CHIEF Magistrate Emma Garo has reversed the guilty plea of a defendant, Happy Christmas, to a plea of NOT guilty after the defence lawyer submitted his client acted in “self-defence”.
This is the case of Happy Christmas who was charged for one count of grievous harm in relation to an incident occurred on November 22 2022.
CM Garo in her ruling yesterday emphasizes that from the agreed facts, the submissions put forward by the defence lawyer Tracy Aisa and the failure by the prosecution to dispute the version of events by the prosecution to dispute the version of events as put forward by Ms Aisa, self defence is being raised as a mitigating factor.
“I have a duty to not proceed to sentence, I vacate the guilty plea entered, I enter a not guilty plea. I must hear the evidence, to determine whether or not self-defence, is available to the defendant”, Ms Garo said.
She therefore listed the matter for trial on January 9 to 13 2023 and will be conducted via zoom in which all witnesses will give evidence through zoom from Gizo.
The defence lawyer Tracy Aisa submissions on sentence argued that the complainant challenged the defendant for a fight three times and was armed with weapons.
She argued that the injuries inflicted on the complainant by the defendant, were inflicted as a result of trying to defend him, from being injured by the complainant.
Mr Fanasia submitted that the defendant threw a stone at the complainant, and not dispute the version put forward by Ms Aisa in her submission.
The allegation said that the defendant Christmas had an affair with the wife of the complainant since 2021 and between November 1 and November 22 2022, they ran away and lived at an Island in the Western Province Vasavasara for about two weeks.
On November 22 2022, the complainant went to Vasavasara Island to look for his wife.
The defendant seeing the complainant approaching the tent he lived in on the Island, told the complaint’s wife to run and hide in the nearby bush and then he waited for the complainant.
At that time the complainant approached the defendant armed with a bush knife and a chain, the defendant told the complainant to go back and threw a stone at the complainant, the complainant missed the stone and it was at that time they started fighting each other.
It was further alleged that the complainant was armed with a knife and a chain while the defendant armed with a knife.
They both ran towards each other and swung their knives at each other. The defendant’s knife landed on the complainant’s right deltoid/shoulder.
The defendant again struck the complaint, the knife landed on the right wrist of the complaint. The complainant also sustained injuries to his lower abdomen and lips.
When the defendant saw that the complainant was covered with blood and was helpless, the defendant escaped.
The complaint’s wife heard someone crying in agony came out from where she was hiding and saw it was the complainant, she then assisted him to the clinic.
The matter was then reported to the police in which the defendant is arrested for the offence committed.
Public Prosecutor Paul Fanasia appears for the crown while Tracy Aisa of the Public Solicitor’s represents the defendant.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele
By EDDIE OSIFELO
MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will launch Solomon Islands foreign policy during the course of 2023.
Currently, there is a draft policy on the country’s foreign policy in place.
Minister of MFAET, Jeremiah Manele told the sine die motion in Parliament last week that his Ministry will undertake consultations with all line ministries during the first quarter of 2023.
“It is our hope the final document or policy will be ready before August 2023.
“We intent to have a foreign policy with phase and power to advance Solomon Islands vital and core interests,” he said.
Further to that, Manele said the foreign policy is to guide and boost the full potential of the country.
“And this policy will no doubt take into account the ongoing competition for influence in our region or geo politics,” he said.
Moreover, Manele said the Government sees the geopolitical competition for influence in the region and elsewhere, both as a challenge and opportunity.
“It is not new.
“I don’t think it is matter that is haunting us,” he said.
“I believe it is a matter that we should see, though it is a challenge, but there are also opportunities.
“And Forum leaders have come to see geo politics in the region both as a challenge and as an opportunity,” he added.
Provincial Assembly Hon Speaker Adrian Sinabule Gina
THE election of the Speaker for Western Province has been rescheduled to Tuesday January 3, 2023.
Speaker of Western Province Adrian S Gina made the confirmation on Wednesday December 28.
He said the changes are due to public holidays lining up during this festive season until next week.
Gina said nominations for speaker was opened on Wednesday and will close on Friday – two clear days in accordance to Western Province’s standing orders.
