Commitment to climate fight

Ambassador of France to Fiji Sujiro Seam takes a selfie with ePOP participants at USP in Suva last week. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF

By ELIZABETH OSIFELO

THE French Government is committed to the fight against climate change and hopes programs such as the eParticipatory Observers Project (ePOP) will shed light on the impact of this global phenomenon in the Pacific region.

Ambassador of France to Fiji Sujiro Seam made the assurance during a visit to the Journalism newsroom at The University of the South Pacific in Suva last Thursday to observe the progress made at the conclusion of an ePOP workshop, which focused on producing short videos about the perceptions and impact of climate and environmental changes on Pacific Island populations.

France Info journalist Julien Pain assists USP marine science student Tyler-Rae Chung with her video project at the Journalism newsroom last week. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF

Ambassador of France to Fiji Sujiro Seam speaks to USP student journalist and ePOP participant, Elizabeth Osifelo, about climate change. Picture: WANSOLWARA STAFF

Mr Seam said ePOP targeted young people and gave them an opportunity to share stories on climate change and environmental issues taking place in their communities.

“I am very happy that we have this program because it not only is beneficial for the youths but it also focuses on climate change,” he said.

“Since COP21 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, France tries to stay at the forefront of this fight against climate change.

“With the ePOP training, there are some good tools for the participants’ personal development and their professional career.

“I think it is important today to master these techniques and knowhow to tell a story in different formats.”

Mr Seam said it was also only appropriate for him as Ambassador of France in Suva to support the initiative which was designed and led by French actors.

Ten students from USP, including a handful of journalism students, were part of the four-day intensive training ePOP workshop which enabled them to maximise their reach through video storytelling and develop a brand narrative across multiple social media platforms.

One of the training facilitators was Julien Pain, the former editor-in-chief of France 24’s Observers, a citizen journalism project he set up in 2007. Prior to that, Pain was head of the new media desk at Reporters Without Borders.

ePOP is a concept imagined by RFI Planète Radio (France Media Monde Group) and developed with the IRD (National French Research institute for Sustainable Development), in collaboration with many partners including the PIDF (Pacific Island Development Forum), L’Office des postes et télécommunications (OPT) in New Caledonia, the Fondation Expéditions Tara, la Fondation de France , la Fondation des Alliances françaises et l’Organisation internationale de la francophonie (OIF).

*Elizabeth Osifelo is a final year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific.