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Green politics in the Lower Mekong Subregion

Wednesday October 11 5:00-6:00 pm
Eaton Humanities 135

Professor Nguyen Minh Quang, a visiting scholar from Vietnam, will speak about the 'conflict' between key players and actors in the Mekong region's green politics – governments and investors vs. local CSOs/NGOs supported by western donors – focusing on recent developments and contests in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Professor Nguyen will emphasize how the geopolitical competition in the region has implications for the US and other western investors and stakeholders.

Nguyen Minh Quang is a geopolitics lecturer at Can Tho University in Vietnam and co-founder of the Mekong Environment Forum.

Co-Sponsored with Leeds School of Business

CAS Luncheon Series:

Transitional Justice Ritualism in Nepal

Thursday, October 12 at 12:30pm
CASE Building room W311

More than 17 years after the end of Nepal’s decade-long civil war, the country’s conflict victims are still awaiting justice, reparations, truth, and acknowledgement. In her dissertation research, Fehr explores how the Government of Nepal has created a hollow Transitional Justice process as a façade of internationally accepted institutionalized means without adequate support to achieve the goals of Transitional Justice. The talk will focus specifically on the state’s two ongoing commissions—the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons. Fehr finds that Nepal’s process operates as Transitional Justice Ritualism and uses ethnographic data to illustrate how a heavy cloud of fatigue has settled over the commissions as legal and resource limitations and political biases have severely impaired their functionality. This study also raises broader concerns about how the international standardization of Transitional Justice can lead to ritualism—particularly when perpetrators of past conflicts remain in power—that may do more harm than good for post-conflict societies.

Tracy Fehr is a Sociology PhD Candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder. For dissertation research in 2022-2023, Fehr conducted a multi-sited ethnography of Gender and Transitional Justice in Nepal as a Fulbright Hays DDRA fellow. Fehr’s research interests lie at the intersection of gender, development, human rights, law, and peace and conflict. Her research is intimately connected to timely political and social issues and focuses on understanding how broader social forces and power relations shape women’s everyday realities.

Non-CAS Events:

CU Boulder Days of Compassion

Cultivate compassion for your community and yourself at CU Boulder Days of Compassion

CU Boulder Days of Compassion is a series of events over three days, October 9 through 11, that invite you to contemplate and practice compassion in community. The University Libraries, the , and the  bring you this series in celebration of the 23-24 Buffs One Read, .

Mission Joy is a filmed conversation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who impart lessons gleaned from lived experience, ancient traditions and cutting-edge science regarding how to live with joy, humor and wisdom in the face of life’s challenges. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Thupten Jinpa, the founder and director of the and principal author of Compassion Cultivation Training. Panelists will discuss the film’s message and how compassion and joy can make us more resilient to tackle the important social and environmental challenges that face us in a changing world. Other panelist and facilitators include:

• : Founder and director of the and professor of African, African American, and Caribbean Studies in the at the University of Colorado Boulder

• : Director and founding faculty fellow of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, professor in the at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The panel will be moderated by Michele Simpson, senior instructor, Farrand RAP, research associate and faculty fellow of the Crown Wellness Institute and Holly Gayley, professor of religious studies and founding team member of the Contemplative Resource Center. Registration is required.

Thupten Jinpa, the founder and director of the Compassion Institute and principal author of Compassion Cultivation Training, will lead our community in a guided practice. Learn about campus services and offerings that support contemplative practices as well as individual and community well-being. Representatives from campus groups focused on supporting the cultivation of joy, compassion and well-being will be present and available to share information and resources. First-year and transfer students can get a complimentary copy of The Book of Joy.

Day 3, Oct 11, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Open Houses

We invite you to visit a number of open houses across campus. Campus partners focussed on supporting the cultivation of joy, compassion and well-being will welcome you and be available to share information.

Join the Renée Crown Wellness Institute from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for opportunities to learn about the Mindful Campus Program and the Crown Institute and for a drop-in mindfulness practice from 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. The  offers 8-week mindfulness sessions, weekly community of practices and speaker series.

If you plan to join the mindfulness practice, . 

Come to Norlin’s East Entrance to explore the Meditation Room, get info about the Buffs One Read and participate in a zine workshop.

Rec Center

The Rec Center will host its regularly scheduled Breathwork and Meditation class in the Mind Body Studio, adding compassionate journaling to promote compassion for yourself and others through personal journaling. Each participant will receive a journal and pencils, pens and crayons will be available for use. You will learn how to incorporate journaling into your day that includes moments of joy, understanding and compassion.

Meet us at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Humanities building on the Norlin Quad side. We’ll use the lawn for guided mindfulness practice and exercises outdoors. Please join any time. In case of rain, we’ll use the foyer of Humanities.