(pictures taken by temmy temmy our reporter from iringa)

we all know that Climate Change is now considered one of the most serious global threats to sustainable development, with diverse impact already vivid on the environment, human health, food security, human settlements, economic activities, natural resources and physical infra structure.

To empower broadcasters in addressing this issue, which is attributed either directly or indirectly to human activity that alters atmospheric composition, a special training was provided in Dar Es Salaam by the Thomson Foundation, to a group of eighteen Radio Broadcasters from various parts ofTanzania, from 21-25 November 2011. It was organized by the British High Commission. I represented both, Mtwara Community Radio, and the Journalists Environment and HIV/Aids Network, (JEAN-media) a non-profit service that is a driving force behind the community Radio.

Way forward after this would be raising awareness to community on Climate Change and it’s impacts to livelihoods especially through Radio Broadcasts, and specifically targeted to policy and decision makers, so as to enhance adaptation through financial resources from developed countries, to meet the incremental costs. (National Adaptation Plan of Action) This is in accordance to theTanzania status of negotiations and outstanding issues forDurban.(COP 17) by the Vice Presidents Office.

Activists like The Civil Society Forum established in 2009, pointed out in their presentation ‘Climate Change And Politics,’ some challenges hindering the way forward in following up of Adaptation Plans as being among others, lack of transparency and accountability of leaders especially in the African Region, of course Tanzania inclusive. This is a task which we jointly need to accomplish, before we are able to use funding opportunities available, such as foreign sources of funds like the general budget support from a group of donors like International Multilateral Fund (UNFCCC, GEF, AF) Green Climate Fund, (GCF) Special Climate Change Fund, (SCCF) and Loans and Grants from the International and Regional Financial Institutions.

Creating Community Awareness

What should be understood is that it’s the Green House Effect that makes life on earth possible, and that without Natural Green House Gases in the atmosphere, the Average Temperature of the earth would be 30 degrees Celsius lower. Actually, after the earth has used the heat it needs, surplus heat needs to be reflected back to the atmosphere, to prevent global warming. But due to human activities, we have been producing more and more heat, trapping gases into the atmosphere, raising the average global temperature, and thereby over the years, causing Climate Change!

Because of the magnitude of the the problem already created such as increased impacts including droughts, death of animals due to droughts, water shortage, floods, (the Bibi Tititi /Morogoro road,) sea level rise, (Maziwa Island) degraded sea walls, (Pangani) and degraded sea walls along Ocean Road, we all need to do everything possible to tackle this global problem, looking for alternative means, making Climate Change ‘Live,’ not theoretical, since no matter where we generate the heat on earth, the dangerous effect will be felt globally.

Human activities resulting to smoke and production of Carbon Dioxide; (Cooking by charcoal and fire wood as well as clearing waste by burning) contributes to blockage of heat from leaving the atmosphere, and hence warming the earth. There is need to stop the average temperature of the earth (which is 0.5 degrees centigrade world wide and 1.0 degrees centigrade in Sub Saharan Africa.) at 2degrees centigrade, since it’s already too late to stop it any earlier, due to the speed involved. Option? Adaptation!

Creating awareness On Community Adaptation.

Since of the many challenges surrounding Climate Change issue, is the low community awareness, and above all it is not easy to change people’s behavior over night, Community Radio must strive to raise awareness through Dramatic, lively, interesting and outstanding Radio Programmes to interest the people. Special techniques must be applied specifically Community participation involving farmers and women all the way, for joint successful solutions, such as switching to the use of bio-gas for cooking, etc. We must involve farmers because bear one understands the weather as well as they do, given the opportunity to contribute. Creative Radio Programmes must be about ‘showing’ not telling, recreating tension, as Radio is always about Drama!

Besides that, we must all come up with ideas from a special interesting angle in our areas, be it on issues of gender, women (who are most affected by Climate Change as their men leave home in search of work in towns) and children. After ideas are looked into, we may combine them into a special magazine programme comprised of information on a particular topic from where everybody resides. We could get this into news by Social media before or after broadcasting it at our stations.

For example, we pick a topic on the REDD Initiative. (Reduced Emissions for Deforestation andForestDegradation.) so as to reduce Carbon Dioxide produced by cutting of trees and other hazards related de forestation in our areas. Everyone will choose an angle and create his story. The best idea will be used by all of us, to produce interviews, or reports with community, environmental activists, metrological experts, United Nations Agencies, Vice Presidents office etc based on our findings. After that, we somehow put together a unique mixture of information in a unique Climate Change magazine programme!

so far the local media has not played a satisfactory role in addressing this issue either towards COP 17 or after. which makes this very sad

jean media is on the move following up on the environmental hazards through our reporters ho attended this training.