“As I’ve alluded during my opening statement, the changes on the previous timeline was due to public holidays which are beyond our control.
“We cannot do business during public holidays as it against our standing orders,” he explained.
Gina adds that nomination for the premier’s position will follow.
“The Assembly and new Speaker will give two days for nomination of Premier, Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th.
“By Friday 6th election for the Premier’s post will be carried out.
“We anticipate that over the weekend which is on 7th and 8th, the Premier will appoint his executive and by Monday 9th the new government will be announced.
“On the 13th of January 2023, the new Speaker will give a seven days’ notice for the Assembly Meeting,” he said.
Gina said the meeting is purposely to appoint the Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) so that member of the PPAC can immediately look into the revised budget 2022/2023.
He said other seven days’ notice will be issued on 13th for the Assembly to scrutinize the 2022/2023 revised budget.
“It will be a tight timeline considering that we need to approve the Appropriate Budget 2022/2023 before the end of January.
“This is important because we need our province’s business and operations start immediately for the betterment of our province and people,” Gina said.
Island Sun understands that one nomination has been submitted to the Clerk’s office.
The nomination is from one of the camps and it is likely that another nomination will be submitted before the closer of nomination period from the other camp.
Seasonal work applications expected to hit 16k next year
By EDDIE OSIFELO
MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade expects to receive around 16,000 applications when the recruitment for seasonal workers programme opens in first quarter, next year.
Minister of MFAET, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this during his contribution in the sine die motion in Parliament, last week.
He said the last recruitment was on August 2021 and that time received 8000 applications.
“We expect the numbers to double,” he said.
Manele said his ministry will inform the public on the date so that those whose interested can apply.
Currently there are 5,000 Solomon Islanders currently working under the seasonal labour programme in Australia and New Zealand – 4,500 in Australia, 500 in New Zealand.
Furthermore, Manele said the ministry is working in collaboration with other ministries and agencies to reduce the costs of health checks.
“For example, medical clearance is now down from $1500 to $1000,” he said.
He said they will continue to work with other stakeholders to explore the possibility of further reducing the costs of people applying for seasonal work.
“We will also explore ways to reduce banking costs,” he added.
Looking beyond 2023, Manele said they are looking forward to get half of the Pacific labour markets and also explore opportunities beyond the Pacific, especially countries like Canada and United Arab Emirates.
Responding to calls by the Opposition to look at returning workers, Manele said his ministry has heard the call to do more on returning workers and will look on that.
MEMBER of Parliament for Lau/Mbaelelea Augustine Auga Maeue has applauded the national government for continuing to support his constituency.
He said this support continues despite Lau-Mbaelelea being one of the largest constituencies in the country.
“Despite being among the largest constituencies in the Solomon Islands, the national government continues to support it through various development fronts especially in road construction, bridges and other sectors over the years.
“Mr Speaker, I thank the national government for the support to Lau Mbaelelea over the years. The constituency is one of the largest in the country in terms of population and boundary.
“The constituency has over 30,000 people, it comprises those who speaks Lau, Mbaelelea, Baegu and To’obaita dialects. It consists of four electoral wards. Ward six in west Mbaelelea, ward nine bordering North Malaita, ward 10 east Mbaelelea and ward 12 Lau Lagoon.
“Since coming into this government in 2014 one of the flagships is the road development from West Mbaelelea to east Mbaelelea. We are still continuing on despite financial constraint. Since then, there is no financial support received from the government through MID.
“This year 2023 we very lucky our name is in the 2023 budget, we received potion of funding for the roads. I highly commended the MID for what they have offered.”
Auga said the road is half way through and they hope to complete it in 2023.
“I will be committed to ensure that this road must be completed.
“The MID fundings are available to those that meets the requirement before accessing these fundings.
“Mr Speaker I always prepare to continue the same cooperation in 2023,” Auga said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele
By EDDIE OSIFELO
SOLOMON Islands stands ready to support the United States’ efforts to establish her Embassy in Honiara.
This is after USA showed commitment to re-establish its embassy here, after downgraded it to a consulate in 1993.
The 1993 downgrading had left Solomon Islands to rely on the US Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this during his sine die motion speech in Parliament last week.
