CfP: International Conference & One Day Methodology Workshop on Scenarios & Models in Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services | 14-16 February | Hyderabad, India

International Conference and One Day Methodology Workshop on Scenarios and Models in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
14-16 February 2017
Organized by Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, India

Call for Papers
The Division for Sustainable Development Studies (DSDS) at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies is organizing an international conference on Scenarios and Models in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services jointly with the Centre for Economics, Environment, and Society (CEES) Bangalore, as part of the project on "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Scenarios Network (ScenNet)" supported by the Belmont Forum through the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India during 15th to 16th February 2017. The conference shall address scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services with special reference to drivers of change. The plenary speakers of the conference include renowned scientists and co-chairs of the methodological assessment of scenarios and models of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Bonn, Germany. Sub themes of the conference are related to scenarios and models pertaining to marine and terrestrial ecosystems with a focus on (a) direct and indirect drivers including climate change, invasive species, institutional and demographic issues etc.; (b) values covering economic and non-economic benefits of ecosystems and biodiversity; (c) impact of ecosystem services on good quality of human life and (d) national policies and sustainable development goals. Abstracts of papers (250 words) have to be submitted before 30th November 2016 and full paper (maximum 8000 words) before 30th December 2016 to the conference committee convenor, Dr Jeena T Srinivasan (jeena@cess.ac.in). Approximately 35 papers will be selected for oral presentation in the conference after peer review. A maximum of 100 participants are expected to participate in the conference. Registration form for the conference can be downloaded from CESS website www.cess.ac.in.
A pre-conference Methodology Workshop on the same topic will be organized in collaboration with the Indian Society for Ecological Economics (INSEE) for building capacity of early career researchers/teachers/ M.Phil/Ph.D students on 14th February 2017. The workshop aims to carry out a systematic review methodological tools used in Indian and international contexts to quantify or qualify scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services according to different environmental and societal driving forces. The workshop is co-ordinated by Dr Jyothis Sathyapalan and Prof M Gopinath Reddy. A maximum of 25 conference participants whose papers are accepted for oral presentation will be selected for the workshop. All participants who are interested to join the workshop must mention it separately in the conference registration form. In addition, limited seats will be available for MPhil/Ph.D. scholars working on both natural and social sciences who are in early stages of their work. Such students are encouraged to apply with a concept note and curriculum vitae on or before 30th December 2016. Academic competence and potential of the concept note will form the basis of selection in this case. All selected outstation candidates will be provided with travel support and local hospitality during the event. Researches are also encouraged to contact the Principal Investigator of the ScenNet project Dr Jyothis Sathyapalan (sjyothis@cess.ac.in) and contribute to the database on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Scenarios in India.

Further Details

Registration Form

New Article "Emerging Trends in Consumers’ E-waste Disposal Behaviour and Awareness: A Worldwide Overview with special focus on India" by A. Borthakur, & M. Govind

Emerging Trends in Consumers' E-waste Disposal Behaviour and Awareness: A Worldwide Overview with special focus on India
by Anwesha Borthakur, and Madhav Govind
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2016 (Online First), DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.11.011
Abstract: E-waste is a complex stream of toxic waste which requires specific handling considerations. Effective and responsible management of E-waste is a global concern today. Considering the depth of the E-waste problem, this paper is an attempt to review two key elements greatly accountable for influencing sustainable E-waste management initiatives: Consumers' E-waste 1) 'Disposal Behaviour' and 2) 'Awareness'. Taking into account the locale specific characteristics of consumers' E-waste disposal behaviour and awareness, we have attempted to perform an extensive review on the global context and identify the measures adopted by the consumers of different countries to dispose off their E-waste. We observe significant differences in consumers' E-waste disposal behaviour not only 'between' the developed and developing countries, but also 'within' these countries. The paper further especially explains the complexities in India's E-waste management system due to its multifaceted socio-economic, cultural and other associated connotations influencing consumers' disposal behaviour and awareness. We conclude that global experiences on consumers' E-waste disposal behaviour and awareness could be helpful for a particular country to devise inclusive E-waste management strategies to adequately address their current E-waste crisis.
Keywords: E-waste; Consumers' disposal behaviour; Awareness; India; Global E-waste
Download

[UNESCO CI News] CI highlights

UNESCO Communication and Information Weekly Newsletter

• 18.11.16 UNESCO welcomes Report on Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity The fifth Report of UNESCO's Director General, Irina Bokova, on the killings of journalists and judicial follow-up has been welcomed by the Intergovernmental Council of the Organization's International Programme for the Development of Communication.

