// tPhC // Confirmed dates and venues of the spring and early summer 2016 Philosophical Activism tour

workshop on human rights - photo gaston meskens

There we go again. Confirmed dates and venues of the spring and early summer 2016 Philosophical Activism tour. Let me know if you are around with time to go downtown.

Bhopal, India, 29 – 30 March

Raipur, India 31 March – 2 April

Warsaw, 6 – 8 April

New York, 9 – 14 April

Barcelona, 18 – 19 April

Cape Town, 7 – 14 May

Berlin, 21 – 23 May

Madrid, 24 – 25 May

Bucharest, 1 – 4 June

Kuopio, Finland, 6 – 10 June

Stockholm, 12 – 15 June

Ottawa, Canada, 19 – 22 July

Hangzhou, 25 – 28 July

Shanghai, 29 – 31 July

More destinations may be added soon. Watch this space.

insights-10


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the PhɅAct Collective – Vigilant to suspicious use of poetical concepts in political context


 

the philosophical activism tour – previous interventions:

Paris, 30 November – 11 December 2015, UNFCCC conference
Representing the Constituency of Research Oriented and Independent Non-governmental Organisations to the UNFCCC at the 21th United Nations climate change conference (21th session of the Conference of the Parties and the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meet ing of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol)

Jülich, 17 – 18 December 2015, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Campus Jülich
Invited seminar on ethics

Lisbon, 14 – 15 December 2015, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon
EUROFUSION Socio-Economic Studies meeting

Madrid, 24 – 25 November 2015, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Invited seminar on ethics

Tokyo, 12 – 13 November 2015, UNU Workshop “Understanding and communicating risks post-Fukushima” United Nations University Headquarters
Invited lecture ‘Beyond paternalism and strategy: understanding radiological risks as a mutual learning experience’

Delft, 9 November 2015, Technical University of Delft
Invited lecture ‘Werkcollege ethiek en stralingsbescherming’

Paris, 4 November 2015, NEA Headquarters
Meeting of the NEA Forum on Stakeholder Confidence

Seoul, 20 October 2015
Invited lecture on ethics at the 2015 World Conference of the International Commission on Radiological Protection

Bratislava, 9 October 2015, Slovak Parliament
Invited lecture ‘Etické vhl’ady a reflexie energetiky: analýza pripadových štúdií – Interaktivny workshop’

Bratislava, 8 October 2015, Goethe Institute
Invited lecture ‘Overcoming the Framing Problem – Critical reflections on the EURATOM R&D programme and on the consequences for the PLATENSO Project’

New York, 25 – 27 September 2015, United Nations Headquarters
United Nations Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda

Tokyo, 20 – 22 September 2015, The 2015 Citizen-Scientist International Symposium on Radiation Protection
Invited lecture ‘“The Right to be Responsible” – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations’
Invited lecture ‘The Consolatory Practice of Leaving – On reflexivity as art activism in the age of populism, positivism and profitism’

Tokyo, 18 September 2015, Sophia University
Invited lecture ‘Dealing with low dose radiological risk: The challenge of striving for democratic justice and societal trust and peace in the absence of scientific evidence’

Uppsala, 4 August 2015, WNU Summer Institute
Invited lecture ‘The trouble with justification: exploring the ethical dimensions of risk-inherent energy technology assessment’

Paris, 24 June 2015, IYNC Conference
Invited lecture ‘The Trouble with Justification – In search of an ethics of method for energy governance’

Brdo, 18 June 2015, Ricomet Conference, Brdo Castle
Invited Lecture ‘On the ethical imperative of self-reflection in radiation protection research’

Fukushima, 2 June 2015, Fukushima Medical University
Invited lecture ‘”The Right to be Responsible” – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations.’

Nagoya, 4 June 2015, United Nations University Chubu Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development
Invited lecture ‘”The Right to be Responsible” – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations.’

Tokyo, 5 June 2015, International Peace Research Institute, Meiji Gakuin University
Invited lecture ‘”The Right to be Responsible” – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations.’

Delft, 1 – 2 June 2015, University of Delft
Lecture ‘Nuclear Energy in its socio-political context’

Stockholm, 25 27 May 2015, SENIX Conference
Invited lecture ‘Beyond Controversy and Diplomacy – An Ethical Perspective on Energy Governance’

Sofia, 21 April 2015, Center for the Study of Democracy
Organisation of the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Bucharest, 26 March 2015, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy
Organisation of the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Sofia, 24 March 2015, Center for the Study of Democracy
Preparatory meeting for the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Dublin, 25 February 2015, Trinity College
Invited lecture at the Workshop ‘Lightening the Dark Side of Science’

Madrid, 4 – 6 February 2015, Technical University of Madrid
Invited lecture at the Second European Workshop on the Ethical Dimensions of the Radiological Protection System

New York, 20 – 25 January 2015, United Nations Headquarters
Sustainable Development Goals Post-2015 Negotiating Session and meeting of Forum 21

Münich, 15 – 16 January 2015, bundesamt für strahlenschutz Campus
Interventions on ethics and radiological protection, OPERRA Project

Athens, 19 – 20 December 2014,
Invited seminar on ethics (part of the Postgraduate Educational Course on Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources of the International Atomic Energy Agency)

Lima, 1 – 12 December 2014, UNFCCC conference
Representing the Constituency of Research Oriented and Independent Non-governmental Organisations to the UNFCCC at the 20th United Nations climate change conference (Twentieth session of the Conference of the Parties and the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meet ing of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol)

Jülich, 1 – 2 December 2014, University of Aachen
Invited seminar on Ethics

Amsterdam, 27 November 2014, Rijksakademie Amsterdam
Invited lecture ‘The Consolatory Practice of Leaving – On reflexivity as art activism
in the age of populism, positivism and profitism’ at the Rijksakademie Open 2014 event

Barcelona, 25 – 26 November 2014
The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment – Working meeting of the PLATENSO project

Bucharest, 20 November, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy
Invited lecture ‘An ethical approach to issues of democracy and science as policy advice in the context of (nuclear) energy policy’

Antwerp, 19 november 2014
Invited lecture ‘Welkom in het tijdperk van de reflexiviteit’ at the stRaten-generaal congres “Democratie Vandaag – Nieuwe mogelijkheden voor overheid en burgers”

Durham (UK), 30 – 31 October 2014, Durham University
3rd Workshop on Philosophical Activism

Barcelona, 10 October 2014
Kick-off meeting of the EUROFUSION Project 2014 – 2018

New York, 22 – 28 September 2014, United Nations Headquarters
United Nations General Assembly

Oxford, 22 July 2014, Christ Church College, Oxford University
Lecture ‘The trouble with justification – Exploring the ethical dimensions of risk-inherent energy technology assessment’ at the World Nuclear Association Summer Institute

Burgos (Spain), 10 July 2014
Workshop ‘The Trouble with Justification’ at the IYNC Conference

Ghent, 26 – 27 June 2014, University of Ghent
Lecture ‘Are there workable worldviews for global governance?’ at the Internation Global Studies Conference ‘Critical and interdisciplinary perspectives’

Budweiss, 17 – 19 June 2014
Workshop on the Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance with the European OPERRA researchers network.

Bratislava, 16 June 2014
Lecture ‘Ethical Foundation of Energy Governance’ for the Ministerial Plenary of the European Nuclear Energy Forum

Warsaw, 12 – 13 May 2014, Civitas College, Warsaw Palace of Culture
Workshop ‘Exploring the science, politics and ethics of nuclear technology assessment’

Madrid, 5 – 6 June 2014 (date tbc), Technical University of Madrid
Lecture The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance for master students

Warsaw, 12 – 13 May 2014, Polish Ministry of Economy
Preparation of te workshop ‘Exploring the science, politics and ethics of nuclear technology assessment’ with the European PLATENSO researchers network

Ramapo (New Jersey), 5 April 2014, Ramapo College
Workshop – Converging on a peoples transformative agenda for sustainable development post 2015

New York, 31 March – 4 April 2014, United Nations, UN Headquarters
10th UN OpenWorking Group on the Sustainable Development Goals

New York, 1 – 8 February 2014, United Nations, UN Headquarters
8th Meeting of the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

Rome, 27 – 28 January 2014, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Meeting on the need for stakeholder involvement for the European OPERRA researchers network

Aachen, 22 January 2014, Technical University of Aachen
Lecture The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance for master students

Milano, 16 – 18 December 2013, University of Milan
1st European Workshop on the Ethical Dimensions of the Radiological Protection System

Munich, 10 – 11 December 2013, Max Planck Institute
Project The Politics of Hypothesis – discussion

Luxemburg, 3 December 2013, European Commission
Intervention at the meeting of the European Nuclear Energy Forum

Manchester, 27 – 28 November 2013
Lecture The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance for managers

Warsaw, 16 – 22 November 2013, UNFCCC conference
19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Ghent, 25 October 2013, University of Ghent
Organisation of the 2nd workshop on Philosophical Activism, CEVI, University of Ghent

Brussels, 9 – 10 October 2013,
Workshop on the Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance with the European MELODI researchers network.

