Enforcing International Labor Rights through Corporate Codes of Conduct

This article first reviews initiatives by the international community to address the linkage between trade and international labor rights and fair labor standards through domestic trade statutes, regional trade agreements and other governmental approaches. It then examines several private sector efforts embracing codes of conduct for labor and employment practices in international commerce. Some are proposed by sources external to multinational corporations as codes by which they can pledge to abide. Others are initiated by individual companies themselves. The authors focus their treatment on codes of conduct issued by Levi Strauss &. Co. and Reebok Corporation as examples of the challenges in formulating, auditing and enforcing labor rights and labor standards by private corporations engaged in international trade

Trademarks, GIs, and Commercial Aspects of Wine Distrubtion Agreements

The marketing of goods under geographical names has always been common. In addition to introducing commercial facets of wine distribution agreements, this article discusses the justifications, principles and, policies that lie behind the protection of geographical indications (GIs) for wine on an international level as well as in the Old World and, to a lesser degree, in the New World. The scope and shape of the GI system will then be scrutinized in light of its own justifications and in the light of its impact on international trade, intellectual property, and agricultural policy

On Time-Space Noncommutativity for Transition Processes and Noncommutative Symmetries

We explore the consequences of time-space noncommutativity in the quantum mechanics of atoms and molecules, focusing on the Moyal plane with just time-space noncommutativity ($[\hat{x}_\mu ,\hat{x}_\nu]=i\theta_{\mu\nu}$, \theta_{0i}\neqq 0, $\theta_{ij}=0$). Space rotations and parity are not automorphisms of this algebra and are not symmetries of quantum physics. Still, when there are spectral degeneracies of a time-independent Hamiltonian on a commutative space-time which are due to symmetries, they persist when \theta_{0i}\neqq 0; they do not depend at all on $\theta_{0i}$. They give no clue about rotation and parity violation when \theta_{0i}\neqq 0. The persistence of degeneracies for \theta_{0i}\neqq 0 can be understood in terms of invariance under deformed noncommutative ``rotations'' and ``parity''. They are not spatial rotations and reflection. We explain such deformed symmetries. We emphasize the significance of time-dependent perturbations (for example, due to time-dependent electromagnetic fields) to observe noncommutativity. The formalism for treating transition processes is illustrated by the example of nonrelativistic hydrogen atom interacting with quantized electromagnetic field. In the tree approximation, the $2s\to 1s +\gamma$ transition for hydrogen is zero in the commutative case. As an example, we show that it is zero in the same approximation for $\theta_{0i}\ne 0$. The importance of the deformed rotational symmetry is commented upon further using the decay $Z^0 \to 2\gamma$ as an example.Comment: 13 pages, revised version, references adde

Comparing Apples and Oranges in Trademark Law: Challenging International and Constitutional Validity of Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products, 13 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 130 (2013)

Plain packaging, a new tobacco control tool being considered by a growing number of countries, mandates the removal of all attractive and promotional aspects of tobacco product packages. As a result of plain packaging, the only authorized feature remaining on a tobacco package is the brand name, displayed in a standardized font, size, color, and location on the package. At issue is the meaning of “use” of trademarks on plain packaging, and whether plain packaging amounts to the creation of an invalid encumbrance. The tobacco industry and other regulated sectors (including wine, fast-food, and pharmaceuticals) also believe that plain packaging jeopardizes trademark rights and contravenes certain Constitutional provisions. In particular, they argue that governments do, and are, in fact, capable of “acquiring,” property, or that governments could be construed as “taking” property on unjust terms, contrary to Constitutional guarantees. The tobacco industry’s efforts to fight plain packaging in the courts have, however, proven futile thus far—particularly in Australia. This article, after introducing the reader to the dawn and rationale of plain packaging from a quasi-legal and marketing perspective, examines the compatibility of normative arguments for plain packaging within the international framework for trademark protection (as preserved in the TRIPS Agreement). It then looks at the way in which these arguments and that framework have shaped the constitutional validity of plain packaging of tobacco products in the United States and Australia. In drawing on these jurisdictions that, alongside the European Union, incorporate rather aggressive tobacco control legislation, this paper highlights the nuanced geographic and legal contexts that complicate global regulatory control, which play an important role in advancing global public health in the face of trade-related objections. Finally, this paper proposes methods for dealing with current legal challenges to global tobacco control regulations and suggests that there are strong arguments to deny private entities that seek to establish a successful case by purporting to invalidate plain packaging legislation

Molecular Orbital Calculations for the Three Isomeric Thiophthenes

Molecular orbital calculations in the framework of the Paris er-Parr and Pople theory is applied to some of th e ground state properties and to the UV spectra od 1,4-thiophthene, 1,5-thiophthene, and 1,6-thiophthene. Goo d agr ee ment w as obtaine d between the observed and calculated values for the first it - it* electron transitions in the three molecules studied. An assig n ement of the spectra is proposed

Molecular Orbital Calculations for Some Bithiophenes and Bifurans

Molecular orbital calculations in the framework of PariserParr- Pople theory are applied to some of the ground state properties and to the UV spectra of 3,3\u27-bithiophene, 3,3\u27-bifuran, 2,2\u27-bithiophene and 2,2\u27-bifuran. Good agreement has be.en obtained between the observed and calculated values for the first :n:-:n:* electronic transition in all the molecules examined

The AMR problem: demanding economies, biological margins, and co-producing alternative strategies

 This is the final version. Available from Palgrave Macmillan via the DOI in this record.Widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to public and animal health, and has consequences for the structure and sustainability of food production. The problem is often framed as one of inappropriate antimicrobial use, which drives emergence and selection of resistant microbes. The answer to this framing of the problem is to lower disease incidence and transmission rates, regulate antimicrobial uses and to educate prescribers and users of medicines. In this paper we argue that this seemingly straightforward programme of action is beset by at least two difficulties. First, in many parts of the world, disease dynamics and antimicrobial uses are embedded within biosocially demanding settings. Second, antibiotic use is one among many possible drivers of resistance. We focus on the aquatic environment and aquacultural food production where resistance drivers may relate to a variety of processes. Using interviews, survey data, and participatory modelling exercises with competency groups in Bangladesh’s shrimp and prawn aquaculture sector, we demonstrate the need to understand economic and biological drivers of disease, farmer adaptations to disease risks and the potential paradox of pursuing pathogen-free food production as a means to reduce AMR risks. We argue that the AMR problem needs to be framed as an adaptive rather than technical challenge, and involves ownership, change and experimentation across a range of relevant sites.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC

Universality in the Electroproduction of Vector Mesons

We study universality in the electroproduction of vector mesons using a unified nonperturbative approach which has already proved to reproduce extremely well the available experimental data. In this framework, after the extraction of factors that are specific of each vector meson, we arrive at a reduced integrated elastic cross section which is universal. Our calculations suggest a finite infrared behavior for the strong coupling constant.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure