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Russian Floating Nuclear Reactors: Lacunae In Current International Environmental And Maritime Law And The Need For Proactive International Cooperation In The Development Of Sustainable Energy Sources, Douglas John Steding Jun 2004

Russian Floating Nuclear Reactors: Lacunae In Current International Environmental And Maritime Law And The Need For Proactive International Cooperation In The Development Of Sustainable Energy Sources, Douglas John Steding

Washington International Law Journal

During the second half of 2003, Russia announced plans to build barges carrying two nuclear reactors capable of supplying electricity to a town of fifty thousand people. Rapidly developing countries seem particularly interested in this proposal, as these reactors can meet their growing power needs. In addition, these floating nuclear reactors provide an alternative to coal, oil and natural gas, all sources of energy that contribute to global warming. These reactors, however, pose a substantial risk to the environment, particularly in light of Russia's lax environmental policies, and the design of the barges themselves make them susceptible to a wide …


Gay Marriage: Analyzing Legal Strategies For Reform In Hong Kong And The United States, Robin A. Warren Jun 2004

Gay Marriage: Analyzing Legal Strategies For Reform In Hong Kong And The United States, Robin A. Warren

Washington International Law Journal

Like many countries, both the United States and Hong Kong face the question of whether to legalize gay marriage due to social, legal, and political forces within and beyond their borders. The legalization of same-sex marriage in one jurisdiction forces other jurisdictions to decide whether to recognize marriages celebrated there. Comparing the current state of U.S. and Hong Kong law reveals that only a direct challenge to discriminatory marriage laws will successfully effect change. Two U.S. state supreme court decisions provide examples of effective legal arguments in a direct challenge. Conflict of laws analysis for marriage and the public policy …


The Duty To Support An Aged Parent In Singapore, Wing-Cheong Chan Jun 2004

The Duty To Support An Aged Parent In Singapore, Wing-Cheong Chan

Washington International Law Journal

When the legislation to impose a financial obligation on adult children to provide for their aged parents was introduced in Singapore in 1994, it generated heated public debate which polarized the population. Several criticisms of this proposal emerged: it subsumed the Asian value of filial piety in a legalistic, Western framework; it was unnecessary given the small number of parents being neglected by their children; and it was an undesirable intrusion into family life. Nonetheless, the proposal managed to gain enough Parliamentary support to be referred to a Select Committee. Several adjustments to the proposed legislation were made to take …


Cambodia's Wto Accession: A Strenuous But Necessary Step For A Poor Nation Seeking Economic Prosperity, Rebecca Povarchuk Jun 2004

Cambodia's Wto Accession: A Strenuous But Necessary Step For A Poor Nation Seeking Economic Prosperity, Rebecca Povarchuk

Washington International Law Journal

During the 2003 World Trade Organization ("WTO") Ministerial Conference, Cambodia became the first least-developed nation to accede to the WTO through the organization's full working party accession process. Due to domestic, political, and economic pressures to accede, Cambodia agreed to an arduous package of legal and economic reform that have left many, including Cambodian officials, wondering whether the small country is capable of meeting its obligations. Having plunged into the WTO with the belief that accession is its best hope for a prosperous future, Cambodia now faces the challenges of implementation. In arguing against WTO membership for Cambodia, critics condemn …


The War On Cyberterror: Why Australia Should Examine The U.S. Approach To Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elizabeth Tutmarc Jun 2004

The War On Cyberterror: Why Australia Should Examine The U.S. Approach To Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elizabeth Tutmarc

Washington International Law Journal

As the global community focuses on detecting and fighting terrorism, defense strategists have identified the vulnerability of certain cybersystems. Traditional methods of defense and warfare, however, often do not apply to new technologies. Thus the cybercommunity is developing new standards for protecting computer resources against terrorist attack. From the perspective of national governments, much attention has been paid to the importance of secure "critical infrastructure." This category of computer-dependent resources includes sectors vital to the smooth and orderly operation of public society, such as transportation, communications, and food production. These sectors are becoming increasingly dependent on computers to function, and …


Digital Age Standard Form Contracts Under Austalian Law: "Wrap" Agreements, Exclusive Jurisdiction, And Binding Arbitration Clauses, John Adams Jun 2004

Digital Age Standard Form Contracts Under Austalian Law: "Wrap" Agreements, Exclusive Jurisdiction, And Binding Arbitration Clauses, John Adams

Washington International Law Journal

Despite the widespread use of end user agreements ("EULAs") within international e-commerce, their enforceability under Australian law has yet to be adjudicated. Legislative reform and judicial clarification of contract standards may be required for Australian courts to validate the methods of standard form contracting used in the digital age. While existing Anglo-Australian nules regarding contract formation may be adequate to enforce EULAs, the doctrine of privity presents an unnecessary and outdated barrier to the enforcement. Accordingly, the Australian legislature should abolish the doctrine of privity. In addition, Australian courts must clarify what type of notice is required for onerous contractual …


