11 MARCH IN CONTEXT: HUMAN SECURITY PERSPECTIVES Wednesday 22 February 2012, 10:00 - 12:00 Elizabeth Rose Hall, United Nations University, Tokyo

To register to attend this event, click on the 'Register' button, and complete the online registration form at:
http://unu.edu/events/2012/11-march-in-context.html

Almost a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake, thousands of people are still struggling to rebuild their lives and communities. This event looks at the human consequences of 11 March in comparison to other major natural disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. A panel of international experts will focus on the insecurities and vulnerabilities that are created and exacerbated by such events. In doing so, it will consider the value of a "human security" approach, which focuses on securing individuals in terms of "freedom from fear" and "freedom from want". Although this concept is often used to understand armed conflicts, after an earthquake or a tsunami people are faced with similar threats. Natural disasters have direct impacts on people in terms of "fear"
(aftershocks and deteriorating social order) and "want"
(lack of food, water and shelter). Due to population growth and climate change, more and more people are affected by natural disasters. How can a human security approach help us understand and respond to these catastrophes?

Exploring such human-centred perspectives, this event considers how natural disasters interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities, such as poverty, underdevelopment and marginalization, and the specific protection needs of women, children, elderly people and minorities. By comparing Japan's experience with those of other countries, panellists will consider how the consequences of natural disasters are influenced by specific social and cultural contexts. They will also examine the similarities and differences that exist between natural disasters in highly industrialised countries, such as Japan, and developing countries, such as those impacted by the 2004 tsunami. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the human security concept, this event features practitioners and leading experts from a range of different fields: disaster sociology, ethics, international relations, development and public health:

* Naomi Zack (Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Oregon_
* Yukie Osa (Professor, Rikkyo University; Chairperson of the Board, Association for Aid and Relief, Japan)
* Emily Ying Yang Chan (Director, CERT-CUHK-Oxford University Centre for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
* Elaine Enarson (Ph.D., Independent Scholar, Lyons Colorado; Founding member, Gender and Disaster Network)
* Paul Zeccola (AusAID; Australian National University)

Register at:
http://unu.edu/events/2012/11-march-in-context.html
For further information or any queries, please contact Christopher Hobson (hobson@unu.edu) or Nicholas Turner (turner@unu.edu).

This event is part of a collaborative research project on "Human Security and Natural Disasters", of UNU-ISP, the Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies, and the RMIT Global Cities Research Institute.
The project has been made possible by the support of the Japan Foundation. There will also be an academic workshop at Waseda and UNU on Monday 20 - Tuesday 21 February. This is a closed event, but there may be a few extra places for people to attend. If interested, please send your name and affiliation to Christopher Hobson (hobson@unu.edu).

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Dr. Christopher Hobson
Research Associate
Institute for Sustainability and Peace
United Nations University

Email: hobson[at]unu.edu
Web: http://unu.edu/faculty/christopher-hobson