Japan Chair Platform: The Senkaku Islands and International Law

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Key Concepts

Territorial issues always stimulate strong sentiments of nationalism in all the parties concerned. However, what is needed most is to have a calm and reasoned debate over these issues. Clashing nationalisms will be detrimental to any attempt to solve the problems.

From such a perspective, it is important to distinguish between conflicts and disputes: A conflict is a de facto situation of differences between states while a dispute, particularly a legal dispute, is a de jure notion based on the relevant substantive and procedural rules of international law. What should be avoided is exacerbating a conflict by coercive measures. It is necessary to make every effort to transform a conflict into a dispute, which is particularly the responsibility for a country seeking to change a status quo. What is important is to control those disputes through peaceful settlement, preferably through judicial settlement by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Another key concept which is important in territorial disputes is a critical date which the Court normally determines in settling territorial disputes. The Court will admit only relevant facts established prior to the critical date as evidence and no evidence is admissible with regard to the facts occurring after that date. It is therefore meaningless to try to build up whatever facts and actions after the critical date. This is one of the important merits of the judicial settlement of disputes for reducing tension between the parties.

Japans Position

Japans position on the Senkaku Islands is clear. Japan took measures to incorporate the islands in January 1895 after having carefully surveyed and determined that the islands had been terra nullius (no mans land). Ever since, the Senkaku Islands have been under the Japanese administration except for 27 years between 1945 and 1972 when the islands as part of Okinawa were under the US administration but returned to Japan along with Okinawa in 1972. Thus, the islands have been under the effective and peaceful administration of Japan for more than a century. It is clear that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japan, as evidenced by both historical facts and international law, and therefore there is no dispute about the sovereign title of the islands.

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Japan Chair Platform: The Senkaku Islands and International Law

Getting to the San Juan Islands car-free

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Hop on the shuttle bus, which meets the ferries, to get around San Juan Island or Orcas. (Photo courtesy of San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau.)

If youve taken a car to the San Juan Islands in summer, youve probably sat and fumed in the long ferry line, especially on weekends.

Here are some ways to avoid the crush by going to, and getting around, the bucolic Washington islands car-free for the summer season. (Or for those who need or want to take their cars, vehicle reservations may be on the way, possibly starting in the fall/winter of 2014.)

Take the island bus. Walk on the ferry from Anacortes to San Juan Island or Orcas Island, and walk off onto a shuttle bus, called the Scenic Byway Explorer that meets ferries at the terminals on both islands. The bus shuttles to popular spots on both islands with a hop-on, hop-off service. There are three routes on San Juan Island and one on Orcas Island. Fares range from $5 for a single bus ride to $15 for a day pass, and a 2-for-1 special is available under certain conditions. The shuttle began running in mid-May for the summer season on San Juan Island; it begins on Orcas on June 21 and runs daily into September on both islands; see San Juan Transit for more info. Taxis also are available and some hotels/resorts may do ferry pick-ups.

(Wondering about the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway after which the shuttle bus is named? Its a state-designated sightseeing route.)

A ferry at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. (Alan Berner photo / The Seattle Times.)

Bike: Park your car and take your bike on the ferry (or rent a bike on the islands). Biking is fun on the San Juans; its not too hilly and the distances are not daunting.

Parking, ferry rates: For ferry ratesand where to park in Anacortes, click here.

Take the Clipper

ClipperVacationshas ferry service from downtown Seattle to Friday Harbor on passenger-only catamarans, with daily service in the summer season (from mid-May to Sept. 8).

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Getting to the San Juan Islands car-free

HHS-CCSC Awards Honor Efforts to Eliminate Health Care-Associated Infections

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Newswise The Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces recipients in the 2013 National Awards Program to Recognize Achievements in Eliminating Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs). Eight hospitals and health care facilities were honored for successful and sustained efforts to prevent HAIs, specifically infections in critical care settings.

HAIs are infections acquired while patients are receiving medical treatment for other conditions. At any given time, about one in every 20 patients has an infection related to their hospital care. These infections cost the U.S. health care system billions of dollars each year and lead to the loss of tens of thousands of lives. In addition, HAIs can have devastating emotional, financial and medical consequences.

