Abuja (Federal Ministry of Environment Report) – As Nigeria begins the countdown to World Environment Day, the Minister of Environment, Laurentia Mallam has asked journalists to give media space to issues of environmental sustainability, urging them to attend and participate in all the events lined-up to mark the World Environment Day.
In her address to journalists in a press conference in Abuja to mark the beginning of a week-long activity for the celebration, the Minister espoused her expectation that the media will transmit to the public, critical issues of environmental concern that will come up during the celebration to Nigerians, the world over.
She also tasked journalists to apply the instrumentality of media reportage to help in shaping the national agenda on the environment in the coming months and years. She further explained that the theme of the conference for 2014: “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level” hopes to bring journalists to play a critical role in drawing national and global attention to small issues such as bush burning, use of generators, candles, lanterns and vehicular emissions, all of which contribute to global warning.
The Minister also promised to engage media interaction in order to extend fraternal greetings to stakeholders in the sector, particularly environmentalist and environmental activists around the world. She noted that it is the responsibility of the media to enlighten the people and let them know that the world is indivisible as far as issues of the environment are concerned; adding that it is necessary for people to think globally and act locally.
While calling for mass participation in the celebration, Laurentia Mallam said that she wants Nigerians to deploy and make extensive use of the social media to create the desired awareness on critical challenges to the environment, especially the need to refrain from actions and activities that will or are likely to lead to ozone layer depletion, melting of the arctic region, increase in rainfall and rising sea levels.
“The World Environment Day is a day set aside by the United Nations Organization for the entire world to reflect on and draw global attention to issues on the environment. The World Environment Day is celebrated on the 5th of June every year. This year’s celebration will be marked on Thursday, 5th of June 2014,” she announced.
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