Apart from that, he said Australia will soon be constructing a bigger Chancery at Lengakiki.
Mr Manele said Australia’s old Chancery will be handed back to his Ministry to meet our host country’s obligations with our multilateral institutions.
International media reports that USA and Australia efforts to boost their presence in Solomon Islands come about due to of China’s presence in the country and influence in the Pacific.
Issues surrounding the failure of government-run Gono Kukufo cattle project at Mao’a, West Kwaio, Malaita will be sorted in early 2023.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Lau/Mbaelelea Constituency, Augustine Auga said this when contributing in Parliament.
Auga highlighted this after MP for West Kwaio Claudius Tei’ifi raised the issue in Parliament.
Whilst commending the MP for West Kwaio for raising the issue, Auga said he understood that there are some issues that need to be resolved but MAL will prioritise it in early 2023.
Auga also called upon the MP for West Kwaio to liaise with MAL in early 2023 to resolve issues for the cattle project.
Auga said the government through MAL is committed to deal with these issues in order to position the farm as a strategic distribution point for Malaita and the rest of Solomon Islands.
“Mr Speaker let me thank my colleague MP for West Kwaio for raising the issues regarding the cattle project, my Ministry (MAL) is prioritizing the cattle program in early 2023.
“I call on the MP for West Kwaio to come forward early 2023 so that my Ministry can sort out the issues regarding Gono Kukufo farm.
“Speaker Sir, I understand that the cattle project has few outstanding issues to resolve. We will be committed to deal with these issues in order to position the farm as a strategic distribution point for Malaita and the rest of Solomon Islands.
“Sir this farm and others across the country like Guadalcanal, Isabel and other farms the basis of our new cattle strategy
“Mr Speaker, I kindly requested my honorable colleagues from West Kwaio to come forward and discuss with my Ministry to sort out this out early 2023.
Meanwhile, Auga also acknowledged MP for Maringe Kokota Dr. Culwick Togamana in pushing for cattle projects for his constituency in 2023. “I understand we have talked about some priorities for some time now, let us do it in 2023,” Auga said.
SOLOMON Islands Government has established a guideline for approval and clearance of military aircrafts and naval vessels entering Solomon Islands airspace and maritime zone.
This comes after the country witnessed an influx of military aircrafts and naval vessels requesting approval to visit our shores.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this during the sine die motion in Parliament.
Mr Manele said this is connected to geo-politics.
“And we need to ensure proper clearance is granted before they enter into our territorial airspace, land and sea.
“This very important to ensure our sovereignty both air, land and sea is respected at all times by any country,” he said.
In August, Solomon Islands put a moratorium on naval ships entering the country after it was late to grant approval to US Coast Guard Cutter (USGC) Oliver Henry and the HMS Spey.
However, the Government denied reports of failing to grant approval, blaming it on delay of paperwork.
Potato vines nicknamed ‘telephone’ which fail to develop into tubers. Such are common in potato gardens on Bellona nowadays. Credit-Irwin Angiki.
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Bellona is the typical tropical paradise island. A high-raised limestone atoll draped in lush green, sitting on the blue ocean and usually described as an island “where milk and honey flow”.
But, little is known that this serenity hides a calamity brought about by climate change – a fertile phosphate-rich land where food no longer grows well, a losing culture of traditional gardening, a stunned people struggling to come to terms with their changing environment.
Daley Tesuatai, a 50-year-old primary school teacher tilts his head skywards, his glazed eyes lost in the distance as he recalls his youth days.
“Gardens on Bellona just don’t produce food as it did before. I remember in the late 70s, the 80s, I would follow my parents to the garden and just be fascinated by the huge tubers that would break through the mound surface.
“We would dig and remove the soil around them carefully, slowly unearthing the huge sweet potato tuber. I would carry a huge one-and-half foot potato tuber and place them where we piled them. The same for yams. I remember yams more than three feet long.”
Suddenly he has a sad look. “Alas, those memories are painful to recall when what we are facing now on Bellona is completely different,” he laments.
