Event Listing for 2008

Open to public & media    Media event    Invitation only

January

No events scheduled in January.

February

2008.02.22

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues: Unintended Consequences of Peacekeeping Operations

UN peacekeeping operations have a remarkable record of keeping the peace between and within states over the past 60 years, but the inescapable fact is that peacekeeping operations can also yield unintended consequences. In this inaugural session of the UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues, Prof. Chiyuki Aoi of Aoyama Gakuen University, provides greater insight and knowledge into UN peacekeeping operations and their unintended consequences. Following her lecture will be discussant comments by Noriyuki Wakisaka, editorial writer for the Asahi Shimbun.

Seminars will be held in Japanese with no interpretation available.

2008.02.25

G8 Dialogue Series
G8 and Doha: Putting Development back into the Doha Round

Speaker: Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Minister/Honorable Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

2008 is envisioned to be the year that will make or break the Doha Round of negotiations between members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Doha Development Round, initiated almost seven years ago, has promised to remove barriers to global trade with the goal of promoting development. It has come to little thus far.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy urged member states to move forward towards a deal on Doha to be finalized this year. However, for the Doha Round to be considered successful, it must also meet the needs of developing and especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The People's Republic of Bangladesh, as current Chair of the LDCs, is pressing for greater global market access of products produced by LCDs "without discrimination". In the run-up to the G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan, this lecture is an opportune moment to consider LDC perspectives on what would be required for the Doha Round to be deemed a success for promoting development through international trade.

March

2008.03.01

International Roundtable Conference on Food Safety

UNU, PA International, and the Tokyo Foundation present an international roundtable conference on Food Safety: International Trade, Sustainable Production, Social Responsibility at UNU Headquarters.

2008.03.10

International Women's Day

This year's theme:
Investing in Women and Girls.

UN-related organizations in Japan will celebrate International Women's Day 2008 by organizing a joint public symposium on 10 March (Monday) at the United Nations University Headquarters Building in Tokyo. The theme of this symposium is "Investing in Women and Girls". Participants will discuss why investing in women and girls is not just the right thing to do, but is an effective development strategy that yields dividends for all.

Co-organized by: UNU and other UN agencies located in Japan.

2008.03.21

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues
Seminar II: International Water Security — Domestic Threats and Opportunities

Water is essential for all and has no substitute. Unlike many other resources, water is not easily transferred from one location to another. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, two-thirds of the world population will face serious water scarcity by 2025. Indeed, there is heightened concern among scholars about the possibility of “war over water” erupting in the 21st century. Solving water-related problems requires a multi-disciplinary approach, including engineering, agriculture and social science perspectives. In addition, strong political commitment is required to avoid conflicts over war.

Join us as Professor Mikiyasu Nakayama of the Graduate School of Frontier Science at the University of Tokyo critically assesses the challenges and solutions of water resources in the 21st century, with a commentary afterwards by Professor Emeritus Yutaka Takahashi of the University of Tokyo.

Advance registration is required. To register, please send your name and affiliation to the Seminar Secretariat.

Please note that this seminar will be held in Japanese with no interpretation available.

2008.03.24-25

First Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium: "Peacebuilding Experience and Knowledge from Asia to the World"

Peacebuilding is one of the major challenges of today’s global community. Japan is committed to contributing to peacebuilding in the world. It has been serving as Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission since June 2007. Prime Minister Fukuda stated in his policy speech to the Diet on January 18, 2008 that Japan would actively address global challenges and play a responsible role in the international community as a "Peace Fostering Nation" which contributes to peace and development in the world. He also stated that Japan aspires to become a hub of human resource development as well as research and intellectual contribution to further promote cooperation in the field of peacebuilding.

Against this background, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and United Nations University (UNU) Peace and Governance Program decided to launch “Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium” to be held at UNU Headquarters in March 2008 with a broad participation of peacebuilding practitioners and academics from Asia and other regions of the world to feed into global efforts. This will provide regular and informal settings for them to discuss and promote contribution to peacebuilding from an Asian perspective and to strengthen the regional and global networks in this field.

The symposium will allow participants to share, discuss, improve, and promote effective peacebuilding and peacebuilding-support policies and practices in Japan, Asia and the global community, and aims to facilitate dialogue and networking among practitioners, academics, civil society, private sector, and media in the field of peacebuilding across governments, organizations, sectors, and generations in Japan, Asia and the global community.

Co-organized by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and UNU.

2008.03.26

Glacier Melting and Impacts due to Climate Change

A Commemorative Public Forum of the World Water Day 2008, Wednesday, 26 March, 2008.

Climate change is a reality with increasing evidence of global weather anomalies. Glacier melting is one of the most critical associated phenomena that can have a significant impact on various aspects of human existence. This program will focus on the Glaciers in the Himalayan Region, the complex hydro-metrological processes that governs its stability, the impacts its changes would have on the Asian Region as well as the world. Special emphasis is required to assess the risks posed by Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) as well as downstream floods and take mitigation and adaptation measures.

