Denver Law Environmental and Natural Resources Program International Student Profile: Dela Obeng-Sakyi (Ghana)

Our next international student interview features Dela Obeng-Sakyi, an extremely accomplished lawyer from Ghana.

1. Where are you originally from? And where did you grow up? Tell us about your home city or region.

I am from Ghana, a West African country. I spent my childhood in Togo, a French-speaking country also in West Africa. I however went to High School and University in Ghana. I live in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Accra is a city bursting with commercial activity. There are many corporate and financial institutions, universities, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, “open-air” markets, shops and beaches. It is the most developed city in Ghana. The people are warm, friendly and place a lot of emphasis on politeness and hospitality.

2. What is your educational background? When and where did you attend school and university?

I attended preschool and primary school at Ecole Francaise in Togo from 1979 to 1986. From 1987 to 1994 I attended High School in a girl’s boarding school called Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, one of the regions in Ghana. From 1996 to 1999 I read law at the University of Ghana, Legon and attended the Ghana Law School from 1999 to 2001.

3. What experiences have you had, thus far in your career, in terms of addressing environmental or natural resources issues?

I work with a regulatory agency, which monitors the operations of mining companies. I have visited communities located near mining concessions and seen the benefits and adverse effects that mining has had on those communities. Fortunately, I had the opportunity of being part of a team that reviewed the draft mining regulations that encompass most issues related to mining in Ghana. I therefore had a more practical and realistic view of what the real issues are. Although the regulations may not provide for every situation, I believe it is a good start and amendments can be made in the future.

4. What are the key environmental and natural resources issues in your home country?

The main environmental and natural resources issues facing Ghana are:

i) the pollution of rivers, streams, lakes from mining activities from both legal and illegal mining operations,

ii) flooding of most cities during the rainy season,

iii) deforestation from illegal timber logging, and

iv) smog, dust and toxic chemicals emanating from industrial operations.

5. You have chosen to study at Denver Law. Why did you make this choice and what are you hoping to learn and experience while you are here?

DU comes highly recommended from professionals in the mining industry. Since I am currently working in that industry, I believe that studying at DU would broaden my mind on environmental and natural resources laws of various countries as well as issues that other countries face. I am hoping that in gaining that knowledge, it would help me better understand the environment issues facing Ghana and hopefully give me ideas as to how to help the regulatory agency I work with address those issues.

Since I have been here I have met other students from other countries and I am hoping to learn more about their customs, culture, traditions as well as the environmental and mining laws that the countries endowed with mineral resources have.

6. What is your personal philosophy or point of view in terms of the relationship of the environment and natural resources?

I believe that the exploitation of natural resources is important for the development of countries endowed with those resources as well as the world as whole. However exploitation can have adverse effects on the environment as well as affected communities if not well done and monitored. It is therefore important to set up laws, regulations and guidelines to ensure efficient exploitation of mineral resources with as little adverse effect on the environment as possible.

7.Tell us something you would like us to know about your country.

Ghana is changing the face of Africa. There is political stability, economic growth, absence of civil strife, a good educational system and most recently the discovery of oil. Although Ghana has a central government, there are chiefs/kings who exercise some amount of authority over and represent the interests of a diversity of ethnic groups.

8. What is something about you that most people don't know about (for example, do you have an unusual hobby or have perhaps have had an unusual experience in your life)?

I am a conservative, quiet but friendly person. I would love to learn belly-dancing and perform before an audience.

9. Who are your professional role models?

Kojo Bentsi-Enchill, a lawyer and partner of the biggest and one of the leading firms in Ghana. He is a visionary and an upright person. I had the privilege of working for him for six (6) years and I think he is the most intelligent, astute yet humble and simple person I have ever met.

10. What are your plans after completion of your degree?

I intend to go back to my country and use the knowledge I have acquired from this program to help the regulatory agency I work for, regulate and manage the mining industry in a more efficient and practical manner.

Newest Member of Denver Law's Environmental Community, Yu Takanashi and his Mother Masumi, Visit the Law School

Masumi Takanashi, a Masters in Resource Law Studies student from Japan, and her son, Yu, recently visited the Sturm College of Law.

Ms. Takanashi, her husband, and little Yu will be returning to Japan soon, where she will finish her degree by means of a directed research project.

Don C. Smith, director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, has known Ms. Takanshi as a student for nearly two years. He was pleased to see the new addition to Ms. Takanashi's family and said, "Yu has been provisionally admitted to the Denver Law class of 2036, when he will be 25 and among the youngest students at the law school!"

