IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Sri Lanka 2048

29 May 2008 | News story

Let’s talk about creating the future: A series of TV Debates on creating a more livable island for our present and future generations.

The average Sri Lankan, struggling with the challenges of survival today, has little time to reflect deeply on what happens tomorrow…and the day after. But people from all social, educational and cultural backgrounds share a common dream: they want a better tomorrow for themselves, their children and their country.

IUCN with funding from the Government of Netherlands in partnership with TVE Asia Pacific and MTV Channel (Pvt) Limited is producing a series of 10 TV debates on key sustainable development challenges faced by Sri Lanka, in hope of getting a few such conversations started. These one hour debates in Sinhala and English will be produced on an editorially independent basis, accommodating a broad spectrum of expertise and opinion and will feature the topics: Solid Waste Management, Air Quality, Fisheries Management, Land Based Biodiversity, Freshwater Management, Role of Ecosystems in Disaster Mitigation, Environmental Law, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Management, Environment and Business and Climate Change.

Audience…

This new innovative series of television debates, Sri Lanka 2048, which began airing on Sirasa TV on 22 May 2008, will be broadcast every Thursday at 10.45 pm. Each one hour debate will involve over two dozen persons from academic, civil society, corporate and government backgrounds (as panel and studio audience)­, and it is aimed at all thinking and caring people who yearn for a better future for themselves and their children.

More information on the topics to be discussed at the debates:

1. Sinking in our own waste : 22^nd May 2008

Key cities have long been grappling with how and where to dispose of their municipal waste. Now the problem is spreading to towns and villages too. The problem is not just perishable kitchen or farm waste, but plastic, paper, glass and now,  electronic waste! How can Sri Lanka reduce, reuse and recycle waste? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

2.  Gasp! Help! We can't breathe… : 29^th May 2008

Sri Lanka's air quality has been deteriorating, largely due to vehicle emissions. Asthma, bronchitis and other illnesses are on the rise. What can be done urgently so we can breathe again? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

3.  Where have all the fish gone? : 5^th June 2008

Sri Lanka is surrounded by a vast ocean. But we don't catch enough fish to feed our people. To make matters worse, marine fish stocks are falling worldwide. Why don't we cultivate more fish inland? What more needs to be done to improve fish stocks and the lives of fishermen? Can fisheries be sustainable? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

4.  People or forests? : 12^th June 2008

Sri Lanka's forest cover is now down to 20% of land area and is

under siege by its 20 million people. How can remaining forests provide habitat to hundreds of animal and plant species, many found nowhere else in the world? Since the 'guns and guards' approach to protection isn't working, what can save biodiversity? What new methods and strategies can save species, forests and people? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

5.   Are we running out of clean water? : 19^th June 2008

Sri Lanka receives plenty of rainfall, has over 100 rivers and thousands of traditional irrigation tanks (wewas). Yet, scientists warn of an impending freshwater shortage: we have to take better care of our water and manage it well for farming, households, industry and power generation. What are the choices, costs and their implications? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

6.  Buffered by Nature : 26^th June 2008

We live amidst many hazards, but Nature can buffer us from her own fury – if we know how. Example: mangroves and sand dunes saved some communities from the tsunami. Understanding how ecosystems work and not tampering with Nature's ways can be a powerful strategy for disaster risk reduction. (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

7.  Nature's laws and human laws : 3^rd July 2008

Sri Lanka has close to 100 laws to protect environment and natural resources, but their enforcement is weak leading to many problems. How can law and justice be better instruments for conservation without hampering people's access to resources for their income and survival? (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

8.  Tapping the bounty of the ocean : 10^th July 2008

With an exclusive economic zone more than

3.5 times its land area, Sri Lanka has vast ocean resources that need to be managed well. As two thirds of our coastline recover from the tsunami, and interest in oil exploration grows, we look at our coast and marine biodiversity to find out how to tap the ocean wealth wisely. (In Sinhala, on Sirasa TV)

9.  Doing good and doing well : 17^th July 2008

Businesses have begun to count not just financial

but also the social and environmental bottomlines. With corporate social responsibility (CSR) rising, we look at how Sri Lanka's large, medium and small enterprises can make money and also do good by 'going green': being thrifty with resources and careful with their waste. (In English, on MTV Channel 1)

10.  Race against time : 24^th July 2008

Climate change is no longer a theory; it's already happening. What awaits Sri Lanka - and how best can we adapt to live with extreme weather events, disrupted rainfall, sea level rise and other projected impacts? How can little Sri Lanka play a meaningful role in mitigating further damage to the world's climate? (In English, on MTV Channel 1)