio of Armenia are accessed. And according to Ashot Simonyan there is no a place in Armenia deprived of that opportunity. Quite another thing is claimed by the peasants of Shamut. They say that satellite antennas on the roofs of their houses have been obtained by their own initiative.

“Whoever has a satellite antenna on his roof, he has information. Who hasn’t, he has nothing,” says one of the peasants. According to population census conducted in 2001 only 300 people were registered in Shamut, whereas the peasants insist that a lot of people have abandoned the village because of idleness. This year 7 pupils will graduate from 8-year school of the village. Instead it will have 3 first form pupils. During recent years there were double-assembled classes. Since last year a thrice-assembled one has been functioning, which means three different aged pupils studying there.

“Lack of information is one of the reasons of migration in the village,” say the peasants.