Bratislava, 25 – 26 September 2013
Track ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’, kick-off meeting of the European Commission PLATENSO research project

New York, 21 – 24 September 2013
Participation in a set of meetings on the Millennium Development Goals, the Post-2015 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, organised by civil society and the United Nations

Barcelona, 19 September 2013
Lecture ‘Social Research On Fusion – Dialogues with stakeholders working at the research-policy interface’ at the Satellite Meeting on the Socio-economic dimensions of Fusion Energy

Brussels, 11 September 2013
Organisation of a panel discussion ‘Researching radioactive waste governance and environmental remediation: constructing a credible story of societal relevance’ at the 15th International Conference On Environmental Remediation And Radioactive Waste Management

London, 6 September 2013
Track ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’, meeting on stakeholder involvement in the context of the European Commission 7th Framework Programme Research Project OPERRA.

Ljubljana, 18 – 22 August 2013
Track ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’, kick-off meeting of the European Commission EAGLE research project

Vienna, 24 – 26 July 2013
Lecture ‘The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance’, International Atomic Energy Agency Meeting of Directors of the Postgraduate Educational Course on Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources, IAEA headquarters.

Vienna, 11 – 13 June 2013
Meeting of the Blue Frog Society (an activist art collective based in Vienna).

Paris, 17 – 18 June 2013
Lecture ‘Reflection on the meaning of ethics related to radiological protection’, Kick-off meeting of the European Commission 7th Framework Programme Research Project OPERRA.

Buenos Aires, 25 April 2013
Lecture ‘The Trouble with Justification’, seminar ‘Nuclear Policy in Argentina and the World’, organised by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Argentina in cooperation with the Argentinian Universidad de San Andrés and the Argentinian Universidad Nacional de San Martín.

Brussels, 8 – 10 April 2013
Lecture ‘Lecturing ethics in courses on radiological protection and nuclear engineering’, Symposium of the Belgian Association of Radiological Protection.

Tunis, 27 March 2013
Organisation of the workshop ‘The human rights principle for sustainable development governance’, World Social Forum 2013, University Campus El Manar

Bonn, 20 – 22 March 2013
Participation in the Global Civil Society Organisations Conference ‘Advancing the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda’, organised by the Berlin Civil Society Centre.

Vienna, 13 March 2013
Lecture ‘Considerations on Ethics in Radiological Protection Education and Training’, European Nuclear Society International Conference on Education and Training in Radiological Protection

Prague, 27 February 2013
Lecture ‘The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance’, Technical University of Prague.

Mol, 22 February 2013
Lecture ‘The Ethics of Justifying Nuclear Technology Applications’, International Course on ‘Radiation-induced effects with particular emphasis on genetics, development, teratology, cognition as well as space-related health issues’.

Brussels, 20 – 21 February 2013
Organisation of a workshop ‘Exploring the Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’.

Ghent, 15 February 2013
Organisation of the first workshop on Philosophical Activism & Lecture ‘When Poetry becomes Suspicious – On the need for philosophical activism for global governance’, CEVI Workshop on Philosophical Activism, University of Ghent

Tokyo, 29 January 2013
Lecture ‘The human rights principle for sustainable development governance’, Earth Systems Governance Tokyo Conference ‘Complex Architectures, Multiple Agents’, United Nations University Headquarters.

Ghent, 18 January 2013
Lecture ‘The Human Rights Principle for Sustainable Development Governance’ at the Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Ghent.

Luxemburg, 19 December 2012
Discussion interventions at the European Nuclear Energy Forum Symposium, European Commission Luxemburg offices.

Manchester, 10 December 2012
Lecture ‘new adventures in knowledge transfer’, Workshop “Knowledge transfer – building bridges between generations”, European Nuclear Conference

Paris, 7 December 2012
Discussion interventions at the Workshop “Nucléaire et Sciences Sociales Après Fukushima” organised by the French National Council for Scientific Research CNRS.

Brussels, 4 – 5 December 2012
Discussion interventions at the European Roundtable on the implementation of the Aahrus Convention in the context of nuclear safety, organised by the European Economic and Social Council of the European Commission.

Paris, 12 November 2012
Moderation of a discussion on the normative grounds for scientific research as part of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) Workshop of the European Radioecology Alliance.

Berlin, 5 October 2012
Lecture ‘A politics of confrontation for sustainable development governance’, Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, Free University of Berlin.

Rome, 19 September 2012
EFDA Modelling Assessment Workshop: organisation of a workshop on the critical analysis of the usability of computer modelling assisted scientific foresight in the frame of energy governance, as part of the Socio-Economic Research on Fusion programme under the EC European Fusion Development Agreement.

Brussels, 21 August 2012
Opinion essay “Energiebeleid, zonder de mythes, met of zonder Doel 3 – Over de mythes dat er een rationele logica zou bestaan voor risicobeheer en dat de vrije energiemarkt de motor van energiebeleid kan zijn.” Opinion essay for the newspaper De Morgen, finally withdrawn at own initiative.

Charlotte (US), 5 – 10 August 2012
Interactive Workshop on the Ethics of Technological Risk Governance

Rio de Janeiro, 11 – 23 June 2012
Organising a workshop on a human rights based approach to sustainable development and working on the Equity Treaty at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.