Organized by: United Nations University, UN-International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR), Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM).

2008.03.30-31

Workshop of the UNU Project on "Resolving Humanitarian Contradictions"

Co-organized by: UNU and WFP

2008.03 [TBC]

Regional E-Waste Workshop Latin-America

The regional workshop in Latin-America has four key-objectives:

1. Coordinate/Harmonise Action in the Region
2. Linking Global Attempts/Experiences with Regional Needs and vice versa
3. Identification of key-topics
4. Initiation of first pilot-projects

2008.03 [TBC]

2nd Ghana Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars are designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Ghana and abroad.

April

2008.04.16

G8 Dialogue Series
Global Health: What is necessary to make it possible?

Speaker: Kiyoshi Kurokawa, Advisor to the Cabinet of Japan and Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

Eight years after the indicator year for “Health for All” set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), this goal still appears illusory and challenging to achieve at best. A resurgence of infectious diseases assisted by warming temperatures, lifestyle changes, and insufficient nutrition and access to health care facilities especially among populations in developing and least developed economies are major causes for concern for all humanity. In a globalized world, where borders are crossed with increasing frequency, these problems can no longer be restricted to the territorial limits of nation states. Prof. Kurokawa argues that in order to achieve global health, it is important for developed economies and their scientists, who have the necessary capacity and technology, to engage proactively in constructive health interventions. He also argues that to be effective, such activities must be co-ordinated with both grass-root communities and the governments of developing countries.

2008.04.17

Sweden-Japan Symposium on Sustainable Urban Development

Climate change is one of the most severe threats to our world today. An enormous amount of work needs to be done to reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, for sustainable growth to be achieved.

Cities and municipalities have an important responsibility, especially since a majority of the world’s population already lives in urban areas. This concentration of people creates both a need and a basis for efficient and smart solutions in the fields of transport, energy etc. Sweden and Japan have both come a long way in building sustainable cities and developing sustainable transportation systems. Both countries are also working on innovative measures for the future. With Japan chairing the G8 in 2008, and Sweden preparing to take over the Presidency of the European Union in the latter half of 2009, in time for the Copenhagen Summit, cooperation between the two countries in the environmental field is of ever greater importance.

Under these circumstances, a joint Sweden-Japan Symposium on Sustainable Urban Development will be held on 17 April 2008, at the United Nations University in Tokyo. Simultaneous interpretation English-Japanese will be provided.

Organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Japan, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and UNU with the support of the Swedish Institute, the Natural Step Japan and Volvo.

2008.04.18

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues
Seminar III: Climate Change in Asia

Looking beyond the Kyoto Protocol's first containment period, an intense and growing international debate over the future climate change regime has emerged. Countries in Asia have particularly high stakes in this regime given the region's high population, growing greenhouse gas emissions, burgeoning economies and vulnerabilities to the impact of climate change. Limited capacity, however, has hampered the participation of many Asian countries in the international debate.

In this third session of the UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues, Dr. Yasuko Kameyama of the National Institute for Environmental Studies examines the institutional dimensions of climate change and, importantly, identifies linkages between climate change and sustainable development. Commentary afterwards will be provided by Ms. Yurika Ayukawa, the climate policy senior officer at WWF-Japan.

Advance registration is required. To register, please send your name and affiliation to the Seminar Secretariat.

Please note that this seminar will be held in Japanese with no interpretation available.

2008.04.21–06.20

Analysis and Management of Geological Risks (CERG)

A seven-week training course aimed at developing the knowledge base and skills necessary to advise the public and private sectors to take preventive measures which can reduce the impact of natural disasters. The course has been recognized by the Division of Earth Sciences of UNESCO as part of its official training programme.

Co-organized by: Universite de Geneve, Switzerland

2008.04-2008.05

Workshop of the UNU project on "The United Nations, WTO and Challenges of Human Security"

Co-organized by: UNU and International Trade Law and Development Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2008.04.24

G8 Dialogue Series
Peace Fostering Nation: Japan’s New Role?

Speaker: Tatsuro Kunugi, Visiting Professor at UNU-IAS, formerly, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Assistance to Cambodia; Deputy Executive Director of the UN Population Fund

As host country of TICAD IV and the G8 in 2008, Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy is the focus of considerable interest worldwide. In a number of major speeches recently, such as at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Fukuda has outlined some major elements of future directions for Japanese ODA policy. These include his visions on Japan’s role in addressing climate change, development and Africa and international peace and security. These policy statements outline, among other aspects, Japan’s proposals to play a leadership role at the G8 and beyond in working towards the establishment of a new post-Kyoto framework to tackle climate change, which will include participation by all major emitters as well as setting fair and equitable emissions targets. Similarly in an effort to establish Japan as a leading "peace fostering nation” Prime Minister Fukuda’s recent policy speeches have highlighted the important role Japanese Official Development Assistance and other initiatives can play in the development efforts of developing countries, particularly in Africa. Significantly these speeches also highlight the very close link between the Millennium Development Goals, human security, peace and development while recognising the growing role of international organizations, NGOs active in local communities, other civil society groups and private sector entities.

