June 23, 2011 - A NEW group, African Federation of Environmental
Journalists (AFEJ) has emerged as continental organisation of the
International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ). As a
continental group for journalists and media workers in Africa AFEJ
will be involved in trade union development and journalists' welfare
and ethical journalism in the media industry in Africa.

AkanimoReports gathered on Thursday that AFEJ is coming after online
consultations among the African environmental journalists particularly
for those who are the members of the International Federation of
Environmental Journalists (IFEJ). It aims to unite African affiliates
of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists to better
meet challenges faced by the people of Africa across the continent.

The prominent Liberian journalist, Jacob Eagan Bright, 43 was elected
the chairperson of the federation and other directors are vice
chairperson Ama Kudom-Agyemang from Ghana and coordinator of west
Africa region, Dalia Abdel-Salam from Egypt coordinator of North
Africa, Alain Gashaka from Burundi coordinator of East and Central
Africa region, Daud Abdi Daud from Somalia Secretary General and
George Kebaso from Kenya communications officer. And they discussed
deeply how it could do to help them cover environmental issues.

The new federation will spearhead a move seeking to expand and improve
the media coverage of the key continental issues, including climate
change, the environment, human rights, migration, peace-keeping and
security, public health, trade, corporate social responsibility. And
its main office will be Liberia but will have also three branches one
in East and central Africa, the second one in Southern Africa and the
third one in North Africa.

Environmental problems constitute one of the key challenges on the
African continent in the 21st century.

Focus is gradually shifting from politics, wars, and poverty to
environmental issues. This is mainly the result of the development of
new technologies, which has generated an increase in solid mineral
mining, oil exploration, an increase in the number of plants and
factories, and the overall upsurge in the application of manufacturing
tools.

The quality and richness of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine
environments have been polluted and subsequently declined.

It is therefore safe to say that new developments in industry and
manufacturing are the root causes of environmental degradation over
the past three decades.

This has been exacerbated by rapid population growth, urbanization,
energy consumption, overgrazing, over-cultivation of lands, and
industrial advancements engendered by globalization.

Environmental problems in Africa are therefore partly anthropogenic or
human-induced though not necessarily by Africans), which is the result
of the effect of chemical and human waste on all forms of ecological
and human life But natural causes cannot be overlooked and consist of:

*Earthquakes (the Great Rift Valley is geologically active and
particularly susceptible to this phenomenon); hot springs and active
volcanoes are also found to the extreme east of the Rift Valley;
erosion; deforestation; desertification; drought; and water shortages
resulting from the dry season.

ENDS

Many thanks,

Daud
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For more information please don’t hesitate to contact us;

Somali Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (SOMESHA)
Km4 Area, Tahlil-warsame Building,
Hodon district,
Mogadishu-Somalia
Tel: +252-1-5531-800 / +2525-989886
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sommesha.org
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SOMESHA, is a member of the International Federation of Environmental
Journalists (IFEJ), Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for
Disaster Reduction United Religions Initiative (URI) and the Horn of
Africa Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture
(HAMESHAN).