• 18.11.16 UNESCO empowers South Sudanese youth to launch an App encouraging a peaceful co-existence Students from the University of Juba launched an App aiming at educating South Sudanese youth on the process of building a peaceful and literate nation, as the result of a joint initiative between UNESCO's YouthMobile, UNDP and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

• 18.11.16 UNESCO and Ibero-American Judicial Summit agreement reinforces freedom of expression and journalists' safety A Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation on issues of freedom of expression, access to information, transparency and the safety of journalists was signed on 17 November by UNESCO's Director-General, Irina Bokova, and the Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court of Uruguay, Ricardo C. Pérez Manrique, on behalf of the Ibero-American Judicial Summit. Mr. Pérez Manrique is also the head of the Permanent Secretariat of the Ibero-American Judicial Summit of 23 supreme courts.

• 17.11.16 UNESCO promoted Internet freedom and universality at Global Internet and Jurisdiction Conference On 14 November 2016, Mr Frank La Rue, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, addressed the Opening Ceremony of Global Internet and Jurisdiction Conference in Paris and highlighted the importance of promoting Internet freedom and Internet universality for the achievement of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

• 16.11.16 30th session of IPDC Council to open tomorrow The International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) is to hold the 30th session of its Intergovernmental Council on 17 and 18 November 2016 at UNESCO's Headquarters in Paris, France. The Council session will be officially opened tomorrow at 10 am by IPDC Chair, Ms Albana Shala.

• 16.11.16 Member States establish "Group of Friends" to support UNESCO's work on the safety of journalists In the light of an unacceptably high rate of impunity for crimes against journalists, Member States pledge to cooperate with UNESCO in advancing its work on the safety of journalists.

• 16.11.16 UNESCO-supported discussion on Media and Information Literacy in Serbia: Cross-sector approach for all generations Young people are faced with a challenge they might not even be aware of: from whom will they learn about Media and Information Literacy (MIL)? Parents, often themselves lacking MIL skills, are rarely aware of the importance of a critical approach to information, especially online. Thus, other stakeholders in the media, information and educational sector need to be strongly involved in initiatives on MIL. This need for a cross-sector approach was echoed during the conference "Media and Information Literacy as a Tool to Build Trust in the Media", that was held in Belgrade on October 13th, 2016.

• 16.11.16 Awards at Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2016: The first rocks of a big avalanche At the Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2016 Feature event in São Paulo, Brazil, three winners were recognized for their stela contribution to MIL diffusion. The Global MIL Awards winners for 2016 are Ms. Divina Frau-Meigs and Ms. Bérangère Blondeau, from France's University of Sorbonne Nouvelle; Mr. Thomas Röhlinger, Founder and Editor in Chief of Radijojo World Children's Media Network from Germany and Child and Youth Media Institute from Thailand.

• 16.11.16 Celebrations of the Global MIL Week 2016 around the globe Global Media and Information (MIL) Literacy Week 2016 reverberated around the world with over 60 events in 30 countries. It started with the Feature Event in Sao Paolo, Brazil where over 300 participants from over 40 countries gathered. They discussed and analyzed MIL from many different perspectives and approaches in relation to policy, research, human rights, extremism and radicalization, economy, privacy, education, culture and many others. The Week culminated with high-level debates at the Brazilian National Congress organized by its communication committee.

• 14.11.16 UNESCO seeks to end crimes against journalists "Governments should support measures to protect journalists," said Frank La Rue, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, at the ceremony dedicated to the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, which was recently held in Bogota.

• 14.11.16 Guidelines for media ethical audits: Send us your feedback A series of internal audits will be performed, under a UNESCO project, by media outlets from South East Europe and Turkey to address a number of challenging questions, such as how does your media company protect its editorial independence and respect national and international labour standards, including trade union recognition. Issues of collective bargaining and gender equality as well as provision of health and life insurance to vulnerable staff members will also be tackled.

• 10.11.16 Director-General condemns killing of journalist Mahad Ali Mohamed in Somalia The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today deplored the killing of radio journalist Mahad Ali Mohamed in the Somali city of Galkayo on 6 November.