Daley Tesuatai, 50, in his latest garden, cleared and ready for digging. Credit- Irwin Angiki
Over the years, root crop harvests have given yields which are getting smaller in size and number.
No matter how hard one works, the harvest will still be bad.
Mr Tesuatai and others old enough to remember the ‘good days’ (general term for the 70s, 80s and 90s in relation to gardening and harvests) share the same story – everything now is different.
Wilson Taungabea, 77, recalls the early 1970s.
“Bellona filled up the ship MV Kangava in the late 70s until it nearly sank with local food. When it arrived in the capital, Honiara, members of public gathered by the wharf and were amazed at the amount of food brought over from Bellona.
“Sadly, that feat is impossible nowadays,” he laments.
Wilson Taungabea, 77, recounting the good old days of Bellona when harvests were in abundance. Credit- Irwin Angiki.
Bellona is 170km south of Solomon Islands’ capital – Honiara.
Together with Rennell island, the largest raised coral atoll in the world, they form the country’s smallest province – Renbel. The Renbel people are Polynesians. Solomon Islands is predominantly Melanesian.
Bellona is a phosphate-rich island.
Its fertility is famously underscored by Danish geographer, Sofus Christiansen in his book ‘Subsistence on Bellona Island (Mungiki)’ (1975): “The highly fertile core land is the light of the eye of every Bellonese, and proudly demonstrated to any visitor.”
Edible plants and crops grew and yielded in abundance. Crop tubers were gigantic by today’s standards. Food was aplenty; it was said – when one harvests, the whole island eats.
Nowadays, the people on Bellona are questioning where this fertility has gone.
A man stands his yam next to him, 1983. Such sized yams are said to be rare nowadays. Credit- Bellona.dk.
Shocking changes, disappearances and migration
Strange never-before occurrences are unfolding in Bellona, which their ancestors never dreamt could ever happen there.
Local foods such as dry coconut, pana, yam, cassava, fish and even water are being brought over from Honiara to feed people on the island.
Bellona’s bats have also disappeared. Locals believe it could be connected to the phenomena that fruit trees on Bellona are no longer bearing fruits.
Days are getting hotter. According to Kristian Dalsgaard’s publication, “Soil profiles of Bellona’ (1967), the island’s average day temperature in the 1960s was 25°C. Nowadays, locals say 40°C is a normal day temperature.
June Paieke, 50, says, “Since garden harvests are always bad, relatives in Honiara send over bags of crops to help supplement rice. This is just shockingly new, unbelievable that I would live to see this in my lifetime.
“Foods which we thought were abundant here, are now being sent over from Honiara. Coconut, even though Bellona is completely covered with coconut trees. Fish, even though Bellona is surrounded by a huge clean, unpolluted ocean,” the mother-of-four shakes her head.
Housewife and farmer, June Paieke, says their struggles are exacerbated by climate change. Credit- Irwin Angiki.
Recent invasion and population boom of the coconut rhinoceros beetle is also making matters worse.
Food security woes has been counted as one of the push-factors for Bellona’s population-drain towards Honiara.
Twenty-two-year-old John, who requests only to be called by his first name, is a high school drop-out and left Bellona three years ago to live with relatives and friends in Honiara.
“It is very difficult to live on Bellona when gardens offer very little to no food. So much hard work using up all my energy that I feel like an old man even though I am young. I came to Honiara because here it is easier in terms of food, and I can also find work to survive.”
He is yet to find employment.
The weather puzzle
One of Bellona’s fundamentals to a successful subsistence way of life is the traditional knowledge on weather patterns, handed down hundreds of years.
But, locals are now accepting that traditional knowledge is helpless against climate change.
Prince Sokaika, 61, is well-versed with traditional knowledge on the island’s weather patterns, seasons for planting and harvesting, for sea-faring, fishing and diving.
“Weather nowadays is just all over the place and very confusing, without any set pattern. A difficult puzzle of sorts.
“For nearly two decades, I have observed sporadic disruptions to known weather patterns. At first, they randomly occurred between long intervals of months to years. Now, the disruptions have increased in frequency to the extent that the traditional weather pattern of Bellona is lost.