May

2008.05.12–2008.06.01

In the Open Air: an exhibition of work by Claire Xuan

The United Nations University presents a message of peace and harmony from Monday, 12 May, to Sunday, 1 June, 2008 through the world premiere of an exhibition of works by talented artist Ms. Claire Xuan.

This year, Japan and France will celebrate the 150th anniversary of their relationship. This exhibition is a part of the events commemorating that anniversary.

The exhibition will be presented at the French—Japanese Institute in Tokyo and at the United Nations University Headquarters building in Tokyo from 12 May through 1 June 2008. The exhibition will present photographs taken in both France and Japan. Subsequently, this touring exhibition will go to Fukuoka and Kyoto and, finally, will be presented in France. The creation has been realized focusing around the three natural elements of “Wood, Earth and Water”, which for Claire are the most significant elements in both countries.

Organzised by United Nations University and supported by the French Embassy, Air France, Mercure Hotel Ginza Tokyo, and Canon Inc.

2008.05.12–2008.06.20

UNU International Courses (UNU-IC)

The six-week UNU International Courses (UNU-IC) are held annually at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. They are designed to provide postgraduate students and professionals with a college or university degree who wish to pursue an international career in public-service or private organizations with the knowledge and skills to analyze global issues from a truly global perspective, both theoretically and empirically. The programme involves scholars and practitioners from within the UNU system and from external institutions and organizations.

Co-organized by: UNU Centre and UNU-IAS

2008.05.13-15

StEP General Assembly

This event is the annual gathering of the members of the "Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP)" Initiative.

Co-organized by: Ericsson.

2008.05.16

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues
Seminar IV: Sustainable Cities

Developing countries are rapidly urbanizing and most of the world's population will soon be living in cities. It is crucial that the sustainable development of cities be advanced and Japan, as one of the most urbanized countries in the world, offers a remarkable series of lessons in sustainable urban planning.

Drawing upon his experiences as a senior planning official within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Prof. Tokue Shibata seeks to appraise the Tokyo experience past and present, placing particular emphasis on the municipal management of refuse. Following the lecture will be a commentary by Prof. Hidenori Tamagawa of Tokyo Metropolitan University on Japanese perspectives towards the development of sustainable cities.

Advance registration is required. To register, please send your name and affiliation to the Seminar Secretariat.

Please note that this seminar will be held in Japanese with no interpretation available.

2008.05.22

International Biodiveristy Day Symposium 2008: Biodiversity and Agriculture

The International Biodiveristy Day Symposium 2008 will be held on May 22 at the United Nations University Headquaters in Tokyo. Focusing on the theme “Biodiversity and its interdependence with agricutlure, food and satoyama”, the symposium will provide an opportunity to enhance understanding of biodiversity through a keynote presentation and panel discussion by administrators, reseachers and practitioners in this field.

The symposium is organized by UNU, UNU-IAS, the Global Environment Information Centre (GEIC), the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

This symposium will be held in Japanese with no interpretation available.

2008.05.26

14th U Thant Distinguished Lecture

Former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari has made numerous vital contributions to international peace and security, from facilitating the peace process between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement to his recent role as UN Special Envoy for the Kosovo Status Process.

He has successfully brought together opposing parties in conflicts around the globe, facilitating dialogue and setting the scene for agreement to emerge. In this way, his efforts have allowed seemingly intractable conflicts to end in political, negotiated settlements.

This lecture on “Negotiating Peace in Africa, Asia and Europe” demonstrates the former President’s range of experience, highlighting our shared responsibility to help and protect our fellow human beings. Indeed, we all have a responsibility to prevent conflict, but when this fails we must equally do all we can to achieve peaceful resolutions.

2008.05.28

TICAD IV Official Side Event
Critical Intersection: Climate Change and Security

For details, see:
TICAD Official Side Events page

2008.05.28

TICAD IV Official Side Event
Education for Sustainable Development: Focus on Regional Centres of Expertise in Africa

For details, see:
TICAD Official Side Events page

2008.05.29

TICAD IV Official Side Event
Capacity Development and Policy Needs for Environment Management Technology Development in Africa

For details, see:
TICAD Official Side Events page

2008.05.29

TICAD IV Official Side Event
High-Level Panel: Science and Technology for Africa’s Sustainable Development

For details, see:
TICAD Official Side Events page

2008.05.29

TICAD IV Official Side Event
Innovative Centre on Education Support for Africa

For details, see:
TICAD Official Side Events page

2008.05.29

Commemorative Lectures of the First Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Laureates

The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize was established by the government of Japan to honour individuals who have made outstanding achievements in combating infectious diseases in Africa or in establishing innovative medical service systems.

At this event, organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan and co-organized by the Science Council of Japan and UNU, the inaugural Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize laureates — Dr. Brian Greenwood, Manson Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Prof. Miriam K. Were, Chairperson of Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council — will deliver commemorative lectures.

