Law Commons^™

Mr., Chinedu Chibueze Ihenetu-Geoffrey

Chinedu Chibueze Ihenetu-Geoffrey

The solution to most environmental problems requires community participation. The levels and extent of this participation varies with the problem in question, which in turn, is influenced by both national concerns and international obligations. This presentation will focus on biodiversity and genetic resources within the Nigerian Environmental terrain and other international jurisdictions. Within national jurisdiction, there is no legal gap, as coastal states enjoy jurisdiction and sovereign rights for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. In areas beyond national jurisdiction, certain existing legal principles and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and international fisheries are applicable to …

Just Laws Versus Unjust Laws: Asserting The Morality Of Civil Disobedience, Amin George Forji

Amin George Forji

How is a citizen living under a merciless totalitarianism such as the Nazi but opposed to its philosophies expected to respond to the law? Where does his primary obligation as a citizen reside? Is it to the laws of the land that command total submission or to his convictions by which he is convinced that the system is totally unjust? Does one have a moral obligation to always obey the law? Conversely, should one obey an unjust law? Obviously, such an individual like Antigone in ancient Greece is naturally torn between two loyalties. (Note 1)If he obeys the law, he …

A Few Inconvenient Truths About Michael Crichton's State Of Fear: Lawyers, Causes And Science, Lea B. Vaughn

Lea B Vaughn

Abstract: Although Crichton has lost the battle regarding global warming, his characterization of lawyers and law practice remains unchallenged. This article challenges his damning portrait of lawyers as know-nothing, self aggrandizing manipulators of various social and environmental causes. A more nuanced examination of “cause lawyering” reveals that lawyers are not part of a vast conspiracy to grab power through the causes for which many work; in fact, the rules of professional responsibility as well as the structure of “cause lawyering” limit their power and influence. Regardless, lawyers are nonetheless vital, and generally principled, participants in the debates and causes that …

From Energy Sector Inquiry To Recent Antitrust Decisions In European Energy Markets: Competition Law As A Means To Implement Energy Sector Regulation In Eu, Michael Diathesopoulos

Michael Diathesopoulos

This paper presents the conceptual path followed by European Union, European Commission and European Competition Network, after the Energy Sector Inquiry (2007) towards the realisation of the objective of an Energy Internal Market, fully functional and open to competition. Firstly, we examine the findings of Sector Inquiry and then we describe how the Third Energy Package - that followed - tried to address the issues highlighted by the Inquiry and how Third Energy Package introduces a promising but complex system, in order to develop sector rules. Following the above, we proceed to a brief but close examination of 10 recent …

Moving Power Forward: Creating A Forward-Looking Energy Policy Based On A National Rps, Joshua P. Fershee

Joshua P Fershee

In Power Forward: The Argument for a National RPS, Professor Lincoln L. Davies provides a comprehensive and compelling argument for a national renewable portfolio standard (“RPS”). This Commentary Article reviews Professor Davies’ assumptions and conclusions and places his RPS analysis in context within the broader energy and environmental debate.

Beyond expanding renewable energy generation and shifting away from fossil fuels, RPS legislation is often motivated by additional goals: addressing climate change, improving national security, and promoting economic development. This Commentary Article argues that, if these loftier goals are to be achieved, a better articulation of RPS objectives is necessary. Furthermore, …

Relational Contract Theory And Management Contracts: A Paradigm For The Application Of The Theory Of The Norms, Michael Diathesopoulos

Michael Diathesopoulos

This paper examines management contracts as a paradigm for the application of relational contracts theory and especially of the theory of contractual and relational norms. This theory, deriving from Macauley's implications, but structured and analysed by I.R. MacNeil gives us a framework for the explanation and understanding of contractual obligations and business relations' rules and practice. After presenting the key literature about the norms theory and especially defining the content of MacNeil's norms, we define management contracts as relations, characterised by a high relational element and we explain why, investigating all their features, which make them a suitable object for …

Pace Programs, Growth Of Green Building Due Diligence Take Spotlight, Eric Jamison, Mark Bennett, Michael Mcgee

Eric Jamison

Property Assessed Clean Energy programs are one mechanism to finance the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency. With the rise of green building come attendant requirements to perform green building due diligence. ASTM is developing a standard to guide professionals through the process.