Editor's note: Mr. Smith and Ms. Takanashi and Yu in the top picture; Mr. Smith and Yu in the second picture; Ms. Takanashi, Yu, and Joan Policastri, Foreign, International, and Comparative Law Librarian in bottom picture.

Denver Law Environmental and Natural Resources International Student Profile: Tamiko Watanabe (Japan)

Our next international student profile features Tamiko Watanabe who shares very interesting information about her country and her background.

1. Where are you originally from? And where did you grow up? Tell us about your home city or region.
I’m Japanese and grew up in Kyoto. Kyoto is a former capital of Japan. It’s famous for old buildings such as shrines and temples and also traditional foods.
Each temple and shrine was built for a certain purpose. When you visit them, you will feel the differences. Traditional Kyoto food is served in very small portions, but the delicate artistic way of placing each piece of food is amazing.

2. What is your educational background? When and where did you attend school and university?
I graduated from Soka University in Tokyo in 2004 and my major was international law.

3. What experiences have you had, thus far in your career, in terms of addressing environmental or natural resources issues?
I haven’t experienced any environmental issues so far in my career, but I have attended many environmental workshops which helped me pay attention to environmental issues.

4. What are the key environmental and natural resources issues in your home country?
We don’t have a lot of natural resources and depend on getting our energy supplies from many other countries. Currently, we have a huge environmental and energy problem because of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11th.

5. You have chosen to study at Denver Law. Why did you make this choice and what are you hoping to learn and experience while you are here?
- This law school’s curriculum matched my needs.
- I had a specific professor who I wanted to learn from.

6. What is your personal philosophy or point of view in terms of the relationship of the environment and natural resources?
I tend to think of the natural environment much the same as a human. Every living thing is in a big circle; there is demand and supply. When I see a regulation or a rule only for humans, it makes me feel incongruous. Since humans can’t get out of the circle, people should pay more attention to the environment. I, however, understand the economic thinking and opinion of developing countries.

7. Tell us something you would like us to know about your country.
When you visit Japan, you have to know that there is no free wi-fi in public even if it's in Tokyo (you can barely find the free wi-fi )!!! If you really need to use an internet, you have to go to an internet café!!

8. What is something about you that most people don't know about (for example, do you have an unusual hobby or have perhaps have had an unusual experience in your life)?
I practiced karate in Japan and had an experience doing wheel chair karate. I had a competition for the demonstration of the wheel chair karate and got third-place medal. I found it is really difficult to use a wheel chair.

9. Who are your professional role models?
-Dr. Daisaku Ikeda who is a founder of the Soka University.
-Professor Ved. P. Nanda

10. What are your plans after completion of your degree?
I would like to apply for the optional professional training so as to have an environmental experience in the U.S. This will enhance my environmental knowledge and help me work in the environmental field in Japan in the future.

Denver Law Continues Tradition of Offering Highly Valuable Externships in the Environmental and Natural Resources Fields

A critical step in learning about environmental and natural resources law often involves experiential learning in the form of externships.

Denver Law's Legal Externship Program is regularly rated among the best in the nation. The Program is particularly strong in the context of providing a wide range of environmental and natural resources experiences.

Students in these types of externships benefit from learning "on the ground" about subjects they are studying in the classroom. Moreover, the externships often help students learn more about potential job opportunities.

In 2011, nearly three-quarters of all Denver Law JD students participated in an externship. Nearly half of Denver Law's LLM in Environmental and Natural Resouces Law students took part in an externship while 31 percent of Masters in Resource Law Studies students had an externship experience.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program, said, "I hear over and over from our students how pleased they were with their externship experiences. For many students, this is a highlight of their study at Denver Law. It represents an opportunity for them to consolidate what they have learned in the classroom. As far many of our students and I are concerned, Denver Law has the finest environmental and natural resources law externship program in the nation."

Ann Vessels, Director of the Legal Externship program, said, "Denver Law is fortunate to be located in one of the premier legal centers in the world for the study and practice of environmental and natural resources law. Our students have the opportunity to work with leading federal, state and local government agencies, as well as international, national and local public interest organizations, and private law firms. One of our recent students described her experience this way:"

"This was the best experience I had in law school. The substantive work was both challenging and of significance to the office, so the bar was raised high. Working with a real client provided an invaluable bridge to the practice world one can’t get in a classroom. I worked on issues as varied as wind power development on federally managed lands and managing the size of the elk population on a federal refuge. The interaction with the attorneys in the office and the clients of the DOI was invaluable. My Mentor included me in every meeting or experience possible, and also offered great career advice." Kate Williams-Shuck, Externing with Dana Jacobsen, Department of the Interior, Solicitor’s Office, US Department of the Interior

Denver Law Launches New Series on Politics and Environmental and Natural Resources Policy: "A View From Washington" Takes Place October 14

Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program in conjunction with the nationally recognized law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck will launch a series of four innovative panel discussions over the next two years that will explore the nexus between environmental and natural resources regulation and politics.

