“Genocide Gems”: How the Gemstone Industry is a Backdrop to Myanmar’s Unrest

By Mary Bradley.

After an overwhelming election victory from the Myanmar’s National League for Democracy in 2020, the country’s military regime claimed election fraud, declared a state of emergency, and subsumed power once again. In an effort to undermine the military, Myanmar’s citizens are placing their lives on the line to protest. On the international level, countries including the United States have imposed sanctions, including upon Myanmar’s lucrative and military-controlled gemstone industry. But can sanctions against these prized gems actually help undermine the regime and stop the coup?

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On Economic Power: Intellectual Property in China

By Gary Cooper.

China and the US are two of the worlds predominant economic powers and are two of the foremost markets for intellectual property. China’s IP laws are relatively new, but they protect patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in similar ways to the US Laws. A basic understanding of the Chinese IP regime is important for any IP attorney, and an understanding of the Chinese Laws on IP is important for adequate client counseling.

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An American In Paris

By: Clifford (Gary) Cooper II.

The easiest way to be an American with JD and work in France is to plan ahead and obtain a joint JD and Master’s degree that qualifies one to work in either country. If one has not done this, working in France is much more difficult due to numerous hurdles such as the difference in legal system, language barriers, and the inherent bias by the French for all things French. However, it is possible to overcome these hurdles and to become ‘An American in Paris.’

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Democracy Around the Globe: International Election Standards

By: Dominick Cortez.

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of any democracy, and the United Nations realized this in 1948 when it enshrined the right to vote and universal suffrage in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Now, the idyllic standards produced by the United Nations in this document and many others are instituted throughout the world by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

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Do Government Decrees Prevent the Destruction of their Cultural Heritage Sites? Not in the Case of Croatia’s Matulja House

By: Douglas M. Johnson.

Most countries recognize and protect cultural heritage sites, and while Croatia does too, it failed to protect an iconic piece of architecture. Renowned Croatian Architects Ante and Vlasta Vulin’s Matulja House was demolished despite a decree granting it government-protected cultural status. Its demolition shows that a government’s administrative incompetence can allow for the destruction of cultural landmarks and no-one can be held accountable.

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Compulsory Licensing: How Developing Countries can access the COVID Vaccine

By: Adara Manamperi.

As the WTO delays the creation of a proposal which allows intellectual property rights to be waived with regards to the COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, thus allowing developing countries to use the drugs and vaccines, the question still remains what these developing countries can do if the proposal is denied. Under existing WTO agreements and declarations, there are some possible ways that these developing countries can perhaps have access to these drugs and vaccines.

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Electronic Waste in Nigeria Sheds Light on the Ongoing Problems of Environmental Racism

By: Margaret Marshall.

What happens to your electronics when you throw them away? This blog post delves into electronic waste “e-waste” and how Nigeria has become a dumping ground for Western nations, like the United States, to throw away unwanted electronics. E-waste has not only polluted Nigeria’s environment and people, but it has also shed light on the issues of environmental racism.

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Child Marriage is Still a Persistent Problem in Canada

By: Jasmine Shafquat.

Canada has avidly advocated for the end of child marriage abroad. Yet, interestingly enough, child marriage is still a persistent problem within the country’s own borders. This finding has shown that additional domestic changes are needed in order for Canada to truly advance the global effort to end child marriage.

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The Eradication of Greenland’s Young Men

By: Peter Veldkamp.

Suicide rates in Greenland, particularly among young men, are largely unknown, despite being the highest in the world. This article explores some of the leading theories as to why such a phenomenon continues to exist.

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Abolishing the Death Penalty for Minors in Saudi Arabia

By: Alexandra Welke.

Saudi Arabia continues to use the death penalty as a punishment for certain crimes. Recently, Saudi Arabia announced a new law that will prohibit the use of the death penalty on minor offenders. However, it remains uncertain whether the new law will be passed and when the minors on death row will be resentenced.

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Taxes and the Global Digital Economy

By: Megan Wilson.

Online spending was already increasing, but global shutdowns and stay-at-home orders accelerated that transition. In a world that has typically taxed based on physical presence, governments are experimenting with new ways to ensure they receive the revenue necessary to function.

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