Participatory Rural Appraisal, Ganesh Chandra

Ganesh Chandra

Participation, empowerment and inclusion have become the new development buzzword. There has been a range of interpretations of the meaning of participation in development. Participatory development starts from the premise that it is important to identify and build upon strengths already present in communities. Perhaps the most widespread appearance of participation in mainstream development has been seen in the form of participatory methodologies of research, intended to gather a wide range of information from local people at their livelihoods, needs, and strengths, at the same time as 'empowering' them through a process of collaborative analysis and learning. PRA is a …

Dissemination Of Communication And Information In Inland Fisheries, Ganesh Chandra

Ganesh Chandra

Flow of communication and information from the research station to the end user is sine qua non for the sustainable production as well as productivity enhancement in inland fisheries and the development of fishers as a whole. The resource poor who are often more in need than others of information on sustainable and low external input technologies is least likely to gain access to the information required. This has been seen particularly in the fisheries sector where the channels of information accessible to the resource poor delivered information on new practices and recommendations as well as the new culture technologies, …

The Conflicting Concerns Of The Automatic Stay And Environmental Laws, Brett T. Bradford

Brett T. Bradford

This paper explores the conflict between the automatic stay in bankruptcy law and environmental laws regarding cleaning up pollution. It is shown that the two areas of law have fundamentally different purposes that work to disrupt the bankruptcy process. The purpose of the automatic stay is seriously disrupted by the government imposing clean up costs on the debtor while in bankruptcy. This paper shows the affects of the two conflicting areas of law and possible solutions to the problem.

Mitigating The Distributional Impacts Of Climate Change Policy, Tracey M. Roberts

Tracey M Roberts

Under both a cap-and-trade system and a greenhouse gas tax, the government will regulate energy suppliers and distributors, utility companies, and large manufacturers. These parties will bear the statutory incidence of the regulation. However, the financial impacts of regulating greenhouse gas emissions will be borne primarily by consumers. Consumers will bear the economic incidence of the regulation in the form of increased costs of gasoline, electricity, and home heating fuels and in increased consumer prices for all goods manufactured or distributed using fossil fuels. Greenhouse gas regulation will also generate significant revenue. This Article addresses the question of what should …

Sec Opens The Door For Climate Change-Related Shareholder Proposals And Disclosure Requirements, With Potential New Liabilites For Public Companies, Matthew P. Allen, Eric M. Jamison, Mark J. Bennett

Eric Jamison

The 2009 proxy season saw a record number of shareholder resolutions related to climate change that were directed at a range of industries, including automotive, finance, building, oil, and power generation. Investors are increasingly seeking information from publicly held companies regarding their relative risk position to climate change. Shareholder resolutions seek information about greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, and go as far as seeking emissions reduction targets. Shareholders are even requesting that financial institutions and banks adopt resolutions limiting or eliminating their lending and investment relationships with companies that present environmental risk. Historically, companies were generally entitled to exclude environmental …

Drawing The Right Lessons From Icsid Jurisprudence On The Doctrine Of Necessity, Amin George Forji

Amin George Forji

Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) have over the years injected an important dynamic into public international law, that is, the replacement of a political remedy (peaceful cooperation amongst nations) by a legal one (settlement of investment disputes). The institution of ICSID and the revision of BITs in line with its rules have opened the way for direct investors’ claims and investor-state arbitration. The obvious implication of a compulsory arbitration provision is that it has made up for many shortcomings of the diplomatic protection mechanism with, “the potential for an individual …

False Imprisonment As A Tort In India, Hari Priya

Hari Priya

The tort of false imprisonment is one of the most severe forms of human rights violation, and this paper aims to define and to understand the concept of false imprisonment as a tort in India. It also seeks to know about the evolution of the notion of false imprisonment as a tort, with reference to Indian and foreign cases, and understand who and when can one be held liable for the tort of false imprisonment. It further deals with the remedies available for the said tort.

Miccosukees And The Tamiami Trail Bridge: Examining The Tribe’S Attempts To Sink The Modified Waters Delivery Project, Jeffrey A. Hegewald

jeffrey a hegewald

In the fall of 2008, legal challenges to the Tamiami Trail Bridge project threatened to derail a critical component of the $7.3 billion Everglades restoration program. Indeed, only the Omnibus Spending Act of 2009 saved the project following a ruling from the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Prior to the events discussed in my note, failure appeared almost certain for years of research, development, and project adaptations performed by the Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the DOI/National Park Service.

