Opting Out of Regulation: A Public Choice Analysis of Contractual Choice of Law

This Article uses public choice theory to analyze the function of choice-of-law clauses in contracts. Choice-of-law clauses are now quite common and are increasingly enforced, especially with the proliferation of international and Internet transactions. Because these clauses can be used by parties to avoid regulation, academics are now vigorously debating the extent to which this contractual opt out should be permitted. The Article presents a positive political theory of the interplay of legislative action and the enforcement of choice of law. It demonstrates that the important normative debate over choice of law is somewhat misguided because both sides fail to fully understand the effect that these clauses can have on interest group bargaining in the legislature. Once the issue is fully understood, seemingly counterintuitive posturing can result: Regulatory proponents may actually favor choice-of-law clauses, and Libertarians can find themselves opposing their enforcement

Trash Talk: The Effects of Plastic Pollution on Seabirds in Narragansett Bay

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global concern with more than 8 million tons of plastic dumped into our oceans every year. This policy paper assesses plastic pollution in Narragansett Bay and the negative implications it holds on local seabird populations. Also, essential background information on plastic production and throwaway culture is provided. Moreover, the biological significance of seabirds is described, highlighting the vital role such populations play in local ecosystems such as Narragansett Bay. This paper contributes research to the global issue of plastic pollution by observing declining native wildlife life populations, such as seabirds, on a local scale in Narragansett Bay. Furthermore, domestic policy is examined in relation to plastic production and wildlife conservation. This paper examines the effects of the Rhode Island Task Force to Tackle Plastics, which focuses on the mitigation of single-use plastics in Rhode Island to preserve ecological integrity. In addition, The Narragansett Bay Estuary program is evaluated to ensure the productivity of scientific research that contributes to the restoration and preservation of Narragansett Bay. Lastly, the final policy scrutinized includes the Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan that is utilized to analyze the quality of native habitats and the overall ecological health of Rhode Island. Scholarly articles, relevant research, and other secondary sources are further examined in tandem with previous knowledge of conservation biology in order to contribute to these findings. As a result, final recommendations are provided, calling for additional regulations and policy adoptions that aid in environmental efforts on a domestic scale. Some recommendations include initiating a statewide ban of single-use plastics, development of financial incentives that promote sustainable efforts, and instituting better waste management systems

Metrics that matter for assessing the ocean biological carbon pump

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Buesseler, K. O., Boyd, P. W., Black, E. E., & Siegel, D. A. Metrics that matter for assessing the ocean biological carbon pump. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, (2020): 201918114, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1918114117.The biological carbon pump (BCP) comprises wide-ranging processes that set carbon supply, consumption, and storage in the oceans’ interior. It is becoming increasingly evident that small changes in the efficiency of the BCP can significantly alter ocean carbon sequestration and, thus, atmospheric CO2 and climate, as well as the functioning of midwater ecosystems. Earth system models, including those used by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, most often assess POC (particulate organic carbon) flux into the ocean interior at a fixed reference depth. The extrapolation of these fluxes to other depths, which defines the BCP efficiencies, is often executed using an idealized and empirically based flux-vs.-depth relationship, often referred to as the “Martin curve.” We use a new compilation of POC fluxes in the upper ocean to reveal very different patterns in BCP efficiencies depending upon whether the fluxes are assessed at a fixed reference depth or relative to the depth of the sunlit euphotic zone (Ez). We find that the fixed-depth approach underestimates BCP efficiencies when the Ez is shallow, and vice versa. This adjustment alters regional assessments of BCP efficiencies as well as global carbon budgets and the interpretation of prior BCP studies. With several international studies recently underway to study the ocean BCP, there are new and unique opportunities to improve our understanding of the mechanistic controls on BCP efficiencies. However, we will only be able to compare results between studies if we use a common set of Ez-based metrics.We thank the many scientists whose ideas and contributions over the years are the foundation of this paper. This includes A. Martin, who led the organization of the BIARRITZ group (now JETZON) workshop in July 2019, discussions at which helped to motivate this article. We thank D. Karl for pointing us in the right direction for this paper format at PNAS and two thoughtful reviewers who through their comments helped to improve this manuscript. Support for writing this piece is acknowledged from several sources, including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Ocean Twilight Zone project (K.O.B.); NASA as part of the EXport Processes in the global Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) program (K.O.B. and D.A.S.). E.E.B. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship through the Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University. P.W.B. was supported by the Australian Research Council through a Laureate (FL160100131)

