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20.10.2009
After the journalist training several media publications on the Baltic Sea eutrophication are brought out in local and regional medias. The training was organised by the Probalt and Media21 in Gdansk in September 2009. The aim of the training was to increase regional awareness about the state of the Baltic Sea by informing and involving local journalists to the process. Underneath you can find a link to each publication. Publications are in different languages, some including a summary.
Eko i My, January 2010 (in Polish)
By Monika Romanska
SUMMARY: Last part of my Baltic Sea article series presents particular projects currently implemented, in terms of Baltic Sea condition, in the most polluted region - along the south-east coast line. Those are: Waste water treatment plants complex in Gdansk (Poland), Treatment of municipal wastewater project in Sankt Petersburg (Russia), Grey seal rescue project in Marine Station in Hel (Poland) and Water quality improvemnt programme in Szczecin (Poland). Most of those water projects are still in progress but expected ecological effects are promising:
crucial reduction of the global load of nutrients to the Baltic Sea on the Polish and Russian coastal area.
Once upone a time Baltic Sea fed and supported people living in the sea region. Now it is a time to pay back for that unlimiting derived goods - to make the efforts to decrease the human pression on the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
Additionally, at the end we listed which washing powders available in Poland are phosphate-free and which aren't.
By Sandra BALTRUKA
Mainly, the article overviews the main reasons of why the Baltic Sea isdying and suggests what should be done in order to prevent this. Eachparagraph concisely draws attention to the main problems of the Sea:eutrofication, excess of nutrients, algae bloom, oxygen free bottomsthat exceeds the size of Denmark, overfishing (example of cod) andintense traffic.
The second part of the article points out what can be done. It suggeststhat even though there are many different views on how these problemsshould be tackled all real defenders of the Baltic Sea agrees thatpeople should change their thinking and realize that we can't just usethe BS, we must also give it back. Moreover, it draws attention to thefact the the political will to solve these problems is too weak at themoment.
This article ends with the following idea: This week there is a ClimateChange conference in Copenhagen were the issues of the Baltic sea aregoing to be discussed at the highest level. But will it change ourthinking about the Baltic Sea?
By Monika Romanska
Strategy fot the Baltic Sea (PDF) SUMMARY: This is the second article from the three piece series about the condition of the Baltic Sea. After the presentation of the current state of Baltic Sea in the first article, the seoond one brings up the queston: Why the Baltic Sea is not adequately protected, since there is many international Baltic Sea agreements and conventions. In the first paragraph I listed most important documents, conventions and directives related to the Baltic Sea. I presented the opinion of the non governmental organisations on how protection of the Baltic Sea looks this days. Then I described the international activities - Helcom and currently approoved EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Last paragraphs inform about some independent activities taken to improve the status of the Balti Sea: John Nurminen Foundation, Bonus Plus Initiative, Baltic Sea Action Group. At the end I asked why the international journalists workshops have been organized in Poland and answer quotying The Finnish Institute of International Affairs: Poland is the biggest source of nutrients and pollutions in the Baltic Sea. In Poland we need to choose two ways - first to inform public opinion to arise the awareness about Baltis Sea state, and second - political partners of Poland should bring up the Baltic Sea inquiry in political discussions and debates as our own problem which needs to be solved. As an insertion I added the information from Polish branch of Helcom what exactly Poland implemented from the Baltic Sea Action Plan till now and what left to do.
By Nora DRIKE
The New Nation , Bangladesh, 2.11.2009 (in English)
By Monowara BEGUM MONI
By Tania NOVIKOVA
Our country has no border with the Baltic sea and we are not a marine country, but we make our output in the ecology of the Baltic sea. We are one of 14 countries in the Baltic region. What does it mean? The rivers, which have their source in our country, flow into the Baltic sea. In these rivers live a rare species of fish. So, the quality of the water in our rivers influence the lives and quantity of these fish. From the pollution of some Belarusians rivers it affects the pollution of Baltic water.
Baltic sea eutrophication is our joint problem
What is the eutrophication? Why is dangerous for us all? Could we slow down this process?
How can the Belarusians prevent the eutrophication?
What have we to do? The most cheap and clear way is to stop the pollution. What does the pollution consist of? Is it possible to stop it?
Phosphates and nitrates
How to stop the phosphate and nitrate pollution? What do the European countries do to stop it? Will it be expensive? Where are the opportunities and money?
The text was prepared with assistance of Media21 and workshop in Gdansk.
Eko i My, November 2009 (in Polish)
By Monika ROMANSKA
The first part starts from the introduction of some facts – Baltic Sea is surrounded by nine countries, which derive profits from it, but in fact there is no governmental body, which would take care about Baltic Sea interests. Baltic Sea is known as the most polluted sea on our planet.
Then I present hydrographical description of our sea and the consequences of it – due to inland location there is very narrow connection between Baltic Sea and salted ocean waters. The effect of it is that Baltic is a brackish sea, which suffer the lack of oxygen in bottom parts. Rare inflows bring not only salted water but also fresh oxygen. Then I explain hypoxia and eutrophication processes, and pollution role in it, as it is the most important problem to keep Baltic Sea alive. I presen some engineering propositions how to bring more oxygen to the bottom parts of the sea.
The separate chapter is about the agricultural impact on the Baltic Sea condition. 40 percent of nitrogen and 50 percent of phosphorus comes from agriculture in the entire Baltic Sea catchment area. What we can do to decrease it? There is some proposals, like according to the principle „public money for the public goods”, supporting farmers in protection of water, climate, biodiversity, wetland restoration etc. Big animal farms should be treated like an industry and according to rule „polluters pay” they should incur the costs of their pollutions. Farmers should more focus on protection of their nearest lake or river and taking the responsibility of it than on Baltic sea – think globally but work locally.
The last chapter is a short analysis of the political and social attitude to the protection of the Baltic Sea in the baltic region. We can notice that the larger polluters like Poland and Russia transfer their loads to the northern countries. This creates unfair asymmetry: polluters don't see the negative effects of eutrophication, but from the other hand they will have to carry the costs of the big investments to reduce their nutrients. There is some proposals to balance it: e.g. to implement the international nutrient trading system.
Next articles will describe the legal institutions and international bodies, the EU strategy and some of the initiatives which were taken in Poland to reduce the Baltic Sea pollution.
Vikerraadio, 26.10.2009 (Estonian public radio in Estonian)
By Sven PAULUS
The topic of the Baltic Sea is discussed in the beginning of the show after the first song. I have three interviews here: first is Sture Hansson from Stockholm University talking about Baltic sea problems - eutrophication etc.
Second interview is with Randel Kreitsberg who did his MA in Tartu University about oil spill impact on fish. Third speaker is Daniel Conley from Lund University (who we met in Gdansk) and he is talking about hypoxia in the Baltic sea.
Biznes i Ekologia, 81/2009 (in Polish)
By Henryk OLEKSY
Biznes i Ekologia, 79/2009 (in Polish)
By Aleksandra WOJTOWICZ
By Lena BÄCKMAN
Latvijas Avize, 21.10.2009 (in Latvian)
By Sarmite PUJENA
Dawatfreemedia, 19.10.2009 (in Pashto)
By Tariq BAZGE
Srodowisko, 15.10.2009 (in Polish)
By Monika ROMANSKA
Polskie Radio Szczecin, 3.10.2009 (in Polish)
Radio interview with Monika ROMANSKA about the Baltic Sea eutrophication based on the information of journalist training.
The entire programme can be found here
Copenhagen Voice, 29.9.2009 (in English)
By Michael DE LAINE
Video interviews taken by Michael de Laine in Gdansk during the journalist training:
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