• 10.11.16 Director-General urges investigation into the murder of community radio owner Jairo de Oliveira Silva in Brazil The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the killing of community radio owner Jairo de Oliveira Silva in the Brazilian city of Salvador de Bahia.

• 10.11.16 National Stakeholders Discuss Communication and Information Activities in Indonesia Jakarta- 9 November 2016. The Indonesian National Commission to UNESCO organized a coordination meeting together with UNESCO Office in Jakarta and other national stakeholders to evaluate and discuss the work plan for Communication and Information (CI) activities in Indonesia in 2016 and 2017.

• 09.11.16 Internet Universality R.O.A.M Principles advocated at the 2nd General Assembly of the MAPPING Project UNESCO advocated Internet Universality as a renovated and comprehensive framework to examine the interplays of human rights in the digital age, on the occasion of the Second General Assembly of the MAPPING Project (Mapping Alternatives for Privacy, Property and Internet governance) held in Prague from 31 October to 2 November 2016.

• 08.11.16 Director-General deplores the death of journalist Nematullah Zahir in Afghanistan The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today deplored the death of broadcast journalist Nematullah Zahir in Afghanistan's Helmand province on 4 November.

• 08.11.16 International conference urges alternative online narratives to extremist propaganda on the internet Participants at the international conference, Internet and the Radicalization of Youth: Preventing, Acting and Living Together, organized by UNESCO and the Government of Quebec in Quebec City, Canada, from 30 October to 1 November, have reaffirmed the positive potential of information technologies to build bridges among people and convey narratives that counter hate speech and violent extremism.

• 07.11.16 Presentation of UNESCO's Director-General Report on the safety of journalists and the Danger of impunity at IFJ conference in Brussels On 7 November 2016 in Brussels, UNESCO presented the UNESCO Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity at a conference organized by the International Federation of Journalists.

• 07.11.16 It is never late to fight against impunity for crimes committed against journalists A Workshop "Never Late" on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) was jointly convened by Globe International Center, Mongolian Open Society Forum and the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO on 2 November 2016 at the OSF Conference Hall in Ulaanbaatar, capital city of Mongolia.

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JNU Open Day 2016 on 21st November 2016 | Call for Participation

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You are Cordially Invited to Participate.

Audio Recording of CSSP Talk "Intersection of Labour and Technology in India’s Informal Economy: A Policy Perspective" delivered by Dr Kingshuk Sarkar

CSSP Talk on

Intersection of Labour and Technology in India's Informal Economy: A Policy Perspective

by

Dr Kingshuk Sarkar

Fellow, V V Giri National Labour Institute, NOIDA

Delivered on Wednesday, 16^th November 2016

Listen to Audio Recording of the Lecture.

Abstract: There have been some significant changes in the world of work in the last two decades and half particularly since the time India initiated economic reforms in 1991. These changes are happening as part of a global phenomenon. The crux of this phenomenon is the quest towards producing at the least cost possible and capital moves anywhere the cost of production is the minimum. Since labour constitutes a significant component of cost of production, structure of production is getting reorganized in such a manner that return to labour is minimized in the process. This is manifesting itself in the form of disintegration of production structure such that labour as such undergoes sunstantial changes in its character. Labour is getting more informalized, casualized and decentralized over time to respond to market fluctuations and flexibility of the cost of production structure. Such outlook perceives labour just another input in the production function and tries to extract maximum return in exchange of minimum compensation. It undermines the living characteristics of labour and the fact that labour as a class constitutes the major chunk of consumers in macro sense. Prevailing prolonged global economic recession and that economy in general is suffering from lack of aggregate demand bears testimony to such phenomenon. Labour market is getting diffused as centralized system of production is breaking down and outsourcing is practiced extensively. Old factory system of production is making way for a work environment where domestic space becomes the pre-dominant work space. Wage labour is getting replaced by self-employed mass contributing from the fringe. The identity of labour as a class is at stake. The employer-employee relation is being diluted to a great extent and there has been substantial dismantling of written contract between the two. In such an environment, application of legislations safeguarding the interests of workers becomes more compromised. Further, recent attempts towards labour law reforms are further aggravating the terms of employment and conditions of labour. Enforcement of labour laws have become uniformly weak over the country and basic inspection norms are being flouted which is weakening the labour administrative structure. The government is focusing on redistribution through various social security and welfare schemes but at the same time statutory provisions are not being appropriately implemented. Tripartite consultation as an integral part of social dialogue is getting marginalized. Traditional trade union movement weakened over time as because they didn't represent informal and vulnerable sections of the workers any more. Their place is being increasingly taken over by civil society organizations and NGOs.

