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Cris van Eijk

@crisveijk.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.4K following 700 posts

International law, the (space) commons, and how they're made. PhD @newcastleuni.bsky.social | 🇺🇸🇳🇱🏳️‍🌈 | 🔊: krɪs van aɪk | he/him https://www.ncl.ac.uk/law/research/students/current-pgr-students/cristian-van-eijk/

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Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · Jan 30

Excited to share my new article, 'The Exclusive Making of Space Law', just published in Leiden Journal of International Law. This article took 3 weeks to write the first draft, but 3 years to finalise, and I'm grateful to everyone who helped me along the way.

doi.org/10.1017/S0922156524000554

The exclusive making of space law | Leiden Journal of International Law | Cambridge Core

The exclusive making of space law

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 2h

Happy International Lesbian Day to all who celebrate!!

[Except the ones who got the UK Supreme Court to define 'lesbian' *for* us; they get nothing from me. A "chilling effect on lesbians", indeed...]

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 2h

Just saw this once again, so let's say it again:

Boris Johnson did not resign because of PartyGate. He resigned because he knowingly covered up Chris Pincher's rampant sexual abuse of men, silenced complaints, appointed him to positions of power, and then lied to Parliament about all of the above.

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 3h

The crux of this is Cruz asking 'why are MSNBC & CNN 'reliable' sources, but Fox News isn't?'

Bold of him, tbh. That answer costed Fox $787.5m - the largest media defamation settlement in US history.

Also, if democratised systems are too left-wing for you, that's kind of the point.

WIRED @wired.com · 18h

In a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation CEO, Cruz accused the beloved online resource of being too liberal. www.wired.com/story/ted-cr...

Ted Cruz Targets Wikipedia Over ‘Ideological Bias’

In a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation CEO, Cruz accused the beloved online resource of being too liberal.

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 18h

And it was a good episode!! A minor flinch at a brief moment where Oliver conflated archivists and librarians, which in my experience is a great way to piss off an archivist, but otherwise!!

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 18h

Oh good, I was just about to DM you in case you hadn't seen!! Congrats!!

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 1d

Researching a book about presidential libraries: 12 years

Making 30+ visits to them: tens of thousands of dollars and many spent vacations and weekends

Trying to convince the country the system is in great need of reform: 10 more years

Your favorite show quoting your work and analysis: priceless

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver @lastweektonight.com · 2d

Here’s last night’s story about presidential libraries, how they help shape history, the troubling ways they can be used, and – of course – some tasteful conjecture about one president’s undercarriage. youtu.be/dB1-lg-xZWc

Presidential Libraries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

neongrey @neongrey.bsky.social · 1d

all discourse aside, there is one machine with consciousness. it's printers. they are alive and conscious and they hate you and they'd take your arm clean off if you let them. never trust a printer.

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 21h

Carr: "America’s scientists often spend 40% of their time doing paperwork on grant applications... And the new grant applications they work on are too often aimed at what will get funded rather than what could have the biggest impact."

Unfundable grants include any that use the word 'cislunar'.

America’s scientists often spend 40% of their time doing paperwork on grant applications, rather than direct research. And the new grant applications they work on are too often aimed at what will get funded rather than what could have the biggest impact. University of Chicago professor James Evans summed up our problem nicely. He wrote: “Too many projects get funding because they are probable. But science moves forward one improbability at a time.”

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 21h

Carr: "America’s scientists often spend 40% of their time doing paperwork on grant applications... And the new grant applications they work on are too often aimed at what will get funded rather than what could have the biggest impact."

Unfundable grants include any that use the word 'cislunar'.

America’s scientists often spend 40% of their time doing paperwork on grant applications, rather than direct research. And the new grant applications they work on are too often aimed at what will get funded rather than what could have the biggest impact. University of Chicago professor James Evans summed up our problem nicely. He wrote: “Too many projects get funding because they are probable. But science moves forward one improbability at a time.”

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 21h

Also, slight problem with making October 'Space Month' & promising an overhaul of the FCC's satellite licensing regs:

§533(d) of the Admin Procedure Act requires all substantive rulemaking - yes, even straight-up burning the rulebook - to involve a 30-day publication period.

See you in November.

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 21h

Those recommendations, and a great report that outlines the background for my sarcasms: www.gao.gov/products/gao...

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 21h

The only "default-to-no" bit of this regulatory system is the lliteral categorical exclusion the FCC uses to avoid doing any EIAs for space activities.

Also, it'd be nice if the FCC would "default-to-yes" on the several open recommendations by the GAO, which it has promised to address since 2022.

Center for Space Environmentalism @space-environment.bsky.social · 22h

The FCC Chairman's proposal to replacing current space operations licensing from what he derides as a "default-to-no" system to a "default-to-yes framework" risks reckless actions in space. It caters to powerful corporations and does not serve the public interest.

spacenews.com/fcc-launches...