The provisional titles of the lectures are “Malaria elimination – Is it possible?” (Dr. Greenwood) and “From public toilet facilities to local clinics – A challenge for African communities” (Prof. Were).

2008.05

Making Adaptation Work

The workshop organized as part of the Globally Integrated Environment Modeling project of UNU, the workshop will examine the roles of self adaptation, governments, development agencies and private sector in climate change adaptation related to water sector in the developing countries.

Co-organized by: UNU-INWEH, NCAR

June

2008.06.3-4

International workshop on E-waste

This workshop will foster high-level connection between various stakeholders in the e-waste problem. It aims at working out: (i) a common problem definition; (ii) a joint approach concluding on measures which appear feasible and essential for targeting these between bilateral and multilateral development cooperation, industries and academia.

Co-organized by: German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU)

2008.06.16

G8 Dialogue Series: Climate Change and Biodiversity

In continuation of the Heiligendamm G8 in 2007, climate change is a central agenda item of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit this July. An often overlooked fact in the climate debate is its intricate linkage to biodiversity. This was again affirmed at the recent G8 Environment Ministers Meeting in Kobe in May. Sudden climatic changes, such as those predicted by the Fourth IPCC Assessment, speed up extinction rates of plants and animals that cannot adapt to abrupt change. With the 2010 target to reverse biodiversity loss looming large as the major theme for the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya in two years time, and with international negotiations looking for deeper targets to mitigate climate change, the Climate Change-Biodiversity nexus is a major topic on the international agenda and one that is worthy of consideration and attention by the G8 members in Hokkaido in July. In this the Seventh UNU G8 Dialogue, Governor Akiko Domoto will outline climate change and biodiversity’s linkage for Japan’s policy makers at the local level, and following the conclusion of the 2008 CBD COP in Bonn, Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf will share his thoughts on what is required between now and Nagoya.

2008.06.16

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues: Interlinkages and the Effectiveness of Multilateral Environmental Agreements

There has been growing awareness in recent years that a major reason for the worsening global environment is the failure to create adequate institutional responses to fully address the scope, magnitude and complexity of environmental problems. Much of the criticism has focused on the necessity for greater coordination and synergism among Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and among policies and laws that take better account of the inter-relationships between ecological and societal systems.

In the fifth session of the UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues, Prof. W. Bradnee Chambers seeks to explore the gap in knowledge and policymaking that exists vis-à-vis the global environment and push our understanding on how to approach international environmental law. In so doing, he considers the assumptions around cooperation among MEAs, offers a framework for measuring the effectiveness of MEAS, and shows how the effectiveness of MEAS can be improved through a strengthening of interlinkages. Mr. Akinori Ogawa, Senior Fellow, UNU, will serve as discussant for the event.

2008.06.23-27

StEP Side Event to the Basel Convention COP9

This side-event will introduce the progress of the StEP Initiative to the parties following up to UNU's side-vent to the OEWG6 in Geneva, Switzerland.

2008.06

Adaptation to global environmental changes: building capacity in the cold desert region of south and central Asia

The workshop will focus on:

1. Spatio-temporal trends in global environmental changes, their causes and implications
2. Assessment of the success of past technological and policy interventions to mitigate adverse environmental change
3. Tools of predicting the environmental changes, constructing future scenarios and designing mitigation measures for sustainable development in the cold desert region.

Co-organized by: Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

2008.06 [TBC]

Book launch of the UNU Project on "The Politics, Human Rights and Security Implications of Protracted Refugee Situations"

Co-organized by: UNU and UNHCR [TBC]

2008.06 or 2008.07

Workshop of the UNU Project "Re-casting the Ethics of War"

Meeting organizer: UNU

July

2008.07.01

Global Development Challenges: Desirable G8 Responses

A G8/Developing Country Dialogue for the Hokkaido Summit

The conference will feature a frank assessment of the purposes, plans, prospects and possibilities of the Hokkaido Toyako summit with particular attention to African development in the fields of economics, trade, health, and peace and security. This dialogue is designed to identify and inspire realistic ways in which the G8 summit might contribute more strongly to the cause of African — and global — development, with the results informing the G8 preparatory process and the summit itself.

2008.07.03

G8 Dialogue
Climate Change and World Trade: Friends or Foes?

Speaker: David Runnalls, President of the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) and Member of the Board of UNU-IAS.

Programme:
16:00–16:10 Opening Remarks by Professor Zakri, Director of the UNU-IAS
16:10–17:00 Presentation by David Runnalls
17:00–17:30 Q & A and Discussion

Please RSVP to reception@ias.unu.edu or online. For further information please contact Rachel Schutte, Yui Amano or see www.ias.unu.edu/G8.

2008.07.04

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Time of Climate Change: A UNU G8 Symposium

The global response to climate change now will shape the world for future generations; indeed, it may quite possibly determine whether there are future generations. Amid the turmoil and uncertainty of the single greatest challenge facing humanity exist tremendous opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment.

