GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

prevent”. The campaign proved effective in changing men’s attitudes towards
violence against women, and therefore tackled existing power structures (Pan-
American Health Organization, 1998 as quoted in WEDO, 2008).
120
Another example comes from Bangladesh, where climate patterns
have changed in recent years and rains have become increasingly stronger and
less predictable. The floods of 2004 left enormous losses with 280 people losing
their life, around four million having to be evacuated and thousands of others
left without food or housing (MAAS, 2004). In the district of Gaibandha a woman
named Sahena was trying to deal with these flood patterns. She organized a
committee in her community to prepare women for when the floods arrive. The
committee taught the women to make portable clay ovens, to raise their houses
and use radios to hear of possible floods or climate change. Although Sahena
faced resistance from her husband and women in the community, she became
president of the committee and managed to earn the respect of the community.
Efforts such as hers save lives and empower women (Oxfam, 2008).
During the aftermath of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic,
local rural and urban women’s organizations were the first to deal with the
situation in shelters. Due to their work with endemic medicinal plants, the women
were able to help with remedies and providing care, before official medical
personnel could come in. These organizations also helped with reconstruction
efforts, getting aid for rebuilding homes for the community and helping women
to take part in credit projects for rebuilding. This gave women a new status in
their community and changed the way women were perceived and their role
in decision making (Meyreles, 2000).
4.4 Climate change adaptation and equitable access to
resources
An understanding of the relations between gender and sustainable
development requires an analysis of patterns of use, knowledge and skills
related to managing, using and conserving natural resources. Only by applying
a gender approach is it possible to have a clearer and complete view of the
relations people have built with ecosystems. Men and women face their social,
economic and environmental reality in different ways; how they participate is
also different and is closely related to age, socio-economic class and culture. For
example, women have access to only 5% of the concessions given worldwide to
manage and use natural resources.