HSP Seminar no.121 Governance and Rule of Law Post-Disasters

The catastrophic Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power crisis reminded us that such seismic events might not be metaphorical but, as in the original meaning, geological. However, it is increasingly recognized that the response requires not merely a massive reconstruction effort but a fundamental review of its governance structures to look at how they operate under stress as well as under ‘normal’ conditions. Hurricane Katrina and the recent Australian bushfires and floods demonstrate that these are issues in developed as well as developing countries.

These issues suggest the need for a deep re-assessment of the very basic value systems of the people of Japan and of all global citizens. It will require active international dialogue on the question of global values, international rule of law, global governance and the institutional requirements that need to go hand in hand with globalisation.

This seminar explores the challenges of governance and rule of law post-disasters and looks specifically at the issue of responsible aid relief responses; sustainable and safe energy choices; and the collaborative effort needed between government, business and NGOs.

In the face of the serious challenges facing Japan, this Seminar is a timely examination of the crucial issues of ethics, rule of law, accountability, transparency and sustainability of aid resourcing and delivery that is associated particularly with disaster management and reconstruction and in which business plays an increasingly significant role.

This Seminar welcomes representative from private sector enterprises, government organisations, the academic community and aid agencies as well as members of civil society.

• Date : July 5 (Tue.), 2011, 17:00-19:00
• Venue : Collaboration Room 1, 4F of Bldg.18, Komaba Campus, University of Tokyo (map)
• Lecturer : Charles Sampford (President, International Institute for Public Ethics; Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, Australia)
• Commentator :
  Yukio Takasu (Project Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo; Special Adviser on Human Security to the UN Secretary-General; Former Japanese Ambassador to the UN)
  Tadashi Inuzuka (Former Senator of the National Diet, Japan)
• Moderator : Yasunobu Sato (Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo)
• Language : English
• Materials : Program
• Organizers :
  Graduate Program on Human Security, University of Tokyo (HSP)
  Research Center for Sustainable Peace, Institute of Advanced Global Studies (IAGS), University of Tokyo