PLACEMENT REPORT ON CHILE'S REGIONAL CONCEPCION TV CO-OP:

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000202 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PDA, PA/OBS/BS-GSANTULLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV KPAO PGOV ECON EFIN CI SUBJECT: PLACEMENT REPORT ON CHILE'S REGIONAL CONCEPCION TV CO-OP: "CLIMATE CHANGE AND RENEWABLE ENERGIES" REF: 12958 ¶1. Summary: Post is pleased to report the results of the FY09 Regional Concepcion TV Co-op project, March 15-30, 2009. The crew included Radio Bio-Bio Press Chief and Regional TV Channel 9 journalist Salvador Schwartzmann, cameraman and producer German Saavedra, and LES Press Specialist Veronica Clarke as interpreter. With the vital assistance of OBS producer George Santulli, the TV Co-op team successfully gathered all the footage and interviews necessary to produce five one-hour special programs for the network's press department they entitled "Global Warming, an Urgent Matter." The segments aired between October 28-November 29, 2009, and all aired twice each during prime-time. The different programs of the series were "Water,""Climate Change,""Renewable Energies I,""Renewable Energies II," and "Recycling and Alternative Energies." Post's assessment is that each of these professionally-produced programs has helped to raise public awareness in the Region of Concepcion about USG and private initiatives on these topics and has enhanced press coverage of Chilean GOC environmentally and energy related projects in the region. The programs had such success that the TV network is planning on producing more shorter chapters with footage left from the trip. End Summary. Appreciative Chilean Team -------------- ¶2. The team from Chile's TV network "Canal 9 Regional" in Concepcion spent two weeks in the United States learning about the importance of climate change, it effects on people's lives, and the growing demand for renewable energies. The team met with government officers, NGOs, utility companies, scientists, school teachers, university professors, and students to explore what is being done in the United States to address these issues, and the role individual citizens play in addressing climate issues. The team visited more than a half-dozen U.S. cities, including Miami, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Boulder, Colorado; San Francisco, Sacramento, Modesto, and other locations in California. ¶3. Radio Bio-Bio Press Chief and Regional TV Channel 9 journalist Salvador Schwartzmann, and cameraman and producer German Saavedra had nothing but high praise for PA/OBS/BS' organization of the trip, including all the logistics, lodging, and transportation arrangements. They similarly commended PA/OBS/BS for selecting the right sites to visit, the right people to interview and the accurate timing of each day's activities for the TV Co-Op. Until today, the Chileans continue mentioning what a great pleasure it was working with their Producer George Santulli. Description of the programs -------------- ¶4. Regional TV Channel 9 is one of the most important regional TV networks in Chile. In addition to the southern Bio-Bio region -- the second largest and important region of Chile -- the TV network's broadcast reaches the southernmost parts of the country. Its programming can also be seen online. Regional TV Channel 9 has a partnership with CNN Chile and Bio-Bio Radio network -- one of the most important radio networks in Chile. ¶5. Before the five prime-time programs aired, Concepcion Regional TV Network broadcast an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons, who spoke of the importance of renewable energy and its prominence in U.S.-Chilean cooperation. The interview was used as an introduction to the special programs. ¶6. The first program "Water," aired on October 28 and November 1, 2009, and included segments of the award winning documentary "One Water" and an interview with its executive director and filmmaker Sanjeev Chatterjee -- who is also the Vice Dean, and Professor of the U. of Miami Knight Center for International Media. This chapter also included an interview with University of Miami Dr. Shouranseni San Roy, expert on climate change who spoke of the rain precipitations and patterns; and an interview with Otis Brown, also Dean of the University of Miami Rosentiel Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. ¶7. The second program, "Climate Change," aired on November 4 and 8, ¶2009. This segment began showing the 2006 floods and later forest fires of the 8th Region of Concepcion and continued with interviews with NBC's Luis Carrera who emphasized an increase in the perception of the problem by the general public. Dr. Elizabeth Holland from NCAR stated that scientific evidence shows a better understanding of the problem, and highlighted the importance of all efforts. Finally, University of Colorado CIRES scientist Eric Steig, who had recently returned from an expedition in Antarctica, spoke about the temperature increase in that part of the world. ¶8. The third of the specials, "Renewable Energies I," aired November 11 and 15, 2009. This segment included interviews in California with Farniente director Larry Mcguire, who described the benefits of solar panels they are using and Frito Lay executive Tom Melead and Namaste Solar Panels company director Black Jones, who extensively described the advantages of solar energy. The segment ended with a visit to a Wind Farm in Solano, CA, where Mariana Hernandez from PG&E described the efforts of the local government to achieve California's plans to reduce dependency on traditional energy sources and enhance the use of renewable energies. ¶9. The fourth program of the series, "Renewable Energies II", aired November 18 and 22, 2009, and included interviews with Sussane Garfielf of CS California, and Dan Gehringer who described a hydrogen cell fuel vehicle in development and showed one of the first zero emission refueling facilities for these vehicles. In this same program, Owen Torres, in charge of the Miami's weatherization program, described the local government's project to make households more energy efficient. The segment also featured an interview with a beneficiary of this program, as well as a beneficiary of a solar panel household initiative in Berkeley, followed by an interview with Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who said Berkeley is considered a laboratory for its "green" initiatives. ¶10. The fifth and last of the series, "Recycling and Alternative Energies," aired November 25 and 29, 2009. The first portion described recycling problems in the area of Concepcion, then moved to the U.S. where people interviewed featured Germ????n Gonzalez from the city of Miami, who explained Miami's waste management challenges; Tim Israel from the Kiefer Treatment Plant that produces energy from garbage; and Fred Fernier from the Fred Fernier Dairy Farm I Sacramento, who described new techniques and processes he used to turn animal residues into a source of energy and an economic opportunity. The program also included Felipe Castro from Sacramento, who explained the benefits of recycling mowing machines and other similar products during the city's "Mow Down Event." Additional Benefits From TV Co-Op -------------- ¶11. The material produced by the TV crew was shared with, and utilized by, the University of Concepcion in its journalism and science classes. This TV Co-op generated enthusiasm among other regional TV stations that have already asked post if they can participate in future programs in the U.S., and the Public Affairs Section has benefited from enhanced contacts around the country. The last three chapters of the series will be used at a presentation in March at the Chilean-German chamber of commerce as an introduction to a meeting on the enhancement of green energy projects for Chile. The director of Concepcion's Regional TV Canal 9 told post they had valuable material and footage left from this TV Co-op and would try to produce more programs to air in the next couple of months. A Special Thanks -------------- ¶12. Post is grateful to Producer George Santulli for making this program work so smoothly. The team members were very appreciative of the opportunity to partake in such a fruitful trip to the United States -- their first U.S. experience. Both Schwartzmann and Saavedra said they would welcome the opportunity to return to the United States. They were impressed by the amount of time and generosity that top experts gave to a foreign TV crew. SIMONS URBAN