Deconstructing Mediation: A Case Study of the Cod Wars

In this study, I explore the mediation techniques used by an international organization (IO) to settle an international crisis. Specifically, I have focused on the use of formal and informal techniques with a case study of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) mediation during the Cod Wars between Iceland and the United Kingdom. My analysis indicates that a combination of both formal and informal mediation techniques was instrumental in resolving the Cod Wars conflict. Further research would clarify whether this finding can be generalized to other cases of NATO mediation and interventions of third parties in addition to NATO.     

Making the investment provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty sustainable development friendly

The International Energy Agency estimates that $16 trillion of investment will be needed to meet world energy requirements from 2003 to 2030. The world's poorest countries, where some of the fastest rates of increase in energy production are expected, will require a significant portion of this investment. Energy investment, both as a source of foreign exchange and to expand local access to electricity and other forms of energy, is integral to socioeconomic development. It is reasonable to expect that this anticipated investment will witness a significant number of disputes between investors and host governments. A fair and just dispute settlement system can help promote the needed investment and sustainable development. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) takes a comprehensive approach to the international energy sector, including coverage of trade, transit, competition and the environment, but its investment provisions have proven most significant with three international arbitral tribunals having issued decisions under the treaty and more disputes pending. While much of the ECT's effort has been to bridge the former East–West economic divide, the Treaty's scope of application is potentially worldwide, and given the inextricable link between energy, development and the environment it makes sense that the Treaty process forge a developing-country regime, one that promotes the development of energy resources and sustainable development. Drawing upon the work of Konrad von Moltke and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and in light of tribunal decisions to date, this essay maintains, inter alia, that the ECT should impose basic transparency and good faith requirements on investors and create a special developing-country regime, promoting sustainable development.

中国贿赂犯罪立法与《联合国反腐败公约》之比较

中国贿赂犯罪刑事立法与《联合国反腐败公约》在行贿方式、行贿罪的目的要件等的规定上具有契合性,在行贿人的刑事责任、贿赂的内容、外国公职人员或者国际公共组织官员贿赂犯罪的规定等问题上具有差异性。     

THE AMERICAN RESPONSE TO PAKISTANI AND IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION: A STUDY IN PARADOX

This article explores the paradox in the reaction of the United States to the two different proliferation cases: Pakistan's proliferation and Iran's weaponization effort. The article tries to find answer to the following key question; why the United States, as one of the guardians of the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) which would prefer to see a region that is entirely free of weapons of mass destruction, ultimately has accepted Pakistan's proliferation, while imposed considerable amount of pressure to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The paper posits that number of factors explain such differences; first, and at the theoretical level, Pakistan was never considered an “irrational” and “messianic” state like Iran, but regarded as a country with a certain degree of cold-war type nuclear rationality. Second and at the applied level, while Pakistan was a US ally with not having a history of challenging the United States, Iran has been considered enemy and a threat toward the US interest.

Third, while Pakistan's nuclear arsenal was viewed as a defensive mean against overwhelming strength of India, Iran's possible nuclear arsenal considered to be for offensive uses against the United States and Israel. The fourth factor pertains to the consequences of proliferation, which is what happens when Iran's neighboring countries may feel threatened by Iranian nuclear weapon and proceed to develop their own arsenal. Fifth factor deals with the possible Iran's temptation to give some nuclear material to a terror group in which made the United States serious in preventing Iran's weaponization. Last but not least, Israel was not involved to pressure and agitate against Pakistan, while it was applied a tremendous pressure against Iran to prevent it from achieving nuclear weapons.     

朴槿惠政府对朝政策解析

朝鲜试射导弹和第三次核试验后,朝鲜半岛和东北亚国际关系进入新的"朝鲜半岛拥核和核威胁"时代,朝核问题成为韩国新政府面临的首个重大课题。朝鲜半岛局势动荡相对削弱了韩国对朝的战略优势,为其对朝传统政策带来诸多挑战。朴槿惠政府被迫更新政策,采取包括提升对朝一揽子"抑制力"与实施人道主义援助并行的"均衡政策"战略,推动朝鲜半岛"信任政治"进程。目前,朴槿惠政府扩大对朝拥核的国际抑制力是迫于朝核危机形势而采取的权宜之计,不会偏离信任进程的基本框架。由于国内外各种因素制约,从维护朝鲜半岛和平、安全、繁荣和统一的长期目标来看,朴槿惠政府采取对朝新政及与国际社会一道构建与朝互信是明智而"有希望"的选择。     

