Last Word – How Does Change Happen

Abstract

How does change happen?reflections about power, movementbuilding and our feminist futures drawn from conversations among 1700 women's rights advocates over four days and nightsSince we're all starting with our nationality, I'm American^which happens to be one of my most contested identities at the moment.It's truly humbling to even attempt to'wrap up'a many-layered process involving1,700 wise women and men from 120 countries over 4 days and nights. As I add my impressions to the thoughtful reflections of my wonderful colleagues on this panel, I will focus a bit more on the how of change.What did I hear and see about how change happens?First, despite much talk during this Forum about the need to move beyond our tendency to focus on the negative^which I agree with^I'll begin with what we can firmly say change is NOT. Development, 2006, 49, (155-161) r 2006 Society for International Development 1011-6370/06 www.sidint.org/development Development (2006) 49(1), 155-161. NOT like this …

The promises and pitfalls of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change as a vehicle for social empowerment

“…Such processes can be characterized by struggles about meaning (Tilly 2005, Manuel-Navarrete 2010, Schwarz et al 2011. Empowerment can be a combination of changing discourses and representations, including building self-awareness and self-confidence ("power within"), and a greater ability to change the representations and legitimacy of marginalized groups' voices in wider society (Veneklasen 2006). Such issues can be expressed across a variety of platforms, including institutions that govern natural resource use.…”