Comment on Using Criminal Punishment to Serve Both Victim and Social Needs

Haley comments on the argument underlying the article by Erin Ann O\u27Hara and Maria Mayo Robbins, which emphasizes on victim-offender mediation (VOM). By expanding the frame of reference, restorative justice can be defined as a paradigm whose scope encompasses more than VOM and whose emphasis includes the needs of society and offenders as well as victims. Restorative justice involves a wide variety of processes and programs that are more apt to restore both those who commit and those who suffer wrongs. It includes children at risk programs, drug courts, violence-treatment programs, as well as VOM programs. It also includes efforts to assist former convicts returning to the community to engage in constructive lifestyles and sustainable roles in families, workplaces, and neighborhoods

PC Dance Club\u27s Spring Semester Show Playbill

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Angell Blackfriars Theatre, Smith Center for the Arts PC Dance Club\u27s Spring Semester Show Sunday, April 26, 2015, 4pm Monday, April 27, 2015, 8pm Choreographers: Katrina Pavao, Linh Truong, Ariel Cormier, Meghan Killian, Lexi White, Maddie Boffi, Caroline O\u27Sullivan, Elissa Stagliano, Christine Dragan, Kristen Jackowski, Krista Sevigny, Natalie Pino, Caitlin Conlon, Libby Jancsy, Mikai/a Christopher, Michelle Desjardins, Erin Hallisey, Cayla Barbour, Erin Hallisey, Kristen Jackowski, and Kelly Sullivan Dancers: Cayla Barbour, Maddie Boffi, Mikaila Christopher, Caitlin Conlon, Michelle Desjardins, Christine Drogan, Erin Hallisey, Kristen Jackowski, Libby Jancsy, Meghan Killian, Caroline O\u27Sullivan, Katrina Pavao, Natalie Pino, Krista Sevigny, Elissa Stagliano, Kelly Sullivan, Lexi White, Courtney Lamendola, Sara Tiffany, Linh Truong, Julie Bash, Lauren Berolini, Katherine Cassidy, Kaitlyn Geraghty, Coleen Higgins, Kristen Landry, Victoria Long, Carolyn Nappy, Haley Rayment, Casey Sullivan, Courtney Altenburger, Courtney Buohl, Mikaila Christopher, Delia Egan, Katherine Flanagan, Ann Marie Hanabury, Megan Johnson, Kristen Landry, Nicole Lizza, Kelly MacKay, Brittany Price, Mollie Stackhouse, Samantha Wagner, Lindsay Brestovansky, Alexandra Fischbach, Allison Kramer, Gabriella Reimer, Amanda Talbot, Catherine O\u27Connell, Stefanie Palmer, Caitlin Scuderi, Krista Sevigny, Kerry Barrett, Maria Carangelo, Michelle Desjardins, Christine Dragan, Lea Knizek, Deirdre Moody, Stefanie Palmer, Rose Turner, Kathleen Burnett, Pauline DiAgostino, Melissa Grasso, McKenzie Marsh, Joanna McDonough, Bridget Murphy, Genevieve Noonan, Renee Ouelette, Emily Smolinsky, Jada-Iman Williams, Elizabeth Nako, Michelle Grasso, McKenzie Marsh, Mikaila Christopher, Caitlin Conlon, Joanna McDonough,True Bui Ngo Thanh, Amy Gilligan, Erin Hurley, Libby Jancsy, Megan Johnson, Kelly MacKay, Laura Navarro Delgado, Deneysha Riley, Emily Brown, Courtney Gardner, Amy Gilligan, Aubrey Legasse, Rebecca Petrocellihttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/promos_2010s_pubs/1054/thumbnail.jp