ROPME Workshops on Environmental Awareness

The main objectives for the workshops were to highlight the important role of the journalists and mass media specialist of ROPME Member States and Environmental Institutions in promoting the environmental awareness. The following Workshops on promoting environmental awareness for Journalists (in Arabic/Farsi) were held according to the ROPME Council Decision:

• Workshop in Arabic was hosted by NFP Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah during 24- 26 January 2009. 47 participants representing the Member States attended the Workshop. Five Speakers made presentations regarding the challenges of climate change in this workshop. Participants were awarded with a Certificate of participation at the closing ceremony. On this occasion, ROPME Prizes were awarded to 5 winners for the year 2008 and each winner received a cash prize of Two Thousand US Dollars.

• In accordance with Decision CM14/13 (iii) of the Council-14, the Workshop was organized in cooperation with NFP-I.R.Iran (in Farsi) during 24-26 August 2008. The promotion of communication networking among journalists and other mass media specialists, environmental education institutes, environmental information centres, NGOs and other stakeholders, was another major objective which was deliberated during the Workshop. The Workshop was attended by representatives of major mass media segments from Tehran and the coastal provinces, as well as the representatives of environmental NGOs environmental institutions, ROPME, NFP-I.R.Iran, various types of information media and those voice is important for environmental protection. During the Closing Ceremony each participant was awarded a ”Certificate of Attendance” and some reminiscent gifts. ROPME Environment Pize for 2008 for Journalism was conferred with a “Certificate” and a cash prize of Two Thousand US Dollars.

• Workshop in Arabic was hosted by NFP-Qatar in Doha during 11-13 November 2007. Twenty Nine participants representing the Member States participated in the Workshop. Three speakers made Presentation regarding the environmental information issues. Participants were awarded a “Certificate of Attendance” and some gifts at the closing.

• Workshop in Farsi was conducted in Tehran, I.R. Iran during 3-5 July 2007. A large number of media personnel participated in the Workshop wherein presentations were made by ROPME, DOE-I.R.Iran and selected experts. The opportunity of the occasion was also made use of for the screening of ROPME documentary on the Winter 2006 Oceanographic Cruise. Participants were awarded with a “Certificate of Attendance” and some gifts at the closing.

• Workshop in Arabic was hosted by NFP-Oman was held in Muscat during 27-29 June 2005 under the auspices of the Chairman of Oman Newspaper Publishers. Another objective of the workshop was to encourage communication networking among journalists, other mass media specialists, environmental education institutions and environmental information centres. 62 participants representing the Member States and Five speakers making presentations regarding the environmental awareness issues, participated. Of these, 50 participants from Oman represented several areas of the Government Agencies. Participants were awarded with a “Certificate of Participants” at the closing ceremony.

• Workshop in Farsi was hosted by NFP-I.R.Iran at Tehran during 27-29 January 2004. 50 participants representing mass media from Tehran and coastal provinces, as well as a number of environmental and educational experts and NGOs attended the Workshop. A brochure in Farsi on the role of ROPME and its programme activities on conservation and protection of the marine environment was prepared in 1800 copies and was widely circulated on the occasion of the EA Workshop. Participants were awarded with a “Certificate of Participants” during the closing ceremony.