SOURCE:
Legal Remedies and Environmental Impacts of Toxic Waste Dumping in the South China Sea
The U.S. Senate
Russell Senate Office Building, Kennedy Room
Washington DC, USA
May 10th, 2017 10 AM – 2 PM
Introduction
In April 2016, millions of fish and sea life were found dead on the coastal waters of Vietnam, representing the worst environmental disaster in Vietnam’s history. After months of silence, the Taiwanese-invested Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (Formosa) publically apologized for its toxic waste dumping and paid the Vietnamese Government $500 million under the agreement to help victims of the fishing communities and to clean up the waste treatment at the Formosa plant. After one year, there has been no substantial evidence of recovery or restitution for the millions of victims and large coastal regions of the South China Sea directly affected by this toxic dumping.
On the first anniversary of this environmental disaster, we organized this conference as an academic evaluation and a call to action to raise international awareness for the following issues:
1. Explore the legal implications of this environmental disaster:
a. To explore remedies via the international criminal court and civil litigation options
b. To evaluate current legislations on imported products to Australia, EU and North America
2. Propose clean up solutions and research projects on environmental impacts
Organizers: Vietnam for Progress, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of freedom, human rights, economic development, environmental protection, and preservation of cultural heritage of Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.
For contacts and RSVP Registration: Organizing Committee at vnfp@vietnamforprogress.org
Honorary Invitations: Members of the US Congress, Parliaments of Australia, Canada and European Union
Co-hosts, Partners, Volunteers: SBTN, Inc., and law firms
Program Agenda:
10:00 – 10:15AM: Welcoming statement from the organizers
10:15 – 10:20 AM: Introduction by the Moderator:
Mr. Roger Bilodeau QC
Registrar, Supreme Court of Canada
10:30 – 11:45 AM: Section 1: Legal implications
–The role of the ICC in toxic waste dumping in the South China Sea (Professor Malaika Bacon-Dussault, University of Moncton School of Law)
–Imported seafood safety and legislation (Professor Lisa Heinzerling, Georgetown University School of Law)
–Civil litigation options (Skills Professor and civil trial attorney Warren Perrin, Loyola School of Law)
11:45 – 11:50 AM: Health Break
12:00 – 12:40 PM: Section 2: Environmental implications
–Science and the Law: The Cornerstones of Environmental Sustainability (Mr. John Purdy, Environmental Research Consultant)
–International Water Law Issues (Adjunct Professor Luke Wilson, George Washington University Law School)
12:40 – 1:00 PM: Greetings from honorable members of the Australia/Canada/EU Parliaments and US Congress and distinguished guests
1:00-1:15 PM: Conclusion
1:15 – 2:00 PM: Lunch (provided) and Networking
