REBUILDING AFTER 3/11: VULNERABILITY AND EMPOWERMENT Friday, 30 November 2012, 14:00 - 17:30 Elizabeth Rose Hall (5F) United Nations University, Tokyo

Natural disasters represent ruptures in the functioning of society, both literally and figuratively. These are crises that can cause unfathomable loss and damage to societies. Such catastrophes do not impact people equally, with the most vulnerable individuals and groups almost always suffering disproportionately, leaving them in an even more marginalized position.
Within such terrible events there still remains the possibility for beneficial change, however. A fundamental part of the rebuilding process must be identifying opportunities to reform existing societal structures to build resilience and empower people.

This UNU-ISP symposium considers these issues in the context of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
More than 1.5 years after the "triple disasters" of 11 March 2011, it is now possible to begin taking stock.
As Japan goes through the difficult process of rebuilding, it is necessary to identify what vulnerabilities have been created or exacerbated, and what positive developments and improvements there have been. In addition to the many issues related to the earthquake and tsunami, the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant has also given rise to a series of difficult questions related to Japan's future energy policy and the way its democracy functions.

PROGRAMME

14:00 - 14:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Prof.
Kazuhiko Takeuchi (Vice-Rector, UNU; Director, UNU-ISP)

14:15 - 15:45 Session One

Chair: Dr. Christopher Hobson (UNU-ISP)
- Dr. Daniel Aldrich (Purdue University): "Social Capital's Role in Building Resilience"
- Prof. Akiko Nakajima (Wayo Women's University):
"Issues of People in Shelters and Temporary Housing after the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake from the Perspective of Gender"
- Dr. David Slater (Sophia University): "The (Re)Construction of Tohoku Communities after the Triple Disasters"

15:45 - 16:00 Coffee break

16:00 - 17:30 Session Two

Chair: Prof. Paul Bacon (Waseda University)
- Dr. Jun Shigemura (National Defense Medical College):
"Why Fukushima nuclear plant workers are facing discrimination and stigma: mental health consequences following the Fukushima Daiichi accident"
- Prof. Andrew DeWit (Rikkyo University): "Distributed Power and Incentives in Post-Fukushima Japan"
- Prof. Yasunori Sone (Keio University): "Deliberative Polling about Japanese energy policy"

To register to attend this event, please visit the following link, click on the 'Register' button, and complete the online registration form:
http://unu.edu/events/upcoming/rebuilding-after-311-vul
nerability-and-empowerment.html

Please note that this event will be conducted in English only; no Japanese interpretation will be provided.

This is the latest in a series of events related to the UNU-ISP Human Security and Natural Disasters project, which examines the relevance and significance of a human security framework in preparing for, reacting to and understanding the impacts of natural disasters on people. More information about the project can be found
here:
http://isp.unu.edu/research/human-security/index.html

For further information or any queries, please contact Christopher Hobson (hobson[at]unu.edu) or Nicholas Turner (turner[at]unu.edu).

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Dr. Christopher Hobson
Research Associate
Institute for Sustainability and Peace
United Nations University
5-53-70 Jingumae
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-8925
Japan

Email: hobson[at]unu.edu
Web: http://unu.edu/faculty/christopher-hobson
Tel: +81-3-5467-1329