Long time no see

Hello all,

It’s been a while since the last time I posted something. Apologies to my only follower (Hola Lau!!). Things got a bit hard over here. The law firm where I used to work downsized. My last day of work was September 30th. Before downsizing there were 32 attorneys (6 of them, women). After the cut, there are 28 attorneys (3 of them women… 2 interns and 1 junior associate). Figures are pretty bad, right? In order to leave behind any bad feeling or thought, I won’t discuss this issue in depth.

Although the news was hard to handle, it didn’t surprise me. The economy is really messy in Mexico…. and there’s still gender discrimination. Gladly, I’m part-time professor, thus I have at least one source of income.

Being unemployed is like a nightmare, but during these hard times I found the long-awaited turning point. Since my college years, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to know at the entrance gate of a HUGE & SEXY thing (meaning an international public organization or large transnational company).

I’m not asking for a position at an international organization or large transnational, nooo… I’m wishing for an opportunity to sit down at the negotiating table. I’d like to listen to them and to be listened. Afterwards, we (HUGE & SEXY thing + me) will be in a good position to decide if we’ll be good teammates or not.

It’s so frustrating to be rejected before actually being listened or tested…. wiack!!

Well, folks… I’m sitting at the negotiating table this Wednesday December 2nd, 2009. Wish us luck!!

Best,

Tere

Race to the bottom?? Veiled protectionism??

On September 10, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor released three reports on child labor and/or forced labor in foreign countries, including the initial List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA List). The report informs the public about 122 goods from 58 countries that ILAB has reason to believe are produced by forced labor, child labor or both, in violation of international standards.
http://www.dol.gov/ilab/

This list should concern global vendors and suppliers because it is likely to affect U.S. importers' assessment of risks associated with sourcing from particular countries and could increase consumer pressure for increased transparency and traceability of the listed products.

The countries on the List span every region of the world. The most common agricultural goods listed are cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, rice, and cocoa. In the manufacturing sector, bricks, garments, carpets, and footwear appear most frequently; and in mined or quarried goods, gold and coal. The report also includes listings of the sources used to make determinations about each good on the List.

The products on the DOL list include, AMONGT OTHER, the following.

. Textiles and toys from China
. Sugarcane from the Dominican Republic
. Cotton from Uzbekistan
. Diamonds and gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo
. Garments from India and Jordan
--- BLACK BEANS FROM MEXICO!!! :(

FLOW = For the LoVe of WATER

One of the greatest advantages of being a full or part-time professor is that you have the privilege of meeting future leaders. I was introduced to this documentary film by a potential environmental advocate :)

Edward M. Kennedy-In Memoriam

Edward Kennedy, one on the last “giants” of THE giant country, and a reference for any democracy and social justice believer.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009

Summer’s almost gone… and the flu pandemic is back :/ Well, actually, HIN1 has never been really gone
Today, amongst other 25 emails, I received one that really caught my attention: Schools and Universities might be shut down AGAIN!!
Human kind is paying a rather expensive bill: financial crisis, food crisis, environmental crisis, global warming, etc etc.
Are we ready to face the pandemic? Are there enough antivirals?? I’m afraid we are not ready!! Cou Cou, Pharmaceuticals!! I would love to hear from you!! We are waiting for your cool youtube videos.

Force Labor!? Let’s call it by its name: SLAVERY!!

As most of you are aware, Drugs Cartels have stolen the peace of almost every single family in Mexico. Some politicians, intellectuals and scholars propose drug legalization as a solution to this GREAT problem (don’t agree with this, but do respect their opinion).
BUT, come on people, HUMAN TRAFICKING IS A CRIME!!! A CRIME!! And most drugs cartels use human trafficking and force labor as a way to increase their profit (wiack, wiack and thousand times wiack).
My humble proposal to alleviate human trafficking and force labor??... Send all people involved (including politicians) to jail or, even better, TO MARS!!!

Teaching basic concepts of U.S. Constitutional Law

I just looooooooove to show this video to my Freshmen students :)

Angel Horna - Delimitación Marítima (Perú c. Chile)

Angel Horna, born in Lima, Peru, is currently PhD Candidate in international law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva) under the supervision of Professor Marcelo Kohen. Prior to the beginning of the Ph.D. programme he was one of the five participants in the First Training Programme on Dispute Settlement under the Law of the Sea Convention, established by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Hamburg) with the support of the Nippon Foundation (July 2007 – March 2008). He has also conducted research at the Max-Planck-Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg).

...AND, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, HE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE!!! :)

BTW Laura V, do you allow me to upload some of your work?????

China will appeal ruling at WTO

Is China really protecting her entertainment industry? Will the WTO rules prevail and China will be force to open her market for U.S. movies, music and books??
Come on, people!!! Chinese ladies deserve some Hollywood chick flicks!!! Well, first I need to ask my chinese friends if they would like to have more access to hollywood chick flicks.

Palabra del Día: EMPOWERMENT

Wikipedia definition: "Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities".

My very own definition: A beautiful key to promote human rights :)

Clio: A user-friendly legal software :)

This post is dedicated to solo and small firm attorneys. Accounting in a law practice is very complicated. Some of the cases are billed at an hourly rate, some are billed for a flat fee and some are paid in a lump sum after completed…AN IT IS SO HARD TO KEEP TRACK ON THAT (obviously, we are law experts, no accounting experts) Well, a web-based software named Clio might help you.

For further information, please visit http://www.goclio.com/
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1202433024186&Clio_Keeps_Solo_on_Top_of_Her_Practice

Interview with Patagonia's CSR manager: Nicole Bassett.

