Internews’ Post

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945. 🌍 The recent UNESCO report revealing that 70% of environmental journalists have faced attacks in the line of duty is deeply concerning. As someone deeply involved in sustainability efforts, this news hits close to home. Environmental journalists play a crucial role in raising awareness about climate change and other environmental issues, providing the public with vital information necessary for informed decision-making. The fact that so many of them face violence and intimidation for simply doing their job is unacceptable. It not only silences their voices but also threatens our access to reliable information about the environmental crisis. Additionally, the surge in online disinformation only compounds the problem, making it even more difficult for journalists to provide accurate reporting. Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, rightly emphasizes the importance of supporting environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms. Without their work, we risk being uninformed about the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. Interested to know about the report in details, have a look: https://lnkd.in/gxkJ7qTB Together let's reaffirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression and protecting journalists worldwide. #WorldPressFreedomDay #EnvironmentalJournalism #Sustainability 🌱

Delighted to see the landmark judgment in the #KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland #climatechange case. I’m deeply honoured to have played a modest advisory role in this case and congratulate those at @Klimaseniorinnen and Greenpeace International that made it all happen. The Court found violations of articles 8 and 6 derived from the state’s failure to take sufficient measures to address the consequences of global warming, and to ensure access to justice. The finding that the NGO had standing in this case will be significant in cases beyond this one. Analysis will surely follow, including reflections on the rejection of the other climate cases by the Court today - principally on grounds of victim status and the requirement to exhaust domestic remedies. But we should recognise both the Swiss case’s significant step forward in #climatejustice and the important role climate litigation has played in focusing on the urgent rights and obligations at stake. Court press release is here: https://lnkd.in/dcRhxexT A useful press pack prepared by the applicants is here: https://lnkd.in/dr_Cw4GX https://lnkd.in/d4xXn25q

Standing Up for Truth: Urgent Support Needed for Environmental: On this World Press Freedom Day, a stark revelation has come to light from UNESCO's latest report: a staggering 70% of environmental journalists have faced attacks due to their critical work on environmental and climate issues. The report, titled "Press and Planet in Danger", unveils a troubling rise in violence, intimidation, and disinformation aimed at those who bring vital environmental stories to our attention. Since 2009, 749 journalists have been targeted, with incidents peaking dramatically in the last five years. Shockingly, of the 44 journalists killed for their environmental reporting, nearly 90% of the cases remain unresolved, underscoring a grave impunity crisis. As we navigate the complexities of climate change and environmental degradation, the courage of journalists who report on these issues is more crucial than ever. Let's stand together this #WorldPressFreedomDay to support and protect our environmental journalists and combat the tide of disinformation. 🌱✊ #EnvironmentalJournalism #PressFreedom #UNESCO #ClimateChange #ClimateMedia

Today is the start of the United Nations' climate conference #cop28.   Environmental journalists live dangerously. Yet bearing the accelerating climate crises in mind, their work has never been more crucial. Climate action needs media freedom!   So, what can be done to support journalists reporting on the climate crisis?   DW Akademie's answer to this question ranges from supporting their education, fostering collaborative cross-border research to providing tools for media's crisis management.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWCgvdxa #climatechange #environment #journalism #media #mediafreedom #freedomofthepress

In the face of climate change, the very essence of life - water, is under threat. But how can we mobilize communities for substantial action? Through the power of trustworthy, reliable information. Environmental journalism plays a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those at the forefront of safeguarding the planet’s water resources. Watch the insightful discussions between Moira Mcdonald, our Environment Program Director, and Frank Sesno from Planet Forward at The George Washington University, on the crucial task of training the environmental journalists of today and tomorrow: https://ow.ly/LB1i50QL2ge #Environment #EnvironmentalJournalism #ClimateChange #Collaboration #Sustainability #Journalism

What a landmark victory in climate litigation. Legally setting precedent by successfully linking human rights to climate impact will hopefully have a resounding effect globally. All done by a group of 2000 determined Swiss women, known as KlimaSeniorinnen and aged over 64. They argued that their government's climate inaction put them at risk of dying during heatwaves. And won! The sentence below is something to think about. What do we want our legacy to be? "It is clear that future generations are likely to bear an increasingly severe burden of the consequences of present failures and omissions to combat climate change" #esg #climatechange

