SAMAA TV and WWF Join Together to Strengthen National Accountability for Environmental Conservation
By Carolyn J Dawson
TMCnet Contributor
SAMAA TV and the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan have launched an innovative nation-wide partnership at WWF Pakistan’s Wetlands Centre, which is located in Kakapir Village near Sandspit. The partnership intends to develop public awareness on pressing environment issues, bringing forth the collective and individual responsibility for nurturing the natural resources and associated biodiversity in the country.
SAMAA TV, Pakistan’s leading private satellite news television channel is the first of its kind in Pakistan to create a well-integrated Corporate Social Responsibility program as part of it business activities. SAMAA TV’sCSR ( News – Alert) program carries various initiatives on health, education, environment issues and outreach programs specially focusing on the socio-economic situation in Pakistan. WWF is one of the World’s largest, renowned and recognized conservation organizations and has been working in Pakistan for close to 40 years to conserve nature and ecological processes .WWF Pakistan is physically present in 28 different locations across the Pakistan.
The MoU with SAMAA TV and WWF Pakistan was jointly signed by Dr. Ghulam Akbar, Regional Director WWF and Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA TV. The main platform for this MoU is going to be a creative and information based program called the “Conservation Minute,” which will be a one-minute environment-related message telecast every day to be jointly developed by SAMAA TV and the WWF. Some of the other ideas include airing of documentaries, along with related talk shows and panel discussions during regularly scheduled airtime and on significant International Environmental Days.
As part of a mutual information gathering, news sharing and capacity building component of this alliance, WWF Pakistan will involve SAMAA TV reporters and production teams in exposure visits, assist them with aspects of environmental reporting and nature photography while SAMAA TV will involve WWF staff in their environmental reporting activities and update and involve them in fast-breaking environmental news events.
Referring to the Copenhagen Climate Conference 2009 Mr Jahangir stated that the conference was an example of how strategic resources needed to be put in place and monitored to make the world a better place and remain accountable for our deeds. He also emphasized that they were committed to improve the state of the world by making a difference by not just making the public but also ourselves responsible for nurturing and preserving the environment.
The main aspects of the partnership include five scholarships for public university students for masters in environmental sciences in consultation with scientific research department of WWF Pakistan; launching media campaigns and initiatives like “Say No to Plastic Bags,” “Earth Hour,” “Beach Cleaning,” etc. SAMAA has also decided to keep a dedicated journalist beat on environment so the content developed is based on research and facts co-aligned with international practices from across the world.
Carolyn John is a Contributor to TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.
Edited by Erin Harrison
