CKM Reach at Hadronic Colliders

The analysis of the CKM parameters will take a leap forward when the hadronic B factories receive their first data. I describe the challenges faced by B-physics at hadronic colliders and the expected reach in specific channels for the LHCb, BTeV, ATLAS and CMS experiments.Comment: Invited talk at the Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, IPPP Durham, April 2003 (eConf C0304052). 6 pages LaTeX, 6 eps file

On the Optical Role of Randomness for Structured Surfaces

It has been known for years how random height variations of a repeated nano-scale structure can give rise to smooth angular color variations instead of the well-known diffraction pattern experienced if no randomization is present. However, until now there has not been published any papers giving an in-depth mathematical explanation on the mechanisms behind and how to design the randomness for a given application. This paper presents a mathematical framework for analyzing these random variations -- rigorously as well as intuitively.Comment: Submitted to Applied Optic

The force of the community in the Niger Delta of Nigeria: propositions for new oil and gas legal and contractual arrangements

The exploitation of oil and gas in the Niger Delta is considered the foremost source of revenue of Nigeria, providing 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. With the strategic position o f this area and the tensions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and multinational corporations (MNCs), directly exploiting these resources on one hand and the ethnic communities that these resources are derived from on the other, there is a need to take various steps to de-escalate the situation in this region. To minimize resource conflicts within the region, this Article canvasses for the formulation of new tripartite oil and gas arrangements, both legal and contractual, that provide oil-producing communities with stake-holding in oil and gas operations in the region. It further examines some of the potential complexities that may arise if the MNCs directly negotiate contracts with the communities without due involvement of the Federal Government of Nigeria as the host state government

Institutional gaps in the 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy

This article identifies some gaps in the institutional framework of the Africa’s Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy, with regard to certain vital areas of concerns in the sea, such as maritime security enforcement, an African international judicial mechanism dealing with maritime matters, the outer limits of the continental shelf and the deep seabed regime. It argues for a reconsideration of the AIM Strategy with regard to these important law-of-the-sea issues and for the provision of a clearer plan on putting together appropriate institutions to engage with these key matters

A re-appraisal of The Haringey London Borough Council v C (A Child), E and Another

SHROUDED GENDER AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES IN CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION PROCEEDINGSThis commentary examines the case of Haringey London Borough Council v C (a child), E and another (referred subsequently in this article as the Haringey LBC case). The case focused on child protection issues under the Children Act 1989 (the 1989 Act) arising from a UK charity’s claims that it could provide infertile couples with miracle babies through supernatural means

AFRICAN ‘SOCIAL ORDERING’ GRUNDNORMS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFRICAN LEX PETROLEA?

This article interrogates the constitutional relevance of African social ordering rules in petroleum governance in Sub-Saharan African petroleum producing states. At the apex of the hierarchized African legal system is the national constitution which contains the basic norm or grundnorm derived from Western received law. Yet some African scholars have described African social ordering norms as grundnorms. This goes contrary to the conventional positivist position that “a legal system cannot be founded on two conflicting grundnorms.” This article will consider whether African social ordering norms have attained the level of a grundnorm as expounded in Kelsen’s pure theory. Utilising the Ekeh’s “two publics” model, it investigates how the basic norm for African social ordering grundnorms is presupposed. The article considers whether there is a conflict between the domanial system of state ownership as approved by African national constitutions and indigenous African social ordering norms premised on communitarianism. The article presents for analysis the recent study undertaken by African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA). This study considers whether it is possible to standardise the rules of petroleum contractual governance in Africa. This has led to some discussion on whether the standardisation of these rules could lead to the development of an African Lex Petrolea. This article explores the role that African social ordering norms can play in the development of a continent-wide Lex Petrolea

Shrouded Gender and Reproductive Issues in Child Welfare and Protection Proceedings: A re-appraisal of The Haringey London Borough Council v C (A Child), E and Another

This commentary examines the case of Haringey London Borough Council v C (a child), E and another (referred subsequently in this article as the Haringey LBC case). The case focused on child protection issues under the Children Act 1989 (the 1989 Act) arising from a UK charity’s claims that it could provide infertile couples with miracle babies through supernatural means