Just over 20 years to the day after Dr. James E. Hansen presented congressional testimony that alerted the world to the threat of climate change, Dr. Hansen, Head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and perhaps the world’s most well known climate scientist, will provide the keynote address at this UNU G8 symposium where he will be joined by a panel of the world’s leading experts and writers on the subject.

He will be joined by Gwyn Prins, David Sanborn Scott, Alex Evans, David Steven, Shuzo Nishioka, Ted Nordhaus, Toshio Hirota, Yu Dawei, and, via video from Beijing, renowned author and environmentalist Bill McKibben.

2008.07.08

15th U Thant Distinguished Lecture
President Abdoulaye Wade

Climate Change and African Initiatives

Abdoulaye Wade, president of the Republic of Senegal, will speak on climate change and more specifically on how African initiatives such as la Grande Muraille Verte (the Great Green Wall), which are characterized by their regional dimensions, can contribute to combating desertification and enable the greening of the continent.

English, French, and Japanese interpretation will be available.

Senegal President Describes "Great Green Wall" Project
Executive Intelligence Review Online

2008.07.25

Challenges Ahead for United Nations Peacebuilders: Lessons from the Field and the New UN Peacebuilding Architecture

UNU, together with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, will organise a public seminar on the occasion of the first workshop of the UN Peacebuilding Community of Practice (PBCoP) being held in Hiroshima from 21 to 24 July.

In this public seminar, PBSO will introduce the concept of the PBCoP and discuss the results of its workshop attended by a cross-section of practitioners engaging in peacebuilding activities within the UN system. Some of the participants will also present their peacebuilding experiences from around the world.

The seminar will provide an opportunity for those who are based in Japan and engaged in peacebuilding issues to learn about the wide-ranging peacebuilding activities of the United Nations, including the roles of the new UN Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund, and the Peacebuilding Support Office.

To register, please contact: askpbso@peacebuilderscenter.jp

2008.07 [TBC]

Global Seminar Korea Session

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Korea and abroad.

2008.07-2008.08 [TBC]

Workshop of the UNU project on "Beyond Westphalianism: Public-Private Partnerships in the Multilateral Relations of States"

Co-organized by: UNU, Department of Political Science, University of Alberta, and Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University, USA

August

2008.08.07–10

4th Shimane-Yamaguchi Session, Global Senminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Japan and abroad.

2008.08.17-20

8th Hokkaido Session, Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Japan and abroad.

2008.08.25

Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Hiroshima Peacebuilders Centre Coursework

Organized by UNU and the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Centre.

2008.08.25

2008 Hiroshima Peacebuilders Centre Coursework

Organized by UNU and the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Centre.

2008.08.27–28

UNU-UNESCO Annual Conference on Globalization
Globalization and Languages: Building on Our Rich Heritage

In May 2007, the United Nations General Assembly, at the request of the General Conference of UNESCO, proclaimed 2008 the International Year of Languages. The resolution recognizes “that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding.”

As globalization makes the world a smaller place, multilingualism ensures its continued richness and plurality. Language, transmitted through the ages, informs our sense of history, as well as progress. Our successive attempts to modernize and globalize pose a very real challenge to the preservation of language as a bastion of world culture and heritage. Every language that disappears disrupts the transmission of knowledge and deprives us of an opportunity to learn and connect with our past.

This year's conference will explore the contribution of linguistic diversity and multilingualism to development and their value for dialogue, social cohesion and peace.

Co-organized by UNU and UNESCO.

2008.08.28

Annual Joint Symposium on Migration "Current and Future Migration Challenges: Stakeholders' Viewpoints"

This second annual joint symposium on migration, co-organised by UNHCR, ILO, IOM and UNU, focuses on the issue of immigration in Japan. Presentations by policymakers, international organizations, and a keynote speech by Hidenao Nakagawa, LDP Member of the House of Representatives, are followed by a panel discussion featuring four people with Japanese, Brazilian, Kachin/Burmese, and Korean backgrounds who have all migrated to Japan. This symposium examines the issue of immigration from various stakeholders' viewpoints and encourages public awareness and discourse on this timely topic.

2008.08.28

The Study of Local Integration of Indochinese Refugees in Japan: Midterm Report on the Study

This half-day symposium will be conducted as part of an ongoing research project between UNHCR and a group of scholars on the local integration of Indochinese refugees in Japan. Taking the form of a mid-term report, relevant persons make presentations about the progress and significance of the study, and highlight the national and wider regional implications of the work being carried out.

September

2008.09.01-05

24th Shonan Session, Global Seminar

The 2008 seminar will take up the question of what we, as individuals and as members of civil society, can do to bring about the realization of these public values of justice, peace and equality. Eminent scholars from Japan and overseas will deliver a series of lectures on aspects of the issues involved and the seminar participants, through their group discussions, will seek to deepen their understanding of how the construction of global solidarity will be even more crucial for mankind in the decades to come.

Co-organized by: Kanagawa International Foundation, jfUNU and others.

