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Many
moons ago, while reporting on a series of controversial
mining projects in Central India, I had to ditch my
rented car and driver on the side of a road and walk
several miles through a forest to a tribal village.
Several villagers there had been killed in the conflict
over the mines, allegedly by state actors.
When
I returned to the roadside late that night, both driver
and car were gone: seized by local
authorities. |
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Maureen
at work in rural India. Photo by Ian
Umeda. |
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How
the driver and I ultimately escaped unharmed is a long
story, but I was reminded of the incident when I read a
new United Nations report, Press and Planet in
Danger, which highlights what a “perilous field”
environmental journalism has become. Around the world,
environmental journalists are maligned, threatened, or
worse, at a time when our work is essential. In
the face of such threats, we need your
support.
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The
need for accurate, independent journalism that fosters
public understanding of the diverse environmental
challenges we face grows more critical by the day. Yet,
the persecution of journalists who do this important
work is on the rise worldwide.
Key
stats from the UN Report
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Between
2009 and 2023, about 70 percent of
environmental journalists were "attacked, threatened,
or pressured" on issues ranging from mining
and deforestation, to climate protests and land
grabs.
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Over
300 attacks occurred in just the past five
years — a huge increase from the preceding
five-year period.
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Forty-four
journalists have been killed in 15 countries,
and at least 24 survived murder attempts.
The
report also mentions that the bulk of this critical
environmental journalism is not being undertaken by big
media outfits, but by small outlets and independent
reporters.
In
other words, by publications like the Journal
and the journalists we work with.
Our
small, but scrappy, publication has never shied away
from exposing the abuses of the powerful and celebrating
the power of individuals to make a difference in a world
increasingly controlled by multinational corporations
and undemocratic institutions.
Earth
Island Journal is driven by mission, not money, but
producing stories that center voices that might
otherwise go unheard and speak truth to power does
require financial backing. We get that backing from you,
not corporations. You help us retain our independence
and moral clarity.
I
hope you will continue to have our back this year and
make a tax-deductible gift to our Green Journalism Fund
today. |
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Thank
you for your continuing support, |
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