role of science journalism in uganda - november 2012

Patrick Luganda,

Media Consultant and Trainer

Chair Network of Climate Journalists Greater Horn of Africa

� Talk, communicate, attitude, create understanding, Priorities

� Enable the 870m people feed themselves

� Knowledge available. Locked up in closets-in laboratories, experiment stations

� Break the jargon and complex nature of science. Make it ordinary, common language, farm talk etc eg school programme

� Poverty , Ignorance and Disease� Population growing out of proportion but requires careful planning and management. Solving other challenges build on these

� Climate change, finance, food insecurity, research facilities, equipment, access to education, health care, competitiveness, innovation etc etc

� There is a strong correlation between Severe Droughts and Significant Economic Decline. Reduction in GDP.

� At the opposite end of the scale, there is a strong correlation between good rain years , economic growth and positive GDP performance

� Ditto for disease in humans, livestock and plant. Famine and death. Hopeless case

� In 1980s and part of 1990s Africa was a gloomy picture.

� Horrible pictures like the ones above made headlines in many sitting rooms around the globe. Journalists and media houses won international awards

� The Sahel region from West Africa to Ethiopia was the theatre of horrendous moving media stories

� The stories have changed from hunger and starvation. Even in the recent Somali, Northern Kenya famine stories are far and between. Death toll receding

� The significance of this is that governments, individuals and communities are paying more attention to media stories and seeking for solutions to the myriad of challenges

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Economic losses related to disasters are increasing

Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

4 11 1424

47

88

160

345

103

495

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

56-65 66-75 76-85 86-95 96-05

Geological

Hydrometeorological

Billions of USD per decade

decade

0.05

2.66

0.17

1.73

0.39

0.65

0.220.25

0.67

0.22

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

56-65 66-75 76-85 86-95 96-05

Geological

Hydrometeorological

Millions of casualties per decade

decade

But we are saving lives

� Africa is demonstrating its capacity to react to climate disasters as shown by Kenya in worst drought in 60yrs

� It was the worst drought but had far less tragedies than those before it

� Government reaction, NGO and international organizations and public response were amazingly organized and well focussed. Basket case changing

� Examples are growing of countries where journalists are making efforts to report on science and technology on a regular basis

� Networks and associations have been formed in various fields at various levels from national, regional to continental.

� Media houses and individuals have made great strides

� This success it should be noted it is not a blanket cover There are still several governments, communities and individuals that have to be reached

� New innovative ways to disseminate this vital information is needed

� More aggressive ways using all forms of communication including new media should be applied

� WE have moved but still have a lot of ground to cover

� In the USA, China and elsewhere bigger challenges have been solved using the power of science minimizing tragedies and loss of life

� Economic loss is also minimized through utilization of effective communication of science

� Climate

� Land

� Water

� Manpower with a youthful population

� Trainable workforce

� Potential to learn to innovate

� Virgin investment opportunities

� Agrarian reform still to happen

� Currently Africa lacks sufficient equipment , research capacity and skilled manpower. Trainable manpower is available

� Africa has not made investments in regional and national programs needed to reap the significant benefits from research and innovation

� Transfer of science technology for agricultural application is still wanting and not prioritized at national budget allocatio

� It has been said over and over again. Africa is lagging behind. We have also heard again and again Africa is a bottomless pit that never fills. Donor support has been substantial over several decades but donor fatigue is evident

� Application of science innovation in a sustained manner can help solve this

Many countries lack the infrastructural, technical, human and institutional capacities to provide high-quality climate services.

� “Africa remains scientifically, economically, politically and militarily weak because its scientific knowledge has not been given the right incubators.” Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel ArapArapArapArap MoiMoiMoiMoi Former Former Former Former President Kenya speaking recently at an President Kenya speaking recently at an President Kenya speaking recently at an President Kenya speaking recently at an innovation conference in innovation conference in innovation conference in innovation conference in KabarakKabarakKabarakKabarak University, University, University, University, Kenya. Kenya. Kenya. Kenya.

� Africa has the POTENTIAL to spring out of this situation of hopelessness and despair. That POTENTIAL must be unlocked for the continent to leap forward

� Communication of science for application by the ordinary small holder farmers is a crucial step towards unlocking this potential

� Science Products cover all aspects of daily lives for the welfare of the ordinary farmer making them useful in a wide range of applications

� The potential return on investments is immense.

� Increased productivity in agriculture, better nutrition and economic welfare

� Food & Nutrition Security

� Income Security

� Health Security

� Social Security

� Political Stability

� National Security

� Environmental Security

� Interstate Security and Self Reliance

� Journalism has changed over the last few decades

� Dormant

� Reactive

� Proactive

� Pre-emptive

� Most developed nations used the agrarian reform as a springboard to development

� Africa gets enough rain, has the right climate and the right recipe for an agrarian reform.

� Application of science information and products combined with other scientific inputs including technologies and better agronomic practices can catalyze an agrarian reformation and socio economic transformation.

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� Water Water Water Water

� Disaster risk Disaster risk Disaster risk Disaster risk reductionreductionreductionreduction

� Health Health Health Health

� Agriculture/fooAgriculture/fooAgriculture/fooAgriculture/food securityd securityd securityd security

The GFCS short termpriority areas

� The application of science information and products that can stimulate socio economic transformation are ready beyond proof of concept

� This means that we do not need to pilot them but disseminate and apply them

� .

� Biotechnology, Biogenetics, Biosciences and other innovations as we will learn in the next couple of days are ready for dissemination and application by the ordinary farmers in the countryside

� The link between science and the farming community will be you-the media. Let the action begin.