HHS and its government and non-government partners have seen rapid progress in reducing rates of several infections, especially in intensive care settings, since the launch of the National Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections: Road Map to Elimination, said HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Don Wright, MD, MPH. This progress is due in large part to the leadership, dedication, and hard work of hospital teams such as those that we honor through this joint HHS-CCSC Awards Program. Thanks to these frontline clinicians and professionals, we are on track to achieve most 2013 national targets and extend the effort beyond hospitals to ambulatory and long-term care settings.

Award recipients demonstrated success in reducing and eliminating central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) or catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) for 25 months or longer and show national leadership in sharing their evidence-based initiatives to improve clinical practice. These are among the most common HAIs that patients acquire while receiving medical treatment for other conditions.

Leaders of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health HAI initiative partnered with CCSC a multidisciplinary organization composed of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society and Society of Critical Care Medicine to launch the three-year awards program in 2010.

AACN Senior Director Ramn Lavandero, RN, MA, MSN, FAAN, noted the potential impact of the awards program. During the three years for which it was planned, this interdisciplinary awards program has increased health professionals awareness of best practices used by peer institutions to reduce or eliminate health care-associated infections.

Awardees were recognized May 20 in Boston during AACNs National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition. Award recipients (alphabetized by state) are: Intensive Care Unit, Franciscan St. Francis Health, Mooresville, Ind. (CAUTI) Surgical ICU and Trauma Burn ICU, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor (VAP) Medical Surgical ICU, HealthEast St. Johns Hospital, Maplewood, Minn. (CLABSI) Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City (CAUTI) ICU, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.; ICU, Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, Matthews, N.C.; and ICU, Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Huntersville, N.C. (VAP) Cardiac Intermediate Unit, East Carolina Heart Institute at Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, N.C. (CLABSI) Medical Intermediate Unit, Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, N.C., (VAP) Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (CLABSI)

In addition to the eight awardees, 11 health care organizations received honorable mention recognition for their efforts toward eliminating HAIs within their facilities. Facilities receiving honorable mention in this years awards program are listed online at http://www.aacn.org/haiawards.

According to the most recent national data, reported in October 2012, CLABSI in hospital ICUs and wards have been reduced by 41 percent, on track to meet or surpass the HAI Action Plan target of a 50 percent reduction by the end of 2013. CAUTI in ICUs and hospital wards have been reduced by 7 percent, on track to meet the year-end target of a 25 percent reduction.

For additional information, visit the HHS Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections and the Partnership for Patients websites.

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HHS-CCSC Awards Honor Efforts to Eliminate Health Care-Associated Infections

American Workers' Health Care Costs Increase Again

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The family health care tab shows no sign of shrinking. On average, according to the latest Milliman Medical Index (MMI), a family of four covered through a typical employer health plan will pay out $9,144 this year in premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. That's up about 6.5 percent over 2012, though not as much as the prior year's increase of 7.2 percent. The 2013 rise translates into slightly more than $45 a month in higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.

A significant reason for the jump, based on today's figures from Milliman, a health care consultancy, is that employees are shouldering a greater share of the cost of health insurance. Families are paying 8.4 percent more than last year toward insurance premiums, while employers are paying 6.1 percent more. Between 2010 and now, employees have seen yearly increases of 8 percent to 9 percent in their average monthly premium; increases in the employer contribution have averaged less than 7 percent. Private-industry wages, by contrast, have risen less than 2 percent in the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Families with coverage like the one built into Milliman's assumptions will pay an average of $5,544 in monthly premiums through payroll deductions and $3,600 out of pocket for doctor visits, medications and other medical bills. Such figures are national averages; the most expensive 10 percent of patients run up more than seven times the average individual's expenses, according to Milliman.

"Average" means a family with two kids, enrolled in a company's standard preferred provider organization, which is the most widely used form of group coverage. The family pays about 41 percent of the actual cost of health care, according to the Milliman index. Employers pay the other 59 percent.

About half of Americans are insured through their employer; about 15 million people buy individual health insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and are therefore responsible for all of their care. U.S. News publishes ratings of individual and family insurance plans.The Milliman report did not examine cost trends for such plans or for Medicare plans.

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American Workers' Health Care Costs Increase Again

Health Care: In the IRS we trust?

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WASHINGTON -- There's a growing concern about the competency of the IRS and its ability to oversee Obamacare.

Sara Hall Ingram, the same executive that was in charge of the tax-exempt office under scrutiny for targeting conservative groups, is now responsible for enforcing dozens of new health care laws. The question is, how much trust should we put into the IRS and Ingram for safeguarding our most personal records?