FCC launches ‘Space Month’ to fast-track satellite licensing and spectrum reforms

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr vowed Oct. 6 to accelerate satellite regulatory reforms, declaring October as “Space Month” at the U.S. regulator to overhaul licensing and spectrum rules amid mounting compe...

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 22h

Perhaps crime, migration, or extradition hadn't been invented when the CAT was made, way back in *checks notes* the mid-1980s. When Eng&Welsh crime rates looked like that.

And clearly crime /extradition must've skyrocketed since, to warrant qualifying the prohibition on torture- oh. Also no. Huh.

A chart from p. 159 of a UK Parliament Report (linked below), showing offences per 100,000 people in England and Wales in the 20th century. The chart shows a sharp increase in crime rate over the 1980s, from ~6,800 in 1981 to 11,000 in 1991.

https://www.parliament.uk/contentassets/90b7f09a39a74dbcaa34acdfe7a210cb/olympicbritain.pdf#page=159

A chart from Wikipedia, titled 'Crime in England and Wales from the Crime Survey (in 000s of crimes).'

It shows that the crime rate in 1980 was roughly 10,500, then peaked in 1995, before steadily decreasing to ~6000 in 2015. Regardless, according to this chart, the crime rate has remained lower than it was in 1980 since approximately 2003.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_Kingdom#/media/File:CrimeinUK.png

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 3d

When President AOC federalizes the National Guard in 2029 to protect abortion clinics, Ilan is going to magically discover an English treatise written in 1610 that proves Matthew Kacsmaryk can issue a nationwide injunction against her.

Pat Sobkowski @patsobkowski.com · 3d

We don’t have to carry water for dictators. Just my thought.

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

Do RTs =/≠ Endorsements? A Saga

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

okay @drnajimagi.bsky.social I have one for ya, which apparently happened in April (and *I just found out about*??

Comment: legalblogs.wolterskluwer.com/arbitration-...
PCA Decision: pcacases.com/web/sendAtta...

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

THERE IS A DISSENT: pcacases.com/web/sendAtta...

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

Presto:

Excerpt from p. 6 of linked Decision:

"Second, the Russian Federation states that their concerns on the IDI Declaration are further corroborated and exacerbated by my activities in the social media. They cite my reposting on X (then Twitter) of a speech by the Kenyan Ambassador on 22 February 2022 before the Security Council. This was a post by one Cris van Eijk (not personally known to me) reposting a tweet by one Thomas van Linge (also not personally known to me). I reposted this tweet when I heard the Kenyan envoy state that Africa's borders were drawn in London, Paris and Lisbon. It is a matter concerning my continent that touches me. I normally repost or post tweets which touch on African issues of interest. For example, an African President ok to task the Chief Justice and Speaker of Parliament for wearing wigs (my repost of 28 March 2022); Dr S.A. Salim making Africa proud (repost of 23 January 2022); Climate injustice: Africa suffers more from climate impacts (repost of 15 November 2021); the passing of the last of Africa's liberation stalwarts (post of 18 June 2021); election of an African as President of the ICJ (post of 13 February 2018); and election of an African as ICC President (post of 30 March 2018)."

An excerpt from https://legalblogs.wolterskluwer.com/arbitration-blog/from-tweets-to-challenges-social-media-and-the-expanding-scope-of-bias-allegations/

"A challenge on the basis of the tweet also arose in a Dispute Concerning the Detention of Ukrainian Naval Vessels and Servicemen ("Naval Vessels") between Ukraine and Russia, where Russia brought a challenge against Judge James Kateka on the basis of, inter alia, Judge Kateka's repost on X of the Kenyan ambassador's statement about Ukraine in the Security Council. The original tweet contained the following text: "The Kenya ambassador to the UNSC perfectly explains how people across Africa understand Ukraine, and what the Kremlin's acts of aggression mean in our post-colonial world" and was reposted by Cris van Eijk with a comment "Why aren't UN speeches eligible for Pulitzers??." Judge Kateka reposted Mr van Eijk's retweet without any comments of his own. Russia argued that a repost raised justifiable doubts about Judge Kateka's impartiality. However, the tribunal dismissed the challenge. Recently, Russia withdrew from the Naval Vessels arbitration proceedings, citing its disagreement with the procedure for appointing arbitrators and the "untenable" appointment of the remaining members of the tribunal, including Judge Kateka."

Para 96 of linked Decision.

"Second, the reposting predated the Russian Federation's confrontation with Ukraine on 24 February 2022, which is the event that later led to the adoption of the IDI Declaration and its use of the term "aggression". In this context, a reasonable person cannot imply from the repost— even if understood to include the original post of Mr. van Linge any opinion on Judge Kateka's part on any action of the Russian Federation subsequent to 22 February 2024. Indeed, in Judge Kateka's repost of Mr. van Eijk's repost, the word "aggression" does not appear. It is cut out from the rest of the text, such that a casual reader on Twitter would not even see the word unless an extra step of clicking the link is taken, as one can see in the final repost as it would be seen by the public, reproduced here below:

[screenshot of retweet in question]"

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

Ah, shit, alt text pending, one sec

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 5d

okay @drnajimagi.bsky.social I have one for ya, which apparently happened in April (and *I just found out about*??