🎙A Press for the Planet: Journalism and the Environment 📰 In 2024, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental scenario. 💻 Awareness of all aspects of the global environmental crisis and its consequences is essential to build democratic societies. Journalistic work is indispensable for this purpose. ✒️Journalists encounter significant challenges in seeking and disseminating information on contemporary issues, such as supply-chains problems, climate migration, extractive industries, illegal mining, pollution, poaching, animal trafficking, deforestation or climate change. Ensuring the visibility of these issues is crucial for promoting peace and democratic values worldwide. Source: UN.org #Soroptimist #soroptimistgbi #soroptimistinternational #soroptimistchaguanas #Soroptimists #WorldPressFreedomDay #WorldPressFreedomDay2024

Today, 5/3/24, is World Press Freedom Day. UNESCO and Chile will host the 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. Their aim is to spread awareness and highlight the fact that the climate crisis not only affects the environment and ecosystems, but also negatively impacts the lives of billions of people worldwide. The work and courage of journalists is crucial to shedding light on what is happening on our planet. #worldpressfreedomday #journalism #climatechange #globalcrisis https://lnkd.in/dvntrZFq

#ClimateVulnerability is one of the most important and challenging issues in 21st century public policy. I’m thrilled to share the news on the publication of our Expert Opinion Report on Developing a Climate Vulnerability Index! This project has been a labor of love, spanning over a year, and I couldn't be prouder of the result. Understanding and addressing climate vulnerability is a complex challenge, and it has been a journey to bring together over 100 experts who generously volunteered their time and expertise. Navigating the diverse perspectives and ensuring everyone's input was incorporated was no small feat, but the dedication of each expert has truly made this report comprehensive and potentially very impactful. If you're looking to dive into the nuances of climate vulnerability, especially in the Israeli context, I invite you to read this report. It distills months of research and collaboration into a comprehensive guide that I believe will inform and inspire action. It’s a good read, I promise! The project was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and supported by Heinrich Böll Stiftung Tel Aviv. The link to the English version of the report can be found in the first comment below.

May 3rd – World Press Freedom Day  ! The day declared by the UN to raise awareness about the importance of Press Freedom, reminding Governments to respect the right to freedom of expression and to honoring the journalists who lost their lives. Press freedom has always been a hot topic in our conversations, and I used to think India had it all sorted. But, man, the reality check hit hard! According to the Reporters Without Borders (RWS) Index ( well , that's the Index they use to measure this ) , India was ranked 136 in 2017 to a shockingly low 161 out of 180 countries. The reasons? Killings of journalists, media restrictions, censorship in Kashmir and others.  A report stated that between 2014 and 2019, 40 journalists were killed and at least 198 severe attacks on journalists were reported,. The numbers are a shocker to be honest ! The writeup was intended to shed light on UNESCO's campaign for this year's conference ( May 2 to 4 in Chile) - their focus to stories related to climate and biodiversity crises. Yhap , These stories need to be told! I mean , all stories deserve to be told, but some tales demand our attention. The stories of turmoil and grief faced by our fellow being as for the Climate issues deserve to be known and shared. While not always picturesque, these narratives can even stir discomfort, and it is only through awareness that change becomes possible. I just read about the Lake in Bolivia – named Lake Poopo – historically the second largest lake covered around 2600sq kms –literally dried up in 2015 – as for the combined efforts from climate change and the sediment built up caused by the local mining industry We're all aware of the impending threat of Maldives facing extinction by 2050 due to climate change. This potential loss serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address global warming. The rising water levels in Jakarta , the floods in Kerala , even the 75 year record breaking rains we faced a week back in UAE - well, we are witnessing the devastating effects of climate change , and it becomes increasingly evident that action must be taken to reduce our carbon footprint and safeguard our planet's future. While the topics of global climate change are crucial and require in-depth discussion, today's focus is on highlighting the indispensable role of journalists. Through their tireless work, courage, and perseverance, journalists provide us with vital insights into what's happening across the planet and thus they take the first step of what’s happening around us. And I believe – that only the Journalists can illuminate the crisis which is very the first step towards solution. ✍ 💪 #Journalism #WorldPressFreedomDay #EnvironmentalJournalism #ClimateAwareness #may3