Seminar "Where do we go from here?": Breaking down the
model – the importance of advocacy 12.12.2009
The fourth of a nine part lecture series on Estonia
and its transition took place on December 10th at Domus. In this event, Michael
Gallagher discussed "advocacy" and its role in promoting societal
change. As a process, advocacy has gained considerable importance in the west
over the last 50 years, to the point that some people think of themselves as
"change agents". But the
concept and practice of advocacy really began to take root in Estonian society
only after independence. What is advocacy? Why is it important? How does it
work? Can we learn how to be more effective advocates? These were the main
themes for the evening, as well as a fun TED video featuring David Logan. The
main conclusion - advocacy is important, and understanding how it works helps
develop an appreciation for community values.