Comment: legalblogs.wolterskluwer.com/arbitration-...
PCA Decision: pcacases.com/web/sendAtta...

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Ryan Enos @ryanenos.bsky.social · 6d

Somebody actually sat down and wrote these two sentences, one after another. www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/u...

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Josh Kaplan @josh-kaplan.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has taken money directly from Chinese investors, according to newly unsealed testimony. It's the first time direct Chinese investment in the defense contractor has been disclosed. www.propublica.org/article/elon...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Took Money Directly From Chinese Investors, Company Insider Testifies

The newly unsealed testimony marks the first time direct Chinese investment in the company has been disclosed, raising new questions about foreign ownership interests in one of America’s most importan...

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 9d

This event is 63 years to the day after Hazem Zaki Nuseibeh, Rep of Jordan & proud Palestinian, spoke to the UNGA.

First, about space & the need for law - but law as pathway to justice, as right over might. Then, he moved directly to what that would mean for Palestine.

docs.un.org/en/A/PV.1138

UNGA, ‘Verbatim Record of the 1138th Meeting’ (1 Oct 1962) A/PV.1138, 239-240

“10. But of more immediate and lasting significance than exploration and control of outer space is our ability to control our inner selves, to make this planet a place worthy of decent and friendly habitation. And it is here in this hall that we meet in what is the most encompassing parliament of nations, to lay down the foundations for peace, goodwill and co-operation among nations. If we should fail in this pivotal task, then all the efforts which are being expended in various fields will have been of no avail, with the threat of extinction continuing to hover menacingly over our fates.”
“11. But world peace cannot be achieved by pious hopes or even under the compulsion of fear or the instinctive desire for survival. Any such assumption would be a serious misreading not only of history, but of the inner springs of human motivation and behaviour. For there will always be differences and conflicts so long as human beings are what they are. What is imperative is that these conflicts and differences be dealt with and resolved in accordance with norms, procedures and attitudes that are just, equitable and commanding of universal acceptance and respect; it is essentially the rule of law, rather than the unruly whims or interests of any particular group. This has been the function and the achievement of domestic law in national societies. It is our challenge to make it equally applicable in the field of international relations.”
“12. The question now is: How can the Unite Nations work out a modus vivendi which would bring it as close as possible to a universally acceptable rule of law?”

“17. As I address you, my mind irresistibly wanders several thousand miles away to where my countrymen – men, women and children, in town and in village, in refugee camps and in forced dispersal under every sky – have endured their suffering for fourteen long years. They are suffering morally, psychologically and physically, day in and day out, before the very eyes of the United Nations and, ironically, at a period which we boast to be the era of mankind's greatest emancipation.”
“18. It would be redundant for me to restate the facts of the case, for there is hardly any other problem which has been discussed as thoroughly or as repeatedly during the past years; and yet, there is hardly any other case where less positive action has been taken.”
“19. My countrymen, simple honest folks, are somewhat confused and bewildered by the snarls and the tangles with which a seemingly straightforward case has been side-tracked and shrouded, and I would be less than honest to them, or to you, if I did not restore the problem to its true, simple essentials.”
“20. The truth of the problem is that here is a people – an ancient and homogeneous people – who have in the twentieth century not only been denied the right to self-government or self-determination, but even the right to exist in the homeland in which their forefathers have lived and died from time immemorial. They have been uprooted to make room for a conglomeration of alien peoples from all corners of the earth, having different backgrounds, different traditions, different languages and different races, and claiming to be united on the sole ground of professing the same religious faith. What a disservice to a great religion that its name should be used for such unholy and irreligious ends; for a blatant aggression against the very existence of another people.”

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 8d

"There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25..."

Political Quarterly @politicalquarterly.bsky.social · 8d

UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

By Glen O'Hara, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes University

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/where-n...

Where now for Britain’s Universities?

UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

politicalquarterly.org.uk

Reposted by Cris van Eijk

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 8d

The National Security Agency ‘expedited’ a FOIA request — then took 1,827 days to process it.

The Defense Department ‘expedited’ another — it took 1,119 days.

The list goes on.

Now, Trump wants requesters to pay $50k if a court expedites a FOIA lawsuit?

No way.

Expedite a FOIA lawsuit? Trump administration wants $50K first

Pay-to-play comes for Freedom of Information Act litigation

Cris van Eijk @crisveijk.bsky.social · 9d

Same, also (on a related note): kulmzack.medium.com/the-late-jac...

The Late Jacques Derrida Openly Defended Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment

Since 2017 a resurgence of social justice has spread across the nation condemning sexual harassment and violence towards women. Men in…

kulmzack.medium.com