WOWOWOWOOWOWOWOWOW... This video has just MADE MY DAY!!! It’s always good to hear about a company go cares about its employees, its suppliers and the environment. Long live Patagonia!!
Video’s volume is a bit low. Put your loudspeakers on top of their capacity.

Is hate a profitable feeling? (aka “Hate Industry”)

Sadly, yes. Usually a third party (whether a lawyer, economist, policy maker, diplomat, etc) gets a benefit from endless battles between antagonistic parties.
Few examples:
1.- The attorney who pays his/her brand new car out of a cruel and lengthy family trial.
2.- The union leader who goes on a fancy cruise during the holidays , while his/her union colleagues innocently believe that someone is acting on their behalf before the “powerful” employers.
3.- The diplomats who simply ignore genocide or other atrocities in order to get a preferential price on oil, gas, diamonds, gold, you-name-it.
4.- ETC, ETC, ETC, ECT…

… And I’m currently making all my best (that includes expending all my savings) to get away from the “hate industry”. Wish me luck!!! Corporate Citizens… HERE I GO!!

MBA Ethics Oath by Jon Stewart

MBA Ethics Oath

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

An interesting view of the MBA Ethics Oath by the Daily Show with Jon Stewart :)
After the MBA Oath, there will be no more Madoffs or Enrons??

Ruling of the Week: US-China dispute over audiovisual products

According to WSJ.com, "WTO Ruling Against China Media Regulations Is Boon for Free Trade" http://bit.ly/2uRonk
Would you like to develop your own opinion on this issue, please look at the actual Panel's findings at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/363r_e.htm

The Geneva Conventions: core of int. humanitarian law

The ICRC's neutral and independent humanitarian action is constantly facing new challenges.

Every year, millions of people around the world are affected by wars and natural disasters. How does the ICRC respond?

This film captures the commitment of the ICRC and its partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It focuses on seven situations between 2003 and 2005: the conflict in Darfur, the war in Iraq, Nepal, Yemen, the tsunami in South-East Asia, Chechnya and the earthquake in Pakistan.
ICRC, 2006.

Private military companies, unlawful combatants...

.... or merely sophisticated mercenaries???

Please make your own opinion after visiting this website http://www.sandline.com/company/index.html.

The Challenge to Make Chocolate Child Labour Free (Part 1)

¿Cuántos de nosotros no disfrutamos de un buen pedazo de chocolate cuando estamos felices? ¿Cuántos de nosotros no compensamos una desilusión amorosa, personal o profesional con una buena barra de chocolate?....
............. Y CUÁNTOS DE NOSOTROS NO NOS DETENEMOS A PENSAR EN EL DOLOR Y POBREZA QUE HAY DETRÁS DE LA COSECHA DE ESTA PRECIADA MATERIA PRIMA??????????

They make no mention on the beauty of decay

This has been one of the worst years of my career. Well, as a matter of fact, I’m not alone. This has been the WORST year for millions of families, children, young graduates, junior and senior professionals.

The crisis has multiple faces. Besides the economic side of the crisis, I’ve been dealing with the most cruel side: the trust lost. Now I know what former wealthy children feel when they discover that Santa Clause does not exist, while their parents are being put in jail for white collar crime.
No one is talking about the beauty of decay. Are better times coming?

Noticia de la Semana :)

Orgullosamente MUJER, LATINA y ABOGADA!!!!!

Folks, did you turn your mobile off before coming in?

Yeah… I know. I’m TOOO last century. Honestly, I really have hard times dealing with my high-tech students. They may use their mobile phones as learning tools, but, nonetheless, turn-on mobiles are not even supposed to be in the classroom!!!!

Drivers of CSR

“On action alone be thy interest,

Never on its fruits.
Let not the fruits of action be thy motive,
Nor be thy attachment to inaction.“

- Bhagavadgita, Chapter 2

Taken from "Trust and Corporate Social responsibility: Lessons from India"

Is public credibility worthwhile?

...... In my view, YES. Specially in times like these.

Noticia del Día :)

Appellate Body welcomes new member

Mr Ricardo Ramírez Hernández (Mexico) was sworn in on 20 July 2009 as a Member of the Appellate Body at a ceremony at the WTO.

Mr David Unterhalter (South Africa), Chairman of the Appellate Body, administered the declaration undertaken by Mr Ramírez.

Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, Ambassador John Gero of Canada, and Deputy Director-General Alejandro Jara, both congratulated Mr Ramírez and welcomed him as a new Appellate Body Member. They also thanked former Appellate Body Member, Mr Luiz Olavo Baptista (Brazil), who had retired after eight years of valuable service to the WTO.

http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/ab_20jul09_e.htm

Official WP of the Mexican, Chilean and Brazilian Migratory Authorities

My dear fellows,
As you would appreciate the official WebPages of the Chilean and Brazilian Migratory Authorities (second and third squares from top to bottom), offer extensive information on English, today's universal business language. That's not the case for the "National Migration Institute" (INAMI), the Mexican Migratory Authority (first square on top).

Well... If the Mexican Government is trying to increase the FDI, wouldn’t it be nice to include the Chinese/English/Portuguese/Italian/French version of the INAMI's webpage?

This is just a thought.....

Today's Lesson - From Student to Professor

Lecciones de un verano en el Tribunal Estatal Electoral del Estado de Nuevo León

"... El realizar prácticas profesionales, nos brinda a nosotros como alumnos un sentido aún más arraigado de la importancia que tienen el compromiso, la responsabilidad y el compañerismo. Hemos aprendido a través de estos dos meses que para llegar a construir nuestras metas es primordial ser comprometido con uno mismo y con aquellos que confían en tí..."

-Andrea García Suárez