Authors

Bud Wonsiewicz

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Event Date

4-7-2001

Description

3 pages.

Comments

Presented by: the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy on April 7 & 8, 2001. Symposium director: Lakshman D. Guruswamy.

Co-sponsored by: University of Colorado School of Law, University of Colorado Environmental Program, University of Tulsa National Energy-Environment Law and Policy Institute, University of Colorado United Government of Graduate Students.

The papers and edited proceedings of the conference will be published in a special symposium issue of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy (CJIELP).

"The first objective of the Symposium was to understand and explore the growing importance of nongovernmental actors, and delineate the manner in which they have changed the cartography of national and international governance. The importance of this objective was demonstrated by the carnage of September 11, 2001. The recent terrorist attacks also demonstrated the extent to which we are inhabitants of a global village. This Symposium attempted to understand the manner in which two nonterrorist, nongovernmental entities have become increasingly important actors in this global village. It reviewed the manner in which corporations and NGOs are changing the geo-political and socio-economic boundaries of national and international governance.

The second objective brings special focus to bear on environmental NGOs. The second objective seeks answers to the questions: Have not-for-profits or NGOs, gone too far in diminishing the role of the public sector and the nation-state? Is the prevailing faith in the increasingly important role played by NGOs misplaced?

After establishing the importance of nongovernmental actors in national and international governance, the Symposium sought to ascertain whether not-for-profits or NGOs have gone too far in diminishing the role of the public sector and the nation-state. It also addressed the corollary issue of whether the prevailing faith in the increasingly important roles played by NGOs is misplaced.

The Symposium identified four case studies in an attempt to shed light on these questions and to acknowledge the functions that each sector is best suited to perform. Specifically, the Symposium employed the prism of environmental policy, science, and law to examine the roles played by NGOs in addressing: (1) GMOs; (2) dams; (3) wildlife and species; and (4) indigenous peoples." -- Lakshman D. Guruswamy, Cartography of Governance: An Introduction, 13 Colo. J. Int'l Envtl. L. & Pol'y 1-3 (2002).

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