Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão
National non-profit representing Brazilian amateur radio operators.
LABRE, the Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão, is a Brazilian nonprofit that unites amateur radio operators across the country. Recognized by the Ministry of Communications, it acts as Brazil’s national member society in the International Amateur Radio Union. The organization maintains branches in nearly every state, each representing local hams to the central administration. LABRE also backs RENER, a volunteer emergency communications network for radio amateurs.
The group traces its roots to two earlier entities: one founded in São Paulo on February 1, 1931, and another, the Rede Brasileira de Radioamadores, established in Rio de Janeiro on February 13, 1933. Both aimed to represent Brazilian radio amateurs, whose activity had been officially recognized since 1924, with the first known Brazilian ham radio operator dating to 1909. On February 2, 1934, hams from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro agreed to merge the two organizations under the LABRE name, based in Rio de Janeiro. A formal ceremony on October 22, 1934, celebrated the unification, with a founding document preserved at LABRE’s headquarters declaring that “from this day, there would be no more rivalries between Brazilian radio amateurs.”
Today, LABRE’s headquarters are in Brasília. It was one of the sponsors of the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship in Florianópolis.
Quick Facts
- Abbreviation
- LABRE
- Formation
- February 2, 1934
- Purpose
- Advocacy, Education
- Location
- Brasília, Brazil / -15.80539 · -47.83052 · yes
- Region Served
- Brazil
- Language
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Leader Title
- President
- Leader Name
- Marcone Cerqueira, PY6MV
- Affiliations
- International Amateur Radio Union
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
LABRE was originally founded on February 1, 1931, in São Paulo, with the purpose of representing Brazilian radio amateurs, who had been officially recognized in Brazil since November 5, 1924. The first news about radio amateurs in Brazil dates from 1909. On February 13, 1933, the Rede Brasileira de Radioamadores (RBR) was founded in Rio de Janeiro, then the federal capital. Because both organizations shared the same objective of representing Brazilian radio amateurs, hams from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro met on February 2, 1934, and sealed the unification of the two entities under the name LABRE, located in Rio de Janeiro. A ceremony on October 22, 1934, officially celebrated the unification. The act of foundation, preserved at LABRE headquarters, includes the statement that from that day there would be no more rivalries between Brazilian radio amateurs.
LABRE has its headquarters in Brasília-DF and maintains subsidiaries in almost all Brazilian states. Each state sub-office represents radio amateurs from its respective state before the central administration of LABRE. The organization is recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Communications and is the supporting organization for RENER, a voluntary amateur radio emergency communications network. LABRE was one of the sponsoring organizations for the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship held in Florianópolis.
Reader's Guide
LABRE's significance lies in its role as the unified national representative of Brazilian amateur radio operators, a position achieved through the merger of two earlier organizations in 1934. By bringing together radio amateurs from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, LABRE ended rivalries and created a single voice for the hobby in Brazil. Its recognition by the Brazilian Ministry of Communications gives it official standing, and its membership in the International Amateur Radio Union connects Brazilian hams to the global amateur radio community. The organization's support for the Rede Nacional de Emergência de Radioamadores (RENER) underscores its commitment to public service through emergency communications. LABRE's sponsorship of the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship in Florianópolis demonstrates its involvement in international competitive radio events. The network of state-level subsidiaries ensures that local interests are represented within the national structure, while the headquarters in Brasília provides centralized coordination. LABRE's legacy includes fostering cooperation among Brazilian radio amateurs and maintaining a formal organizational framework that has persisted for decades.
Did You Know?
- The organization unified with the Rede Brasileira de Radioamadores on February 2, 1934.
- LABRE supports the Rede Nacional de Emergência de Radioamadores (RENER), a voluntary emergency communications network.
- LABRE was a sponsoring organization for the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship in Florianópolis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Liga de Amadores Brasileiros de Rádio Emissão (LABRE)?
LABRE is a Brazilian nonprofit that serves as the national umbrella organization for amateur radio operators across the country. It is officially recognized by Brazil's Ministry of Communications and acts as the nation's representative body within the International Amateur Radio Union.
When and where was LABRE established?
The organization's roots go back to a group formed in São Paulo on February 1, 1931, which merged with another entity on February 2, 1934. The formal unification ceremony was held on October 22, 1934, and the headquarters now sit in Brasília, the Federal District.
What is LABRE's role in international amateur radio?
As Brazil's member society in the International Amateur Radio Union, LABRE gives Brazilian hams a seat at the global table for governance and competition. In that capacity it also helped sponsor the 2006 World Radiosport Team Championship hosted in Florianópolis.
How does LABRE support emergency communications in Brazil?
The organization actively backs RENER, a volunteer network of amateur radio operators that provides disaster-response communications. Through this partnership LABRE helps coordinate and fund emergency radio operations during natural disasters and other crises.
How is LABRE structured across Brazil?
LABRE operates through a network of state-level branches, with local representation in nearly every Brazilian state. Each branch advocates for its members' interests while reporting to the central administration headquartered in Brasília.
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