Public invited to keynote talks on Arctic Sovereignty and Forest Policy
April 27, 2009
Contact: Derek Cook, TRU Assistant Professor Political Science, (p)250.828.5244
This weekend Thompson Rivers University plays host to the British Columbia Political Science Association’s Annual Conference. The public and media are invited to attend Friday and Saturday’s keynote addresses.
Michael Byers, Canada Research Chair in International Law and Politics, UBC will speak on “Who Owns the Arctic?” on Friday, May 1 from 1pm to 2:15pm in the International Building, IB 1015. Dr. Byers' work focuses on the interaction of international law and politics, particularly with respect to human rights, international organizations, the use of military force, the Arctic, and Canada-United States relations. He has published six books, dozens of academic papers and more than 100 op-ed articles in international newspapers, the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen. Prior to accepting the Research Chair position at UBC in 2004, Dr. Byers was a Professor of Law and Director of Canadian Studies at Duke University and from 1996-1999, he was a Research Fellow at Jesus College, Oxford University.
On Saturday, May 2 the keynote speaker is Benjamin Cashore, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies on Can Market Mechanisms Ratchet Up Global Forest Standards? Dr. Cashore’s address is from 9am until 10:15am, also in IB1015. Director of the Yale Program on Forest Policy and Governance and is courtesy joint appointed in Yale’s Department of Political Science, Cashore’s major research interests include the emergence of private authority, its intersection with traditional governmental regulatory processes, and the role of firms, non-state actors, and governments in shaping these trends. His book, Governing Through Markets: Forest Certification and the Emergence of Non-state Authority identifies the emergence of non-state market driven global environmental governance, and compares its support within European and North American forest sectors and was awarded the International Studies Association’s 2005 Sprout prize for the best book on international environmental policy and politics.
The keynote speakers are part of British Columbia Political Studies Association Annual General Conference, Comparing Political Perspectives, May 1 and 2 at TRU. The conference is sponsored in part by TRU School of Nursing, Community University Research Alliance and the law firm of Jensen McBain.