“Climate Justice for Future Generations” by A. Oposa Jr., 2015 Inouye Chair
February 17, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Manoa Campus, Keoni Auditorium, Imin Center 
Do the future generations deserve the Earth that we are leaving behind in the face of the ongoing climate crisis? If not, what is it that we must do to change course?
This lecture explores new ways of thinking to shift the economic mindset from reckless consumption to mindful restoration. It will also examine the environmental policy, law, and cultural infrastructure that will facilitate this mind-shift in the highly vulnerable Asia-Pacific region. The lecture will address the shift from Consumption Economics to Restoration Economics through various proactive projects including: edible landscaping, the road sharing movement, and turning the rooftop of the Richardson Law School into a solar power plant. It also includes the planned a legal action in the International Court of Justice on the legal duties of States to protect humankind of the future generations from the climate crisis.
About the 2015 Inouye Chair
ANTONIO A. OPOSA, JR. (Tony) is one of Asia-Pacific’s leading voices in the global arena of Environmental Law. His work is internationally known for establishing in the Philippines’ highest Court of Law the principle of inter-generational responsibility (Minors Oposa vs. Philippine Government, 1993). His enforcement work, both in the Courts and on the field, has earned him the prestigious TOYM (The Outstanding Young Man) of the Philippines award and the highest UN award in the field of the Environment—the UNEP Global Roll of Honor. He has organized and led some of the most daring direct action enforcement operations against environmental crime syndicates. He has been the object of death threats and assassination plots, one of which resulted in the murder of his comrade and co-worker Jojo de la Victoria.
In 2008, after a ten-year legal battle against eleven Philippine government agencies, he won an unprecedented case to compel these agencies to clean up Manila Bay. The agencies were directed by the continuing mandamus order to report the progress of the clean up to the Supreme Court every 90 days.
He holds a business degree from the De La Salle University, a law degree from the University of the Philippines and his Master of Laws from the Harvard Law School, where he was the commencement speaker of his graduating class.
A scuba diver and avid nature lover, Oposa established the SEA Camp (Sea and Earth Advocates) in the white-sand shores of Bantayan Island in the Central Philippines. The School is powered by renewable energy, recycles water, and is truly an experiential learning center for sustainable living. With volunteer fishermen, enforcement operatives, divers, and ordinary citizens, young and old, he organized the famous Visayan Sea Squadron. Aside from being a para-legal action team, the volunteer teachers and divers also help local communities establish marine sanctuaries.
“For his path-breaking and passionate crusade to engage Filipinos in acts of enlightened citizenship that maximize the power of the Law to protect and nurture the environment, for themselves, their children, and generations yet unborn,” he received the 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the Nobel Peace Prize of Asia.
Ticket Information
Free, open to the Public
Event Sponsor
Chancellor’s Office, William S. Richardson School of Law, American Studies Department, College of Social Sciences, Manoa Campus
More Information
(808) 956-8478, https://manoa.hawaii.edu/inouyechair/