2008.09.04–06

Workshop of the UNU project “The Responsibility to Protect and the Problem of the Kin-State”

Organizers: UNU, CIGI (Centre for Governance Innovation, Waterloo, Canada), ECMI (European Centre for Minority Issues).

2008.09.07-11

1st World ReUse Forum

The 1st World ReUse Forum is going to be opened on September 7, 2008. It is going to be held in conjunction with the Electronic Goes Green (EGG 2008+) Congress taking place in Berlin (Germany) from September 8-11, 2008.

Co-organized by: TU Vienna, Fraunhofer IZM

2008.09.09

Africa Day Symposium

Africa’s Food Situation: Crisis to Opportunities; New Perspectives for Africa

The annual UNU Africa Day Symposium, jointly organized with the Africa Diplomatic Corps and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will explore how the African continent and its development partners can address the current food crisis. Particular emphasis will be given to the TICAD IV follow-up mechanism; the symposium participants will further aim to identify possible ways forward to address not only the food security issue but also to enable the foundation of a more harmonious and sustainable development for the entire continent.

The symposium will be held on the morning of September 9. For more information please visit the UNU Africa Day Symposium Series.

Co-organized by UNU and the African Diplomatic Corps in Japan.

2008.09.16–19

14th Kobe-Awaji Session, Global Seminar

The peace and welfare of the global community will only be realized through the effective linkage of strategy, theory, and perspectives from the field. The goal of this year's Global Seminar Kobe-Awaji Session is to consider and discuss the new challenges for the UN with a strong emphasis on perspectives from the fields and the linking of strategy, theory, and the field.

2008.09.20–23

7th Tohoku Session, Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Japan and abroad.

2008.09.30–12.18

UNU Joint Graduate Courses (UNU-JGC)

UNU cooperates with 12 Japanese universities to jointly offer postgraduate courses at the UNU on the structure and function of the United Nations System. The courses count towards students' graduate degrees at their home universities in Japan. Lecturers are selected from among scholars and practitioners with specific expertise in the field of United Nations studies or related areas. All lectures are conducted in English. The three courses are offered once per week over a period of three months. After an initial trial period of three years, it is planned to increase the number of courses as well as the number of participating universities.

Co-organized by UNU and 12 Japanese universities.

2008.09 [TBC]

2nd Mexico Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Mexico and abroad.

2008.09 [TBC]

Annual Conference for the UN Depository Libraries in Japan

Officially designated 14 Japanese UN Depository Libraries have common goals as well as unique missions. Representatives from these libraries will discuss various issues on UN documentation, publication and information services. It is also designed as a training opportunity for the library staff.

Co-organized by: UN Information Centre Tokyo.

October

2008.10.03–04

The Silver Market Phenomenon: Business Opportunities and Responsibilities in the Ageing Society

This first-ever global forum unlocks the secrets of the silver market phenomenon and focuses on innovation, product and service development, technology management, marketing and business models for the 50+ market. Additionally, policy makers, academics and practitioners will debate business responsibilities, challenges and solutions for coping with changing demographics around the world.

Registration is required by Monday, 22 September 2008.
(The registration fee of ¥3,000 (¥2,000 for students) covers conference materials and a copy of the book The Silver Market Phenomenon edited by Florian Kohlbacher and Cornelius Herstatt.)

Organised by: German Institute for Japanese Studies Tokyo (DIJ); Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH); Institute for Technology and Innovation Management (TIM); United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo Institute of Technology, The 21st Century Programme; and The Science of Institutional Management of Technology (SIMO).

The symposium will be preceded by a pre-conference kick-off forum on "The Silver Market Phenomenon: A German-Japanese Perspective" on Thursday, 2 October 2008 from 17:00 to 18:30 at the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ), Tokyo.

2008.10.04

The First Commemorative Symposium of the Bilbliotheca Alexandrina Project

Co-organized by Bibliotheca Alexandrina Consortium Secretariat and United Nations University.

2008.10.08

Workshop of the UNU project “Human Rights, Intellectual Property Rights and the Global Governance of HIV/AIDS”

Organizers: UNU, Institute of Medicine, Law and Bioethics, University of Liverpool.

2008.10.16-17 [TBC]

Workshop of the UNU Project on "Accountability Mechanism in Eastern Europe and Latin America"

Co-organized by: UNU and El Colegio de Mexico

2008.10.24

2008 UN Day

This year's theme is "Climate Change: What We Can Do".

Co-organized by: UNU and UN agencies located in Japan.

2008.10.28

Coffee with Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón with a lecture on “Shared Responsibility”

Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón is actively promoting the concept of Shared Responsibility which covers the interlinkages between drug trafficking and biodiversity (i.e., the negative impacts drug production and trafficking have on the environment), and the shared responsibilities of both producer and consumer countries.

Shared Responsibility is an internationally recognised principle that calls for all parties affected by the global problem of illicit drugs to joint action. And, it is the name of an initiative led by Colombia since 2005. The Shared Responsibility initiative seeks to establish a frank, open and constant dialogue between illicit drug producer and consumer countries, in order to raise awareness about the threats that the production, trafficking and abuse of cocaine pose to families, public health, national security, the environment and society in general.

