One of the many things that are been reviewed in response to our economic slowdown is the way in which we govern. Our local government is an area which is open to this kind of review. I have been invited to the below conference. I am sure it will be excellent as I know one of the main organisors of the event. Please find below the main details of it.
Half Day Seminar
Urban Governance and the Citizen
‘The Citizens’ Participation is the City’s Joy’
Coach House, Dublin Castle
8.30 am Wednesday 25th February 2009
The Aarhus Convention is ten years old and its public participation principles are now well embedded in EU policy and law. The recent EU consultative forum on environment and sustainable development has called for ‘sustainable governance’ based on ‘full information, an open public discourse and stakeholder dialogues at all levels’.
This conference will explore ways of developing meaningful public debate about the future of Dublin. It introduces a model of civic engagment from the US – the San Francisco Policy and Urban Research Association (SPUR; http://www.spur.org/) – and asks could something similar engage Dubliners in the the governance of their city?
Speakers will include;
- John Gormley TD
Leader of the Green Party and Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- Svend Auken
Former leader of the Danish Social Democrats and current spokesperson on EU affairs.
- Gabriel Metcalf
Executive Director of SPUR
Adminstrative support for this event is kindly provided by the Dublin Civic Trust. A fee of €30 per delegate is requested to cover conference expenses.
Bookings;
Kerry Power
Dublin Civic Trust, 4 Castle Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 353 1 475 6911, Email: info@dublincivictrust.ie