Project Survival Media: Unleashing solutions for survival

Project Survival Media (PSM) is a global youth journalism network dedicated to broadcasting stories of survival and ingenuity in the face of climate change which worked with 93 youth journalists in the lead up to the landmark UN Climate conference in Copenhagen in December of 2009.

PSM has launched a new ambitious media series “Solutions4Survival”. Team India is the 1^st among 15 global teams to be launched under the program which is led by Ekta Jaju. It is a new media series designed to deal with a frightening new reality: the climate crisis is already underway, and our governments are failing to rise to the challenge. As our planet’s natural systems become increasingly unstable, people around the world are looking for ways to cope.  PSM’s aim is to explore and document climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions around the world that could be replicated sustainably.

 Team India aims to document equitable climate change solutions in the areas of renewable energy, women empowerment, sustainable transportation, water, holistic agriculture among many others which were minimally captures in the history of mainstream media.

 Currently the team is focusing on renewable energy as part of their first cycle which runs from August to October2011. The team visited Lakshmikantapur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India where they documented replicable rural solar energy solutions. They interviewed few families who were earlier dependant on kerosene for lighting purposes and how shifted to solar devices transforming their lives for the better.

They came across a very inspiring story of women entrepreneur who makes embroidered sarees. She told them that solar technology has helped increase her income by more than 100%. Earlier she used kerosene lamps after 6pm due to the darkness but solar lights has enables her to work longer thereby increasing her income.

She also added that many times, the kerosene used to burn her sarees which affected her livelihood badly.

Through similar stories and documentaries, PSM aims to mobilize the communities worldwide to fight for climate justice.

PSM want to connect and collaborate with NGOs and other organizations working on climate change issues and ensure our fight for survival remains strong . Ultimately it’s time to show our governments that enough is enough !  They want to show them plight of millions of climate change affected people so that they take immediate actions and commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

 For more exciting updates on climate change and solutions for survival, read our newsletter here, like us on  Facebook and Twitter or subscribing our updates here. If you are interested to collaborate or work with PSM, please email devaniksaha@projectsurvivalmedia.org.