No More Waiting For Revolution: Japan Should Take Positive Action To Implement The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women, M. Christina Luera Jun 2004

No More Waiting For Revolution: Japan Should Take Positive Action To Implement The Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women, M. Christina Luera

Washington International Law Journal

In 1985, Japan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women ("CEDAW"), which requires the eradication of all legal, political, social and cultural structures that prevent women from enjoying full equality with men. Under CEDAW, Japan is legally obligated to strive for actual, not just formal, equality between men and women. CEDAW also requires States Parties to take positive action to achieve gender equality. Despite the Japanese government's apparent efforts to comply with CEDAW over the last two decades, gender equality remains a distant reality. On July 8, 2003, the Committee on the …


The Japanese Law Concerning The Special Measures On Humanitarian And Reconstruction Assistance In Iraq: Translator's Introduction, Mika Hayashi Jun 2004

The Japanese Law Concerning The Special Measures On Humanitarian And Reconstruction Assistance In Iraq: Translator's Introduction, Mika Hayashi

Washington International Law Journal

The legal framework concerning Japan's physical contribution to international peace and security through the presence of its Self-Defense Forces abroad underwent ad hoc changes twice since the beginning of the Twenty-First Century. The first change was brought about by the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and the second was the result of the war in Iraq in 2003. In both cases, Japan enacted laws that specifically enabled the Self-Defense Forces to operate abroad: the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law and the Law concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq, respectively. The latter and most recent legislation, …


The Australian National Representative System Of Marine Protected Areas And The Marine Zoning System: A Model For The United States?, Jennifer L. Schorr Jun 2004

The Australian National Representative System Of Marine Protected Areas And The Marine Zoning System: A Model For The United States?, Jennifer L. Schorr

Washington International Law Journal

Marine Protected Areas ("MPAs") are increasingly recognized as a critical component of marine conservation. MPAs are areas of the marine ecosystem set aside for special protection and management in order to conserve biological or cultural resources. MPAs manage the use of marine resources by limiting or controlling activities within the area. Marine reserves, the most restrictive type of MPA, severely limit or forbid all extractive activities. Scientific research has demonstrated that MPAs, especially marine reserves, can have rapid and long-term benefits for biological diversity, lead to recovery of specific species, and may have a "spill over" effect that benefits adjacent …


Justice Beyond Borders: A Comparison Of Australian And U.S. Child-Sex Tourism Laws, Karen D. Breckenridge Apr 2004

Justice Beyond Borders: A Comparison Of Australian And U.S. Child-Sex Tourism Laws, Karen D. Breckenridge

Washington International Law Journal

In 1996, an estimated one million children were sexually exploited in Asia. "Sex tourists" who travel to Asia from developed countries, including Australia and the United States, contribute to the demand for child prostitutes. A decade ago, Australia and the United States passed laws in an attempt to combat child-sex tourism. Over the past decade, the laws of both countries have had limited success. In 2003, the United States enacted the PROTECT Act. The PROTECT Act, nearly identical to Australia's Crimes (Child Sex Tourism) Amendment Act, allows for the prosecution of child-sex tourists and child-sex tour organizers, based on sexual …


Catfish Wars: Vietnam's Fight For Free Trade In The U.S. Court Of International Trade, Amalia R. Walton Apr 2004

Catfish Wars: Vietnam's Fight For Free Trade In The U.S. Court Of International Trade, Amalia R. Walton

Washington International Law Journal

Since the end of the Vietnam War, relations between the United States and Vietnam have been largely based on trade, causing both cooperation and conflict. Beginning in the 1990s, economic exchange between the two nations was encouraged through the 1994 lifting of the post-war trade embargo, the 1998 waiver of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, and the signing of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2000. Vietnam's successful catfish industry was born of this cooperation but, soon after the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement went into effect, became the source of international controversy. U.S. catfish farmers responded to competition from lower-priced Vietnamese catfish …


The Central Case Approach To Human Rights: Its Universal Application And The Singapore Example, Tai-Heng Cheng Apr 2004

The Central Case Approach To Human Rights: Its Universal Application And The Singapore Example, Tai-Heng Cheng

Washington International Law Journal

Human rights situations are often analyzed and described in binary terms, that is, whether rights have been violated or upheld. This Article argues that it is more meaningful to measure human rights situations in terms of deviations from a central case of key characteristics, and to understand the subtle interplay of social, political, and economic vectors that cause such deviations. Using Singapore as a case study, this Article demonstrates that in any State the real human rights situation revealed by central case analysis can be dramatically different than the traditional binary assessment of that situation. The Article concludes by showing …