London, 25 – 29 March 2012
Presenting the “The Possibility of global Governance” Project at the Conference “Planet Under Pressure”

New York, 18 – 24 March 2012
United Nations Rio+20 Summit Intersessionals at the UN HQ

Ghent, 12 March 2012
Workshop “After 9/11 ‐ The Politics of Terror and the Terror of Politics”, Centre for Ethics and Value Inquiry, University of Ghent

Madrid, 5 – 6 March 2012
The Ethics of Technological Risk Governance – Meeting on Transdisciplinarity in Education and Training

Brussels, 21 – 22 February 2012
Organised workshop “Exploring the Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment”

Warsaw, 12 – 16 February 2012
Presentation “Public Reflexivity and its discomforts” at the ENS PIME Conference

Munich, 24 – 25 January 2012
Preparing an Energy Modelling Assessment workshop for the European Fusion Development Agreement Socio-Economic Research on Fusion programme

New York, 15 – 20 January 2012
United Nations Rio+20 Summit Intersessionals at the UN HQ

Madrid, 10 – 13 January 2012
The Ethics of Technological Risk Governance – Meeting on Transdisciplinarity in Education and Training

Cape Town & Durban, 28 November – 11 December 2011
United Nations Climate Change Conference

New York, 13 – 18 December 2011
United Nations Rio+20 Summit Intersessionals at the UN HQ

Geneva, 10 – 11 October 2011
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development conference

Bonn, 3 – 5 September 2011
64th Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference “Sustainable Societies; Responsive Citizens”

Kuala Lumpur, 9-10 May 2011
Invited lecture “The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance”, International Course for Inspectors organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency

Brussels, 27 April 2011
Invited expert to the Meeting of the Working Group on the Ethics of Nanotechnologies of the UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (programme & participants)

Brussels, 11 April 2011
The Trouble with Justification’, invited lecture in the ‘Aarhus Convention and Nuclear Energy’ symposium organised by the University of Brusels and SCK-CEN

Cyprus, 28 – 30 March 2011
Coordination of Reflection Group on “Establishing a transdisciplinary knowledge base for nuclear safety and radiological protection”

Karlsruhe, 28 March 2011
Invited lecture “The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance”, Karslruhe Institute of Technology

Karlsruhe, 21 March 2011
Invited lecture “The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance”, Karslruhe Institute of Technology

Lisbon, 14 – 16 March 2011
Invited lecture “The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance”, ITN – Institute for Nuclear Technology, Lisbon

New York, 6 – 8 March 2011
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Preparatory committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Cancun, 29 November – 10 December 2010
United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP16 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 6

Lisbon, 10 – 12 Nov 2010
Lecture “The Last Paradigm? Deliberate Visions on a Sustainable World” at the International Conference “Intellectual Topographies and the Making of Citizenship”, University of Lisbon

Ghent, 18 – 19 Oct 2010
Research interactions at the International Conference on “Moral Responsibility – Analytic Approaches, Substantive Accounts and Case Studies”, Centre for Ethics and Value Inquiry, University of Ghent, Belgium

New York, 20-24 Sept 2010
Study visit

Paris, 15 September 2010
10Y Anniversary Colloquium of the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence in Radioactive Waste Governance

New Haven, 17-19 Sept 2010
Lecture “Governance Through Better Relativism – Seven Challenges to a Future Climate Change Debate” and research interactions at the 2nd Yale-UNITAR International Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy, Yale University

Vienna, 22 – 24 June 2010
Invited contribution to the Technical Committee Meeting on Public Perception of Fast Reactor Technology, International Atomic Energy Agency

Barcelona, 28 May 2010
Start-up meeting of the Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Energy Governance project

Princeton, 08 May 2010
Debating the Nuclear Weapons Convention – Observing and reporting on the preparation of a negotiations simulation exercise by 20 international students

New York, 01 – 10 May 2010
United Nations Review Conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty

New York, 01 – 10 May 2010
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development 18th session

Luxemburg, 08 April 2010
Contribution ‘Research analysis of the Belgian radioactive waste governance approach’ to the EC European roundtable on the Implementation of the Aarhus Convention

Palermo, 09 March 2010
Invited lecture ‘Beyond the search for truth – analysing what complicates the societal justification of nuclear technology’ for the EC ICARO Course [pdf]

Brussels, 19 March 2010
Invited lecture ‘The Ethics of Energy Governance’ for the EU-40 Group

Ghent, 5 March 2010
Lecture ‘The Possibility of Global Governance’ at the Ghent University Faculty of Arts and Philosophy [pdf]

Brussels, 23 February 2010
Research interaction at the EFONET Workshop

Brussels, 30 January 2010
Invited statement on the ethics of participatory decision making in the context of radioactive waste governance at the Public Forum organised by the King Baudouin Foundation

