Preparatory Course for Journalists in Conflict Areas 2012
April 09, 2012 was the first day of the Preparatory Course for Journalists in Conflict Areas offered by the Brazilian Peacekeeping Operations Joint Center (acronym in Portuguese: CCOPAB).
The first lecture of the course was presented by Mr. Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, who explained the apprentices the activities performed by the Center of Social Communication of the Brazilian Army. After that, Lieutenant Colonel Cavalcanti made a lecture on the Brazilian participation in the different peacekeeping missions, with emphasis on the experience in Haiti.
In the afternoon, Ms. Promoter Najla Nassif Palma of the Brazilian Military Prosecutor talked about International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and connected these two topics with the activities developed by journalists in conflict areas. After that, Commander Toscano presented the main types of Improvised Explosive Devices.
In conclusion of the first day of instructions, Colonel Luiz Fernando Estorilho Baganha, Commander of the Center, made an institutional lecture to the journalists of the course concerning CCOPAB.
On the second day of the Preparatory Course for Journalists in Conflict Areas, the apprentices had the chance of knowing the characteristics of terrorism in Latin America and in other parts of the world from a lecture made by Lieutenant Colonel Visacro. After that, the team went to the Instruction Center of Gericinó, where demonstrations showed them the effects of several weapon calibers in different types of materials.
In the afternoon, the Brazilian journalist José Hamilton Ribeiro presented his personal experience as a war correspondent during the Vietnam War. After his presentation, the group went to the Center of Specialized Instruction of the Military Firefighters (acronym in Portuguese: CIEB) in order to learn the procedures to be adopted in case of fire and the immediate emergency actions to take in case of collapse of facilities structures.
When they went back to the facilities of CCOPAB after a day of intense activities, the journalists attended an instruction on First Aid by Sergeant Endrygo at the facility called "Sala Integração".
On the third day, the apprentices of the Preparatory Course for Journalists in Conflict Areas attended a lecture at the Brazilian Army's School of Higher Instruction (acronym in Portuguese: EsIE) concerning the procedures to be taken in cases of chemical, biological and nuclear accidents. After this lecture, there were demonstrations on the use of chemical agents in the context of gradual use of force.
Still in the morning of that day, Lieutenant Commander (Brazilian Marines) Ávila presented the procedures to be adopted by the journalists to identify and leave a mine field, and he also mentioned the countries where mines and mined fields can be found.
In the afternoon on the third day, renowned journalist Willian Wack from the Brazilian TV Channel "Rede Globo", shared his experience as a war correspondent with the apprentices. After that, Police Inspector Leonardo Cabral Aranha de Araújo talked about the topic "Communication and Negotiation", with emphasis on the procedures to be adopted by journalists if they face a situation of crisis negotiation, such as kidnapping or in which they are made hostages. The last lecture of that day was made by Colonel Harley Alves who talked about his personal experience as a hostage.
The fifth edition of the Preparatory Course for Journalists in Conflict Areas ended on April 13, 1012. During that morning, the apprentices made and presented a reporting concerning the activities developed during the whole course week.
After that, the Closing Ceremony of the Course took place. After the handout of the course certificates, Colonel Baganha, Commander of CCOPAB, highlighted the importance of integration between the media and the armed forces.
The last activity of the course was marked by the traditional cocktail with the presences of the apprentices, monitors, and instructors.