My note, "Miccosukees and the Tamiami Trail Bridge: Examining the Tribe’s Attempts to Sink the …

What Ever Happened To Canadian Environmental Law?, Stepan Wood, Georgia Tanner, Benjamin J. Richardson

Stepan Wood

This Article examines the history of Canadian environmental law to explain why it has become a laggard in both legal reform and environmental performance. Canadian environmental law has long been of interest to scholars worldwide, yet its record is often poorly understood. The Article contrasts recent developments with the seemingly progressive initiatives of the 1970s, and analyzes these trends in light of their political, economic, and governance context, as well as the wider critiques of environmental law. It argues that there is considerable room for Canadian governments to adopt more robust methods of environmental law, including following pioneering reforms advanced …

Decision On Bt-Brinjal: Issues Of Legal Certainty, Nupur Chowdhury, Nidhi Srivastava

Nupur Chowdhury

The recent decision of the government of India to impose a moratorium on the release of Bt-Brinjal has been hailed by civil society and scientists alike as a victory for transparency and has demonstrated that the government is responsive to societal demands. This decision is also important since it could set a precedent within environmental regulation with reference to technologies with significant environmental risks. However, the decision also reflects a clear departure from procedure and its legal basis is tenuous and therefore the risk of it being reversed remains. This establishes a clear case for ensuring legal certainty in environmental …

Judging Cercla: An Empirical Analysis Of Circuit Court Decision-Making, Clifford Chad Henson

Clifford Chad Henson

Abstract: Political scientists, and increasingly legal scholars, have become skeptical of judges’ attempts to explain decisions based exclusively on applying fact to law, and have attempted to identify factors that influence judicial decision-making. This study isolates a set of cases dealing with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 and identifies variable sets corresponding to factors one would expect to be significant under competing models of judicial decision-making. While both the legal and extra-legal model independently explain some judicial decision-making, the legal model has more explanatory power and adds significantly to the explanatory power of the extra-legal …

Overlapping Jurisdiction Between Wto Dispute Settlement And Bilateral Mechanisms: Analysis Of Wto Dsb And Chile-Usa Fta, Akawat Laowonsiri, Pawarit Lertdhamtewe

Pawarit Lertdhamtewe

Dispute settlement mechanisms to international trade conflicts are widely varied and can be used selectively since employment of these mechanisms undeniably support on-going process of the world's economy development. This paper is intended to give analysis of overlapping jurisdiction between dispute settlement systems to trade conflicts between countries, herein the case of FTA between Chile-USA and the dispute settlement system under WTO regime. This comparative analysis is expected to give motivation for further research and studies on the same or related fields.

"Los Bienes Jurídicos Colectivos En El Derecho Penal. Consideraciones Sobre El Fundamento Y Validez De La Protección Penal De Los Intereses Macrosociales", Elky A. Villegas Paiva

Elky A. Villegas Paiva

El trabajo aborda la cuestionada intervención del Derecho penal en la protección de los bienes jurídicos colectivos. Se parte de destacar el condicionamiento que ejerce la sociedad del riesgo en la configuración del moderno Derecho penal. Posteriormente se realiza una breve descripción sobre el origen de los bienes macrosociales en el campo penal, para luego analizar los presupuestos de merecimiento y necesidad de pena, condiciones que deben superar aquellos intereses –individuales o colectivos- para que su tutela penal sea legítima. Finalmente se examinan las técnicas de tipificación frecuentemente empleadas para la protección penal de estos intereses colectivos, pues es aquí …

Cleaning Up The Muck: Clarifying The Scope Of Cercla's Potentially Responsible Parties, Matthew K. Telford

Matthew K Telford

Last term, in Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. United States, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of CERCLA’s arranger liability by holding that an arranger must intend to dispose, in order to be held liable as a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”). The case sheds light on the Supreme Court’s plain language construction of CERCLA, and its willingness to graft requirements for liability which some consider inconsistent with a strict liability statute. The Court’s decision focuses attention on other PRP disputes, specifically the extent to which a previous owner, one of the four categories of PRP, can be …

Access To Courts And Preemption Of State Remedies In Collective Action Perspective, Robert L. Glicksman, Richard E. Levy

Robert L. Glicksman

Preemption of common law remedies for individual injuries such as harm to health raises fundamental questions about the proper allocation of authority between the federal and state governments and about the role of courts in interpreting statutes and providing remedies for those who suffer injuries. Developing a workable framework for analyzing what we call “remedial preemption” issues can help to ensure an appropriate accommodation of the federal and state interests at stake and promote consistent application of preemption doctrine to state judicial remedies.