About the Speaker: Dr. Kingshuk Sarkar is presently working as Fellow in the VV Giri National Labour Institute, Noida on deputation. He primarily works for Govt. of West Bengal as Deputy Labour Commissioner. He has done PhD in Economics from Centre for Economic Studies & Planning in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Earlier he completed Masters in Economics from Kolkata University and M.Phil in Economics from Jadavpur University. His areas of interests are plantation economics, labour economics, law and economics, labour administration, etc. He can be contacted at kingshuk71@hotmail.com

 

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Witness Some Best Startup Innovation in Energy Water Agritech in Smartcamp SmartCity | New Delhi, Nov 18

Finale of IBM India SmartCamp for SmartCity 2016

by IBM India

Date: Friday, November 18, 2016 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM IST

Venue: Hyatt Regency, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi

Description

One of the key initiatives of IBM Global Entrepreneur program (Startup initiative of IBM) is a nationwide challenge called IBM Smartcamp.  Last year we saw some of the best innovations in the B2B Space in the country through the  IBM Smartcamp. This year the IBM Smartcamp India is doing Nationwide challenge focussing on Industries. We will be having the Top 10 Finalists, who would be some of the best innovations of the Country in  Energy, Utility, Waste Management and Agritech Space in India, presenting before you and 15+ Enterprise CIOs. 

Agenda:

6:30pm – 7:00pm: Registrations

7:00pm - 7:10pm : Welcome by Vanitha Narayanan, Managing Director - IBM India Pvt Ltd.

7:10pm - 7:25pm : How does IBM engage with startups - Seema Kumar, Country Leader, Startups and Developers, IBM India & SA

7:25pm - 8:30pm : Presentations by Top 10 Finalists

8:30pm- 8:45pm : Role of Accelerators in Developing Startups Ecosystem, panel discussion by Accelerator heads

8:45pm - 8:50pm : Closing Remarks by John Gallager, Global Digital Marketing Exec, WW IBM

8:50pm - 9:00pm : Announcement of Winners

Details about Smartcamp for SmartCity: http://ibmgepindia.com/smartcity/

Register Online

NMML Talk 'Education, Technology and Transformative Change' by Prof. Ian Jacobs, President & VC of UNSW, Australia| 16 Nov at 3:00 pm

'Education, Technology and Transformative Change'

Wednesday 16 November 2016, 3:00 pm at Teen Murti House, NMML, New Delhi

Prof. Ian Jacobs, President and Vice-Chancellor of UNSW, Australia

CSSP Talk "Intersection of Labour and Technology in India’s Informal Economy: A Policy Perspective" by Dr Kingshuk Sarkar | 16th November, at 11:00 a.m.

Centre for Studies in Science Policy

School of Social Sciences, JNU

Invites you to

Talk on

Intersection of Labour and Technology in India's Informal Economy: A Policy Perspective

by

Dr Kingshuk Sarkar

Fellow, V V Giri National Labour Institute, NOIDA

Venue:  Room No. 227, 2^nd Floor, SSS-1

Time:   11:00 a.m.