Copenhagen, 7 – 18 December 2009
United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP15 & Kyoto Protocol COP/MOP 5

Garching, 26 November 2009,
Max Planck Institute Meeting on the future research needs in the frame of the Socio-economic Research on Fusion (SERF) programme of the European Fusion Development Agreement of the EC

Lisbon, 8 – 11 November 2009
Invited lecture on “Lecturing ethics in courses on radiological protection and nuclear technology assessment: feedback on 5y of academic experience”

Sevilla, 27 – 30 October 2009
Invited lecture on “Transparency and Public Acceptance – a critical analysis of the complexity of nuclear technology assessment”, Annual conference of the Spanish Nuclear Society

Cumbria, 19-21 October 2009
CARL Workshop on the future research in social sciences and humanities on societal aspects of radioactive waste governance

Paris, 7 – 8 October 2009
Research contribution on the “European Guidelines for Inclusive Radioactive Waste Governance” in the frame of the Cowam in Practice project

Helsinki, 23 – 25 August 2009
Research contribution “Theoretical Perspectives on Participation and Democracy” to the ARGONA project

Paris, 6 – 7 July 2009
Research interactions at the CIPAST conference “Governing Uncertainty: The Contribution of Social Sciences to the Governance of Risks in Environmental Health”

Bucharest & Constanta, 17 – 19 June 2009
Lecture on ‘The Ethics of Inclusion and Compensation’ in the frame of the Radioactive Waste Governance research programme

Stockholm, 5 – 11 June 2009,
VALDOR Conference Lecture ‘Happenings at the science-policy interface – The case of radioactive waste governance’ (pdf)

Cordoba, 19 – 25 May 2009,
EYGN Forum Invited lecture on ‘Aspects of Participation and Transparency in Nuclear Technology Assessment’ (in the frame of the project ‘A Philosophy of Justification – the case of technology assessment’ (pdf)

Bergen, Norway, 10 – 12 May 2009,
World Social Science Forum presentation of the research outline of the project ‘The Possibility of Global Governance’

Paris, 23 – 25 March 2009
International Chambre of Commerce Headquarters Research interactions at the ICC Energy and Environment Commission

Uppsala, 16 – 19 March 2009
research interactions and input on the future European research policy on Risk Governance

Lisbon, 8 – 14 March 2009
Erasmus IP ICARO Course, University of Lisbon, ITN Lecture ‘Ethics and the Principle of Justification – the case of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Manchester & St Bees, 9 – 13 February 2009
Research interactions on policy approaches in the frame of Inclusive Governance of Radioactive Waste

Berlin, 22 – 25 January 2009
Research and writing travel

Stockholm, 13 – 14 January 2009
Update research ‘Theoretical Perspectives on Participation and Democracy’, ARGONA project

Paris, 8 – 9 January 2009
Research interactions on the future European research policy on Risk Governance

Poznan, 01 – 12 December 2008
Research work at the 13th Conference of the Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Paris, 24 October 2008
Discussion meeting on the Aarhus Convention in the context of governance of radioactive waste

Barcelona, 16 – 17 September 2008
Lecture on ‘Democratising the Science-Policy Interface’, EC FP6 OBRA Final Conference

Bucharest, 10 – 11 September 2008
Intervention on Aspects of Democracy in Inclusive Governance of Radioactive Waste – the Romanian context

Prague, 3 – 5 September 2008
Lecture – status update on the ‘Theoretical Perspectives of Participation and Democracy’ project

London, 26 – 27 June 2008
Intervention in the ENS Board meeting on research culture in nuclear technology assessment

Paris, 18 June 2008
Discussion on policy approaches in the frame of Inclusive Governance of Radioactive Waste

Prague, 13 – 14 June 2008
Lecture – status update on the ‘Theoretical Perspectives of Participation and Democracy’ project

Paris, 10 June 2008
Intervention on Aspects of Democracy in Inclusive Governance of Radioactive Waste – the French context

Porto, 24 May – 1 June 2008
Research and writing travel

New York, 09 – 17 May 2008
UN Headquarters Research work, CSD15, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

Budapest, 04 – 07 May 2008
NESTet Conference Lecture ‘Transdisciplinary Aspects of Education and Training in Radiological Risk Governance’

Bucharest, 14 – 16 April 2008
Intervention on Aspects of Democracy in Inclusive Governance – reflections on risk compensation

Nusa Dua, Bali, 3-14 December 2007
Research work and invited lectures on the use of knowledge in global decision making on complex problems, 13th Conference of the parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Paris, 23 May 2007
Conference ‘Intellectual capital for communities in the knowledge economy’

New York, 1-11 May 2007
United Nations Headquarters Research work, CSD15, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

Stockholm, 25 April 2007
Discussion meeting on research work ‘Theoretical perspectives on participation and democracy’

