September 7, 2015<\/p>\n
The following press release comes from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The release is also available in\u00a0French<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Arabic<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Geneva, Switzerland<\/p>\n UNDP has launched today a global story-telling contest,\u00a0Voices2Paris<\/a>, to contribute to raising public awareness on the negative impacts of climate change as well as on the opportunities and solutions seen in actions by individuals and governments alike across vulnerable developing countries worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to provide young journalists in developing countries a unique opportunity to contribute to the global debate on climate change in the run-up to COP21, while building their capacity and providing recognition for excellence\u201d noted Neil Buhne, UNDP Geneva Director.<\/p>\n UNDP targets journalists 35 years of age and under from developing countries who are already engaged in public writing and want to contribute \u00ad\u2013 locally and internationally \u2013 towards greater public awareness on climate change.<\/p>\n The best stories will be published every day in the immediate run-up to COP21, carrying messages of struggle, opportunity and hope from the climate change frontlines worldwide. The authors of the top two prize-winning stories will be invited to attend and cover the COP21 UN climate summit in Paris this December.<\/p>\n Stories can be submitted by young journalists from developing countries in English, and in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish with an English translation, on a rolling basis until October 11,\u00a02015. Guidelines to participate are available on\u00a0UNDP Geneva website<\/a>.<\/p>\n A team of senior journalists reporting on climate change from top-tier international media outlets, regional media associations, and representatives from major international organizations, will review the entries and mentor the participants.<\/p>\n \u201cThe contest is an excellent initiative to promote investigative and innovative coverage from the young generation of journalists. It is also an opportunity for African journalists to reconfigure state-society relations and contribute to the development of the continent\u201d added Sidi El Moctar Cheiguer, President of the African Network of Environmental Journalists.<\/p>\n Stories, once screened and scored will be published on UNDP\u2019s website and disseminated through partners\u2019 channels to ensure maximum outreach and support the call for an ambitious agenda to be endorsed during the COP21.<\/p>\n APO<\/a>\u00a0(The African Press Organization) and\u00a0Oxfam Hong Kong<\/a>\u00a0are special partners of the contest.<\/p>\n Participating organizations:\u00a0African Network of Environmental Journalists<\/a>,\u00a0Care International<\/a>,\u00a0China Dialogue<\/a>,\u00a0Global Call for Climate Action<\/a>,\u00a0International Center for Journalists<\/a>,\u00a0Global Village of Beijing<\/a>,\u00a0Innovative Green Development Program<\/a>,\u00a0InterNews<\/a>,\u00a0Pacific Islands News Association<\/a>,\u00a0RNTC<\/a>,\u00a0RTCC\/Climate Home<\/a>,\u00a0Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0University of the South Pacific<\/a>.<\/p>\n We also thank the global network of climate vulnerable countries active in the\u00a0Climate Vulnerable Forum<\/a>\u00a0currently chaired by Philippines for its support.<\/p>\n For more information, please contact:<\/p>\n Sarah Bel \u2013 UNDP Communication Specialist<\/p>\n media4climate@undp.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n +41 22 917 8544<\/p>\n Social media:<\/p>\n Hashtag #Voices2Paris<\/p>\n For frequent updates follow also Twitter @UNDPGeneva and @TheCVF<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Follow HAF on Twitter\u00a0@HafFdtn<\/a>\u00a0or like us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Learn more at\u00a0www.highatlasfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n
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