AllAboutLaw Blog: the consensus on vaping, tighter controls of the Chinese state media and the legality of meat

This week’s edition of the AllAboutLaw Blog looks at how vaping is being banned in a growing number of countries, a new exam aimed at testing Chinese journalists’ knowledge of the president’s political philosophy, and a proposition to make the consumption of meat illegal.

Ban on Vaping

As the use of e-cigarettes continues to rise, so does the number of countries seeking to ban the practice. 20 countries, mostly located in South America, South-East Asia and the Middle East have already banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Thailand has some of the harshest laws regarding the import, export, sale and possession of vaping products, with guilty parties sentenced to a fine or a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Only six days ago, India banned vaping after its government passed an emergency order, citing a public health risk. The order could see first-time offenders jailed for up to a year and fined 100,000 an equivalent of £1,100.

Although research has found the use of e-cigarettes may help smokers quit conventional cigarettes, much of the outcry related to vaping is due to the number of young individuals taking up vaping while never having smoked traditional cigarettes. Vaping can appear particularly attractive to young people because of its variety of flavours, which include candy floss or strawberry.

Although vaping does not have some of the harmful effects of smoking, it still contains excessive amounts of nicotine as well as a range of contaminants and additives. A study found these particles irritate and inflame the airways, leading to a greater amount of mucus production and an increase in tissue-degrading enzymes. In the UK, 1.6% of 11-18 year-olds use e-cigarettes more than once a week, an increase from 2015 when approximately 0.5% were users. Figures released by Action on Smoking and Health estimate the number of people vaping in the UK has reached 3.6 million, which is equivalent to about half the number of smokers.

In the US, there have been a reported nine deaths and 450 cases of lung-illness linked to vaping. Walmart has taken the issue at hand and has banned the sale of e-cigarettes in its stores, while US President Donald Trump has announced plans to ban flavoured e-cigarettes. 

________________

“There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.” 

Greta Thunberg, during her speech at the Climate Action Summit which launched the 74th UN General Assembly.

________________

Firm news

Equity partners at law firms Hogan Lovells and DLA Piper have joined the millionaires’ club, earning more than £1 million each.

Kevin Carey, an ex-Delaware bankruptcy judge, is set to join Hogan Lovells’ business restructuring and insolvency practice in October. 

Keystone Law has announced a special dividend following half-year increases in profit and revenue.

________________

Testing the loyalty of Chinese journalists

Human rights organisations have not shied away from publishing the extent of human right abuses in China. This is particularly true for state media journalists. Early this year, the Human Rights Watch published a report looking at China over the year of 2018, in which they listed several cases in which Chinese police detained journalists who cover human rights issues. Last Thursday, it surfaced that journalists in Chinese state media will be tested on their loyalty to President  Xi Jinping and the state. Initially, 10,000 reporters and editors in Beijing will be required to take pilot tests using the Xuexi Qiangguo mobile app, a news aggregation website specifically related to the state’s political philosophy. The exam will then be rolled out to the rest of the nation. Journalists will be required to answer questions relating to the president’s political thinking and the Marxist ideology. Only those who pass the exam will be issued a press card.

________________

Don’t get left behind! Make sure to apply to vacation schemes before your university schedule becomes too hectic. Check out our jobs board to see all the opportunities and make sure to visit our advice pages to ensure you send off your best application.

________________

Advertisement

Is the consumption of meat set to be illegal in the future?

In January this year, the UN recommended a diet to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Otherwise known as the ‘planetary health diet’, encourages people to cut back on meat and dairy products. Symbolically, half of the plate contains fruit, vegetables and nuts and the other half consists of whole grains, plant proteins, unsaturated plant oils and a modest amount of meat and dairy. However, on Monday a prominent UK barrister went a step further and proposed the consumption of meat should be outright illegal. Michael Mansfield, a top British barrister, stated: “it is time for a new law on ecocide to go alongside genocide and the other crimes against humanity”. He compared the consumption of meat to the practice of smoking, suggesting that public perception needs to shift drastically to prevent the further destruction of the natural environment. 

________________

Once again, we bring you details of an exclusive offer to law students for Salsa and Bachata classes in Camden. See details below: 

SALSA & BACHATA with GUSTO: The Launch Party 

TUESDAY 1st October - 7:00pm.  

Then classes from 7:30pm - 9:30pm. 

~£10~ *£6*

Followed by *FREE social dancing & party till 1 am*.

*Address*: The Stables Market, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Rd, Camden Town, London NW1 8AH.

*All levels are welcome!* 

 *TO GET THE DISCOUNT:* 

At the payment desk, say you are from the *University of Law* and show this text.

________________

Recommended reading

1. “Why can’t we agree on what’s true any more?” 

2. Ropes & Gray have published their report looking over the global consensus on legal mergers and acquisitions.

3. What to look out for to ensure a merger or acquisition agreement is successful.

4. Facebook is partnering with law enforcement in the UK, using bodycam footage taken during its firearm training exercises to train Facebook’s video recognition AI in recognising and removing footage of an attack.

5. Should we regard the study of law as a skill to be gained or a practice?

6. Life after being a victim of revenge porn—three women talk about its devastating effect

7. A hangover labelled as an illness? The German court has ruled so.

8. The European Court of Justice has ruled in favour of Google, enabling the search engine to keep ‘the right to be forgotten’ strictly to the EU territory.

Advertisement

Blog

• Catalonia - arrest warrants issued for deposed government members
• Clifford Chance’s SPARK Scheme: How can it help you to secure a training contract early on?
• Gender pay gap at the top - women paid around £12,000 less
• Robert Mugabe resigns after a 37 year rule
• "The Gender Pay Gap Is A Continuing Reality"