Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Servicio de Información Ambiental (SIA) - Latin America

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This environmental information distribution service was launched in 2000 by Departamento de Museología, Divulgación Científica & Educación Ambiental - Fundacion de Historia Natural Felix de Azara. Based in Argentina, Servicio de Información Ambiental (SIA) involves providing topic-specific information packages to people throughout Latin America at no cost. The goal is to inform all citizens (even those in rural areas) about environmental issues and associated rights, eventually helping to build a community-based network equipped to advocate for increased awareness and change with regard to environmental practices. Additional aims include reinforcing cultural identity, increasing bio-diversity, and helping communities that lack technology or money conduct research on specific topics that may improve their quality of life.
Communication Strategies

Information is provided in Spanish via email (throughout Latin America) or via post (to organisations and individuals in Argentina only, due to cost). A small portion (5%) of information is provided in English. This information is based on facts, and does not advocate one path of action over another. Sources of information are made known, and are available to the public. Schools, NGOs, governmental organisations, university professionals, and the media are among those who contact SIA to request information on various environmental issues. SIA responds by providing information about the following:

  • problems that arise from the mismanagement of natural resources (air, water and soil contamination, deforestation, poaching, illegal commerce of species, etc). New solutions to problems found among communities are shared - throughout the country or the region - thus allowing for exchanges about common problems, possible solutions, and successes.
  • the planet's environmental problems, as well as local conflicts in the region.
  • natural protected areas (private and governmental) and other scientific or cultural sites of interest in Argentina.
  • native species of Argentina and factors that might lead to their extinction.


More specifically, information falls into the following categories: Agrochemicals, Water, Air, Protected Areas in Argentina, Waste disposal, Nuclear Waste, Biodiversity, Illegal Hunting, Climate, Conservation Strategies and Projects, Environmental Education, Energy (alternative and traditional), Endangered and extinct species (Argentina),Native species (Argentina), Indigenous and Exotic species of Argentina, Fires out of control in Argentina, Indigenous peoples (Argentina), LATAM (Latin America-interesting issues), Green Law, Marine World, Transgenic products, Urban Ecology, and Native Vegetation from Argentina.


Information packets have been sent to a number of Latin American countries, as well as Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Israel, Sweden, Portugal, and the United States. Those who wish to request information are asked to provide the following: name of the person or institution, e-mail address (or addresses), postal address, topic, and reasons why that information is needed. Information on no more than 5 topics may be requested at one time.

Development Issues

Environment, Economic Development, Natural Resource Management.

Key Points

Organisers contend that economic crisis in the region makes concern about the environment secondary. They seek to reach citizens throughout the entire region (not just in big cities like Buenos Aires, where information access is easier).


2053 information packages were sent in 2003.


SIA is at present seeking funding and opportunities to train staff on various issues related to its work. At present, all funding is secured through non-profit organisations and grants (like the Bernard Conyers Award). SIA also urges interested parties to establish their own local environmental information service and to send information to SIA that they think would be useful in Latin America.

Sources

Letters sent from Anne Blanchard to The Communication Initiative on January 11 2003, February 8 2003, and January 14 2004; and Eco-Index site. Also see the EcoPortal.Net website.