A trademark serves as a concise mode of communication from a seller to current or prospective buyers wherein the seller signifies an endorsement of certain goods or services. This sets them apart from similar goods or services provided by competitors. However, trademarks often do not simply identify the source of a product or service, but also to convey a broader message. This creates an intersection between trademark law and the fundamental right of freedom of expression and presents challenging legal, ethical, and societal concerns that can differ significantly from one jurisdiction to another. In the United States, these concerns resulted in the cancellation of registration bars for immoral, scandalous, and disparaging marks. After more than five decades of the Lanham Act’s operation, the rule that bars disparaging marks was found unconstitutional in 2017 under the Supreme Court’s decision in Matal v. Tam. Then, the rules barring immoral and scandalous marks were found unconstitutional in 2019 by the Supreme Court in Iancu v. Brunetti. Both decisions cited viewpoint discrimination as a violation of the First Amendment’s Free Speech clause. By contrast, in Turkey and the European Union (EU), the registration bar for marks that are contrary to public policy and accepted principles of morality is still in effect, even though there have been some free speech concerns. This legal landscape offers an opportunity to perform a comparative analysis between jurisdictions and to observe how diverse legal systems address the complex interplay between commerce, speech, and societal norms. Through a detailed examination of legislative frameworks, judicial interpretations, and policies in the United States and Turkey, this paper embarks on a comparative analysis of the treatment of immoral, scandalous, and disparaging marks within these two jurisdictions. This paper makes numerous proposals concerning both the approaches of the United States and Turkey, considering policy and the results of empirical research. There are five sections. The first section provides an introduction; the second section concerns U.S. trademark law; the third section reviews Turkish trademark law; the fourth section is a comparison of these jurisdictions; and the final section offers proposals. The comparison includes a discussion of international agreements concerning the treatment of marks considered immoral, scandalous, or disparaging and includes examples from European practice.

On September 7, 2024, Typhoon Yagi struck Northern Vietnam, severely affecting the coastal city of Hai Phong and neighboring Quang Ninh Province. The typhoon caused extensive flooding, significant infrastructure damage, and substantial economic and human losses. This research integrates remote sensing and GIS-based spatial analysis to evaluate the flood impacts and predict flood-prone areas. Sentinel-1 satellite data, processed using the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP), was employed to extract flood-affected regions through pre- and post-crisis imagery differencing. Flood extent was identified by subtracting pre-crisis from post-crisis imagery, isolating inundated areas. Additionally, a predictive flood risk analysis was conducted using the weighted sum tool in ArcGIS Pro, incorporating seven key variables: DEM, terrain slope, drainage density, LULC derived from Sentinel-2 data, monthly rainfall data for September 2024 from PERSIANN-CCS, distance to roads, and distance to rivers. Each raster variable was reclassified into a standardized scale ranging from 1 (very low risk) to 5 (very high risk) to ensure comparability, followed by the assignment of weighted contributions to each variable based on its influence on flooding. The resulting analysis produced a flood risk map for the study area, highlighting the interplay of topography, hydrology, and infrastructure in flood dynamics. These findings offer critical insights for flood risk assessment, disaster response, and the development of mitigation strategies tailored to Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

Effective climate change mitigation is complicated by economic factors, as renewable energy projects require significant upfront investment. Recently, the Bitcoin mining industry has begun investing in renewable energy, particularly projects powered by methane waste byproducts from other industries. These projects are promising for their low infrastructure needs and ability to reduce methane emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Programs like the Endangered Species Act’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund provide funding for conservation projects benefiting endangered species. These programs could support methane-fueled Bitcoin mining projects if a link between methane reduction and improved habitat for endangered species is established. This study used GIS to assess the impact of methane reduction on the breeding habitat of the California least tern, an endangered bird species. Using data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) climate modeling project, potential future habitat in 2050 was mapped under three projected climate scenarios developed by CMIP6 scientists. Alternative scenarios with 10%, 20%, and 50% reductions in methane emissions were then modeled using the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Induced Climate Change (MAGICC) climate model for comparison with the unaltered versions. In two of the three scenarios, reducing methane emissions expanded the likely breeding habitat of the California least tern. However, in the third scenario, habitat suitability showed minimal change. This suggests that methane-fueled Bitcoin mining could be an effective climate change mitigation strategy, potentially improving habitat for endangered species, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