Lisbon, 23 March 2007
University of Lisbon Invited lecture on ‘Risk, transpareny and free choice – On the complexity of risk inherent technology assessment’

Prague, 7 February 2007
Technical University of Prague Invited lecture on ‘Ethical aspects of risk inherent technology applications’

Rauma (Finland), 2 February 2007
Vuojoki Castle Workshop and debates on deliberative democracy and stakeholder involvement

Amsterdam, 8 December 2006
Centrum De Brakke Grond Public statement on the clash between art and science on the occasion of the theatre piece ‘De utopie van het atoom’, in cooperation with Cie De Koe

Stockholm, 22-23 November 2006
Start research group on ‘Theoretical perspectives on participation and democracy’, ARGONA Project

Nairobi, 8-17 November 2006
Research work, COP12 Conference, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Ghent, 28-29 September 2006
Conference ‘Social Sciences and Democracy’

Prague, 13 September 2006
Invited talk on ‘A transdisciplinary approach to education and training’, 10th EAN Workshop

Stockholm, 21 June 2006
Workshop moderator ‘The Politics of Sustainable Development’

Brussels, 18 May 2006
Public talk on ‘The Art of Knowledge’, together with the author Kader Abdollah, Homo Universalis series, Vlaams-Nederlands Huis De Buren

Stockholm, 15-18 May 2006
Public statement on ‘The philosophy of risk and injustice’, VALDOR Conference

New York, 8 May 2006,
NY University, Dept Political Philosophy Workshop ‘Another state is possible’

New York, 2-12 May 2006
United Nations Headquarters Research work, CSD13, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

Ghent, 27-29 April 2006
Ghent University Conference on Global Ethics in Political Philosophy

history 1999 – 2006 is in archives – no time to complete the list

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// tA // New paper – Beyond Paternalism and Strategy: Understanding Radiological Risks as a Mutual Learning Experience

Public session on Fukushima, United Nations University, 15 November 2015, Tokyo, Japan
Public session on Fukushima, United Nations University, 15 November 2015, Tokyo, Japan

This working paper is an output of the Fukushima Global Communication research workshop “Understanding and Communicating Risks Post Fukushima”, held in Tokyo on 12–13 November 2015. The workshop brought together international experts to explore the specific challenges of understanding and discussing risks related to nuclear accidents, and identify appropriate and effective forms of risk communication. It was published in the Fukushima Global Communication Programme Working Paper Series (Number 15 — December 2015) of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU‑IAS).

See https://theacademiaforum.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/paper-beyond-paternalism-and-strategy-understanding-radiological-risks-as-a-mutual-learning-experience/

 

// tPhC // Statement on post-accident social justice in Fukushima

View from my window, morning, Fukushima, Japan
View from my window, morning, Fukushima, Japan

This statement was my contribution to the Public Seminar ‘Understanding and communicating risks post-Fukushima’ at the United Nations University in Tokyo on Friday 13 November 2015.

See https://theacademiaforum.wordpress.com/2015/11/13/statement-on-post-accident-social-justice-in-fukushima/

 

// tPhC // Statement of the Research and Independent Non-governmental Organisations at the Paris Pre-COP meeting

On Sunday 8 November 2015, I delivered a statement on behalf of the Research and Independent Non-governmental Organisations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The statement is a joint piece of work done by the RINGO steering committee. The meeting was organised by the French COP21 hosts and was attended by 17 representatives from observer organisations, 14 Ministers, 4 Ambassadors or Head Negotiators and the UNFCCC Secretary General Christiana Figueres.

Read the full statement and find more background information here.

Part of the never ending PhɅAct Collective tour.

 

pre-cop paris

// tPhC // Intervention – The Ethics of Radiological Risk Governance – the Justice of Justification as a Central Concern, ICRP2015 Seoul

Lecture given at the 2015 Global conference of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Abstract

Due to the specific character of the radiological risk, judgements on whether or not the use of nuclear technology would be justified in society have to take into account knowledge-related uncertainties and value pluralism. The justice of justification thus not only informs the right of the potentially affected to participate in decision making, it also implies the responsibility of concerned actors to give account of the way they rationalise their interests and beliefs in knowledge generation and decision making. From this perspective, the presentation argues that there is a need for a ‘performative’ understanding of ethics in order to give ethical values or virtues a practical meaning in a socio-political context. Consequently, it proposes the concepts of ‘reflexivity as an ethical experience’ and ‘intellectual solidarity as an ethical commitment’ and elaborates on the way they could inform the methods of justification and optimisation and the ratio of dose limitation in radiological risk governance.

For more information on the conference, visit http://www.icrp2015.com/

Part of The PhɅAct Collective Tour. Write us if you want to have more information on this lecture.

