http://webgate.poptel.org.uk/zadie
The Caribbean Environmental Reporters' Network (CERN).
is a group of journalists working closely with scientists to accurately
translate their data to provide responsible coverage of development
and environmental issues. CERN produces a radio magazine
programme which is distributed by CANA Radio and broadcast
throughout the Caribbean region. The organisation works closely with
The Caribbean Institute of Mass Communication
(CARIMAC) - Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies
and Panos Washington to provide training and the Caribbean
News Agency (CANA) wire service which carries our Greenwire.
CERN's pool of reporters can be found at major environmental and
development conferences around the world.
CERN was in Rio, at the SIDS conference and the EcoTourism
Conference in the Bahamas. We work closely with Greenpeace and
other local and international bodies to promote development and
environmental issues. CERN believes that development can happen
alongside environmental protection. Our work, however depends on
the goodwill of the environmentally conscious. Our reporters are
unpaid and sometimes get small stipends to cover expenses when we
are sponsored .
CERN was set up to simplify the scientific jargon
scientists and environmentalists use, so ordinary people can
understand the effect of what they consider everyday
activities, on the environment. One of CERN's primary
objectives is to inform and empower people by sharing the
tonnes on information which passes the desk of scientists,
governments and journalists everyday, but which never gets
filtered down to those who can make the difference.
The following environmental problems were identified
across the Caribbean region:
i. The impact of the human population of the biodiversity of the
region which has far reaching effects;
ii. The rate of deforestation in the mountainous and forest regions of
the islands affects rainfall patterns and water supplies;
iii The rate at which wetlands are being destroyed;
iv. The re-institution of bird shooting which is said to be defeating
efforts of conservation;
v. The decline and extinction of certain species of animals across the
region: the sea cow, coney and iguana in Jamaica; the mountain
chicken in Dominica among others;
vi. The decline of fisheries in the region
vii. The effects of pesticides and other chemicals and the continued
importation of banned agricultural pesticides into the region;
viii. The effects of agricultural practises on the environment
ix. The continued pollution of coastal waters by sewage and other
effluent;
x. Development at the expense of the environment: the growth of
tourism at the expense of the environment; construction to facilitate
the trade or housing which contributes to illegal sand mining and the
destruction of beaches and wetlands and eventually corals;
xi. The Waste trade
xii. The rediscovery of the iguana; the fight to save the Giant
Swallowtail Butterfly; the endangered species of the region including
the Jamaican yellow and black billed parrots, the colourful parrots
(Macaws ) of South America, the Jamaican coney, the manatee, yellow
tail, the tree fern among other flora and fauna.
xiii. The rising levels of poverty among countries in the region and
the accompanying degradation of the environment, as people search
for a livelihood.
CERN's newswire is available to media organisations via the
CANA/Reuters newslink. Please look at Newsline, a list of news
and features collected from various sources around the world. Also on
Newsline are stories and features from the membership of CERN. If
you want to learn more or become a part of the organisation.
For more information, contact:
Zadie Neufville
ZADIE@good.co.uk
ph: +44 161 231 1724
fax: +44 161 231 0043
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