Organized by the Inter-American Development Bank, Office in Japan; the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia; and United Nations University. English–Japanese interpretation will be available.

Background reading:

Shared Resonsibility presentation (1.6 MB PDF)

Shared Responsibility: Colombia’s proposal against illicit drugs (512 KB PDF)

The world drug problem seen through a green lens (224 KB PDF)

2008.10.27-30

9th African Conference on Research in Computer Science (CARI'08)

To provide a forum for the exchange of information and networking for African computer scientists. The Conference is organized once a biennium.

2008.10.31

Book Launch — Institutionalizing Northeast Asia: Regional Steps towards Global Governance

With the threat of a nuclear North Korea, constant tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and growing posturing over resource-rich territories, how can lasting peace, order, stability, and prosperity be achieved in Northeast Asia? UNU Press’s most recent publication Institutionalizing Northeast Asia: Regional Steps towards Global Governance seeks to advance the notion of regional institutionalism as a counterweight to the principle of sovereignty, arguing that cooperation through regional institution-building is the best way to deal with the growing intertwinement of global issues and developments as well as needs and interests at the regional and national levels.

Five distinguished academics from Aoyama Gakuin University, the University of Tokyo, and Waseda University will comprise a panel to introduce this timely and important new publication. Following will be a commentary by Masahi Nishihara, President of the Research Institute for Peace and Security and former President of the National Defense Academy in Japan.

Panelists:

• Keisuke Iida, Professor, Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo
• Hiroshi Ohta, Professor, School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University
• Seiichiro Takagi, Professor at the School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University
• Jitsuo Tsuchiyama, Vice-President, Professor and former Dean of the School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Professor of International Politics at the School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University

Discussant:
Masashi Nishihara, President of the Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) and former President of the National Defense Academy in Japan

2008.10 [TBC]

2nd Tajikistan Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Tajikistan and abroad.

2008.10 [TBC]

Regional E-Waste Workshop

The regional workshop for the South Pacific has four key-objectives:

1. Coordinate/Harmonise Action in the Region
2. Linking Global Attempts/Experiences with Regional Needs and vice versa
3. Identification of key-topics
4. Initiation of first pilot-projects.

2008.10 – 2009.01

UNU Joint Graduate Courses (UNU-JGC)

UNU cooperates with a number of Japanese universities to jointly offer postgraduate courses on the structures and functions of the United Nations System at the UNU that will count towards students' graduate degrees at their home universities in Japan. Lecturers are selected from among scholars and practitioners with specific expertise in the field of United Nations studies or related areas. All lectures are conducted in English. The three courses are offered once per week over a period of four months. After an initial trial period of three years, it is planned to increase the number of courses as well as the number of participating universities.

Co-organized by: UNU and 10 other Japanese Universities.

2008.10-2008.11 [TBC]

Workshop of the UNU project on "Governance and Non-state Actors: Transnational Corporations, Human Rights and Environmental Justice in Developing Countries"

Co-organized by: UNU, and Foundation for International Environmental law and Development (FIELD), UK

November

2008.11.11

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 60

When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 60 years ago, it represented the first international recognition that human rights and fundamental freedoms are shared by every person, everywhere. The Declaration is almost universally accepted, and forms the foundation of international human rights law.

Marking 60 years of the UDHR, the United Nations University will hold a seminar to look back on the progress made towards achieving universal respect for human rights, as well as look forward to the challenges ahead.

Prof. Yozo Yokota will review the origins, achievements and shortcomings of the UDHR since it was adopted, drawing upon his extensive experience in the United Nations Human Rights system. He will summarize the current challenges the international community faces in promoting respect for human rights, and the roles of the UN and civil society in overcoming these challenges.

Dr. Morten Pedersen will present a summary of his research into the case of Myanmar, which since 1988 has been subject to intense international scrutiny of its human rights record, yet with few positive results. Drawing on evidence from this country during the past twenty years, Dr. Pedersen’s presentation will highlight the failures of Western sanctions and Asian engagement alike and discuss alternative ways forward.

2008.11.14

Environmental Monitoring and Governance in the Asian Coastal Hydrosphere: Roles of Academia and Private Sectors for the Stockholm Convention

Representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, University of the Philippines, Vietnam National University, Japan Environmental Safety Corporation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will share their perspectives on how the roles and capacities of the academic and private sector can be best utilized to support the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in Asia. Stockholm Convention currently regulates 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and more chemicals will be added as new POPs at the fourth Conference of Parties of the Stockholm Convention scheduled for May 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The invited speakers will also present their analysis on emerging challenges in POPs management, POPs monitoring activities in Asian countries, and current best practices and available technology in regards to the Stockholm Convention. The presentations will be followed by question and answer sessions.

2008.11.17–21

1st World Landslide Forum

The First World Landslide Forum offers a global cooperation platform for a range of organizations from academia, United Nation organizations, governments, the private sector, and individuals willing to contribute for landslides and other related earth system risk reduction. The uniqueness of the Forum lies in the fact that it is neither a pure scientific/engineering discourse, nor a pure governmental and intergovernmental meeting, but a window of opportunity cutting across disciplines while contributing to landslide and other related earth system related risk reduction.

