OVERVIEW OF SYMPOSIUM

Sarah Harder
Director, Women's Studies Program
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
U.S.A.

TEL: (715) 836-5717
FAX: (715) 836-2380

On June 1-3, 1994 approximately 200 participants gathered in Moscow for a symposium which will launch a two-year environmental policy planning and training project emphasizing women. Presenters included an impressive cross-section of scientists, researchers, activists, industry and policy leaders from 13 countries, principally the US and former USSR.

On May 31 and June 4, a smaller invitational group from the US and Russia participated in a seminar to target the most viable environmental priority on which to focus our collective efrorts. (This focus became "environmental health," an area where interests of the women's movement intersect obviously with those of environmentalists.) We mapped out a follow up project plan involving leadership training aimed at influencing both environmental policy and practice on this issue at local, regional and national levels in Russia.

That plan will involve our assessing the existing environmental research, as well as the public information materials and citizen advocacy packages now available in English and Russian languages. We will identify gaps, establish partnerships to develop new materials where needed, map out more'purposeful uses and distribution for existing materials.

The symposium was designed to extend strategic connections between environmental NGOs and experienced women leaders from a wide range of fields. The related seminar will develop training projects which empower Russian citizens to increase their impact on decision makers, from local industry leaders and regional officials to national policy makers. Its focus on a key environmental priority for Russian women (such as environmental health) will stimulate development of educational materials which build confidence in using public information to address policy issues. A series of 1995/96 regional training seminars in Russia will tap into the expertise, awareness and contacts built at this symposium.

The University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Consortium (connecting 26 campuses) is committed to follow through on this project. Despite lack of major funding, we made this happen through small contributions to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, with in-kind support from the Women's Studies Consortium, UW-Parkside, the UW School of Natural Resources, Earlham College and Mershon Center at Ohio State University. Recent grants from the Trust for Mutual Understanding and the New-Land Foundation assured that we could complete operations. The University of Wisconsin and the Johnson Foundation are already exploring ways to hold a 1995 conference and follow-up Wingspread symposium in Wisconsin to assess the project and focus our next steps.

SEMINAR PURPOSES
1. To determine the priority focus for Russian/American collaboration linking women and environment;
2. To map out a 2-year plan to expand available Russian-language researrch, public information and advocacy material around that focus:
3. To envision a plan for women's leadership training aimed at influencing Russian environmntal policy and practices on this issue at local, regional and national levels;
4. To identify ongoing partners, roles and resources for the project.

PREPARATION REQUESTED
• Review what you know to be available and applicable to our purpose in either English or Russian languages;
• Consider how your own considerable expertise in research, public information, organizing and/or advocacy might be helpful to this effort with Russian women;
• Bring samples of materials (your own or others) as prototypes or examples upon which to build collaborations.

SEMINAR PROCESS
1. Individuals will introduce themselves, identifying their skills and resources related to the women's and/or environmental movements.
2. The group will share perceptions of primary Russian needs relating to women and the environment;
3. The group will propose a priority issue on which to focus an ongoing partnership.
4. The group will target the materials (both available and needed) on this subject in order to pursue research, public information and advocacy in Russia;
5. The group will consider what outreach efforts would help to secure those resources;
6. Individual, partner and group commitments will be sought to help build and secure materials and resources;
7. The group will identify unmet needs and possibilities;
8. The group will envision regional leadership training for women to influence Russian policy and practice around the focal issue.

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