Suchergebnisse

SummaryIn May 1973, an article entitled "International Law and Society in the Year 2000" written by Ronald St. John Macdonald, Gerald Morris, and Douglas Johnson, appeared in the Canadian Bar Review. The article attempted to provide a vision of what international law would look like three decades in the future. If Macdonald and his co-authors were mistaken about some of the details they forecasted, they were deWnitely right about the multiplication of actors, the growing diversity of sources, and the expanded coverage of international law. More particularly, they were correct in their assessment that environmental concerns — as opposed to the more evident military, humanitarian, or criminal ones — would be the principal catalyst for change in times to come. A look back at "International Law and Society in the Year 2000" therefore offers a valuable retrospective on Macdonald's contribution to international law and helps to frame the central question that we must take up in our own time: how will international law evolve from here?

SummaryIn 1998, a Canadian oil company, Talisman Energy Incorporated of Calgary, acquired part interest in an oil concession in southern Sudan. In 1999, it began exporting oil from the region and paying royalties to the Sudanese government, some of which have been used to fund government forces engaged in a civil war against separatists in the south. The war has caused numerous human rights abuses. Talisman's investment in Sudan therefore raises concerns about corporate operations in countries where there are serious and frequent human rights violations. What are Talisman and Canada's obligations at this particular juncture — a point of fertile development in the field of international corporate social responsibility? This comment examines this question in light of recent events.

SummaryIn November 1995, the execution of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa led to Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth and the possibility of its expuhion from membership. The absence of an expulsion clause for the Commonwealth led to the question whether the association has the inherent power to expel and whether any such power of expuhion is limited by international law. A review of treaties, customary international law, and commentary suggests that the Commonwealth can expel a member by use of implied power. Other factors, however, militate against Nigeria's expuhion. Once expelled, Nigeria would be free to behave as it saw fit. Expuhion could aho divide the Commonwealth and make other members think twice about their membership obligations. The author concludes that expuhion from the Commonwealth must be a last resort.