 

seoul

 

 

// tPhC // Interventions on post-nuclear accident social justice in Tokyo, 18 – 22 September 2015

From 18 to 22 September 2015, I did three lectures in Tokyo on the occasion of the 2015 Citizen-Scientist International Symposium on Radiation Protection:

“Dealing with low dose radiological risk: The challenge of striving for democratic justice and societal trust and peace in the absence of scientific evidence” at the Study Group on Radiation Health Effects After the Nuclear Accident, Sophia University, Tokyo, 18 September 2015;

“The Consolatory Practice of Leaving – On reflexivity as art activism in the age of populism, positivism and profitism”at the ‘Between Arts and Science’ session of the 2015 Citizen-Scientist International Symposium on Radiation Protection, Tokyo, 20 September 2015;

“The Right to be Responsible – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations” at the Ethics session of the 2015 Citizen-Scientist International Symposium on Radiation Protection, Tokyo, 22 September 2015.


The CSRP2015 organisers took a quote from our film ‘A Journey into the Land of the Fourth Dimension’ as motto for their ‘Between Arts and Science Session’:

今日、科学は、過去に類を見ない規模で、政治と経済の場における権力の戦略としての役目を果たしている。遺伝子操作が施された種をめぐる政策、高性能ド ローンによるテロ計画、砂糖や脂肪への依存を促す生化学的メカニズム、ハードウェアやソフトウェアに助長される金融投機およびゲーム理論による政治的・経 済的施策の支援は、その中でもほんの一握りの例に過ぎない。幸いにも、実のならない種、砂糖、脂肪、脂質、ドローンや金融投機は公共圏で具現化されるため に、社会的な批判に晒されることになるが、人間の行動および社会動態が政治や市場の恩恵を受けて数学モデル化されている事実は、いわば科学のおとり作戦と でも呼ぶべきかもしれない。このようなゲーム理論作戦は、完全に無益というわけではなく、それ自体が人類に直接的な害を与えはしないかもしれない。しか し、われわれが誰であり、何を信じ、何に希望を抱き、何を恐れるのかということが、このような作戦により感情から切り離され、時として皮肉に合理化されて いる状態というのは、重要人物グループ(権力者グループ?)が今日持つ世界観の痛ましさの一例かもしれない。完全な社会的組織化に合理的に取り組もうとす る妄執と対立するのは、複雑性とは単に、人々が自らその複雑性を理解しようとする権利を与えられるという意味合いがあるという洞察である。その洞察を護る ためにわれわれが必要としているのは、モデルでも公式でも数字でもなく、あの「4次元世界」により啓蒙される果敢さを携えた科学と経済と政治のみなのであ る。
※映画『A Journey into the Land of the Fourth Dimension』(コンセプト・監督:ガストン・メスケンス)メスケンス自身による背景説明より抜粋

Find more information on that session here


 

Background.

The Citizen-Scientist International Symposium on Radiation Protection (CSRP) is an initiative that was set up by an NGO network after the Fukushima nuclear accident. The initiative, now certificated as a non-profit organization, is (quote) “[…] politically, financially, ideologically and religiously independent […]” and “[…] created by concerned, free-thinking citizens who have been committed to keeping radiation damages on health and environment to minimum […].

The CSRP recognises that judging on the necessary protection measures is complicated by the fact that ‘health effects of low-dose radiation exposure are not yet well understood’ but also claims that the people’s concerns and fears are above all triggered by their ‘mistrust in the information and radiation protection measures provided by the Japanese government’. As a reaction to that, CSRP wants to organise the public dialogue the authorities ‘fail to organse’: “[…] The purpose of CSRP is to gather the latest scientific findings from the world on health effects of ionizing radiation and share them with citizens. Furthermore, CSRP aims to provide citizen-scientists from within and outside of Japan with a table for discussion on health effects of ionizing radiation and on protective measures, contributing at the same time to the establishment of an extensive international network for citizens’ radiation protection. […]” (http://csrp.jp/about_us)

CSRP2015 was the fifth conference in a row. Day 1 focused on ‘diverse intellectual interactions between science and art’, day 2 explored ‘epidemiology as a science’ and provided ‘a general overview of radiation protection measures based on the latest biological findings’. Finally, day 3 dealt with societal aspects with the aim to discuss ‘what language, law and ethics are necessary in order to put such measures into practice’.

 

CSRP2015

// tPhC // Invited lectures on post-nuclear accident social justice in Fukushima, Nagoya and Tokyo

Invited lecture “The Right to be Responsible – Ethical reflections on risk assessment in post-nuclear accident situations.”, done at

  • The Second Asian Workshop on the Ethical Dimensions of the System of Radiological Protection, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, 2 June 2015
  • United Nations University Chubu Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, Nagoya, 4 June 2015
  • The International Peace Research Institute, Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, 5 June 2015

The Second Asian Workshop on the Ethical Dimensions of the System of Radiological Protection is part of a series of workshops organised by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in cooperation with local hosts. This workshop was hosted by the Fukushima Medical University and focused on the theme of ‘Nuclear Emergencies and Post-Accident Situations’. See more info on the ICRP ethics initiative here.