UNU is involved in a number of sessions, but specifically Session 2 (made free for all participants). Download the Session 2 Brochure (456 KB PDF).

2008.11.21–24

8th Kanazawa Session, Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Tajikistan and abroad.

Co-organized by UNU-IAS Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa.

2008.11.27

UNU Interactive Seminar on Global Issues: Business-Society Interaction towards Sustainable Development

Join us as Prof. Mikoto Usui, professor emeritus of Tsukuba University, examines some of the main hurdles that must be overcome to forge a more legitimate relationship between the business sector and civil society in sustainable development governance processes. Following will be discussant comments by Makoto Teranaka, secretary general of Amnesty International Japan.

2008.11.29

36th Conference of Directors of UNU Research and Training Centres and Programme (CONDIR36)

Directors of the UNU Research and Training Centres and Programmes will gather with Rector Konrad Osterwalder to prepare for the 55th Council session, with a focus on ongoing programmatic activities and UNU’s strategic plan.

2008.11.30

13th Annual Music for AIDS Awareness

In observation of World AIDS Day (December 1), the Red Shoes Foundation, The World Bank, and the United Nations University will present the 13th Annual Music for AIDS Awareness on Sunday, November 30, from 2 p.m. The event will be held in U Thant International Conference Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo and will feature a panel discussion by medical and development experts and a two-hour jazz concert by Teruo Nakamura and The Rising Sun Band.

Admission is free, and everyone is invited to attend. Japanese/English interpretation will be provided.

The Annual Music for AIDS Awareness series is produced by Teruo Nakamura, a jazz bassist and producer based in New York for the last forty years who has played with legendary jazz musicians such as Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Roy Haynes, Grover Washington Jr., Nona Hendryx, Hellen Merrill and many others. His Rising Sun Band out of New York has been performing annual charity music tours in Tokyo and New York for HIV/AIDS awareness for the last thirteen years.

December

2008.12.01–05

55th Council Session

The 55th Council Session of the UNU Council will be held at UN Campus in Bonn, Germany. The UNU Council is the governing body of the University.  Among the issues to be discussed will be the UNU's Strategic Plan 2009-2012, and strategy documents on UNU's activities in Africa and on dissemination.

2008.12.02–03

UNW-DPC/UNDESA Expert Meeting Group on Gender Disaggregated Data in Water and Sanitation

UNW-DPC and UNDESA are jointly organising an Expert Meeting Group on Gender Disaggregated Data in Water and Sanitation, to take place in United Nations Headquarters on 2-3 December 2008. The meeting will bring together up to 25 experts on gender and statistics, and water and sanitation, representing national governments, policy-makers, NGOs, international orgnaisations and women's networks to clarify how to mainstream gender into the water and sanitation sectors through the institutionalization of systematic collection of gender disaggregated data within national and international water and sanitation monitoring systems.

2008.12.02–05

International Forum on Education for Sustainable Development Dialogue 2008

The International Forum on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Dialogue 2008 is organised by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan (MEXT) and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO. UNU and the Asia/Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU) are co-organisers of the event to be held at the U Thant International Conference Hall and Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall at the UNU premises in Tokyo, Japan.

The forum will be held from 2 to 5 December to identify strategic actions for the implementation of the goals of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD).

The year 2009 will mark the mid-point of the UN DESD, which was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2002 and launched in 2005. Since the inception of the Decade, the international community has discussed the needs, fundamental concepts, and objectives of ESD, while recognising its importance for future generations. For the mid-point of the Decade, UNESCO and its Member States will have opportunities to discuss the achievements and challenges in the implementation of the DESD.

The International Forum on ESD Dialogue 2008 will move beyond these efforts to define ESD, and seek to identify strategic actions for the achievement of DESD objectives in line with the International Implementation Scheme (IIS). The IIS, drafted by UNESCO, is a reference point for all actors engaged in DESD and focuses primarily on how nations can implement their DESD goals. It is hoped that the forum will help identify results-oriented strategic projects, and will focus on partnerships with NGOs and the private sector to explore the possibility of a global cooperation/consortium on ESD.

In addition, regional inputs from Asia/Pacific to the mid-term evaluation of the DESD will be reviewed.

The event is open to:

• participants selected through an open call for participation;
• representatives nominated by UNESCO Member States; and
• representatives and individual experts invited by the organisers, in particular from civil society.

Participants must register in advance using the electronic registration form available on the MEXT website.

2008.12.18–21

10th Okinawa Session, Global Seminar

The UNU Global Seminars designed to increase understanding among college students and young professionals about global issues facing mankind today and the role of the United Nations in addressing these. The Global Seminars comprise of lectures, plenary and group discussions, and presentations by the participants. The teaching faculty includes UNU academic staff as well as experts from academia and policy practice from Tajikistan and abroad.

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