2nd Global Conference:
Ecological Justice and Global Citizenship

Thursday 13th February - Saturday 15th February 2003
Copenhagen, Denmark

Call for Papers

Environments, Sustainability and Technologies

Keynote Speaker:
Professor Andrew Dobson (Department of Government and Politics, Open University)
“Ecological Citizenship and Global Justice: Two Paths
Converging”.

This inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary conference aims to explore the role of ecology and environmental ideas in the context of contemporary society and international politics, and assess the implications for our understandings of fairness, justice and global citizenship.

The 2003 conference is one of an annual series of conferences which make up a wider project concerned with the possibilities of integrating social, economic and environmental concerns by focusing on four inter-locking areas.

In particular, the 2nd Global Conference on Ecological Justice and Global Citizenship will explicitly explore the relationships between environments, sustainability and technology, the role of technology in creating possibilities for sustainable resources for the future, and the inherent problems and dangers which accompany that role.

Papers, presentations, reports and workshops are invited on any of the following indicative themes;

1. The Individual and the Environment: exploring the interaction between individuals, households, and the environment. Issues surrounding household waste, energy efficiency, household technologies and lifestyle choices will be considered. The impact of changes in household ecology on social, national and international environmental issues will also be assessed.

2. The Deployment of Technology: reflecting on the manner in which technologies are mobilised and deployed; their relationship with TimeSpace – and the contributions of Actor Network Theory (ANT), Critical Geography and Sociology of Science; the social nature of technology; the manner in which technologies can be deployed to help us understand more about out environments, covering issues such as GIS, etc. Papers are sought that develop these ideas further in an environmental context.

3. Public Perceptions, Technology, and the Environment: examining public perceptions of the possibilities and challenges offered by technology, public understanding of risks of technological developments in relation to the environment - for example, public perception of the risks afforded by genetically modified food and crops; consideration of the relationships between a broad range of other technologies and the environment.

4. Technology, Law and the Environment: examining not only how law regulates technology but also issues of access to and transfer of environmental sustainable technologies and whether law can encourage the use of best available technologies

5. Technology and Development: the extent to which technologies can encourage sustainable development; how developing countries can gain access to the most sustainable technologies; whether patterns of development are predicated on wrong perceptions about the role of technology; the coverage of and access to alternative technologies, intermediate technologies, and the role of education.

6. Technology, Buildings, Cities and Planning Policy: the role of technology in designing and constructing buildings and cities to more sustainable effect; the impact of information technologies; knowledge management and the environment.

7. Transport and the Environment: looking at the emergence and development of transport systems and networks; personal transport methods and environmental impact; designing and delivering national and international transport systems; creating sustainable transport networks.

8. Technology, Global Warming and Energy: assessing the impact of technological advances on global warming; the uses to which technology can be put; checking and safeguarding energy efficiency; the deployment of technology to utilise alternative sources of energy; technological longevity and the problems of dated and discarded technologies.

Perspectives are sought from

• people engaged in actor network theory, agriculture and agricultural economics, city and regional planning, conflict resolution and mediation, critical geography, environmental studies, human development and ecology, industrial relations and design, philosophy and ethics, political science and international affairs, public policy and advising, social sciences, sociology of science, theology, urban studies, western European studies

• people in the public and private sectors who are involved in planning and project development, policy-making and implementation, and negotiation and mediation at national and international levels

• people in Governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, voluntary sector bodies, environmental charities and groups, business and professional associations

Papers will be considered on any related theme. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 7th November 2002. Full draft papers should be submitted by Wednesday 15th January 2003.

Selected papers accepted for and presented at the conference will be published in themed volumes.

Papers should be submitted to Dr Rob Fisher as an email attachment in Word or WordPerfect; abstracts can also be submitted in the body of the email text rather than as an attachment.