Nelly Bassily | June 22, 2009
This week, we offer a special welcome to two new subscribers from Cameroon, Colince Nguelo, who is currently studying at the Central European University, and Charles Tchatchoua, from the NGO GIC 2DAC; as well as new subscriber Adri Dibaba Gnassengbe from Direction Nationale des Radios Rurales du Togo.
This week’s news section features a story from the Republic of the Congo. The Congolese government had been recruiting South African commercial farmers to lease arable land. But now the deal is on hold. Could this be part of a “de facto moratorium on land deals in Africa” suggested in this article by Reuters? (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L9584860.htm)
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are not able to offer you the next original news story in our Land Grab Series, this week. In its place, we are re-running an important story originally published in August 2008. This story visits a Burkinabe community that feels biodiesel production is an opportunity too good to miss – but is taking steps to pursue the opportunity in a way that does not threaten local food security.
This week’s issue also offers many resources on environmental issues. Check out the Upcoming Events section for information on a climate change reporting competition, and the Radio Resource section for a guide to reporting on losses of biodiversity. In the Farm Radio Action section, you’ll find links to the newest scripts package, which also focuses on environmental issues such as renewable energy and community interactions with wildlife.
Happy reading!
-The Farm Radio Weekly Team