2023
The EACOP pipeline in Uganda
Entry type: Single project
Country/area: Germany
Publishing organisation: Der Tagesspiegel
Organisation size: Big
Publication date: 2022-05-14
Language: English, German
Authors: Eric Beltermann
Benedikt Brandhofer
Nina Breher
Cordula Eubel
Tamara Flemisch
Raphael Khouri
Hendrik Lehmann
David Meidinger
Thomas Lewton
David Meidinger
Khatondi Soita Wepukhulu
Thomas Weyres
Helena Wittlich
Biography:
Tagesspiegel Innovation Lab develops new storytelling formats to explore the immense potential of digital journalism. In addition to the development of new modes of presentation such as interactive graphics and mixed media stories, the team is initially focusing on citizen research, data analysis, sensor journalism and evaluations with the help of machine learning. The Innovation Lab is staffed with software developers, editors and experts in artificial intelligence.
Project description:
While Fridays for Future are demonstrating in Europe, climate change has long been a reality in Africa. Yet it is mostly Western countries that are responsible for climate change with high CO2 emissions. That was the motivation to look at the largest heated oil pipeline of the world, that is being build in Uganda. Our journalistic coverage of the EACOP pipeline is not just about local consequences for human rights and the environment. It is about those responsible behind it – mainly foreign companies that profit from the project – while Ugandan people are laregly left empty-handed.
Impact reached:
The publication of the project succeeded in drawing attention to the climate crisis, but especially to the actors accelerating it. All three parts received praise and great feedback especially on social media and were used as arguments by activists and politicians. After our publication, the EU commented on EACOP and criticized human rights violations and environmental risks in pipeline construction.
Techniques/technologies used:
For visual design we used technologies like Mapbox, Qgis, Blender, D3, HTML5 Canvas. Most of the elements are completely self-built. Despite very many data points, the animations run well. Some simple webscrappig helped collect some of the data. In addition, we used classic OSINT methods for research. We checked trade registers and company registers in Germany, Great Britain and Uganda for research. We used satelite images as well as construction plans.
Context about the project:
Access to the protagonists in Uganda as well as to most of the documents proved to be extremely difficult. It was both difficult to be allowed into the country as a journalist and to obtain the necessary accreditation. Meetings with those affected were mostly only possible by using surreptitious routes and bypassing security posts. Dozens of languages are spoken in Uganda, which made time-consuming translations necessary, government offices and companies on the ground were sometimes difficult to reach, and many people there do not dare to speak to the press. Access to satellite imagery and planning documents in this region of the world is also far more difficult than when researching wealthier countries.
What can other journalists learn from this project?
The EACOP pipeline project shows how visual storytelling can be used for environmental issues as well as for economic actors and ownership structures. It is a good example of how a topic can be approached from different perspectives as well as with different narrative forms.
The EACOP pipeline project shows how visual storytelling can be used for environmental issues as well as for economic actors and ownership structures. It is a good example of how a topic can be approached from different perspectives as well as with different narrative forms.
Project links:
