Engaging with resistance to facilitate education for sustainability

Education and raising awareness of the community about issues of eco-social justice can be challenging and meet with resistance at individual, community and societal levels. For meaningful change to occur in society the knowledge, skills and understanding of individuals and communities has to be increased to allow for the community as a whole to implement changes. Globally, people are affected by climate change, economic exploitation and environmental degradations, yet, economic interests, traditions and localised concerns cause individuals, communities and societies to oppose strategies that move towards eco-social justice.\ud \ud This presentation explores the idea that resistance of participants in educational programs can be used as a tool for deep engagement with the audience in working towards human rights based, ecological just and sustainable futures. Examples will be drawn from the author's work in addressing violence against women and used to explore how resistance can be used to promote change in attitudes, values, and beliefs. Parallels will be drawn between this work and the community education processes used in environmental sustainability programs