Countries across Asia Pacific are struggling to deal with the challenges caused by plastic throughout its life cycle. But citizens and governments in the region are also taking action to combat plastic pollution and debunk false solutions.

That’s why we partnered with Break Free From Plastic to support journalists and advocates who are shining light on the links between plastic pollution and climate change, and the solutions to these two crises.

Get to know these amazing storytellers:

Annie Fe Perez-Gallardo, 29

Annie is a multi-platform correspondent for the Philippines’ biggest broadcasting network ABS-CBN, covering Cebu and other areas in Central Visayas. She also runs a column in The Freeman, a local newspaper.

Annie also teaches broadcast and journalism courses at the University of the Philippines Cebu. She is a TV series junkie and listens to a variety of music genres.

  • Addressing current issues through solutions journalism will help deter this problem and will allow the public to have a greater call of action.

    – Annie Fe Perez-Gallardo

Jaydeep Dasgupta, 43

Jaydeep has been working as a journalist for nearly 20 years. He is currently an editor with News Sense, India’s digital first solutions journalism initiative focused on solutions stories and fact check.

Jaydeep started his journalism career in 2003 as a producer and later as a correspondent in Sahara TV in New Delhi and Kolkata. He received awards from the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and from organizations supported by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund.

  • So far we haven’t looked at any issue, subject and story from a solutions perspective. It is the time to change the approach of journalism and it’s getting momentum too.

    – Jaydeep Dasgupta

Delgerzaya Delgerjargal, 26

Zaya is a climate and data journalist at TenGer TV in Mongolia. She was a former biodiversity and climate researcher.

Zaya has been running an environmental podcast since 2017. She is also a latin and ballroom dancer.

  • Worsening climate crisis, air pollution, soil erosion, biodiversity loss are all depressing topics to read. Solutions journalism provides the public with a hope that they can better influence environmental policy and make people more likely to support collective action to address the issue at hand.

    – Delgerzaya Delgerjargal

Gerardo Reyes, 42

Geri is an environmentalist, community development worker, journalist, and vlogger. He has been in the field of journalism for over a decade.

He’s been also engaged in activities and projects related to agroforestry, disaster risk reduction and management, solid waste management, and community organizing.

  • It is our duty to report and disseminate new ideas to the public, telling them that there is a glimmer of hope, urging them to mobilize, and take action to help bring about positive change.

    – Gerardo Reyes

Trang Hong Vu, 32

Trang describes herself as “a daydreamer and an opportunity hunter.” Her articles have appeared in Asian Democracy Chronicles, The Diplomat, Sixth Tone, and Rappler.

Mayank Makhija, 27

Mayank is a freelance photojournalist based in New Delhi, India representing NUR Photo Agency (Italy).

His editorial work has been published in New York Times, TIME, The Guardian, BBC News, Le Monde, NPR, CNN, Deutsche Welle, Getty Images, and Caravan Magazine among others. He also contributes to various agencies including Associated Press, Agence-France Presse, and Zuma.

Mayank’s work has also been exhibited in galleries in Dhaka, London, Tehran, and New Delhi.

  • [Solutions journalism is important] as it focuses on lesser talked about issues challenging the traditional journalistic framework.

    – Mayank Makhija

Chryselle D’Silva Dias, 49

Chryselle is a freelance journalist with over 17 years of writing for international and national publications.

She is based in Goa, where the party never ends and the tourists never go away.

  • Solutions journalism gives me hope and it is a mirror to things that work, to possibilities. In India we see so many problems—solutions journalism is a good counter to these.

    – Chryselle D’Silva Dias

Dirwan Kalam Sahirsan, 26

Dirwan is currently leading an NGO focused on tackling climate change in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, called Lakamali (Social and Environmental Concern Institute).

He graduated with a degree in political science from Hasanuddin University in 2018, which allows him to see climate change from social and political perspectives.

  • I am convinced that what I will learn and get from this fellowship will positively impact me and inspire me to write more about climate change solutions, as well as increase my ability to raise other people’s awareness to do the same thing.

    – Dirwan Kalam Sahirsan

Younis Dar, 34

Younis is from Kashmir, a beautiful valley located in the lap of the Himalayas. He loves nature, science, and astronomy.

Younis has over six years of experience in the media industry. He believes that the issue of the environment is the most pressing problem of our time, and that compelled him to take up independent environment journalism.

  • Our country is besieged with environmental pollution, with scarce resources with the government, including financial and technical. In such a scenario, the citizens need to evolve methods and practices of environment conservation on their own, which will then be spread to the whole population through responsible journalism.

    – Younis Dar

Ariel Adimahavira, 28

Ariel is a development worker with an interest in plastic pollution and climate change. He was a researcher for Climate Tracker and Break Free From Plastic’s study on the media coverage of single-use plastic in Southeast Asia.

Ariel is currently residing in Sweden to pursue MSc in Environmental Management and Policy.

  • Solutions journalism can inspire people to take action and create positive change in their communities. This is important for us Indonesians who often feel powerless to make a difference, especially when facing multitudes of crises.

    – Ariel Adimahavira

Aatreyee Dhar, 29

Aatreyee is an award-winning independent journalist from northeast India who is passionate about anything related to the environment, health, and conservation. In 2022, she received Red Ink Awards under the health category and Laadli Media Awards for covering gender.

When she is not reporting, Aatreyee enjoys hiking up nature trails and birding.

  • Solutions journalism is important as it gives hope to mitigate or solve a crisis–even temporarily–amidst all the negative glut in news in our country and it highlights the power of collective community leadership to save nature and fight the climate crisis in developing countries.

    – Aatreyee Dhar

Pratch Rujivanarom, 33

After graduating with a master’s degree in International Journalism from Birmingham City University, United Kingdom, Pratch worked as a reporter at The Nation newspaper for four years.

Then, from September 2019 until January 2021, he was the editor-in-chief of GreenNews Agency. He is currently an assistant editor of Bangkok Post.

  • Most people don’t want to hear about environmental news, because it is often very bad news that keeps reminding them that the planet that we share is getting worse. So, we need more environmental news that looks for hope, for solutions, in order to keep us motivated to make our one world better.

    – Pratch Rujivanarom

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