When we left Sligo on November 2…we did not know. But since then many things have happened. Obama was elected the next president of the US. Many could not believe their eyes. People rejoiced and danced all over the world. Many wept tears of joy. That is simply because something changed - clearly something historic happened.

Change is in the air…. we all know it. How can each and every one of us contribute constructively to that change? Arjuna makes a valid point: what can we do for folk on the ground. In five years time can we look back and say that there is more access to information in environmental decision-making in each of our countries or at least in a State or region of our country? Can we say that 25% of environmental victims have access to justice? Those are the results by which we will be judged. The bottom line is this: each of us needs to think through how we will make these things happen - and then put our shoulder to the wheel and make it happen.

So what can we do at an individual and organizational level? Here are some things we can do-

1. Look ahead to the next year and ask ourselves what opportunities there are to change laws and practices?

2. Identify one or two critical processes that need to change and see if their might be an opportunity to change for the better.

3. Focus on that one thing - and design with others how best to change that one item - one law - perhaps just one word in a law. Or train a bunch of Government officers in good practices and offer an incentive to practice the new thinking.

4. Then ask others on the network if they can help? Share experiences on how to do get this done?

5. Finally, implement the decisions you made.

6. In six months evaluate how things have gone and change track, if there is a need to sharpen what you are doing.

Lalanath