“Since last year, Bellona has had this weird weather of rain and sun every day. This has disallowed planting, which begins in May. May used to mark the beginning of the dry season, the planting season. We don’t plant in the wet season.
“When you plant during rain, the potato vines rot. Above soil, the potato leaves are green, but underneath, there is no tubers to harvest.”
For communities near the coast in Bellona’s lower western end, who utilise the sea more often, it is a question of striking the right time to take a dive with the spear-gun, or drag out the canoe with the fishing lines.
Sea level rise is not a direct threat due to the island’s topography (high coastal cliffs).
Nevertheless, disappearing sands, higher swells near the shore, waves breaking closer than before, are all well noted.
Tourism operator Greg Baiabe, 54, blames climate change for what they are experiencing.
“With the abnormal weather, everything we know regarding traditional planting and fishing methods along with their seasons are no longer applicable. The sand has disappeared. Vast shorelines which used to be covered with sand have now turned into rocky ones.
“With deep sea fishing, old techniques and knowledge regarding seasons are no longer applicable. Dry seasons are now no longer dry. Rain all the time. Unexplainable weather variations were begun to be noticed around 2010. Weather patterns changed with sudden unexpected rainy seasons, and sudden unexpected sunny seasons.
“We don’t know how to explain these changes, except to just make a blanket-blame on climate change,” Mr Baiabe mused.
’One Bay on the north side of Bellona has been romanticized in Bellonese songs for its long scenic white sandy beaches and fine waves. Nowadays, the sand has been lost and jagged rocks line the beach. Credit- Kuipa Temenga.
Many abandoning gardening practices
With the hardships faced with bad harvests, more and more people are leaving the practice of gardening and turning to modern, processed foods from the shop.
Rice is replacing potato and yam as Bellona’s staple food. This expensive switch is having a toll on Bellonese – most notably their health and financial capacities.
Several factors are arguably behind this switch, the two common ones being – continuous bad harvests despite more effort thrown towards gardening; or sheer laziness.
A garden being cleared ready for burning. Credit Kuipa Temenga.
Monty, 54, refuses to garden this year.
“I am taking a sabbatical this year from gardening. Maybe next year I’ll plant again. For now, I am resting and depending on relatives and family for food.
“My whole life on Bellona, I’ve been gardening. Before it was good, with good harvests. Now it is frustrating and discouraging. You give all your energy, time and effort, and harvest only a handful of potatoes (or yams, bananas, etc) in the end. Tangani mamate ai (I might be killing myself over nothing for a lost cause)!”
Meanwhile, Milton Pongi, 66, believes the younger generation have lost interest and knowledge in gardening.
“Young people nowadays are not strong enough, or even interested in gardening. Land is plentiful. Land sharing is still one of our strongly practised cultures, so those who do not own land can ask their close kins for land to garden.
“Before, gardens can be found from the backyard all the way up to the rocks (rocky terraces before coastal cliffs). Nowadays, people just don’t garden. Some who do, only make little ones beside their house.”
An expensive switch
It is estimated only around 300 people live on Bellona, mostly children. The vast majority of Bellonese live in Honiara and overseas.
Most Bellonese live below the average income line. Thus, this switch to rice is proving very costly for them.
Mrs Paieke says it is already a struggle to feed her family, pay for children’s education. Problems brought about by climate change make it worse.
“When our gardens produce very little food, we depend on family members in Honiara to send us food such as rice, etc. We also pay with whatever little we have from the retail canteens here, which sell at exorbitant prices to cover their expenses.”
The main transport connecting Bellona and Honiara is the Solomon Airlines’ weekly flights. At a freight rate of SBD$20 per kg, it is burdensome on the wallet of someone sending food to Bellona from Honiara.
Due to poor shipping, the only transport connecting Bellona and Honiara is the two flights per week SolAir service. However, limited space and costly freight charges restrict the amount of food and other items receivable. Credit- Kuipa Temenga.
Rice and non-communicable diseases
Rice is the staple diet on Bellona. Breakfast, lunch and dinner – rice.
In the 90s, potato, due to its ease of planting requirement, became the staple diet. Now, potato supplements rice. Sometimes there is banana, yam, pana and taro.
School teacher, McQueen Tekatoha, 52, explains in the 1980s and 90s rice was treated as a special food and only consumed occasionally.
“Before, rice was only eaten by chiefs and special guests. Families fortunate to own a bag of rice kept it safe for special occasions only. Nowadays, rice is eaten by everyone every day, morning, lunch and evening.
“The dominance of rice in the daily menu began after the year 2000. Slowly at first, eaten once or twice a week. Then, a decade ago, it became almost a daily diet. Now, every meal of the day is rice.”
Newly retired nurse Josephine Angiki, 58, says during her 32 years of service to Bellona, she had noticed the impact of rice (loosely used here to represent modern processed foods from the shop) on people’s health.
The rise of rice consumption correlates with the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCD) on Bellona.
“The switch to rice as main diet has also led to the huge prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases on Bellona.
“Before, such as the 90s, Bellona would register five or less NCD patients per year. Nowadays, each family has at least one NCD patient on Bellona. More and more young people are now being presented with pre-diabetes conditions.”
Food shortage and poor shipping service
Each year, Bellona has a season marked by low food supply. Christiansen (1975) describes the food shortage period – kangakanga – after gardens have been harvested completely, awaiting new gardens to mature.
Over the years kangakanga has slowly increased in frequency. Locals say kangakanga occurs only once a year, rarely twice, and would last a month or two, depending on when gardens would be ready for harvest.
But, in the last 10 years, kangakanga has taken a remarkable twist to depending on ships.
Cheapest means of sending food to Bellona from Honiara is via ship. But, shipping service is very poor. Seen here, early October, the third ship for the year, its cargo-hold heavily laden with food supplies. Credit- Kuipa Temenga.
Single mother Tiare Tamaika, 50, says over the years, each kangakanga has been worse than the last. “This year’s is worse than last year’s.
“Since the garden harvests are always bad nowadays, and a lot of people not gardening anymore, Bellona depends heavily on ships bringing processed and even local food from Honiara. Very expensive way of life.
“Making matters worse, shipping service to Renbel province is very poor. This year only three ships have visited Bellona. This exacerbates the situation in Bellona, with its already bad food security status.”
Solutions going forward for Bellona
All is not lost for Bellona. Few communities and enterprising individuals are piloting ways to adapt to climate change impacts.
Since it is always raining on Bellona, hindering potato growth, some people are switching to banana which grows better in wet weather to complement the staple food – rice.
Pongi Tebai, 43, is promoting the idea of moving away from potato and focus more on the few banana species on Bellona which thrive in wet conditions.
“More than five years of predominantly rainy weather on Bellona is ruining potato for us, so we are focusing on the available banana species which grow well in wet conditions such as the Huti puga [Hopa banana] and several cabbage species which grow fast in wet conditions.
“We cannot change the new weather pattern, so we look at what we can change. Since potato does not grow well in wet conditions, we can no longer rely on potato as our main food crop. We see these banana species as the answer to our food security problem.”
On the political leadership level, Renbel’s member of parliament is silent on this matter, but its provincial government is working towards an ordinance to address climate change.
Premier of Renbel province, Mr Japhet Tuhanuku recognises the seriousness of climate change and its detrimental impacts on Bellona.
“Renbel has no ordinance to address climate change and its impacts on Renbel. However, we are rushing against time to remedy this by pushing towards the formulation of a guiding policy with the ministry of environment (MECDM). From this policy an ordinance could come, be created by 2023.”
A recent UNDP-supported climate change study on Renbel’s capital Tingoa, on Rennell island, is a potential benchmark towards the province’s climate change and food security policy.
Renbel provincial secretary Aubrey Sau’eha says, “This document could be extended and amended to suit Bellona’s context and implemented there.”
The country’s ministry of environment and climate change (MECDM) is also rolling out a major project, Solomon Islands Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (SIIVA), which will be carried out on Bellona most likely in 2023.
Thaddeus Siota, Acting Director of MECDM’s Climate Change Division, says SIIVA will assess Bellona communities holistically, focusing on climate change and non-climate change factors, agriculture, health, education, ecosystem, income security, communication, water and sanitation, etc.
