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Abidjan/Nairobi, 30 September 2010- The Jury of the Ozone Africa Media award has honored two African journalists for the high quality of their articles on Ozone.
The co-winners, Busani Bafana and Gerald Tenywa were announced today at the closing ceremony of the 14th Joint Meeting of the Ozone Officers Network of English and French-speaking Africa, organized by UNEP Regional OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Busani Bafana’s article “Come 2010, time for Ozone Depleting Substances to go” tells the story of the phase out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in Africa with continent ready to close its borders to imports of ODS while opening up to the rest of the world to celebrate the World Football Cup. It is a story of a challenge to be met, as the African continent is ready to score goals against ODS.
Gerald Tenywa’s story “Ban on Old Fridges Starts Biting as Nema Swoops in”, focuses on the second life of archaic fridges in Kampala, which have helped so many people, particularly women who chill items cheaply in the kiosks but now have to face the ban imposed on old fridges. The dealers in old fridges are afraid of losing their business since the Uganda Revenue Authority working under the advice of the National Environment Management Authority is now implementing the ban.
The jury also awarded a special prize to Malawian Frazer Potani’s entry “When climate change is witchcraft”, for the originality of his story, which illustrate how people’s ignorance can lead to drama and death in rural communities, confronted with the dire effects of climate variability and change.
UNEP Regional Director for Africa, Mounkaila Goumandakoye said: “The story of the Montreal Protocol is not just about numbers and statistics. The Montreal Protocol is above all a story with a human face, showing how the consequences of a global environmental issue can affect us and how we as individuals can be part of the solution. We are very happy that African journalists have really used this special opportunity to tell this story and we would like to encourage all categories of journalists to participate in future editions.”
Each of the co-winners will receive a cash prize of US$ 1,000 and will be invited in Kampala, Uganda, host of the 22th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol in November 2010 to receive their awards.
Notes to editors:
The Ozone Africa Media Awards, the Ozone Africa Media Awards is designed to elevate the standards of excellence in Environmental/scientific reporting in print, audio and audiovisual media, focusing on Ozone issues and honors individuals for their outstanding achievement. The jury may however choose not to award prizes if applications do not meet the minimum standards defined by the jury for its selection.
For this first edition, the jury, consisting of representatives from UNEP, other implementing agencies, Ozone, and Media experts decided not to award prizes in Radio, and audiovisual media.
The 14th Joint Meeting of the Ozone Officers Network of English and French-speaking Africa, was organized to facilitate compliance in meeting and sustaining total phase out requirements in various Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) as set by the Montreal Protocol.
Specifically, the meeting facilitated exchange of experiences among ODS Officers in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol activities including follow up on the progress on the implementation of various Montreal Protocol projects; addressed specific non-compliance situations in view of the 2010 phase out target; provided guidance for HPMP preparation and implementation; addressed methyl bromide phase-out in the region and finalized the Ozone Africa Media Award 2010 competition process.
The meeting was attended by Ozone Officers from all countries in Africa, Ozone Secretariat, Multilateral Fund Secretariat, Implementing and Bi-lateral Agencies and Environmental Journalists. In the African Region, the implementing agencies of the Multilateral Fund include UNIDO, UNDP as well as bilateral partners – US-EPA, France and Germany.
The Regional Network of National Ozone Units (NOUs) under the Multilateral Fund is a path-breaking mechanism for North-South and South-South cooperation, as intended in the Bali Strategic Plan. Networking provides a platform for NOUs from African Countries to exchange experiences, develop their skills and tap the expertise of their peers in other countries. Conducted at the regional level, the Networking activity builds the Ozone Officers' skills for implementing and managing their national ODS phase-out activities.
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