Asia-Pacific
broadcasters work on
saving lives in
disasters
Members of the
Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union
(ABU) and experts
from around the
world are meeting in
Indonesia to address
climate change and
reduce death and
destruction from
natural disasters,
at the region’s
first Media Summit
on Climate
Change, ICTs and
Disaster Risk
Reduction.
The summit,
organised by the ABU
and hosted by the
Ministry of
Communications
and Information
Technology of the
Republic of
Indonesia, was
officially opened on
5
June 2014 by the
Vice President of
Indonesia, Dr
Boediono.
He spoke of
preparing for and
covering natural and
man-made disasters
in a
democratic society,
where the citizens
themselves were part
of the reporting and
information
gathering through
social media.
“But this freedom or
non-censored press
comes with greater
responsibility,” he
told
delegates. “It comes
with a constant
reminding of the
public’s birthright
to get
information, not
just information but
the right, correct
and balanced
information.”
More than 200
delegates from 32
countries had also
been welcomed to
Jakarta by
Indonesia’s Minister
of Communication and
Information
Technology, Mr
Tifatul
Sembiring. He also
spoke of the media
in democratic
societies and hoped
that
industry leaders
from 31 of the
region’s
broadcasters to make
use of the
discussions
and take advantage
of the experiences
that will be shared
during this forum to
enrich
their climate change
content and disaster
reporting.
“We hope that all of
you who work in
broadcast media will
use this Media
Summit as
a site for learning
and sharing, even as
we acknowledge the
pressures of global
competition, and
urge broadcast media
to not ignore the
wisdom of local
communities, while
appreciating the
origins of where the
viewing public comes
from.”
In welcoming
delegates and
guests, ABU
Secretary-General Dr
Javad Mottaghi said
the first Media
Summit on Climate
Change, ICTs and
Disaster Risk
Reduction was a
unique response of
broadcasters in the
Asia-Pacific to rise
to the challenge of
climate
change on a day
packed with
symbolism – World
Environment Day.
“It is a crucial day
for humanity because
climate change
challenges are upon
us and
it is crucial for
all of us to
reflect, to consider
and above all to
act,” he said. “The
whole purpose of
this Summit and many
more activities
initiated by the ABU
is to
increase the public
awareness and to
save lives.”
After three days of
hearing reports on
the threats to the
4.2 billion people
living in
the Asia-Pacific –
two-thirds of the
world’s population –
the Summit will
culminate in
a Jakarta Statement
of Commitment,
pledging to do more
to inform their
citizens of
impending disasters
and to help in
recovery.
