Experts will unite to help media fight disasters
Broadcasters, governments, climate scientists, International and local relief agencies as well as NGOs are uniting to support the Asia-Pacific’s major media summit on climate change and disaster risk reduction later this year.
The Media Summit on Climate Change, ICTs and Disaster Risk Reduction will bring together experts from the region and around the world to Jakarta, Indonesia, from 4-6 June 2014.
The first day will comprise practical workshops, followed by two days of the formal summit during which participants will work to evolve better solutions to communicating the messages of climate change and disaster risk reduction for the region’s populations.
ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi says several countries in the region have been severely affected by tsunami, earthquakes and floods over past years.
“We need to put our efforts together to increase public awareness and save lives,” he says.
Mr Freddy H. Tulung, Director General of Information and Public Communication at Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, says: “The MCIT is proud to be hosting the Summit that will address the role of media and ICTs in creating awareness on climate change, disaster risk reduction and other environmental issues, and helping the public contribute to reducing the factors driving climate change.”
And the ABU’s Director of Technology, Dr Amal Punchihewa, says the summit will have very practical benefits for the region.
“We now have the technology to help broadcasters stay on air during disasters and we have the experience and know-how, so it’s time to put in place strategies and concrete plans so that we can help save lives,” he says.
Other partners in the summit include the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, Radio Republik Indonesia, NHK World-Japan and the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC).
More information and online registration is available at the Summit website.