Earth Journalism Awards
Best in global climate journalism awarded in Copenhagen.
BBC World presenter Lyse Doucet hosted the Earth Journalism Awards ceremony at the Danish Radio City Hall on December 14 and began by quoting her co-host, chair of the IPCCC Dr. Rajendra Pachauri:
“If we are to have any hope of reversing the effects of climate change then we have a monumental task of educating the 6 billion people on our planet. The media is critical because just one reporter has the ability to reach thousands, even millions of people."
More than 900 journalists from approximately 150 countries put these words into action when they participated in Internews’ competition for the best reporting on climate change issues. A panel of experts picked the 15 best stories within seven thematic categories and seven regional awards. The fifteenth award, the Global Public Award, was chosen by more than 6000 readers who voted online.
Jaspreet Kindra, journalist at UN’s Integrated Regional Information Networks, won the Climate Change Adaptation Award for her rare story on how climate change effects local fishing communities in Eritrea and the country's use of wind power and water harvesting techniques.
“Eritrea is a very under-reported country and at the same time hard hit by the effects of climate change. Not many journalists can access the country, so I was very fortunate to be able to tell this story,” said Ms. Kindra.
She used her contact with Eritrean environment officials to arrange a trip from her home in South Africa down the Red Sea coast, where she stayed with local fishermen and experienced their daily struggles due to droughts and food shortage.
Her winning story ‘Eritrea: reaping the wind’ is one out of a series of three articles on climate change in Eritrea. It reports the astounding news that the country saved 346,000 US dollars in imported fossil fuel over an eight-month period by using wind energy to feed the national energy grid.
“Eritrea is one of the poorest countries in the world and responsible for only around 0.05 pct. of global greenhouse gas emissions, and yet it’s already doing its part to mitigate climate change,” said Ms Kindra, and continued:
“The winner is the story itself. People have the impression that poor countries are just at COP15 to get money, but they just want the know-how and the technology to do the little they can. Eritrea is really an example of what political will can achieve even with limited resources.”
The award was presented to Ms. Kindra by the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs, who hopes that the award will inspire journalists in developing countries to report on climate change:
“It's very important that the stories of the daily life of the people who are most vulnerable to the effects of cliamte change are being told to us who live in a part of the world where we are less vulnerable," said Ms. Tørnæs, who represented the COP15 Host Country Government at the Awards.
Other prices were presented by Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace, Marina Silva, former Brazilian Minister of Environment, Stefania Prestigiacomo, Italian Minister of Environment, and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and currently President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative.
This new windmill will generate power in Berasole village (a fishing village about 100km north of Assab) – EastAFRO Archive by Jaspreet Kindra
Dear Jaspreet Indra
How wonderful and very honest report you produced and you won the prize. You deserve it. thank you for making to the world realize that Eritrea , a small, new and one of the poorest countries is working very hard and making the un imaginable achievements. Eritrea is viewed by many jopurnalist as poor helpless incontrary to the facts you witnessed for your self and attested it in your report. It is not the lack of access to journalists that left Eritrea unreported. but the journalists who are based in Eritrea many of them and some who visit from time to time are more fucused on defaming eritrea and paint it to what it is not. they hell bend to make it weak by telling the outside world it is poor, helpless, isolated and so on and so on. there tens of journalists in Eritrea who visit it often or who are based permanently. they sip the famouse Asmarino capuchino and gossip with some lazy people.
It is a proof that you visited Eritrea went to remote parts – to the costal comunities and witnessed yourself what is happening there. you are right to report about the wind mills , water harvest. Wind mills are just starting. But water harvest is already making a big difference to the lives of of the farming communities,. Peopel in Eritrea are getting pure drinking water. they have dams, micro dams, water diverging schems all over the country. In eritrea with the recurrent droughts No animal has died so far. No human being is dying of starvation. true there is shoratge.
I am glad that you have pproved to the world and other journalists that in Eritrea it is possible to travel and see the country around as far as the intention reporters are honstly trying to help Eritrea. we do not want to see any reporter journalist to go to Asmara stay in coffe shops and gossip to make a story our of nothing. inorder to defame the country and the people and the government.
You have done a big job. made Eritreas efforts and achievements to be known to the world, saying that Eritrea achieved a lot with a small resources and on its own. you stand tall out of the mass because you reported the real miracles Eritrea has achieved.
Thank you for the outstanding job, for telling the truth. well done Ms Kindra.
It is great. This country of ours has blessed citizens who, as the journalist says have commitment and will.
Another good news from Eritrea. If we beleive the USA and British media, we would have expected unfounded story on Eritrea. But Ms Kindra has ventured out to where few outsiders has been. And this has been their chice hence Eritrea can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 day a week and 365 days of the year is open to every one who wishes as well and seeks the good things for us. However If you are a journalist who sold his soul to generate lies at the expences of poor and a corrupt politician who rejoice on innocent peoples bllod being shed, sorry Eritrea is closed for you for ever.
However, this story will be short lived, before another lie is being dessiminated and manufactured information from a greedy NGO or unprofessional journalists and corrupt politicians who wish all ills againist Eritrea.
It is time for those who see Eritrea as a bad influence to come back to their right senses.
Go Eritrea, NEVER KNEEL DOWN.
Congratulations
What a wonderful work!
I hope they will not put sanction on you.
lol
What a truth and wonderfull report is comming out of the hard working country for the first time. a journalist making truth history of Eritrea is very rare, I just say thank you Ms Kindra for your great job of the reporting the truth image of ERITREA to the world
ERITREA has always achieved remarcable but did not told to the world,,,, the price you won was the right price of your good job.
thank you again
Tewelde…..from Norway.
Thanks for your being neutral- as a journalist. We know that we have plenty of challenges that we have to address. In Eritrea you can witness both the challenges as well as the efforts to solve it. Climate change is one among the others. I add on comment for your future contribution ragarding the issue of climate. That is, the banning of plastics bags in Eritrea. I quite sure that you will win another prize for reporting progress. I live in one of the highly developed countries. But with full of plastic bags.
Hopefully, we expect to work in Eritrea alot.
Thank you very much!
I just wanted to say Excellent report. You gave to the world honestly report about Eritrea you telling as it is. That will make you wonderful person. I hope all joarnlist in the world would be like you. Should tell as it is instead of twisting the words. Telling wrong reports. I appericate what you are doing keep up the great work and im very proud of you as i said i hope all gernalist will be like you. Jaspreet Indra Thank you very very vey much god bless you.
Thank you so much jornalist Jaspeeret Kindra!
Eritrea will show the world more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LESpNLjMUGQ
This is a video dedicated to you, the WORLD..a day before christmass …how we love our country. And we will march in the path of rule of law and hard work by sweat…so follow us if you can!