Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In the arid, salt-stung landscapes of Shyamnagar Union in Satkhira, Bangladesh, a quiet tragedy unfolds daily. Women trek across miles of degraded coastal land, not just to reach a reservoir, but to navigate the crumbling remnants of a way of life. This is the front line of a climate catastrophe that cannot be found on a balance sheet.
While global headlines focus on the rising costs of climate-ravaged infrastructure—the destroyed bridges, the submerged roads, the ruined crops—a more insidious, "non-economic" crisis is quietly eroding the soul of these communities.
The Invisible Toll
What happens when a sacred burial ground is claimed by the sea? How do you account for the loss of oral traditions when displacement tears a community apart? How do you calculate the price of dignity when repetitive climate shocks strip a person of their identity and social network?
These are the Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD) impacts of climate change. They are the devastating human and cultural realities that fall outside the narrow, sterile lens of international finance.
Despite being recognized in global climate summits, NELD remains the "forgotten" cousin of the climate crisis. The UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, established at COP27, is already struggling; currently, it covers less than 1% of the estimated $395 billion in annual needs for developing countries. More critically, activists argue that the fund, in its current architecture, is fundamentally ill-equipped to even recognize—let alone compensate—for the intangible losses that are permanently altering the map of human existence in the Bay of Bengal.
A Call to Arms for Journalists
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) believes that what is not measured is often ignored, and what is not written about is rarely solved. To bridge this critical gap, EJN is launching an urgent, hands-on workshop in Satkhira, Bangladesh, from October 27-29, 2026.
This is not a conference; it is a tactical mission for journalists ready to challenge the status quo.
The three-day workshop will pull back the curtain on how to report on the "uncountable." It will equip participants with the tools to tell the stories of those on the margins—the women, the Indigenous communities, and the vulnerable populations who are the first to experience these losses but the last to be heard by policymakers.
Why You Should Apply
EJN is seeking journalists—print, online, radio, and television—who are ready to do more than just report the weather. They are looking for those who want to investigate the intersection of climate change and human rights.
Field-Level Insight: The workshop includes an immersive field trip to coastal locations where these realities are visible.
Skill-Building: Learn how to utilize resources like EJN’s Beyond What Money Usually Measures tipsheet and the Uncounted webinar series to sharpen your investigative edge.
Inclusive Voices: EJN is prioritizing applicants from coastal areas, as well as women, early- to mid-career professionals, LGBTQIA+ journalists, and members of Dalit and Indigenous communities.
The organizers will cover travel, accommodation, and meals for those selected, ensuring that the best voices, not just the best-funded ones, are heard.
Your Assignment: The Deadline Approaches
The deadline to submit your application is September 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Asia/Dhaka time).
To be eligible, you must:
Have experience reporting on environmental or climate issues.
Be fluent in English and Bangla.
Commit to all three days of the workshop.
Provide two published samples of your work.
A Note on Integrity: EJN encourages applicants to write in their own voice. While tools like AI can assist with grammar or translation, the heartbeat of the application—the ideas and the passion—must come from you. Any application deemed to be predominantly AI-generated will be disqualified.
Are you ready to tell the story of what the world refuses to count?
The land in Satkhira is changing, and the silence surrounding its transformation is deafening. It is time for journalism to step up and ensure these losses are not just recorded, but understood.
Apply Now through the Earth Journalism Network website.
(If you are an existing user, check your login credentials early. If you are new, take the time to register and prepare your application materials today.)
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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