SESSION
When industry endangers health and ecosystems
When extractive industries pollute with impunity, the cost always falls on the same groups: marginalised communities silenced by economic and political power.
This session reveals how science journalists evolve from observers to whistleblowers. Through concrete cases—such as the battle against Perenco in Gabon, or Total in Uganda—panellists will expose game-changing tools. These include satellite data analysis, partnerships with citizen scientists, and techniques to turn technical reports into political weapons.
Participants will leave with actionable methods to safely document ecological crimes and amplify climate change’s first victims, because in environmental justice, objectivity must never mean indifference.
Viviane Sandrine GaingneSession proposer and producer | Le Nouveau Gabon| Gabon
Sandrine Gaingne is a Cameroonian journalist based in Gabon with experience across multiple media outlets in Cameroon and internationally. She currently reports for online platforms including Agence Ecofin, Le Nouveau Gabon, and AfricaPresse.com. She also contributing to SciDev.Net.
Rivonala RazafisonPanelist | Mongabay | Madagascar
A journalist since 1998, Rivonala transitioned into science journalism through the first phase of the training programme initiated by the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) for African and Middle Eastern journalists. Married and a father of three, he is also a sociology researcher.
Julien ChongwangPanelist | Scidev.net | Cameroon
Julien Chongwang, a Cameroonian journalist, is deputy editor-in-chief of the French edition of SciDev.Net. He is the former editor-in-chief of Le Quotidien de l’économie in Cameroon and contributor to international media such as Voice of America. He also covers economic news for the Moroccan newspaper Les Eco. He has written extensively on issues relating to health, environment, agriculture, and ICTs.
Augustine Kasambule KatshungaPanelist | Pulitzer Center | Democratic Republic of the Congo
Augustine Kasambule Katshunga is the Congo Basin Program Coordinator at the Pulitzer Center and a member of its editorial team. Based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, she is an experienced environmental journalist with over twenty years of expertise covering forest and environmental issues, primarily working with television and also serving as a video producer. She holds academic qualifications in both biology and journalism. Augustine is also the co-founder of the Réseau des Communicateurs pour l’Environnement in DR Congo and has a background in teaching. In addition to her reporting work, she provides training and coaching to journalists, helping to strengthen environmental journalism across the region. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with prominent local and international organizations, including Greenpeace Africa, the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society. She has developed strong partnerships with journalists, media outlets, civil society organizations, and local communities. In her role at the Pulitzer Center, Augustine plays an active role in sourcing and evaluating proposals from journalists across Africa.
Aimable TwahirwaModerator | Mongabay | Rwanda
Aimable Twahirwa is a Rwandan science journalist with 25 years of experience, specialising in nature and biodiversity. Trained at the University of Rwanda, he contributes to Mongabay and other international media. An expert in climate and conservation, he also works as a trainer and consultant, and has received a number of prestigious science journalism fellowships.