Second National Convention on University Human Rights Education Held in Beijing

The Second China Convention on Human Rights Education in Universities was held on November 6-8 in Beijing. It was jointly sponsored by the Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Institute of the China University of Political Science and Law, the Norwegian Center for Human Rights at the University of Oslo, Norway, the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Lund University, Sweden. More than 90 researchers, scholars and human rights teachers of universities from China and other countries attended.

Vice-President Xie Yuan attends 26th National Convention of USCPFA

CPAFFC Vice-President Xie Yuan attended the 26th National Convention of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association from Oct 6 to 8 in Las Vegas,Nevada,and made a keynote speech at the opening meeting.On behalf of the CPAFFC,Xie extended condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families in the mass shooting in Las Vegas.He reviewed the work that the USCPFA had carried out

Acacia mearnsii management in a South African National Parks：SWOT analysis using hot topics in biological invasion as a guide

The assessment of the policy framework governing Invasive Alien Species(IAS) control is of critical importance in conservation. The undertaking of a SWOT analysis of such a framework is necessary because it enhances the efficacy of IAS control. The aim of this study is to carry out a SWOT analysis of the policy framework guiding the control of the spreading of Acacia mearnsii and other IAS in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa,as well as the implementation of restorative measures in the park and adjacent communities in line with the recommendations of the Convention on Biodiversity. A comparative analysis of this framework and the hierarchical framework that was developed during the European Union Conference on Freshwater Invasives- Networking for Strategy in 2013 is undertaken. The results indicate the need to strengthen parkcommunity relations,upgrade existing legislation,and boost the technical capacity of South African national parks to identify,detect,monitor and predict IAS invasions,both within the parks and their surroundings. This knowledge is important for developing future policies on IAS control in South Africa.

Characteristics and trends of integrated ocean management under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

As the international community place high value on the ocean,protecting the marine environment and promoting the sustainable development of the ocean have become the consensus of all countries around the world.Integrated ocean management,as an important part of the ocean governance mechanism within the framework of the United Nations,have approached to the scene view of human gradually.Taking the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the framework,the current international integrated ocean management is summarized and the future development trend of ocean management is analyzed,providing reference for China to build a maritime power and a maritime community with shared future.

A Study on China＇s Marine Rights and Interests and Their Maintenance

Marine rights and interests is an important part of national sovereignty, it is also an important part of national interests. At present, the maritime economy and coastline security of China is facing some new situation and challenges. In view of the strategic significance and maritime situation of ocean development, it needs to work out a feasible ocean strategy of China from the need of safeguarding the interests of the whole country urgently. We must establish the maintenance strategies of China＇s marine rights and interests in order to realize the sustainable development of marine fights and interests.

Establishing a measurement,reporting,and verification system for climate finance in post-Paris agreement period

The measurement,reporting,and verification(MRV) of climate finance was originated from discussions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC).It has been one of the key issues of global climate negotiations since 2009 and will continue to be of significant importance in addressing climate change and strengthening international trust.This paper analyses the concept,the objective,and the progress of the MRV of climate finance based on reviews of the latest literature and think-tank reports regarding climate finance regime and MRV.Following the analysis,challenges faced with the MRV of climate finance are illustrated.This paper presents that the comparability of climate finance data needs to be improved due to the variety of methodologies used for disaggregating climate finance.In addition,the integrality of the MRV system of climate finance has been impaired by the lack of feedback mechanism from the recipients to the contributors in reporting system.Furthermore,although accounting system of climate finance has been developing and improving,it remains incapacity in providing accurate data on disbursed climate finance.Responding to the above challenges,this paper proposes the key tasks in establishing a comprehensive MRV system for climate finance at international level.The tasks involve developing a measurement system with consistent data basis and accounting basis,a reporting system with more detailed guidance and standardized formats,as well as a verification mechanism balancing top-down and bottom-up review processes.In the last section,this paper concludes that the establishment of an improved MRV of climate finance requires concerted cooperation and negotiations between developed and developing country Parties under the UNFCCC.As one of the few developing country donors to the Global Environmental Facility(GEF),China is suggested to clarify its propositions as a developing country in aspects such as concept,coverage,and architecture of climate finance and MRV system,and gain bargaining power in improving operating and technical rules of international climate finance regime.

Quantifying and Simplifying the 1997 UNWC’s Guidelines to Mitigate Hegemony in Transboundary Watercourse Negotiations

The 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UNWC) contains a negotiation framework for transboundary water rights. However, it is a subjective document open to a wide range of possibilities and interpretations. Water Rights Allocations (WRAs) as described by Dinar and Nigatu (2013) and Dinar and Tsur (2017) provide a limited number of quantifiable allocation possibilities based on the UNWC. It is suggested that this methodology streamlines the negotiation process and reduces the effects of hydro hegemony. These methodologies are explored and applied through a case study on the Orontes River Basin.

A Brief Analysis of the Applicability of the Archipelago Waters System in China

The archipelagic waters system is stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is closely related to China＇s marine legislation and maritime law enforcement. It is not only related to the integrity of our country＇s national sovereignty, but also to the maintenance of our maritime rights and interests. However, there is no comprehensive fundamental law governing the overall situation of marine development in our country, also no relevant legal code on the archipelagic waters system. Therefore, we should learn from the world＇s marine legislation and practice which the archipelagic waters system was written into China＇s marine legislation.

＂A Heart to Heart Talk With You Over This Matter＂： Richard Henry Boyd, Elias Camp Morris, James Marion Frost, and the Black Baptist Schism of 1915

This paper explores the race and religion during the Progressive Era by examining the relationships between Richard Henry Boyd and Elias Camp Morris, two leading members of the nascent National Baptist Convention, an African American denomination, and Boyd＇s relationship with James Marion Frost, the Corresponding Secretary of the white Southern Baptist Convention. Their interactions highlight the contours and limitations of ecclesiastical activity within and across the color line in the early 20th Century.

Exploring the Technical Assessment Standards for “Ordinary Purposes” in the CISG

Standards are the scientific basis and an important factor for the assessment of the quality of goods.In International Sale of Goods Law,they are consistent with and complementary to the“general provision”on“ordinary purposes”used to assess the quality of goods.Based on analyses of theories and legal practices and by reviewing the relationship between standards and“ordinary purposes,”in this article,I attempt to find out what standards affect the ascertaining of“ordinary purposes”and present a summary of the preconditions for the sellers’obligatory observance of such standards to provide guidance for the accurate application of other“general provisions”through the use of standards.