The urban heat island effect poses a significant challenge for cities and urbanized areas, particularly those in warm climates. Vegetation, such as urban trees and parks, plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of urban heat by helping to reduce land surface temperatures. This study explores the relationship between urban heat and vegetation in Albuquerque, New Mexico using remote sensing. To calculate land surface temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and identify patterns of heat distribution and vegetation density across the city, the study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) to process Landsat 8 imagery, and ArcGIS Pro to integrate social vulnerability data and help determine what areas would be most impacted by new vegetation. Additionally, this study assessed the accessibility of this methodology for local governments, emphasizing its potential as a cost-effective approach to urban heat mitigation. By demonstrating the utility of GEE and freely available satellite data, this study provides a framework for municipalities to make informed decisions in combating urban heat and enhancing climate resilience. Results showed that there is a positive relationship between urban heat and areas of low vegetation, and GEE is a valuable tool to help government agencies tackle urban heat.

The Major Questions Doctrine is among the newest tools in the Supreme Court’s toolbox to limit the executive branch. The Doctrine explains that agencies addressing issues of economic and political significance must have clear congressional authorization to do so. Critics of the Doctrine see it as a tool to wield whenever the Court disapproves of the actions of the executive, while proponents insist it is a necessity to maintain separation of powers. The Doctrine, however, will likely lead to a flood of cases arguing that an agency has acted without congressional authorization. Since environmental law functions through delegation to the executive branch, it will be an epicenter for major questions litigation. The clearest solution would be for Congress to amend each authorizing statute to explain the delegation’s bounds clearly. This solution is unlikely because of the political will and time required for such a task. This leads to the question: Could Congress amend all agency delegations at once to clearly authorize them to act in the face of major questions? Court precedent suggests that Congress would have to be precise with structuring such a statute and that Congress may not be able to legislate away the Major Questions Doctrine with one statute while staying within the constitutional boundaries of the legislative and executive branches. This Note determines whether Congress can circumvent the Major Questions Doctrine and whether such a statute would require so much structure that it would be impossible to navigate and functionally useless.

Water is necessary for the achievement of global sustainable development objectives and critical to sustaining life on earth. Economic activities, spanning from extractives development to water services privatization schemes, have critically impacted water resources, particularly in developing economies. While State governments endeavor to protect their water resources, regulate in the interest of their populations, or legislate to protect the environment, the current international investment law regime allows foreign investors to initiate arbitration alleging violations of investment treaties, such as inequitable treatment or expropriations of their investment projects. This arbitral process is outlined through investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions in investment treaties. This Article examines the contexts and outcomes of a number of current and past ISDS cases to outline how State efforts to ensure the right to clean, affordable water and protect its environmental resources have been compromised by ISDS. States, in implementing legislation and regulation in the interest of protecting water resources and achieving sustainable development, should consider the effects that ISDS and international investment law have on domestic rulemaking.

Esta serie de perfiles de condados presenta la producción agrícola, el uso del agua y los datos económicos regionales en un formato estandarizado, integrado y fácil de leer para brindar contexto sobre el papel de la agricultura dentro de las economías estatales y de los condados, así como su papel como administrador de tierras y recursos naturales. Los perfiles están disponibles en Inglés y Español. El Programa de Extensión de Análisis Económico Regional (EREAP, por sus siglas en inglés) lleva a cabo investigaciones aplicadas y análisis económicos que abordan temas de desarrollo económico alrededor de Arizona. Trabajamos para satisfacer las necesidades del sistema de Extensión Cooperativa y de las personas beneficiarias del mismo, tales como personas pertenecientes a las industrias agrícolas y agroindustriales de Arizona, los usuarios y organizaciones relacionadas al uso de recursos naturales, y grupos de economía regional, para proporcionar análisis especializados e información específica.