regulation of flavoured tobacco

21/11/2010


    There were more than 170 nations to agree on the regulation of flavoured tobacco although tobacco producers disagreed. Then, taxation will be drafted to control tobacco consumption as well. The supporters believe that flovoured tobacco products are commonly produced to interest youth in smoking.  According to Antoon Opperhuizen, special adviser to the framework convention and vice-Chair of the WHO Tobacco Laboratory Network, "There are hundreds of chemicals used to make smoking more attractive, mainly focused on the young people".[1] and U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) states flavoured tobacco products:vanilla, orange, chocolate and so on can attract children and cause children to smoking addiction.[2]

    I totally agree with Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to control flavoured tobacco products.  In my opinion, flavoured cigarette can make youth smoke more easily due to its taste, so it is likely that youth will try smoking more. Regulation of flavoured tobacco therefore will be good for youth.


For more information : WHO seeks regulation of flavored tobacco and FDA Parental Advisory on Flavored Tobacco Products-What You Need To Know

 __________________________

[1] T Magarinos(AFP),'WHO Seeks Regulation of Flavoured Tobacco'[2010]
< http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gB9KzNhG1QqyC0YuS0TUVskCwkPg?docId=CNG.f193bfe068a4a5724570104b03f20f98.841 >
accessed 21 November 2010

[2] U.S. Department of Health & Human Service,'FDA Parental Advisory on Flavoured Tobacco Product-What You Need to Know'[2009] < http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/ProtectingKidsfromTobacco/FlavoredTobacco/ucm183196.htm >
accessed 21 November 2010

Higher tuition fee in the UK

I think this issue is very close to every student wanting to study in the United State in the future.


   There was a protest because of plan to decrease 40 percent of education funding. After protest, Mr Cameron censured for this action, but he still resists to improve tuition fees and permits some institutions to rise the fees to £9,000 a year.  [1]
   This protest caused 50 student to be arrested.[2]

It is sad to hear that. I have never expected the protest as this in the United Kingdom. By the way, I think the fee will arise too high.  The government should increase it in lower level. 



For more information    :Tuition fees: Across the UK  , Student protest : Your video
,Student face tuition fees rising to 9000 pounds, Tuition fees protest violence 'unacceptable' say PM and
student protest:Police 'stuck wrong balance'.


                                       ............................................................
[1]BBC,'Tuition Fees Protest Violence 'Unacceptable',Say Pm'[2010]
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11732264 >
accessed 12 November 2010
[2]BBC,'Student Protests: Police 'Struck Wrong Balance''[2010]
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11735955 >
accessed 12 November 2010

Child labour

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Child labour

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Letter of Credit - L/C

12/11/10

   There are many method to pay for goods. Letter of credit is a popular one for merchant.

    Due to  the distance between a seller and a buyer, the letter of credit is necessary to guarantee and minimise risks.  The letter of credit is the most prevalent method of payment in the international sale transactions. Bank will relate to both a seller and a buyer, so  they can be more confident of the payment. [1] Moreover, the letter of credit is divided into 2 categories: the commercial letter of credit and the standby letter of credit. The commercial letter of credit is the first payment for a regular business's obligation, but the standby letter of credit is the second payment used to provide security to the seller if the buyer can perform his duty.[2]


The strategy of a letter of credit [3]

1. Both parties decide to use this form.
2. The buyer opens the credit at his bank, the issuing bank.
3. The issuing bank makes agreement between its branch or another bank in the seller's country, called the correspondent bank.
4. The relevant bank in the seller's nation informs him that the letter of credit has been applied.
5. The seller transports the goods, then get the documents and show them at the relevant bank in his country.
6. The correspondent bank checks them, then pay the seller. The payment can be delayed, it depends on the letter of credit.
7. The correspondent bank gives the document back to the issuing bank and the issuing bank repays the money to the correspondent bank.


More information : Understanding and Using letters of credit, part 1 

                                    ..........................................................................