Securities Supervision And Judicial Review [In China], Zhongle Zhan, Fengying Li, Inseon Paik Apr 2004

Securities Supervision And Judicial Review [In China], Zhongle Zhan, Fengying Li, Inseon Paik

Washington International Law Journal

Since its founding in 1992, the China Securities Regulatory Commission ("CSRC") has, by the design of the central government of China, become the primary regulator of the Chinese securities market. The CSRC has, however, made some controversial decisions in enforcing its securities regulations. In particular, this article addresses the legal implications of the CSRC's failure to comply with controlling securities regulations in rejecting the Hainan Kaili Central Construction Company's listing application and the ramifications of such selective regulatory enforcement. The article provides an analysis of the current relationship between Chinese administrative and securities law.


Venture Capital Contracting Under The Korean Commercial Code: Adopting U.S. Techniques In South Korean Transactions, Eugene Kim Apr 2004

Venture Capital Contracting Under The Korean Commercial Code: Adopting U.S. Techniques In South Korean Transactions, Eugene Kim

Washington International Law Journal

Because U.S. venture capital contracting techniques are well developed and highly effective, the appeal of adopting such techniques in venture capital transactions outside the United States is enormous to globally minded investors and legal practitioners. South Korea has yet to develop venture capital contracting practices as extensive as those found in the United States. In response to its burgeoning venture capital industry, however, South Korea will likely continue to adopt U.S. venture capital techniques in transactions governed by Korean corporate law. Such transactions can benefit the South Korean venture capital industry, leading to more profitable investments and financially successful companies …


The New Japanese Law Schools: Putting The Professional Into Legal Education, James R. Maxeiner, Keiichi Yamanaka Apr 2004

The New Japanese Law Schools: Putting The Professional Into Legal Education, James R. Maxeiner, Keiichi Yamanaka

Washington International Law Journal

In April 2004, more than sixty law schools began operation in Japan. Legal education, previously treated as a combination of undergraduate education in law and extra-university training in professional skills, will now be concentrated in new professional law schools. The reforms of Japanese legal education are intended both to produce more attorneys in a nation that has a shortage of legally trained professionals, and to help increase the role of law in Japanese society generally. In order for Japan's new law schools to achieve their educational objectives, they must successfully address a host of conceptual, pedagogical and organizational challenges. Foremost …


Russian Draft Law On Special Economic Zones—A Step Forward, But Not Far Enough, Valentin A. Povarchuk Apr 2004

Russian Draft Law On Special Economic Zones—A Step Forward, But Not Far Enough, Valentin A. Povarchuk

Washington International Law Journal

The situation in the Russian Far East epitomizes the acute need for economic reform and development in Russia. The region boasts an enormous wealth of metals, oil, gas, coal, timber, and marine resources, but has long suffered from excessive dependence on the central government's administration and its accompanying historical neglect. Taking a cue from China's successful use of special economic zones as a means to encourage economic reform, some Russian policy-makers have proposed special economic zones as a means to encourage development. Russia's early laws establishing special economic zones, however, did not produce self-sustaining results due to a lack of …


In Search Of A Theory Of Cult And Freedom Of Religion In China: The Case Of Falun Gong, Anne S.Y. Cheung Jan 2004

In Search Of A Theory Of Cult And Freedom Of Religion In China: The Case Of Falun Gong, Anne S.Y. Cheung

Washington International Law Journal

Cult and anti-cult movements have been high drama ever since the close of the twentieth century. The tragedies caused by some minority religious groups and the corresponding government responses force us to question the meaning of freedom of religion and to confront our societal conviction to upholding our acclaimed constitutional values. This Article examines the fundamental concept of freedom of religion and the tights that it entails in the case of the People's Republic of China. China's recent crackdown on Falun Gong, a seemingly benign breathing exercise group, has been bitterly controversial. The case of Falun Gong illustrates that the …


Regulation Of Stem Cell Research: A Recommendation That The United States Adopt The Australian Approach, Bryn E. Floyd Jan 2004

Regulation Of Stem Cell Research: A Recommendation That The United States Adopt The Australian Approach, Bryn E. Floyd

Washington International Law Journal

Research using embryonic stem cells may lead to great medical advances because of their ability to differentiate into nearly any type of human tissue. Currently, the United States regulates embryonic stem cell research by limiting the stem cell lines that can be studied using federal money or by scientists working at federally-funded institutions. The states are left to regulate privately funded research, if they choose. This creates a situation in which federally-funded research is severely limited, while private funds may be used to conduct ethically problematic research. In contrast, the Australian Parliament has passed legislation regulating embryonic stem cell research …


