A group of experts has tasked journalists on reporting the spate of environmental activities threatening the existence of mankind as a way of exposing the imminent danger and providing awareness on the menace.
The experts spoke at a media training on environmental reporting for journalists organised by a Non Governmental Organisation, Emeraldscape Environmental Development (EMEND), in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
In her welcome address, co-founder of EMEND, Mrs Adefunke Anoma, said the training was organised to pass a strong message through the media to the public on the danger of unchecked environmental activities.
Also speaking on behalf of her partner, Olayinka Balogun (Esq), Anoma lamented that air pollution and other uncoordinated actions by humans while exploring nature have greatly affected life on earth and it is high time the media deployed all information dissemination tools in educating all and sundry.
”The need for massive education, sensitisation and creation of awareness cannot be overemphasised. Man’s survival has been widely held to be dependent on nature. The media is the motor in the engine of survival.
”Without huge proportional outblowing of climate crisis, environmental issues and the equivalent solutions and actions, all geared towards saving mother nature, man is doomed and irreversibly so,” Anoma warned.
While delivering a lecture titled ‘Who will speak for the environment?’, Opeyemi Gbadegesin of the Department of Public Law, University of Ibadan, explained that the ideal environment is explored and controlled for maximum gain to man, noting that activities such as open defecation, indiscriminate burning of refuse, destruction of wildlife areas, littering and others have already impeded environmental health.
He therefore tasked participant on educating the public on the danger of these activities so as to protect everything around mankind, adding that the environment would become a problem in later years if not managed.
In his lecture titled ‘Man, Media, Nature: A critical collaboration’, the lead trainer, Dr Williams Adebayo from Ekiti State University, maintained that nature is already overwhelmed by the problems created by man, a situation calling for more decisive measures from the government and the media.
He stated that there are environmental laws made by the government to secure the environment and it has the absolute power to enforce them, if it wishes.
Adebayo said the media occupies a special position in the society as an agent that influences the behaviour and practices of humans through correct information, but journalists ought to understand the terminologies, laws and policies on environmental issues before demystifying same to the public.
He therefore urged participants to use the training to garner knowledge and explore other avenues in understanding environmental issues for effective reportage.
In their remarks, Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Iyabo Fakunle-Okiemien and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, said the government has made efforts in combating illegal activities of loggers and other defaulters, adding that the media remains the best group to inform the populace about the danger of uncontrolled environmental practices.