The first panel discussion, "A View From Washington: The Current State of Natural Resources Law," will take place October 14 from 4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time at the Sturm College of Law. The discussion will also be available through webinar software.

Don Smith, Director of Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, will moderate a conversation among three people who have served in important government posts and have also practiced environmental and natural resources law. They are:

• Alan Gilbert, Special Advisor to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest. Mr. Gilbert is a former partner at Holme, Roberts & Owen and Sherman & Howard.
• Dave Bernhardt, who practices in the Washington, D.C. offices of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he advises clients on environmental and natural resources issues originating from the U.S. Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and the courts. Mr. Bernhardt served as Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior under President George W. Bush.
• Mark Mathews, a shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office, where he is co-chair of the Natural Resources Group. Prior to joining the firm, he was a senior trial attorney in the Environmental Section of the U.S. Deptartment of Justice.

For those attending the panel discussion at the Sturm College of Law there will be a reception following the event.

Attendance is free. However, individuals must register to attend. Please click here for on-site or webinar registration details. You must register to attend.

Mr. Smith said, "This series of panel discussions represents an exceptional opportunity for those interested in the natural resources and environmental fields to hear from our nation's leading experts. The first session will feature three of the most highly regarded names in the county who will address the often vexing, but always interesting and challenging issues of the relationship between natural resources policy and politics. Denver Law is delighted to be partnering with Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck to bring these discussions to all interested parties over the next two years."

2011 Carver Colloquium, to be Held at Denver Law October 20, is Energy Transmmission and Governance

The focus of the 2011 Carver Colloquium, to be held at Denver Law on October 20, is energy transmission and governance.

A major challenge with renewable energy is the development of a transmission infrastructure to connect rural sources to the urban users, often crossing local, state and regional jurisdictions along the way. The Carver Colloquium will feature former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. and Robin Kundis Craig, Associate Dean of the Florida State University College of Law, who will present two models of governance that could overcome this challenge.

The Carver Colloquium is an annual event hosted by the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute and Professor Jan Laitos, the John. A Carver, Jr. Chair at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. The Colloquium presents divergent or alternative viewpoints on cutting-edge issues in these fields in a point-counterpoint format.

Former Colorado Governor Ritter is the Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) at Colorado State University. Ritter was elected as Colorado's 41st governor in 2006 and established Colorado as a national and international leader in renewable energy by building a New Energy Economy that is creating thousands of new jobs and establishing hundreds of new companies. Ritter served as Denver's District Attorney from 1993 to January 2005, where he earned a national reputation as one of the country's most effective and innovative prosecutors, and several of his programs continue to serve as state and national models.

Robin Kundis Craig is the Attorney's Title Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Environmental Programs at Florida State University College of Law. She specializes in all things water, including the Clean Water Act, water law and the public trust doctrine, water resources and climate change and the intersection of water issues and land issues. She is the author of several books and over 50 law review articles and book chapters. Professor Craig also serves as Chair of the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources’ Marine Resources Committee. At Florida State, she teaches several courses and seminars, including: Environmental Law, Water Law, Civil Procedure, Property, International Biodiversity Law, and the Clean Water Act, as well as the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Seminar.

To register for the event, please click here.

2011 Denver Law Environmental Moot Court Results: Justine Shepherd, Jillian Kysor, and Jennifer Barnes to Represent DU in National Competition

The winners of Denver Law's 2011 Environmental Moot Court Competition have been announced.

The competition was organized by the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Society, a student-led organization focused on serving, educating, and providing information to law students about these key areas of the law.

Winning first place and recognized for the highest scoring briefs were Justine Shepherd and Jullian Kysor.

Finalists were Matthew Broderick and Carter Cassidy.

Best Oralist was Jennifer Barnes.

Ms. Shepherd, Ms. Kysor, and Ms. Barnes will represent Denver Law at Pace Law School's National Environmental Moot Court Competition in the spring of 2012.

The Denver Law competition attracted eight teams, double the number that participated in 2010.