Myanmar has had its share of disasters, both acts of God and that of Man. The worst being on the 2nd  and 3rd of May 2008, when Cyclone Nargis struck with the loss of, at official count, 140,000 lives. Then there was Cyclone Giri and the earthquakes that struck in the Shan States and in central Myanmar. With no shortage of these calamities to write about, it has become necessary to look towards media colleagues so as to equip them with the tools to write about disaster risk reduction.

As such,  UNIC Yangon teamed up with  the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), UNDP, UNESCO and the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group to hold a two day workshop with the theme “Towards a new approach to disasters from consequences to causes".  Funded by UNDP with the support of the humanitarian agency of the European Union (ECHO) and in collaboration with the Myanmar Journalists Association, the seminar covered calamities from a disaster risk reduction (DRR) perspective. 

Journalists learned from UNISDR, that while hazards are natural, disasters are not.  Nature provided the hazards, but humans help to create the disaster.  “Teach us like we are children,” one young Myanmar journalist implored.  “How do you expect us to reach out to trishawmen and bus drivers, who read our articles, and tell them about the need for DRR when we have to understand it ourselves?”

“Journalists have to be biased,” Ramon Tuazon of UNESCO thundered.  “They have to be biased towards the truth!”  As chair of the UN Communications Group and spokesperson of the UN in Myanmar, UNIC’s National Information Officer, Aye Win, has had to deal with media demands whenever there is a crisis in his country.  It was an opportunity for him to share his experiences with the young journalists and to explain the development, humanitarian and political aspects of the UN’s activities in Myanmar.  He also interpreted in the workshop thereby making the interactive workshop truly animated as many ideas were exchanged.

The fifth anniversary of the worst disaster in Myanmar’s history is just over a month away. The young journalists ended the workshop with the realization that their new skills and knowledge could be used to help to reduce the risk of disasters in Myanmar and ultimately, to help save lives.

The UN Information Centre in Manama’s Director traveled to Abu Dhabi, UAE from 06-07 May, to attend the launch of SKY News Arabia Channel.  The Director had the opportunity to meet with the editorial board and the General Manager of SKY News where he discussed ways and means of establishing and enhancing cooperation between the SKY News group and the UN System both in Bahrain and in the region at large and with UNIC Manama in particular.  The Director further gave three separate interviews to SKY News Arabia where he welcomed the launch of the channel, highlighting the importance of the UN role in the region in providing assistance to the governments and people in the Arab region and further stated that the launch will enlarge the landscape of re-enforcing pluralism and independence of media.

The UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2011 was launched in Moscow on 26 July 2011.

Dr. Boris Heifets, professor of economy at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, presented the document to a mixed audience of representatives of the academia, research institutions, government agencies and the media – about 30 people.

The UNIC Moscow Director outlined the Report stressing that, in contrast to global industrial output and trade, which are back to pre-crisis levels, global FDI, according to UNCTAD, will recover to its previous level in 2011.

The floor was given to professor Heifets, who offered a general overview of WIR. He highlighted the Report’s observation that not only production and, recently, consumption shift internationally to transition and developing economies, but these states are growingly important as sources of investment outflows.

Then the floor was opened for discussion – mainly questions and answers, but opinions and comments were as well.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) New Delhi joined forces with Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), a leader in 3D Animation and VFX training, in partnering an animation film festival promoting the Millennium Development Goals which aim to improve the quality of lives of the world’s bottom billion.
 
At a media launch in New Delhi on 8 June, UNIC and MAAC invited applications for the 24FPS international animation awards, which would showcase the best animation & VFX works in Hollywood, Bollywood, gaming and advertising films.
 
The 24FPS is designed to provide a common platform for young animators not only India, but also from countries like China, France, Germany and the US. It gives the young professionals an opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities of the industry and learn from world-class experts of the industry. The award will be a key driver in the promotion of fresh talent in animation in India and has the support of the global animation industry.
 
Speaking at the event Ms. Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, Director, UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan said: “It is appropriate that the MAAC-UNIC partnership is being forged in the ongoing International Year of Youth. This animation contest will raise awareness among young people on the Millennium Development Goals and hopefully lead to a renewing of their interest to get involved in efforts that can yield us a better world. Today, with technological advancements progressing at a rapid pace, such creative ventures, I believe, will go a long way in productively engaging young people. The UN Information Centre is pleased to collaborate with MAAC to deliver very tangible results.”
 
Talking about MAAC’s association with the UN in promoting the Millennium Development Goals, Mr. Ninad Karpe, CEO & MD Aptech Ltd., “The tie-up is a new thrust to achieve the 8 Millennium Development Goals. It will enable contestants to develop content in terms of animated films to promote these development goals which is the theme for inviting entries for the 8th 24FPS awards. We believe that the power of vocational education can empower an individual with the choice of being self-sustained.”

Also, announcing the forthcoming 24FPS Animation Competition website, he added, “The global animation industry is said to breach the $100 billion mark in 2012 and will cross $1 billion in India. Awards like 24FPS celebrate talent and bring to the limelight some of the best work done in this industry. Our academy is providing invaluable training to thousands of students who can enter the work place with new skills that can find them decent jobs.”