Thaddeus Siota, Acting Director of MECDM’s Climate Change Division, says there is hope for Bellona with government’s SIIVA programme.Credit – Irwin Angiki.
“This will help government accurately address the specific problems each Bellonese community faces.”
Climate change poses a real threat to more than 300 people in Bellona. For now, farmers and villagers like Mr Tesuatai will continue to face the challenges of producing nutritious and enough food while protecting the ecosystems and avoiding crop and food losses.
* Reporting for this story was supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network
LONG time investigative journalist who now a leading trainer at Aarhus Institute of Constructive in Denmark says constructive journalism is a new journalism concept that adds value to traditional journalism.
Orla Borg says Constructive Journalism focus on two questions “now what and to give readers the best obtainable version of the truth”.
Fellows listening to Orla’s presentation
He explains that Constructive journalism is not to replace traditional journalism.
“Journalists must still go on doing straight forward news stories that tell what has happened and how something has went wrong. They must also continuously go on doing investigative stories exposing why something has gone wrong and who holds the responsibility.
“But instead of stopping there and leaving the problems to somebody else – and go hunting for new problems – constructive journalism takes the matter one step further and ask the question, “now what?”.
“In other words, now that people know about the problem, what can we do as a society to address the problem? Has anybody got any suggestion to find a solution? If so, is there any documentation at all that the proposed solution would work?” Borg says.
“Constructive Journalism aims to play an active role in societal debate led by journalists on issues that matters to citizens,” he adds.
Fellows at one of their morning meetings
Borg highlights that Constructive Journalism strives to give nuanced picture of reality without overdoing the focus on all the things that don’t work, the conflict, the negativity and stuffs that create unnecessary fear in society.
“It balanced journalism exposing problems and wrongdoings but also reporting on progress, possibilities and hope when opportunities are there.
“It is not activism and certainly not politics. It is rigorous journalism aimed to be critical, fair, balanced and striving to be objective.
“Constructive Journalism takes the role of journalism in democracy seriously and is based on the idea that journalism is a feedback mechanism to help society self-correct,” he says.
Borg says Constructive Journalism operates under three important pillars and they are the angle, the view and the role.
“The angle focuses on exposing problems but also look for possible solution. The view is strive for the best obtainable version of the truth or see the world in both eyes. The role focuses on the role of journalists to engage and facilitate debates, including people in the communities.
“Constructive Journalism is all about tomorrow, inspiration, curious, facilitator, solutions oriented and best practices on “what now and how”, he says.
Founder and CEO of the Constructive Institute, Ulrik Haagerup shares similar sentiment saying that Constructive journalism is a response to increasing tabloidization, sensationalism and negativity bias of the news media today.
Ulrik Haagerup speaking at the symposium
He says constructive journalism takes journalism’s democratic function seriously, building on the idea that journalism is a feedback mechanism that helps society self-correct.
“Constructive journalism is balanced reporting on both good and the bad in society.
“It is not activism or advocacy and will never attempt to define the best solution to a problem
“It is an approach that aims to provide audiences with a fair, accurate and contextualized picture of the world, without overemphasizing the negative and what is going wrong.
“In other words, Constructive journalism tries to build a platform for better dialog between citizens and the media industry,” Haagerup explains.
Mr Ulrik speaking to business houses and stakeholders on the importance of Constructive Journalism
Constructive Journalism Institute provides fellowship program to interested journalists in Europe and are now expanding its reach to other parts of the world including Africa.
The fellows spend time at the institute researching potential solutions on numbers of issues.
One of the fellow, Jesper Himmelstrup says constructive journalism is a stepping stone to develop ideas that help journalists realized their purpose and role in society.
Himmelstrup made a huge achievement during Denmark’s 2022 election establishing a strategy that enable youths to interact with politician.
Himmelstrup is a veteran journalist and is teaching journalism in one of the institution in Aarhus, Denmark.
Another fellow, Kati Laukkanen says constructive journalism is a new journalism concept with absolute power to change how people looks at news.
She adds that constructive journalism helps her to pursue in-depth understanding when approaching issues.
Laukkanen is a winning documentary journalist from Finland.
