Kyoto signatories agree on enforcement mechanism News
Kyoto signatories agree on enforcement mechanism

[JURIST] Signatory nations to the Kyoto Protocol [text; JURIST news archive] meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference [conference website] in Montreal Thursday agreed to a final protocol provision governing the rules for ensuring compliance with emissions standards. A country that exceeds its set goal for emissions will now incur an additional 30 percent penalty and must balance out the difference in emissions during the next period. Countries that consistently miss their emissions goals may lose the right to trade emissions with other participating countries. A solution proposed by Saudi Arabia [JURIST news archive], where each country's legislature would determine the enforcement mechanism used by the country, was not considered by the assembly of participating nations. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.