The IARU Region 1 VHF/UHF/MW Newsletter Editon 52 is now published and available for download.

Another African pirate net is active on 14002.1 kHz, daily at various times, often in the mornings and the evenings. Male persons are talking in an unknown language, sometimes mentioning "Maputo". Possibly Mozambique. Please observe and report to DK2OM, Coordinator IARUMS Region 1.

Saturday 22 August 2009, the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur "Pfadimuur" in Forch, Switzerland, established a radio contact with ESA astronaut Frank DeWinne, ON1DWN, on board the International Space Station. The international year of astronomy inspired a few scout guides from Maur near Zrich, Switzerland, to create a special scout event, the Astrocamp 2009, where participants from 5 to 20 years shall learn about the following three topics which are scout qualifications: astronomy and space technology, communication technologies, journalism and public relation.

Therefore they planned 3 Saturdays, where about 100 active Pfadi Muur scouts have the possibility to visit one of the above named workshops. The event\'s highlight was the ARISS contact this morning, where children got the opportunity to talk to an astronaut. There will be more workshops later on such as a planet route, a telescope made out of a drain (astronomy) or a broadcasting local UKW radio station (journalism) as well as a self-constructed aircraft radio receiver in a second event open for public on September 19. The Swiss astronomy expert Bruno Stanek will hold a speech and together with people of a local observatory the scouts will have a look into the sky.

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at the Girl and Boy Scouts of Maur: Pfadimuur, Forch, Switzerland on Saturday 22 August. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:20 UTC, which is 10:20 CEST. 

The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and HB9TSO. The contact should be audible over parts of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.800 MHz FM downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The ARISS contact will be distributed on EchoLink *AMSAT* and *JK1ZRW* conference servers, as well as on IRLP Discovery Channel 9010.

The international year of astronomy inspired a few scout guides from Maur near Zürich, Switzerland to create a special scout event, the Astrocamp 2009, where participants from 5 to 20 years shall learn about the following three topics which are scout qualifications: astronomy and space technology, communication technologies, journalism and public relations.

SOYUZ RADIOLYUBITELEI ROSSII (SRR) has founded a rating of radioamateurs – juniors, whose age does not exceed 19 years. The rating is the competition lasting within year. The junior in every contest receives certain quantity of points for performance. Points for different contests then develop. Following the results of a year the best young radiosportsman and the best team of young sportsmen of Russia is defined. According to preliminary data 50 young radio fans will participate in a rating.

The Amateur Radio Society of India ( ARSI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Red Cross Society, Bangalore and an amateur radio station with the call sign VU2ZH has been inaugurated on Wednesday October 12, 2009 by the Governor of Karnataka State.

The station will be available as a club station in Bangalore for amateurs, and also serve as an emergency communications station. The station is accessible 24x7 and will also have emergency power. It has HF and VHF capability. Efforts are being made to replicate this elsewhere in India

(Reported by: Gopal Madhavan VU2GMN - ARSI President)