By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK in Honiara
THE media is partly to be blamed if the South Pacific people are not made aware of the climate changes that affect their daily livelihood, Solomon Island environment, conservation and meteorology minister Sir Allan Kemakeza said at Quality Motel in Honiara yesterday.
“You are responsible to ensure that the information about climate change must reach the communities in our scattered islands and that information must be understood and used to take actions that are not detrimental to our environment,” he said to the 20 journalists from the South Pacific at the opening of a regional workshop here.
The workshop had as its theme Preparing for Change: Development Journalism and Social Responsibility .
Sir Allan said the media played an important role in getting across such message on issues that affected people’s lives.
“The message that you portray to the people only becomes useful if it makes them make wise decisions and actions,” he said.
Sir Allan said the lives of the people in the region are threatened by climate change and therefore, the role played by the media is very important .
The media has to do this in a way that is fair, constructive and understandable, he said.
Sir Allan said mediapersonnel are the main players in the socio-economic development of their countries and the region, and this work should continue to be carried out.
“The issue of climate change is being given a lot of global attention because of its imminent threat to human existence and environment,” he said.
According to Sir Allan, climate change is already taking place and human beings are responsible for its causes.
“It is the number one threat to global existence, particularly to the very vulnerable small islands,” he said.
Climate change together with sea level rise is already affecting the Pacific islands, he said.
Sir Allan also said the partnership between the government and the local media is of prime importance.
Therefore, this partnership must be strengthened and enhanced, he added.
He believed this workshop would enhance the role of media in helping to achieve sustainable development in the Pacific Islands with particular emphasis on climate change.