Date:    Wednesday, 16^th November 2016

Abstract: There have been some significant changes in the world of work in the last two decades and half particularly since the time India initiated economic reforms in 1991. These changes are happening as part of a global phenomenon. The crux of this phenomenon is the quest towards producing at the least cost possible and capital moves anywhere the cost of production is the minimum. Since labour constitutes a significant component of cost of production, structure of production is getting reorganized in such a manner that return to labour is minimized in the process. This is manifesting itself in the form of disintegration of production structure such that labour as such undergoes sunstantial changes in its character. Labour is getting more informalized, casualized and decentralized over time to respond to market fluctuations and flexibility of the cost of production structure. Such outlook perceives labour just another input in the production function and tries to extract maximum return in exchange of minimum compensation. It undermines the living characteristics of labour and the fact that labour as a class constitutes the major chunk of consumers in macro sense. Prevailing prolonged global economic recession and that economy in general is suffering from lack of aggregate demand bears testimony to such phenomenon. Labour market is getting diffused as centralized system of production is breaking down and outsourcing is practiced extensively. Old factory system of production is making way for a work environment where domestic space becomes the pre-dominant work space. Wage labour is getting replaced by self-employed mass contributing from the fringe. The identity of labour as a class is at stake. The employer-employee relation is being diluted to a great extent and there has been substantial dismantling of written contract between the two. In such an environment, application of legislations safeguarding the interests of workers becomes more compromised. Further, recent attempts towards labour law reforms are further aggravating the terms of employment and conditions of labour. Enforcement of labour laws have become uniformly weak over the country and basic inspection norms are being flouted which is weakening the labour administrative structure. The government is focusing on redistribution through various social security and welfare schemes but at the same time statutory provisions are not being appropriately implemented. Tripartite consultation as an integral part of social dialogue is getting marginalized. Traditional trade union movement weakened over time as because they didn't represent informal and vulnerable sections of the workers any more. Their place is being increasingly taken over by civil society organizations and NGOs.

About the Speaker: Dr. Kingshuk Sarkar is presently working as Fellow in the VV Giri National Labour Institute, Noida on deputation. He primarily works for Govt. of West Bengal as Deputy Labour Commissioner. He has done PhD in Economics from Centre for Economic Studies & Planning in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Earlier he completed Masters in Economics from Kolkata University and M.Phil in Economics from Jadavpur University. His areas of interests are plantation economics, labour economics, law and economics, labour administration, etc. He can be contacted at kingshuk71@hotmail.com

All are welcome to attend the lecture.

Coordinators, CSSP Lecture Series

NUEPA's Tenth Foundation Day Lecture, 2016 | Am I an Educated Person? Reflections on 'Becoming' and 'Being' | by T.N. Madan

NUEPA's Tenth Foundation Day Lecture, 2016

"Am I an Educated Person? Reflections on 'Becoming' and 'Being'"

by T.N. Madan [Honorary Professor, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi]. 

Delivered on August 11, 2016 at National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi.

Download Full-text Lecture (Open Access)

New Book | The Logic of Sharing: Indian Approach to South-South Cooperation | by Sachin Chaturvedi

The Logic of Sharing: Indian Approach to South-South Cooperation

by Sachin Chaturvedi; Cambridge University Press, & Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, 2016, ISBN: 9781107127920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316422748

About the Book

India's development cooperation programmes reflect the broad principles that inform Indian foreign policy in general. In essence they reflect sovereign equality and belief in friendly relations with all countries, parricularly India's neighbours coupled with opposition to colonialism and a continued commitment to the amplification of human freedom and the creation of equitable conditions for the peaceful and harmonious developrnenr of nations. Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi underlined that while rhe juxtaposition of peace and prosperity is not a contrivance for establishing moral prospects, the two conditions are indissolubly linked. Such pragmatism is evident in the genesis and evolution of India's development cooperation policy. 

Independent India has a history of successful cooperation with other developing countries. The extension of Indian resources and experrise to the global South, which dates back to the early 1950s, became institutionalised under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) established in 1964. Although the scale of India's development cooperation has been modesr, it has expanded along with the country's emergence as a rapidly growing economy, at a time when development assistance available from other major emerging economies has also been growing significantly.

About the Author

Sachin Chaturvedi is Professor and Director General at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a New Delhi-based autonomous Think-Tank. He was Global Justice Fellow at the MacMillan Center for International Affairs, Yale University. Chaturvedi works on issues related to development cooperation policies and South-South cooperation. He has also worked on trade and innovation linkages with special focus on WTO.

Table of Contents

Foreword | Shyam Saran, Chairman, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS); Sujata Mehta, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

Section I. Policy and Institutional Framework

1. Genesis and Evolution 

2. The Development Compact

3. Institutional Framework

Section II. Country and Regional Case Studies

4. Nepal: Evolving Framework and the Success of Communities

5. New Vigour in Africa: Ethiopia and Mozambique

6. Entrepreneurship Development in Laos and Cambodia

7. Exploring Niches in CIS: Experiences in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Section III. Summing Up

8. The SSC and Global Imperatives

9. Expanding Frontiers, New Trends and the Way Forward

​Further Details

Related Book

Chaturvedi, Sachin & Mulakala, Anthea (2016). India's Approach to Development Cooperation. Routledge, 2016, ISBN: 9781138947733.