[Reader-list] Essay contest - Women and climate change (GGEP)

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

Dear friends&colleagues, 
 
please find below/attached a call from the Greens in the European 
Parliament (GGEP) for an essay contest on women and climate challenge. 
The three winners of the competition will be invited to come to the 
European Summer University on the German/Polish border this summer. The 
best essays will be printed and published. 
Best greetings from Dupont Circle, 
Arne 
  
 
Link: 
http://www.greens-efa.eu/cms/default/dok/372/372963.essay_contest_women_and_climate_change@en.htm 
 
 
  
Essay contest - Women and climate change 
  
Call for papers 
 
The role of human activity in accelerating climate change is beyond 
doubt. The fourth assessment report (4AR) of the Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), confirmed that overwhelming scientific 
evidence links impact of human activity to climate change and unless 
action to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is taken, 
the world is on a path to runaway warming. 
  
Why is it so important to integrate gender aspects into debates on 
climate change? 
  
Climate change and climate impacts are not gender neutral.  Gender 
equality is a critical component of responses to climate change at all 
levels - it should be integrated in all aspects of climate change 
planning and decision making. 
  
At first glance, it might seem unintuitive to link climate change and 
gender issues. However, since societies still largely rely on gendered 
roles and responsibilities, both sexes do not have the same impact on 
climate change, and perhaps more importantly, are differently affected 
by it. 
  
Women are disproportionately affected 
  
Gender aspects of climate change are a matter of justice, human rights, 
and human security. Women are the poorest people in the poorest areas. 
Moreover, several studies indicate that the death rate in natural 
disasters can be four times higher for women. We have compelling data 
on how women are more vulnerable to climate change. It is thus 
important to be committed to gender sensitive approaches. We must adapt 
the mechanisms in place so that they reduce, or at least do not 
increase the gender issues. 
  
Women empowerment and women's role 
  
Women are change agents on both household and community levels with 
regard to natural resource management. Women are long-time leaders on 
poverty eradication and sustainability, and gender equality is a key 
issue in the climate change debate. If we do not implement 
gender-sensitive policies to fight the climate change, it will have 
disastrous consequences on the gender balance. 
On the other hand, if we include and empower women, who are often 
responsible for agriculture, food and water supply, as well as first 
education of the next generation, we will do a better job in addressing 
the climate change and its consequences. 
Mainstreaming the gender perspective is not only a sensible choice for 
our societies; it is a better, more efficient way to reach our goals. 
  
Because this subject is at the very core of our preoccupations as 
members of the Green Party, we need to have better information and 
understanding on this subject, and answer these questions: 
How can we counteract the disproportionate burden of climate change on 
women? How to empower women so that they become a key partner in 
reducing climate change? 
How can gender equality be fully integrated into climate policies? 
  
We encourage everyone to send us a paper with ideas and propositions on 
these issues. 
  
  
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION 
 
By taking part in the contest, participants agree on the terms of 
participation. 
  
How and when to hand in my paper? 
All papers have to be sent per e-mail to 
Greens.essaycontest at europarl.europa.eu before 1 June 2011, midnight. 
Papers sent after the deadline will not be accepted. 
  
Who can apply? 
Everyone. 
  
Do I have to be a European citizen? 
No, contributions from around the world are welcome. 
  
About languages 
Papers can be written in one of the four following languages: English, 
French, German and Spanish. 
  
What kind of paper? 
Papers should have the written form of an essay. 
  
How long should the paper be? 
Papers should be between 20.000 and 28.000 characters (with spaces) 
long. 
  
How should it be presented? 
Papers should be typed. No handwritten paper will be accepted. 
  
What will happen next? 
A jury made up of Green Members of the European Parliament, 
representatives of the European Green Party, the Federation of Young 
European Greens, Green Foundations, EGGO (European Green Gender 
Observatory) and NGOs will select the best essays. 
Depending on the number of papers submitted, a pre-jury might do a 
pre-selection for the final jury. 
  
What is the prize for the winner? 
First of all, the best three essay writers will be invited to the Green 
Summer University in Frankfurt (Oder) and Slubice (1). This invitation 
includes transportation costs, hotel room for three nights and meals 
for the four days 
  
The best essays will also be published in their original language and 
English, with a preface from Members of the Parliament and members of 
the jury. This book will be printed out and distributed during the 
University (to be confirmed depending on printing delays). The winners 
will get 10 copies each. 
  
An event will be organised for the winners to read their essays to a 
selected audience, followed by a private dinner with members of the 
jury. 
  
(1) The Summer University is an annual European event organized by the 
Green Party. Last year, it brought together almost 1000 people  
 from all walks of life. Greens and non-Greens, NGO representatives, 
scientists, managers and trade unionists, intellectuals and artists, 
students and other young people attended 4 plenary sessions and 46 
workshops, 10 cultural events and 10 excursions. 
  
 
_______________________________ 
 
Georg P. Kössler 
 
Referent für Klima- und Energiepolitik 
 
  
 
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. 
Schumannstraße 8 
D-10117 Berlin 
T +49 (0)30-285 34 319 
F +49-(0)30 28534 5319 
M: +49 (0)176 620 50750 
koessler at boell.de 
 
http://www.boell.de 
 
Qà4àÊ Save trees - think twice before printing 
 
  
 
  
 
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