5 FORMALITIES AND KEYNOTES WEBINAR 2: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Dr Philip Vaughter from UNU-IAS presented the second keynote on the 9th June. Dr Vaughter presented on what lessons can be drawn from the HIV pandemic, relevant to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Like HIV, many of the world’s governments responded to COVID-19 first with a denial of the seriousness of the disease, followed by uncoordinated panic responses to stem the transmission rate, and an inability to manage the shear amount of misinformation about the virus circulating in the media. “There is a great need for policy makers and medical professionals to anticipate health inequalities, as the global burden will likely fall hardest on vulnerable groups in low and middle income countries. Enabling environments are needed in order to support any behavioural change. The failure of medical professionals to take social conditions into account was one of the major failures of the global response to HIV, and therefore it is necessary to address structures that constrain people’s choices in addition to looking at advocating for a desired behaviour. A multidisciplinary effort is essential for an effective response to this pandemic. While the HIV pandemic showed that medical science can provide epidemiological models and predict some dynamics of transmission, a multidisciplinary effort from experts in other fields is needed to design, characterize, and evaluate interventions to shape people’s behaviour.” Dr Philip Vaughter, UNU-IAS WEBINAR 3: KEYNOTE ADDRESS “Yes, the storm will pass, humankind will survive, most of us will still be alive — but we will inhabit a different world”. (Yuval Noah Harari, ‘The World After Corona Virus’, Financial Times, 2020) The final keynote was delivered by Dr Jim Taylor, RCE KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on 11th June. He highlighted the what, how and where in moving forward and how the RCE network can be used to mobilise this. The ‘what’ are the 3 C’s: ≥≥Courage (Encouragement & Hope) ≥≥Connect (Communicate) ≥≥Communities of Practice (RCE Networks) The ‘how’ is by: ≥≥Co-Engaged Research (working with people not on or at them) ≥≥Action Learning (5 T’s) Tune in, Talk, Think, Touch, Take Action ≥≥Citizen Science (sharing the tools of science and biomonitoring through miniSASS) ≥≥Strengthen Indigenous Knowledge Practices And the ‘where’ is: ≥≥Everywhere – the RCE Network is an excellent platform for all of us to collaborate, respond, support each other and build an inclusive society where all can live with pride and purpose. “We are living in unprecedented times. COVID-19 has changed the way we live as dramatically as a third World War. Although we are hoping for a ‘new normal’ we can be sure things will never return to the ‘old normal’. The RCE Network is one of the largest, most wide-spread, and effective movements to bring about change for a more sustainable world. Literally thousands for people, through hundreds of institutions are working together to influence leadership and at the same time strengthen local action for sustainability. Fortunately, we have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and Agenda 2030 to aim for! Some say this is humanity’s last planned chance to save itself!” Dr Jim Taylor, RCE KwaZulu- Natal
webinar series report
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