VZCZCXRO4383
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #1332 1930444
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110444Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9498
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8480
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2197
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5195
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2740
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4719
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS JAKARTA 001332
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/PD, OES/ETC, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/PCI
COMMERCE FOR NOAA
USAID FOR ANE, EGAT
BANGKOK FOR RDM/A
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SENV TPHY TBIO TRGY ID
SUBJECT: NOAA SCIENCE FELLOW TRAINS INDONESIAN MEDIA
1. Embassy Jakarta's Science Fellow conducted three media training
events in Jakarta in late June to early July. Dr. Mary Baker of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration used the events to
teach reporters, editors, and managers about coral issues in
Indonesia: what is coral, why it is important, what threats to coral
are, and what can be done about threats. Discussions covered wide
ranging topics from the use of seaweed as biofuels to why urban poor
should care about coral. A PowerPoint file, frequently asked
questions, and "things you can do" document was provided in English
and Indonesian, and is available for future trainings.
2. On June 24, Embassy Jakarta arranged for Dr. Baker to train
15-20 reporters at ANTV, a major national television station based
in Jakarta. Reporters were highly interested in whether the
Government of Indonesia (GOI) would take action to address threats,
especially illegal fishing using explosives and cyanide. They
raised thoughtful questions about how to get the public to care
about the environment, given the other more pressing socioeconomic
circumstances in their daily lives.
3. The second training session was on June 27 for five reporters at
Suara Pembaruan, a national daily newspaper. Reporters had many
questions on the relative status of coral health between Indonesia,
the Philippines, and the U.S.A. They were curious about research on
the use of seaweed as a biofuel. They also asked about effects of
earthquakes on coral.
4. The third training session was for seven reporters at Koran
Tempo, another national daily newspaper, on July 1. Reporters
wanted more information about illegal reef fishing using explosives
and cyanide. They discussed reporting techniques, including
evaluating multiple perspectives and methods to identify spurious
research claims.
HUME