基于Nrf2通路研究通腑养髓方调控Wilson病模型TX小鼠神经细胞铁死亡的机制

目的 基于核因子E2相关因子2(nuclear factor erythroid 2- related factor,Nrf2)信号通路观察通腑养髓方对Wilson病(Wilsons disease, WD)模型TX小鼠神经细胞铁死亡的干预效应,并探讨通腑养髓方对WD神经细胞损伤的保护机制。方法 以DL小鼠为正常对照,将TX小鼠随机分为模型组和通腑养髓方组,通腑养髓方组以通腑养髓方中药灌胃治疗30 d,模型组和对照组小鼠以生理盐水灌胃,末次灌胃后取各组小鼠脑组织。采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法检测小鼠脑组织铜、铁微量元素含量,免疫荧光染色技术检测小鼠脑组织转铁蛋白受体（transferrin receptor, TfR）表达水平,比色法检测小鼠脑组织超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）活性和丙二醛（malondialdehyde, MDA）含量,透射电子显微镜观察小鼠脑组织细胞线粒体形态变化,Fluoro-Jade B（FJB）染色观察小鼠神经细胞损伤程度,Western blot法检测小鼠脑组织铁死亡及Nrf2信号通路相关蛋白［Nrf2,铁蛋白重链（ferritin heavy chain,FTH1）、血红素加氧酶1（heme oxygenase 1,HO1）、醌氧化还原酶1（NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1,NQO1）］表达水平。结果 与正常对照组比较,模型组小鼠脑内铜、铁含量,TfR表达水平,MDA含量显著升高（P<0.05）,SOD活性显著下降（P＜0.05）;与模型组比较,通腑养髓方组小鼠脑内铁含量,TfR表达水平,MDA含量显著降低（P＜0.05）,SOD活性显著升高（P＜0.05）。模型组小鼠脑组织线粒体膜皱缩,嵴数量减少或消失,空泡产生;通腑养髓方组小鼠脑组织线粒体结构损伤程度明显减轻。与正常对照组比较,模型组小鼠神经细胞损伤程度显著增加（P<0.05）;与模型组比较,通腑养髓方组神经细胞损伤程度显著减少（P<0.05）。模型组小鼠脑内谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶4（glutathione peroxidase 4,GPX4）表达水平较正常对照组显著降低（P< 0.05）,通腑养髓方组脑内GPX4表达水平较模型组显著升高（P<0.05）。模型组小鼠脑内Nrf2、FTH1、HO1、NQO1表达水平较正常对照组显著降低（P<0.05）,通腑养髓方组脑内Nrf2、FTH1、HO1、NQO1表达水平较模型组显著增加（P<0.05）。结论 通腑养髓方通过上调TX小鼠神经细胞GPX4等铁死亡相关蛋白及Nrf2、FTH1、HO1、NQO1等Nrf2通路相关蛋白的表达水平,减轻铜蓄积所致的氧化应激,抑制神经细胞铁死亡,从而起到保护神经细胞的作用。     

俄罗斯的核威慑政策

俄罗斯的核威慑政策是俄核政策的核心,它随俄国内外安全环境的交化而变化,表现出一定的阶段性特征,经历了由不成熟到较为成熟的发展过程.尽管俄罗斯的核威慑政策在完成政策目标方面的效能有限,但却是俄维护其核心利益不可或缺的手段.中国与俄罗斯有某些类似的安全境况,因此,俄罗斯核威慑政策实践对中国有一定的启示意义.     

核损害民事责任中的责任集中原则

责任集中是指在有复数责任主体的场合,法律只规定由其中之一承担赔偿责任,而其他责任人则不直接对受害人承担损害赔偿责任的制度。有关核损害责任国际公约以及各国核损害责任立法,均采用这一法律制度。核损害责任法律制度实行惟一责任或责任集中的原则,将核事件的责任全部归结于核营运人,其他任何人包括制造商或供应商等都不承担责任。这一原则充分体现了保护受害人利益和促进核工业发展的指导思想。     

论中国核战略的演进与构成

中国核战略有两个基本出发点,即中国国家安全和人道主义。中国核战略具有很强的连续性,同时又根据国内外情况的变化有所调整,经历了一个从反核讹诈战略逐步演变到最低核威慑战略的进程。与其他核武器国家的核战略相似,中国的核战略也由五个具体政策构成:声明政策、发展政策、部署政策、使用政策、核裁军政策。由于具体情况和战略文化的不同,中国的核战略又具有自己的特色。     

An overview of the content and historical context of the international freshwater agreements that South Africa has entered into with neighbouring countries

Southern Africa is at a pivotal point in time for transboundary water cooperation. The number and extent of coverage of existing international water agreements and joint management institutions merits cautious optimism about future water management in the region. Yet, taken alone, a numerical account of water treaties reveals little about the context in which the agreements were negotiated, the nature of the rules and regulations adopted, or the influence of the agreements in addressing problems or enhancing joint governance. Drawing on a database containing all the international freshwater agreements entered into between South Africa and its neighbours since 1910, this article examines trends in the articulation of these treaties and discusses the implications of the rules and regulations they embody. Specific consideration is given to issues of information sharing, water allocation and organizations. This analysis is a first step towards understanding the impact of existing agreements, identifying opportunities for the negotiation of new treaties and enhancing existing systems.