Climate Change Awareness In The Eastern Caribbean

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Climate change just got a little more dramatic; literally First Soap Opera to Fight Climate Change in Eastern Caribbean   (3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) NEW YORK, NY - March 18, 2010 – – PCI-Media Impact has joined forces with 11 regional and international partners to fight the effects of climate change in the Eastern Caribbean with a little soap. A little soap opera, that is.   Launching its newest program, My Island – My Community, Media Impact and partners will work with national coalitions in the 9 countries of the Eastern Caribbean to produce the first ever soap opera designed to promote community-based solutions to combating the devastating effects of climate change on small island nations.   Using a unique blend of radio dramas, radio magazines and community action campaigns, entertaining storylines and characters based on the people of the Eastern Caribbean will generate dialogue about the dangers of climate change, the impacts on their local community and, most importantly, generate locally-designed solutions the region’s 600,000 residents can implement to protect their eco-system – one of the top five biodiversity hotspots on the globe.   “By creating a regional communication platform My Island – My Community will not merely raise the awareness of our communities on the effects Climate Change has on their lives, but will call for action and participation from community members to look for and promote at-hand solutions”, stressed Keith Nichols, Head of the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit at the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).   Twice weekly installments of the regional radio drama will play across the Eastern Caribbean. Over 200 episodes will be combined with radio magazines and call-in shows all designed to emphasize the important role of biological diversity in preserving critical habitats, including mangroves and coral reefs. Awareness is designed to lead to action. My Island – My Community will inform residents on how they can get involved and help; how they can support efforts to combat natural disasters; and, how increasing population size continues to threaten this fragile region.   Media Impact is seeking coalitions from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in the My Island – My Community.  Participating organizations will be involved for the 3 years of the program and will learn to implement Entertainment-Education programs, produce radio programs, mobilize citizens and promote sustained change in their communities. For more information on My Community-My Island, please visit www.mediaimpact.org   My Island – My Community is a partnership of Media Impact; the Secretariat of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States(OECS); The Nature Conservancy (TNC); GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by UNDP (GEF SGP); the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA); Panos Caribbean; the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD); BirdLife International; Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; SeaWeb; the St Lucia Folk Research Center; United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and, the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB). Please contact Media Impact if your organization has something to contribute to this important work.   About PCI Media Impact: Media Impactis an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1985 that is dedicated to the rights and empowerment of women, youth, and indigenous peoples; the promotion of education and health, including reproductive health and informed choice; sensitivity to national and local cultures; and the principles put forth in broadly accepted United Nations covenants and resolutions. Media Impact’s programs assist local media groups to produce, air, and sustain programs with advocacy and human rights messages, and facilitate the dissemination of programs as widely as possible, especially to the underserved.   Contact: Sean Southey Program Director PCI Media Impact (347) 276-1354 ssouthey@mediaimpact.org