1. Choices in a Changing Climate A Rural Resilience & Gender Game Designed for 2012 Mount Holyoke College Reunion Janot Mendler de Suarez ‘77 EXPECT CONFUSION

2. 1. We will play two sets of rounds “practice” & “for real” 2. Game = simplified representation of reality No questioning of game rules 3. Decisions are individual But consultation with your team is encouraged 4.Farmers win or lose beans Start with 2; No Sharing with others! GROUND RULES

3. Losing Farmer/s: If you end up without enough beans you’re OUT: you must migrate to the city to seek work… Winning Farmer: Most points accumulated - WINS individual prize! Winning Village: Most farmers still farming - WINS village prize! WINNERS & LOSERS

4. What are the chances of a disaster this year? Based on past record Probability of Drought = 1 in 6 Probability of Intense Rains = 1 in 6

5. YOU Walk in the shoes of a SUBSISTENCE FARMER Photo Credit: Riccardo Gangale / ICRC Go get Rice to plant for ‘Intense Rain’ resilience Go get Cassava to plant for ‘Too Little Rain’ resilience Cost = 1

6. No disaster? Every farmer gains 2 beans Disaster… but You planted a resilient crop: Gain 2 beans Disaster strikes, and Your crop is Not resilient: Pay 4 beans Not enough beans to pay? You’re OUT! practice

7. LET’S PLAY!

8. Seasonal forecast: “La Niña”! Instead of roll of the die, flip a coin (drought: 50% chance)

9. Now we play the ‘gendered’ version (Start with 1 beans)(Start with 2 beans)

10. If there’s no disaster, OR if there’s a disaster but you planted a resilient crop: Gain 2 if male Gain only 1 if female If there’s a disaster and your crop is not resilient: Pay 4 Not enough beans to pay? You’re OUT! Pay 5 if pregnant daughter…

11. How would you modify the game? -can you make it better at capturing climate-related issues? 1. Select a tension that matters but isn’t well represented 2. Propose a few simple changes in rules & narrative 3. Test the new variant 4. Make this “your” game!

12. 1.Active learning (Peer-to-peer, “Aha!” moments UNFCCC ) 2.Serious, fun engagement (Emotions matter! RockFound ) 3.Data collection on decisions (In real time GEC ) 4.Design platform for optimization (illiteracy no problem) Gameplay beats Powerpoint