We don't know how much Sarah Hall Ingram knew about the targeting while serving as Commissioner of the IRS field office in Cincinnati, the same office under intense scrutiny and congressional review. Ingram now oversees the IRS' Affordable Care Act Office tasked with enforcing health care laws. Among them, deciding which business or individual gets a tax break.

"That's the sick irony," said Dave Swartz.

Swartz is with 'Americans for Prosperity,' a grassroots group that was not targeted by the IRS.

"She can not be the person that implements our health care," argues Swartz. "I don't think the public trust is there for that to happen."

Senior White House Advisor Dan Pfeiffer defended Ingram, saying she has done nothing wrong.

A new Washington Post/ABC poll found that 56 percent of Americans believe the IRS was deliberately intrusive of Tea Party groups.

"Confidence in government has become an oxymoron. Trust in government has become an oxymoron," said Michael Franc of the Heritage Foundation. "We are at a almost a historic low in terms of the level of trust the average American places in government entities."

And with the same IRS executive now in charge of something as personal health care, Franc says it will give rise to yet another level of distrust.

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Health Care: In the IRS we trust?

Fast new, 1-step genetic engineering technology

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Public release date: 22-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society

A new, streamlined approach to genetic engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed to insert new genes into bacteria, the workhorses of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. Published in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, the method paves the way for more rapid development of designer microbes for drug development, environmental cleanup and other activities.

Keith Shearwin and colleagues explain that placing, or integrating, a piece of the genetic material DNA into a bacterium's genome is critical for making designer bacteria. That DNA can give microbes the ability to churn out ingredients for medication, for instance, or substances that break down oil after a big spill. But current genetic engineering methods are time-consuming and involve many steps. The approaches have other limitations as well. To address those drawbacks, the researchers sought to develop a new, one-step genetic engineering technology, which they named "clonetegration," a reference to clones or copies of genes or DNA fragments.

They describe development and successful laboratory tests of clonetegration in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium bacteria, which are used in biotechnology. The method is quick, efficient and easy to do and can integrate multiple genes at the same time. They predict that clonetegration "will become a valuable technique facilitating genetic engineering with difficult-to-clone sequences and rapid construction of synthetic biological systems."

###

The authors acknowledge funding from the China Scholarship Council, the National Science Foundation Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center, the Human Frontier Science Program, the Australian Research Council and a William H. Elliott Biochemistry Fellowship.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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Fast new, 1-step genetic engineering technology

Fast new, one-step genetic engineering technology

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May 22, 2013 A new, streamlined approach to genetic engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed to insert new genes into bacteria, the workhorses of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. Published in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, the method paves the way for more rapid development of designer microbes for drug development, environmental cleanup and other activities.

Keith Shearwin and colleagues explain that placing, or integrating, a piece of the genetic material DNA into a bacterium's genome is critical for making designer bacteria. That DNA can give microbes the ability to churn out ingredients for medication, for instance, or substances that break down oil after a big spill. But current genetic engineering methods are time-consuming and involve many steps. The approaches have other limitations as well. To address those drawbacks, the researchers sought to develop a new, one-step genetic engineering technology, which they named "clonetegration," a reference to clones or copies of genes or DNA fragments.

They describe development and successful laboratory tests of clonetegration in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium bacteria, which are used in biotechnology. The method is quick, efficient and easy to do and can integrate multiple genes at the same time. They predict that clonetegration "will become a valuable technique facilitating genetic engineering with difficult-to-clone sequences and rapid construction of synthetic biological systems."

The authors acknowledge funding from the China Scholarship Council, the National Science Foundation Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center, the Human Frontier Science Program, the Australian Research Council and a William H. Elliott Biochemistry Fellowship.

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Fast new, one-step genetic engineering technology

Face Time: Ford Futurist Sheryl Connelly

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By Katie Abdilla | Published 05/21/13 6:09pm

Since graduating from MSU in 1989, MSU alumna Sheryl Connelly has worn many hats. With experience in everything from sales to law, Connelly currently serves as the futurist for Ford Motor Co., predicting trends to help the company adapt to future changes in society.

Despite her business focus, Connelly is a self-proclaimed right-brainer, and most recently, was the first woman to make Fast Companys Top 100 Most Creative People in Business list for 2013. John Viera, Ford Motor Co.s global director of sustainability and environmental matters, said Connellys creative edge brings a new perspective to the office.