From Mao To Yao: A New Game Plan For China In The Era Of Basketball Globalization, Dustin C. Lane Jan 2004

From Mao To Yao: A New Game Plan For China In The Era Of Basketball Globalization, Dustin C. Lane

Washington International Law Journal

Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball superstar and the top pick in the 2002 NBA draft, became just the third player from China to play professionally in the United States. His departure, however, was met with reluctance by the Chinese basketball bureaucracy and came at a high price: he had to agree to remit more than half of his salary to Chinese government agencies and return to play for the Chinese National Team in certain competitions. While Yao's release demonstrates willingness by the Chinese government to participate in an increasingly globalized sports world, it also highlights the growing pains of a …


Regulatory Diversification And The Monitoring State: The Direction Of Environmental Regulation In Taiwan, Beth E. Kinne Jan 2004

Regulatory Diversification And The Monitoring State: The Direction Of Environmental Regulation In Taiwan, Beth E. Kinne

Washington International Law Journal

Rapid industrialization in Taiwan in the latter half of the twentieth century resulted in dramatic increases in industrial pollution and municipal waste, leaving few places on the small island spared from severe pollution. Public pollution protests in the 1970s and 1980s both contributed to and increased with the liberalization of Taiwanese society. With the end of martial law in 1987 and subsequent creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Taiwan adopted a command and control regulatory scheme that achieved limited success. From the 1980s onward, the Taiwanese government came to rely upon the participation of a greater number and variety of …


Australia's "Most Extreme Case": A New Alternative For U.S. Medical Malpractice Liability Reform, Steven T. Masada Jan 2004

Australia's "Most Extreme Case": A New Alternative For U.S. Medical Malpractice Liability Reform, Steven T. Masada

Washington International Law Journal

The United States currently confronts a severe increase in medical costs and a simultaneous decrease in the availability of health care services. A nearly identical situation recently emerged in the Commonwealth of Australia. This phenomenon, often labeled the "medical malpractice crisis," results in part from an increasing litigious trend spurred on by the appeal of potentially enormous damage awards. More lawsuits filed and increased award amounts raise the liability of health care providers and generate uncertainty in the medical malpractice insurance market. This in turn drives up the costs of insurance policy premiums and ultimately forces health care providers to …


Dow Jones & Co. V. Gutnick: Will Australia's Long Jurisdictional Reach Chill Internet Speech World-Wide?, Nathan W. Garnett Jan 2004

Dow Jones & Co. V. Gutnick: Will Australia's Long Jurisdictional Reach Chill Internet Speech World-Wide?, Nathan W. Garnett

Washington International Law Journal

In December of 2002, the High Court of Australia issued its decision in Dow Jones & Co. v. Gutnick, holding that Dow Jones could be haled into court in Australia for the publication of defamatory material on the Internet. This decision was surprising because the material in question was published in the United States on Dow Jones's New Jersey web servers. This decision makes Australia the only country that allows an action against a foreign defendant based solely on an Internet download in that country. However, the structure of the Gutnick opinion may open the door for other countries …


Where The Oregon Trail Meets The Silk Road: Why China's Path To Sustainability Should Bypass Oregon, Samuel A. Rodabough Jan 2004

Where The Oregon Trail Meets The Silk Road: Why China's Path To Sustainability Should Bypass Oregon, Samuel A. Rodabough

Washington International Law Journal

With a substantial population and continued exponential economic growth, China is perceived as exerting ever-increasing pressure on its natural environment. The concept of sustainable development has been posited by many in the international community as a means of overcoming China's bleak environmental outlook, while simultaneously preserving its economic prosperity. However, because of widespread disagreement as to the precise nature, scope, and practical application of sustainable development, the concept remains elusive and has proven difficult to implement. In its most basic form, sustainable development seeks to simultaneously meet environmental, economic, and social needs. With respect to these needs, China has affirmed …


The Protection Of Reproductive Rights Under International Law: The Bush Administration's Policy Shift And China's Family Planning Practices, Hannah A. Saona Jan 2004

The Protection Of Reproductive Rights Under International Law: The Bush Administration's Policy Shift And China's Family Planning Practices, Hannah A. Saona

Washington International Law Journal

On his first day in office, U.S. President George W. Bush reinstated a policy that restricts United States Agency for International Development funding of foreign non-governmental organizations. A year and a half later, President Bush attracted media attention by rejecting funding commitments to the United Nations Population Fund ("UNFPA") based on its alleged involvement with the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). The PRC, in an effort to curb rampant population growth, has adopted a one child per couple policy. This policy has, in some cases, led to the use of coercive family planning practices such as forced abortion and sterilization. …