Media asked to highlight global warming | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Media asked to highlight global warming

ISLAMABAD May 14: A three-day workshop for journalists on climate change concluded Thursday with an emphasis to communicate impacts of global warming through the media.

The workshop was a joint venture of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan, Oxfam GB, Stockholm Environment Institute and Artists Project Earth.

During two and a half days of intensive interactive sessions, the workshop facilitators — Dr Gary Haq of the Stockholm Environment Institute; Benjamin Chesterton, a former BBC producer and trainer of journalists; and Jonaid Jillani, an Oxfam GB resource person — provided the participants with an insight into different methods being followed world over to communicate climate change.

The facilitators were assisted by subject experts, Dr Parvaiz Naim, country adviser of KFW, a German Development Bank; Dr Pervaiz Amir of Asianics; Safdar Kakakhel of Sustainable Development Policy Institute and Abdul Qadir Rafiq, a senior programme officer of the UNDP. Through interactive exercises, journalists were educated in different media and modes of communications they could use to bring the issue of climate change to the forefront.

On their part, journalists emphasised recognition of ‘Green Journalism’ and expressed the resolve to form a network of environment journalists.

Benjamin Chesterton, one of the workshop facilitators, informed the audience about proceedings of the workshop and shared his impressions of capabilities and potential of Pakistani journalists. Neva Khan of Oxfam GB in her vote of thanks, underscored the need for making climate change an integral part of environment reporting, and assured Oxfam’s help in capacity building.

The chief guest of the concluding ceremony was Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, who appreciated the efforts of the national media in highlighting environment issues. In the end, he distributed certificates amongst the workshop participants.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/15/2009