International Development Week 2012 at the Global Lounge
International Development Week (IDW) is held annually, taking place this year from February 5 to February 11. IDW highlights the work of Canada’s development community.
The Simon K. Y. Lee Global Lounge & Resource Centre is recognizing IDW by hosting a series of discussions and workshops that critically engages with the theories and practices of international development. We hope to foster dialogue and interest around the themes we’ve chosen this year, so join us at the Global Lounge (2205 Lower Mall, Building 1) for events taking place throughout the week of February 5 to 11.
So You Want To Save Africa?
Monday, February 6: 5PM – 7PM
Recent advocacy campaigns have done a lot to bring armed conflict and human suffering (especially in Africa) to the attention of the general public. This often inspires many people to try and ‘make a difference’; although the importance of civic engagement cannot be underestimated, the So You Want To Save Africa? workshop will challenge you to critically reflect on the representations of Africa in advocacy/development work, as well as your own assumptions about ‘solutions’ to these issues. Hosted by the G7 Africa-focused groups (AAI, CAA, IRSA, STAND, WUSC, ACAC)!
What IS International Development?
Tuesday, February 7: 5PM – 7PM
Although IDW is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements and successes of international development, it undoubtedly remains a highly contested concept. Join Kristi Kenyon, Katherine Muldoon and Dr. Chris Erickson for a critical analysis of the ethics and merits of international development, as they present their opinions and differing perspectives on the topic.
Kristi Kenyon, a Liu Scholar and former Trudeau Scholar, is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Political Science. Her work examines the use of rights-based advocacy on HIV by civil society groups in Ghana, Uganda, Botswana and South Africa. She has worked with rights-based NGOs in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, and served on the board of development organizations in Canada and Botswana.
Katherine Muldoon is a Liu Scholar, Doctoral Fellow from the Canadian Association for HIV/AIDS Research, and PhD Student in the School of Population and Public Health. She works on a research team at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in the Gender and Sexual Health Initiative and the Canada-Africa Prevention Trials Network. Her doctoral research will take place in Northern Uganda, investigating the HIV epidemiology during the post-conflict period among young women who have exchanged sex for survival.
Dr. Chris Erickson, a sessional instructor in the Department of Political Science, specializes in the fields of Political Theory and International Relations. He is the author of The Poetics of Fear (Continuum Books, 2010) which examines the role of fear as a political and rhetorical tool. He completed his PhD at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Right To Develop = Right To Pollute?
Wednesday, February 8: 5PM – 7PM
As the debate and problems surrounding climate change become ever more prevalent, the question of whether it is fair for developed countries to impose strict environmental regulations on industrializing, developing countries is an increasingly poignant one. Join Dr. Suzanne Simard, Dr. Benjamin Richardson and Dr. Kathryn Harrison as they discuss their opinions on this controversial issue that pervades the international development and scientific community.
Dr. Suzanne Simard, from the Faculty of Forestry, conducts research on climate change, disturbance and management effects on the structure, function and resilience of terrestrial ecosystems. She completed her undergraduate studies in Forest Resources Management at UBC and has a PhD in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University.
Dr. Benjamin Richardson, from the Faculty of Law, is a Senior Canada Research Chair in Environmental Law & Sustainability. His principal research area is socially responsible investment and its regulation as a means of promoting environmentally sustainable development. He completed his undergraduate studies in law and political science with honours at Macquarie University and his PhD at the Australian National University.
Dr. Kathryn Harrison, from the Department of Political Science, conducts research that focuses on environmental policy, employing comparative analysis to understand why governments adopt the policies they do, as well as evaluating the efficacy of alternative policy instruments. Her most recently edited volume is titled “Global Commons, Domestic Decisions: The Comparative Politics of Climate Change” (MIT Press, 2010). She has a PhD in Political Science from UBC.
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Check out this event on the Global Lounge Facebook!
Learn more about International Development Week more generally at: www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/idw.
