What is a Zonta Says NOW Think Tank?
A Zonta Says NOW Think Tank is a group of Zontians from different clubs who meet online to share ideas about gender-equal climate action, learn from each other, be inspired, and have fun!
Zonta Says NOW Think Tanks generally have a small team of Zontians who work behind the scenes to set up and publicize online meetings, manage the agenda, arrange speakers, and host online events.
Districts and areas in Zonta International can include part of a country, a whole country, or many countries. By adopting a Think Tank approach, Zontians from different clubs, areas and districts in the same country can work together to find ways to improve national and state/provincial laws that impact women and girls.
Intercontinental Think Tank
The Intercontinental Think Tank started in 2022 to facilitate communication between Zontians in different countries. Members learn from a range of speakers how, globally, behaviour in one part of the world has a negative impact on other parts of the world and discuss issues in break-out rooms.
The Zonta Says NOW Working Group manages the Intercontinental Think Tank and works closely with the Advocacy Committee, United Nations Committee and the United Nations Environment Program.
The Intercontinental Think Tank is developing a growing list of fact sheets, leaflets and Action Guides to support Zonta clubs to take gender-equal climate action.
This biennium, the Think Tank is focusing on how we can:
- Support the inclusion of women at the national and local tables of decision-maker on environmental sustainability.
- Advocate for national policies that take into account of women's economic opportunities and ensure their full and equal participation in the economy.
The Zonta Says NOW Intercontinental Think Tank meets on the second Sunday of odd-numbered month. Members may register for meetings via the Events page.
Recordings of Intercontinental Think Tank meetings and meeting papers may be found here. Members can register here for the Intercontinental Think Tank mailing list.
Other Think Tanks
- The Zonta Australia-Think Tank was launched in July 2024 and replaced the District 23 Think tank, which had operated since 202. The Zonta Australia Working Group organizes two-monthly Think Tank meetings that aim to increase awareness of climate justice issues and be engaging, fun and thought-provoking. The meetings provide a forum to share and discuss international, national, district and club news.
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The Think Tank developed the original five-step Framework for Action (now adopted internationally) and has designed a range of resources for individuals and clubs to create a gender-equal sustainable world. The Think Tank stores recordings, leaflets, and notes of meetings at www.zontasaysnow.org.au. Members can register here for the Australian Think Tank mailing list.
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The Zonta USA Caucus, founded in 2018, represents 8,000 Zontians in the USA – and established the first national Zonta Says NOW Think Tank.
The Caucus facilitates advocacy action at the national and state levels. It has successfully raised awareness and advocated for ending child marriage and violence against women in the USA. Alerts are sent out to members as part of its Fast Action Fridays initiative. These allow Zontians from all over the USA to instantly send letters to their legislators urging support for new bills related to women’s empowerment.
The Caucus has six subcommittees - including one for Climate Change that coordinates the USA Think Tank. The USA Think Tank is a forum to increase awareness, understanding, engagement, and interchange among members and experts – and to take action. The Think Tank focuses on such topics as water, energy, air pollution and disaster preparedness, in line with key climate issues identified by the US Women’s Caucus at the UN.
The Think Tank uses a mature Inform, Connect and Advocate model to understand how climate affects communities and women, share information, perspectives and lessons learned, and, most importantly, implement a call-to-action system for individuals to contact their decision makers easily.
