Sweden pushing liability law for Antarctic News
Sweden pushing liability law for Antarctic

[JURIST] Host country Sweden says it intends to push for strict new rules on polluters at the 28th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting [official website] convening in Stockholm June 6-17. A draft proposal that has been under neogotiation for some 20 years would require companies and organizations to take appropriate precautionary measures and would hold them liable for any local environmental disasters they cause, such as oil spills. The 45 nations who have signed the Antarctic Treaty [summary] would be required to enforce the liability rules. Though governments are already required to assess the possible environmental impact of their activities in Antarctica, this would be the first measure to set legal responsibility and appropriate compensation for a disaster. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.