Im an engineer by nature, and Sheryl and I complement each other really well, Viera said. Left-brained people have a tendency to want to get to the answer right away, and what Sheryl does is takes a creative stand and opens up the blinds for us.

The State News spoke with Connelly on Monday, discussing her career and her time at MSU.

The State News: What was your overall experience at MSU like?

Sheryl Connelly: I have nothing but the fondest memories of my time at Michigan State. Like any college experience, when you get the opportunity to go away, its the time to find yourself. Its not just about the educational journey, its a journey of self-discovery and figuring out who you are away from your friends and family unit.

TSN: Although you focused on business while at MSU, you also were interested in art. What made you pick one over the other?

SC: I was really torn about whether I wanted to study art or business, but in the context of the 80s, it had its recession, and (business) seemed like the safest bet. I remember still today, it was exciting, the subtle reaction when people found out you were in the business college. At times it caught people by surprise, to see young women pursuing that kind of discipline.

TSN: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

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Face Time: Ford Futurist Sheryl Connelly

Global Futurist Jack Uldrich to Deliver Keynote on the Future of Higher Education

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 22, 2013

Following on the heels of his well-received keynote presentation at the Association of Test Publishers 2013 Innovation Conference, popular keynote speaker, education futurist, technology forecaster, change management expert and best-selling author, Jack Uldrich has been selected to deliver the plenary keynote presentation at the Rochester Institute of Technology's year's end Faculty Institute on Teaching and Learning Conference on May 22, 2013.

Beyond addressing educational trends, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), open-source educational platforms (such as Coursera, EdX and Udacity), mobile web communications, interactive and customizable e-books, gaming dynamics, augmented-reality, artificial intelligence, and crowdsourcing; Uldrich will tackle how these trends are transforming the student-teacher relationship and review the changes educational leaders must make today in order to stay relevant in tomorrows changing world.

The material presented in his talk is based on a combination of Uldrich's best-selling book, "Higher Unlearning: 39 Post Requisite Lessons for Achieving a Successful Future" and his latest book, "Foresight 2020: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow." The keynote is designed to provide education innovators a solid and thought-provoking foundation upon which to conduct future strategic planning. (Later this spring, Uldrich will be conducting a more interactive session with leaders from the Rochester Institute of Technology). An overview of many of the coming changes can be found in this article: 10 Quotations of the Future of Higher Education.

In a separate, follow-on session entitled "The Art & Science of Unlearning", Uldrich will elaborate on why these future trends will require unlearning as well as provide an overview of how various technological trends are upending long-standing educational and funding mechanisms. Uldrich, who has been hailed as "America's Chief Unlearning Officer," will use vivid analogies and memorable stories, drawn from a wide spectrum of industries outside the educational establishment, to ensure his message of unlearning "sticks" with his audience. A sample of some his ideas on the future of education can be found in this chapter, The Future of Higher Education: A Cloudy Forecast, from his latest book Foresight 2020: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow.

In the past year, Uldrich has addressed dozens of educational groups and associations, including delivering customized keynote presentations to Indiana University, Cuyahoga Community College, the Association of Test Publishers, the Minnesota Community Education Association, The Council of Great Lakes Schools, The University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Business, Educational Services of America, Belmont University, The Chief Learning Officers Summit, The Minneapolis Public School System, The Teaching and Technology Conference, The League of Innovation, The California League of Middle Schools, and The American Technical Education Association. Later this summer, he will travel to Istanbul, Turkey to speak at the European Association for International Education's annual conference. Uldrich has also addressed a number of major, non education-related corporations and institutions on the topics of future trends, change management and unlearning, including Cisco, IBM, PepsiCo, United Healthcare, Case IH, Guardian Life Insurance, WiPro, and General Electric.

Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website at: http://www.jumpthecurve.net. Media wishing to know more about the event or interviewing Jack Uldrich can contact him directly at 612-267-1212 or jack(at)schoolofunlearning(dot)com.

Uldrich is a renowned global educational futurist, best-selling author, and editor of the monthly newsletter, The Exponential Executive. He is currently represented by a number of professional speakers' bureaus, including Leading Authorities and Executive Speakers Bureau.

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Global Futurist Jack Uldrich to Deliver Keynote on the Future of Higher Education