Ecowoman

Based in Fiji, this organisation is dedicated to equal access rights for girls and women in the science and technology arena and effecting social change by creating a respect for women's science. Ecowoman provides opportunities for Pacific women to exchange ideas amongst grassroots women, community development workers and profeesional women in the science, technology and environmental areas.

 Women of the Pacific have always been technologists and natural resource managers, requiring considerable scientific knowledge in their day to day lives. They grew the food and invented and used tools for food gathering and preservation, for making clothing, and for healing. They made containers for every required activity. They were educators, passing on traditional technologies, especially to their daughters, knowledge of healing practices and medicines, of the goods and tools necessary for their daily lives, and of food production and collection.

Women have always possessed a detailed awareness of the species and ecosytems which surround them, and which make up the bioregion they inhabit.

These skills must now be fed with updated information enabling women to act at the macro decision making level, a well as in their long established traditional roles. Further they need to understand the science behind traditional practices, cause and effect, why things happen, and what are the reasons for the way things work, and the consequences of certain practices.

When women's traditional knowledge and practices were life preserving skills, much status accrued to the adept. Where women have done most of the food growing, the environment was generally protected from exploitation. Women are now often aware of new stresses on ecosystems but are powerless to reduce demands on the earth's resources.

Long term food supply planning has become necessary in relation to population growth and must take into account effects on the environment and soil fertility Ð sustainability. But the scientific establishment in the region takes little notice of what women are doing, and for their part, when women lack knowledge and skills, they lack control.

Ecowoman is therefore dedicated to:

• promoting equal access for girls and women in the science and technology arena, advocating educational and scientific literacy for them
• developing linkages between professional women scientists and technologists and women's indigenous scientific knowledge
• strengthening the roles of women so they are able to influence the reallocation of resources in scientific research and practice
• effecting social change by creatng a respect for women's science and technology so it can be fully shared and used as a common language for all.
• ensuring that all women, including the least educated, have the type of scientific and technical knowledge which will improve their quality of life and ability to care for the environment.

Activities

networking through audio satellite

to provide opportunities for Pacific women to echange ideas among grassroots women, community development workers and professional women in the science, technology and environmental areas.

develop model projects

using participatory research, information, education and communication.

information

to create a database of Pacific women willing to sare their ideas and practical experiences of science concepts, technology and environment issues.

education

through the sharing of ideas and experiences

action

through the development of appropriate technology and advocacy skills

What We've Done So Far

Ecowoman is not yet two years old. In our short life we have:

• sent two participants to the UN women's conference in Beijing
• set up the partner Ecowoman group in Western Samoa
• worked with Wainimate, the traditional healers' group
• held participatory rural assessment training
• undertaken water hyacinth and water cress research at Toga, Rewa
• produced newsletters and a promotional brochure
• held workshops in 4 locations
• organised satellite meetings within the region
• addressed other women's organisations about our vision
• developed a database of women in science and technology

Underlying Values of Ecowoman Activities

• women helping women and involving men where appropriate.
• voluntary sharing of experience and expertise to weave science and environment concepts with the needs of grassroots women.
• women assessing their needs through participatory research, making decisions, taking action.
• women working with decisionmakers and local and national leaders to develop improved living standards for women, their families and communities.
• strengthening existing organisations to take up environmental education and action projects for women and their families.

For further information

Contact	:	Lala Bukarau
Address	:	c/o SPACHEE, University of the South Pacific, Box 1168, Suva, Fiji
Phone	:	679-381377
Fax	:	679-304818
Email	:	lala@sopac.org.fj

WWW

:

http://www.wigsat.org/ofan/activities/ecowoman.html