Environment watchdog seeks media partnership

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has called on the media to intensify reporting and educating the public against indulging in activities that pose a threat to the environment

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has called on the media to intensify reporting and educating the public against indulging in activities that pose a threat to the environment. Rachael Tushabe, the Director for Environmental Education at REMA, said that there is urgent need to inform ordinary citizens about the dangers of environment destruction."We want people in rural areas to get informed about what it means to destruct the environment, not only to their lives but also to their grand children or the next generation,” she said.Tushabe observed that this will be in line with Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (EESD), saying that the most efficient way is to engage media in the campaign.She made the call on Thursday during a training that attracted journalists from various media organizations including editors.The training aimed at encouraging media organizations to integrate or intensify environment reporting in their work as well as building their capacities.During the training, it was emphasized that journalists should focus on investigative reporting to further root out causes than only focusing on activities that have already been carried out.It was observed that by doing this, it will help in seeking lasting solutions to the problem.  Faustin Munyazikwiye, the Director of Climate Change at REMA, highlighted on the measures put in place to engage the population in protecting the environment."The rate at which developing countries contribute to global warming is low but climate change affects us heavily; meaning that we must do whatever is in our means to mitigate its effect,” he said.He called on collective efforts to prevent any other means of contributing to global warming.