Asia Pacific Region

Young Asia Television, B.O.I. Project of Worldview Global Media

"Nature Calls" is a weekly environmental TV magazine, focussing on the state of the global environment, and particularly the Asian perspective. The programme addresses many of the issues associated with environmental preservation. It has been on air for the last four years.

Each programme focuses on a particular environmental issue, often addressed by the United Nations, and illustrates the topic by way of examples from different countries in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The programme tries to promote ideas of sustainable development and conservation by highlighting NGO or State initiatives, as well as successful models or practices. We are also interested in talking about development conflicts from the point of view of people and the environment.

The major aim of the programme is to present a clear and concise analysis of current and ongoing environmental issues to a target audience of youth and young adults – aged 16 to 26.

Capacity Building.

• "Nature Calls" is currently being broadcast in 15 countries, and number of different languages, apart from English. The programme has a reach of over 35 million viewers.

• As a part of its educational goals, "Nature Calls" is often shown at school and university conferences, and is even broadcast as a schools programme in several countries.

• In recognition of the work being done to promote a greater level of environmental awareness amongst young people, the producers of ‘Nature Calls" have been invited to participate in several Youth Environmental Conferences and Workshops, initiated by the UNEP.

"Nature Calls" is unique in that it is the only programme of its kind that focuses on environmental issues with an Asian perspective. It has not been possible to reach the widest possible audiences. Therefore we have recently expanded our horizons to incorporate a more global perspective.

Sharmini Boyle
Series Producer, "Nature Calls"
Young Asia Television
8 Kinross Avenue
Colombo 4
Sri Lanka
Tel. (+94) 1 596286; Fax: (+94) 1 501740
Email: sharb@pan.lk or yatv@sri.lanka.net
Webpage: www.youngasiatv.com