On the occasion of my presence in Japan, Prof. Kinhide Mushakoji (retired Vice-Rector of the regional and Global Studies Division of the United Nations University and currently Vice President of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism) arranged two additional lectures for me in Nagoya and Tokyo.

Part of the The PhɅAct Collective tour. Write us if you would want to have more information on these lectures.

 

fukushima - morning

 

// tPhC // The philosophical activism tour of the PhɅAct Collective: new interventions for 2015

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The philosophical activism tour of the PhɅAct Collective: new interventions scheduled for 2015 (more to come):

Madrid, 4 – 6 February 2015, Technical University of Madrid
Invited lecture at the Second European Workshop on the Ethical Dimensions of the Radiological Protection System

Dublin, 25 February 2015, Trinity College
Invited lecture at the Workshop ‘Lightening the Dark Side of Science’

Sofia, 24 March 2015, Center for the Study of Democracy
Preparatory meeting for the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Bucharest, 26 March 2015, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Philosophy
Organisation of the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Sofia, 21 April 2015, Center for the Study of Democracy
Organisation of the workshop ‘The Science, Politics and Ethics of Nuclear Technology Assessment’

Stockholm, 25 27 May 2015, SENIX Conference
Invited lecture ‘Beyond Controversy and Diplomacy – An Ethical Perspective on Energy Governance’

Delft, 1 – 2 June 2015, University of Delft
Lecture ‘Nuclear Energy in its socio-political context’

New York, 25 – 27 September 2015, United Nations Headquarters
United Nations Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda

Seoul, October 2015
Invited lecture on ethics at the 2015 World Conference of the International Commission on Radiological Protection

Paris, 30 November – 11 December 2015, UNFCCC conference
Representing the Constituency of Research Oriented and Independent Non-governmental Organisations to the UNFCCC at the 21th United Nations climate change conference (21th session of the Conference of the Parties and the 11th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meet ing of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol).

[…]

For an updated list, check http://www.thephactcollective.org/thephactcollective_tour.htm.

 

// tPhC // Keynote speech at the Rijksakademie Amsterdam – Opening of the Residency 2015

We were invited to do the keynote speech on the occasion of the opening of the Residency 2015 at the Rijksakademie Amsterdam.

The Consolatory Practice of Leaving – On reflexivity as art activism ‘in the age of populism, positivism and profitism’

See the notes of the speech here: Gaston_Meskens_Rijksakademie_Opening Residency 2015

[…] The artist knows no comfort zones. Art is engaging in the consolatory practice of leaving the own comfort zone. Activist art can show politics, the market, science, religion, citizens and activists why and how they would need to leave their own comfort zones. That practice is critical-ethical, but, at the same time, consolatory aesthetical. […]

More of the Rijksakademie at http://www.rijksakademie.nl/home

Gaston_Meskens_Lecture_Opening_Residency

// tAI // show ‘The Archive of Opportunities’ (Antwerp, at two locations in January)

the archive of opportunities  - 1

Under the title ‘The Archive of Opportunities’, the Institute of Idle Curiosity for Elements of Seduction presents two events (on two locations) organised by The PhɅAct Collective. The PhɅAct Collective is the philosophical activism collective of the Institute. The collective conducts research on suspicious use of poetical concepts in political context. See their website at www.thephactcollective.org.

Openings

The show at The Office of Resistance, Mechelsesteenweg 28, 2018 Antwerp, opens on Saturday 10 January 2015, 14h00 – 22h00.

The show at The AnteRoom, Kattenberg 93, Borgerhout opens on Friday 30 January 2015, 14h00 – 22h00 (as part of the Antwerp Art Weekend programme – see the official website of that event here).

Detailed programme

For the detailed programme at the two locations, download the flyer in pdf or click the programme image below to enlarge.

the archive of opportunities - 2

Special announcements

(1) World Conference

As part of the programme, join us for

the 1st World Conference on THE VALUE OF MELANCHOLY IN TIMES OF CHEAP COMMITMENT

venue & date:
The Office of Resistance, Mechelsesteenweg 28, 2018 Antwerp / date: Saturday 17 January 2015 14h00 – 18h00.

The programme of the conference will be added here later. If you plan to come, please confirm your attendance.

(2) New Year Reception

You are also welcome to join us for the New Year Reception offered by The PhɅAct Collective.

venue & date:
The Office of Resistance, Mechelsesteenweg 28, 2018 Antwerp / date: Saturday 17 January 2015 20h00 – late.

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image from ‘The Archive of Opportunities’ (click to enlarge)

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image from ‘The Archive of Opportunities’ (click to enlarge)