Helsinki Summer Seminar on International Law 18-29.8.2008

7.2.2008

The 21th Helsinki Summer Seminar on International Law 18-29.8.2008

International Law, the Environment and Power

Since the rise of environmental consciousness in the 1960's and 70's, the body of international norms relating to the protection of the environment has grown exponentially, and the trend of "greening"

international law and institutions has continued strong even in the new millennium. While the justifications for global environmental regulation are often universal and idealist, the fact remains that international environmental law is not neutral in world politics. Indeed, the question can be raised whether international law has, in fact, been successful in advancing green ideals and preventing environmental degradation. Or has it, instead, only legitimised the continuation of environmentally harmful activities and resulted in excessive bureaucracy and process-driven managerialism? How about the impact of this increasingly specialised legal sphere on the fragmentation of international law and, indeed, the distribution of power and resources in world politics?

The 21st Helsinki Summer Seminar on International Law aims to provide a forum for critically discussing the possibilities and prospects of international law in protecting the global environment and to advance `justice´, that is, a more equal share of global risks and resources between different states and other stakeholders.

Lecturers:

* Dr. Maria Gutierrez, (City University of New York) , "Making Markets Out of Thin Air: Forests under the Kyoto Protocol"

* Professor Ellen Hey, (Erasmus University Rotterdam), "Global Environmental Law"

* Dr. Katja Keinänen, Research Fellow, (Erik Castrén Institute, University of Helsinki) "International Environmental Law and the Liberal Market Economy"

* Dr. Kati Kulovesi, (London School of Economics and Political Science), "The WTO, the Kyoto Protocol and Interaction between the Fragments of Internationa Law"

* Dr. China Miéville, Honorary Research Fellow, Birkbeck, (University of London, School of Law), novelist, "Pollution, Power and International Law"

* Professor Ileana Porras, (Arizona State University), "Coping with

Growth: Grounding the Concept of Sustainable Development in the City"

* Dr. Peter H. Sand, (University of Münich), "Sanctions for Non-compliance with International Environmental Law"

Tentative programme can be found from the web page:

http://www.helsinki.fi/eci/Events/summerseminar08.htm

The registration and tuition fee is 120 ? and is paid in advance by 25 July 2008. To register, please fill in the application form and return it to the Erik Castrén Institute at latest on 25 July 2008.

Tuition fee should be paid in advance into the seminar account: Nordea Bank Finland PLC, Aleksis Kiven katu 3-5, FIN-00020 Nordea, IBAN:

FI4416603000104987, BIC/Swift: NDEAFIHH, University of Helsinki,

Reference: Helsinki Summer Seminar on International Law.

Participants will make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. Information about different alternatives can be found on the web page of the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau .

Unfortunately the Institute cannot offer any travel grants or scholarships to participants.

For questions please contact: Ms. Sanna Villikka, The Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights, Tel. +358-9-1912 3140,

E-mail: intlaw-institute(at)helsinki.fi

More information: http://www.helsinki.fi/eci/Events/summerseminar08.htm