[1] M Sanson, International Trade Law ( Cavendish, London 2002) 105
[2] CREDIT RESEARCH FOUNDATION,'Understanding and Using of Credit, Part I'[1999]
< http://www.crfonline.org/orc/cro/cro-9-1.html >
accessed 11 November 2010
[3] Sanson (n 1) 106

The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights:TRIPS : Copyrights

    Although there are intellectual property policies, copyrights violation is still an important issue in some societies, particularly developing countries and the least developed countries. For example, we can often see products infringing copyrights through the internet.  Therefore, I decided to type about the intellectual property. It may be helpful and remind someone not to buy them. ^^

    The TRIPS Agreement covers minimum principles for intellectual property protection to the World Trade Organization members.[1] Each country can implement standards suitable to their domestic level because the TRIPS does not create a certain law.[2] Many types of Intellectual property, such as copyrights, industrial designs and patents are contained as well as moral right.[3]
    For the basic standards for copyrights, the TRIPS Agreement will protect the ideas or information contained in a book, speech, painting. Moreover, the creator or the possessor of copyrights of work has the legal right to publish, broadcast and reproduce in different types. Digital copying will usually be included in the right of reproduction. This right will generally be protected until at least 50 years after a creator's death.[4]
    On the other hand, there is an exception that may allow others to copy the creator's work without a payment.[5]


More information : Overview : the TRIPS Agreement  and Tip for TRIPS


                                  ....................................................................

[1] J Dratler, Intellectual property Law: Commercial,Creative and Industrial Property (Law Journal Press, New York 2006)80
[2] J Busher and others (eds),WTO : Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Koninklijke Brill NV, the Netherlands 2009)A-29
[3] IFLA Committee on Copyright and other Legal Matters(CLM),'Tips for TRIPS: A Guide for Libraries and Librarians to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS)'[2002] < http://archive.ifla.org/III/clm/p1/tt-e.htm > accessed 10  November 2010
[4] see note 3
[5] see note 3

SaKkineh Mohammadi Shtiani's execution

 06/11/2010


This news do interests me, although it does not relate to my topic.   

    Although, there are request and condemnation of Sakineh Mohammadi Shtiani's execution, Iran still insists to execute her by stoning expected that it will happen soon.  She was convicted of having an affair with another and participation in homicide of her husband. Her lawyer disclosed that Sakineh admitted the accusation because of a torment.

    If torment is true, it breaks the Human Right law Torture and Torture: The Right Not to be Tortured
and I would like her to get the fair judicial circle sincerely.



For more information : News ,

    P.s. For compassion, please click  an online petition AVAAZ.org needs public outcry to stop her execution. Hopefully We can help her in time. :)

CIF is..

03/11/10


    CIF is abbreviated from "cost, insurance and freight".   Hence, the contract price will include the cost of goods, the cost of insurance and the freight essential to bring goods to a place of destination.  The seller is responsible for insurance an d freight.  The buyer generally has to pay the goods when the seller presents the pertinent documents to the buyer.  Moreover, if the buyer obtains an important document, he can sell goods to others or sue the carrier.

More information : international trade law

Fairtrade powerpoint

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Fairtrade

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California unveils greenhouse gas trading plan

01/10/2010   

    From Reuters,  California shows the final draft of cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases concerning global warming on Friday according to the state's 2006 law, AB 32 requiring the state to lower greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020.  This is about payment of carbon dioxide permit.  In 2020, permits will be given away to some companies.

    hopefully this news will be useful for someone. =)

Is Fairtrade fair?

26/10/2010

    Fairtrade aims to provide better opportunities of commercial terms for producers in developing countries or less-developed countries to reduce poverty and provide equality in commerce.  Moreover, Fairtrade supports producers to develop their skill, quality of products that create more accessibility to the export market and also considers the effect on the environment.  In addition it basically depends on purchasers' option in payment to decrease poverty and create sustainable development.  
    World Fairtrade Organization sets up 10 standards of Fairtrade, such as supporting fair payment and good working condition, long-term commercial contract, forbidding illegal child labour and concerning social, economic, environmental development.
    Following the Fairtrade standards, the Fairtrade label, managed by members of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), is used to guarantee that the products has been applied to Fairtrade principles and meanwhile it therefore generally supplies the information to consumers and assures that they partake in improvement of Fairtrade producers' livelihood.  Furthermore, in order to get Fairtrade certification, traders usually have to comply with the following general standard divided into two sets; one for small farmers and the other for hired labour;
    1. Payment of minimum price covering the cost of sustainable livelihood and social premium for development project in the society, commerce and the environment.
    2. Pre-payment if it is required
    3. Offering long-term trading contract
    On the other hand, consumers not merchants commonly pay for Fairtrade products more than general goods in the market price.  Besides, the goods produced by producers in the developed countries cannot be certified as Fairtrade products.