This article applies a “collective action” framework for preemption analysis to the issue of remedial preemption. Our …

Science, Politics, Law And The Arc Of The Clean Water Act: The Role Of Assumptions In The Adoption Of A Pollution Control Landmark, Robert L. Glicksman, Matthew R. Batzel

Robert L. Glicksman

This article examines the assumptions upon which Congress relied in enacting the 1972 Clean Water Act and the extent to which they have been borne out or belied as the federal and state governments have implemented their statutory responsibilities in the quest to achieve acceptably clean water. It traces the development of federal water pollution control legislation before 1972, highlighting the deficiencies that contributed to the need for a new approach in 1972. It then examines the scientific and technical, political, and legal assumptions that helped shape the 1972 Clean Water Act in an effort to determine whether the failure …

Anatomy Of Industry Resistance To Climate Change: A Familiar Litany, Robert L. Glicksman

Robert L. Glicksman

The industries that generate environmental risks in the United States have long been hostile to regulatory programs that increase their costs of operation and reduce their profits. While industry may have been unprepared for, and thus poorly organized to resist, the first wave of federal environmental legislation enacted during the “environmental decade” of the 1970s, it quickly marshaled its forces. Regulated or potentially regulated entities, their trade associations, and their lobbyists began a concerted effort to defeat, delay, and weaken environmental regulation.

This book chapter describes the process by which regulatory opponents successfully relied on free market ideology to couch …

Agency-Specific Precedents, Robert L. Glicksman, Richard E. Levy

Robert L. Glicksman

As a field of legal study and practice, administrative law rests on the premise that legal principles concerning agency structure, administrative process, and judicial review cut across multiple agencies. In practice, however, judicial precedents addressing the application of administrative law doctrines to a given agency tend to rely most heavily on other cases involving the same agency, and use verbal formulations or doctrinal approaches reflected in those cases. Over time, the doctrine often begins to develop its own unique characteristics when applied to that particular agency. These “agency-specific precedents” deviate from the conventional understanding of the relevant principles as a …

Evaluation Of Frontline Demonstration Of Greengram (Vigna Radiata L.) In Sundarbans, West Bengal, Ganesh Chandra

Ganesh Chandra

Green gram (mungbean) is one of the important pulse crop in India, which plays a major role in augmenting the income of small and marginal farmers of Sundarban. The prevalent farming situation in Sundarban areas being characterised by kharif season with paddy cultivation in rain-fed condition and water requirement for growing rabi and summer crops are met only through residual soil moisture and/or stored rain-water. The low production of traditional varieties of greengram was a cause of concern for the farmers at large. To overcome this problem of low yield, Krishi Vigyan Kendra of CIFRI has conducted frontline demonstration field …

Ecological Considerations Relating To The Destruction Of Chemical Weapons, Aldo Zammit Borda

Aldo Zammit Borda

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) not only establishes a global ban on the development of chemical weapons (CW), it also establishes an international obligation on possessor States to destroy their CW and production facilities. This is a central and mandatory obligation of the CWC, which aims at securing a world free of CW. In view of the risks posed by CW to human health and the environment, the obligation to destroy CW may be seen as directly connected to the right to a healthy environment. While the CWC seeks to set high standards for ensuring the safety of people and …

Climate Adaptation Policy At The Continental Level: Natural Resources In North America And Europe, Paul Stanton Kibel

Paul Stanton Kibel

No abstract provided.

Can The Law Facilitate A Finance Shift From Mitigation To Adaptation?, Kirk W. Junker

Kirk W Junker

No abstract provided.

The Lisbon Treaty And Its Consequences For Rural Development And Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study Of Romania, Francesco Sindico

Francesco Sindico

With the entrance into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, the European Union (EU) has now more tools to deal with a scenario of 27 Member States with specific regional characteristics and different needs in the fields of rural development and sustainable tourism. An important incentive to sign the Lisbon Treaty on 13 December 2007 was the accession to the EU of twelve Central and European countries in recent years. Romania is one of these States. This country has a huge touristic potential and, at the same time, is one of the poorest EU Member State. Against …