                               _____________________________________________________

    In my opinion, Fairtrade is fair, particularly for producers as employers and farmers, such as increasing income and assistance in better working condition.  Moreover, the consumers, interested in ethical production, can usually benefit from Fairtrade organic agricultural products that are more healthy, such as Teadirect's Earl Grey Tea and Steenbergs Organic Black Peppercorn in the UK and participate in supporting poor producers to obtain better life.  If there is not Fairtrade, the big companies or organisations are likely to have more powerful negotiation and not recognise labour's rights in the less-developed countries.  For example, They hire labour with low wage and bad working condition, such as risk of the pesticide.

Find more detail here : Fairtrade and development, World Fairtrade Organization, The Fairtrade Federation, Fairtrade Foundation and Taking child labour in the cocoa industry

Collision between the Greek tanker and the Cyrus container ship plus the institute cargo clauses

24/10/2010


     The Greek tanker, transporting kerosene, cashed into the Cyrus container ship off the Netherlands coast on 12 October 2010. As a result, there was a kerosene leak into the sea, however it was swiftly stopped and everybody was uninjured in this accident.

    After reading it, it raised a question about maritime insurance.  If i were a merchant, how I could be guaranteed and achieve an indemnity  from damages or loss of goods.  I tried finding out the information from the internet, then recognised that marine cargo insurance is definitely essential for most  international trade, but firstly I will talk about generally 3 institute cargo clauses as follow as;


    1. The Institute Cargo Clause 'A'  will cover all risks that are caused by any fortuitous, unforeseen and unintended event, except some specific clauses such as wrong packing and unseaworthiness of ship. Moreover, general average, salvage charges, not arise from mentioned exclusion,  and compensation for the Assured's liability under "Boths to Blame Collision" Clause are insured as well.

    2.  The Institute Cargo Clause 'B' will cover damage to or loss of insured property from definitely specified causes. this term is divided into 3 groups of damage or loss insurance; (1) loss or damage from mentioned causes, such as explosion, collision and volcanic eruption.  (2) loss or damage is caused by general average sacrifice, making vessel lighter by jettison, washing overboard and the entry of sea lake or river water into vessel craft and so on.  (3) total loss of any package lost overboard or drop while unloading or loading. If loss or damage arises from the following mentioned clause, it will not be insured. Meanwhile, this policy will not cover some exclusion, such as strikes or loss or damage caused by the intention of the Assured.
   
    3. The Institute Cargo Clause 'C' will cover risks as following causes. (1) loss of or damage to insured property is created from danger such as fire and explosion or sunk. (2) loss or damage that is caused by jettison and general average sacrifice.  Furthermore, this term has the same exclusion with the institute clause 'B'.


 Find an in-depth information : BBC NEWS EUROPE and Insurance Law and Practice


P.S.  General average : An Ocean Marine coverage meaning a partial loss which has resulted from the voluntary and deliberate sacrifice of some cargo for the benefit of all concerned, and which must be shared by all parties (owners of ship, cargo and freight) in proportion to their interest.
        Salvage : 1. Property taken over by an insurance company to reduce its loss; 2. Award recoverable by salvors under maritime law

Wildlife Trade Regulation Needed More Than Ever

21/09/2010

     The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the essential international agreement aiming to protect resources, mentions recently that wildlife is threatened more severely from due to economic activities, this therefore should be controlled to protect species. Moreover, CITES parties will become 176 after this announcement and  every year the 850,000 wildlife will be allowed to trade from 10 million lists,   
     Mr Thomaas Jemmi, Deputy Director General of the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, the CITES Management Authority of Switzerland claims that Switzerland hopes that the nations will success in decrease of loss of biodiversity.
    The CITES concerns about loss of marine and timber species. Furthermore, The CITES uses the annual information of the parties to estimate the situation of wildlife trade per a nation and per species group in this times, such as "the rank of top 10 trading partner" and "top 5  items".
 
For further information, see Convention on International Trade Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES)  and  United Nation Environment Programe