Information disclosure and environmental rights: the Aarhus Convention

Access to information is the first "pillar" of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (1998). This article examines how the information disclosure obligations on states within the Aarhus Convention express a particular blend of human environmental rights, conjoining procedural entitlements (and duties) with a substantive right to an environment adequate to human health and well-being: "Aarhus environmental rights" have been lauded for increasing citizen access to environmental information, helping to secure more transparent and accountable regulatory processes. However, the information rights are rendered inconsistent in practice by three properties: 1) the discretion accorded to Convention Parties in interpreting Aarhus rights; 2) the exclusion of private entities from mandatory information disclosure duties; and 3) the indeterminate coupling of procedural and substantive rights. These tensions reflect a structural imbalance in the articulation of Aarhus rights between social welfare and market liberal perspectives

Gauge Mediation in Metastable Vacua

Until recently, dynamical supersymmetry breaking seemed an exceptional phenomenon, involving chiral gauge theories with a special structure. Recently it has become clear that requiring only metastable states with broken supersymmetry leads to a far broader class of theories. In this paper, we extend these constructions still further, finding new classes which, unlike earlier theories, do not have unbroken, approximate $R$ symmetries. This allows construction of new models with direct gauge mediation. These theories permit a relatively compact solution to the $\mu$ problem.Comment: 11 pages, latex. Issues of metastability further elaborate

Free Bosonic Vertex Operator Algebras on Genus Two Riemann Surfaces I

We define the partition and $n$-point functions for a vertex operator algebra on a genus two Riemann surface formed by sewing two tori together. We obtain closed formulas for the genus two partition function for the Heisenberg free bosonic string and for any pair of simple Heisenberg modules. We prove that the partition function is holomorphic in the sewing parameters on a given suitable domain and describe its modular properties for the Heisenberg and lattice vertex operator algebras and a continuous orbifolding of the rank two fermion vertex operator super algebra. We compute the genus two Heisenberg vector $n$-point function and show that the Virasoro vector one point function satisfies a genus two Ward identity for these theories.Comment: 57 Pages, 5 figures. This is an extended version of roughly one half of arXiv:0712.062

Free Bosonic Vertex Operator Algebras on Genus Two Riemann Surfaces II

We continue our program to define and study $n$-point correlation functions for a vertex operator algebra $V$ on a higher genus compact Riemann surface obtained by sewing surfaces of lower genus. Here we consider Riemann surfaces of genus 2 obtained by attaching a handle to a torus. We obtain closed formulas for the genus two partition function for free bosonic theories and lattice vertex operator algebras $V_L$. We prove that the partition function is holomorphic in the sewing parameters on a given suitable domain and describe its modular properties. We also compute the genus two Heisenberg vector $n$-point function and show that the Virasoro vector one point function satisfies a genus two Ward identity. We compare our results with those obtained in the companion paper, when a pair of tori are sewn together, and show that the partition functions are not compatible in the neighborhood of a two-tori degeneration point. The \emph{normalized} partition functions of a lattice theory $V_L$ \emph{are} compatible, each being identified with the genus two theta function of $L$.Comment: 51 pages, 3 figure

Vertex Operators and Modular Forms

The leitmotif of these Notes is the idea of a vertex operator algebra (VOA) and the relationship between VOAs and elliptic functions and modular forms. This is to some extent analogous to the relationship between a finite group and its irreducible characters; the algebraic structure determines a set of numerical invariants, and arithmetic properties of the invariants provides feedback in the form of restrictions on the algebraic structure. One of the main points of these Notes is to explain how this works, and to give some reasonably interesting examples.Comment: 118 pages. These are notes based on a series of lectures at the Graduate Workshop " A Window into Zeta and Modular Physics " at MSRI, Berkeley, June 2008 http://www.msri.org/calendar/sgw/WorkshopInfo/449/show_sgw. Submitted to Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Publication

Considerate constructors scheme : Glenfarg water treatment works

The project to modify Glenfarg Water Treatment Works by Scottish Water, working in conjunction with its partners Black and Veatch Ltd. and Scottish Water Solutions, received a gold award and ‘the ultimate accolade’ of ‘The Most Considerate Site 2009’ at the considerate constructors scheme (CCS) awards. Although previous projects undertaken by Scottish Water have achieved high considerate constructor scores, Glenfarg exceeded previous projects’ standards. This level of performance was delivered across the eight categories of the scheme: considerate, environment, cleanliness, good neighbour, respectful, safe responsible and accountable. The steps the project team took under each of these categories to deliver the project are reviewed in this article. The article also outlines some of the challenges the project team faced while delivering such a high level of performance. Furthermore, the article makes particular reference to ‘soft’ management skills and the development of a project organisational culture that emphasised pride and passion through engagement of the workforce. Overall, the article presents valuable insights into how performing beyond the CCS requirements remains a dynamic and ongoing activity for all parties involved with the scheme

Conflict and social vulnerability to climate change: Lessons from Gaza

In societies marred by conflict, the propensity of populations to be harmed by climate hazards is likely to be increased by their exposure to violence and other coercive practices. Stakeholder assessments of climate vulnerability, as reported here for the Gaza Strip, can capture the qualitative experience of harm caused by conflict-related practices as these relate to, and interact with, forecasted climatic risks. The key pathways of climate vulnerability identified by stakeholders in Gaza relate above all to expected impacts on food security and water security. Exploration of these vulnerability pathways reveals conflict-structured non-climatic risks overwhelming forecasted climate risks. The prevalence in Gaza of short-term 'enforced coping' prevents the development of long-term adaptive capacity. Climate vulnerability assessments in (post)conflict environments should acknowledge the methodological and political-policy challenges caused by chronic, non-climatic sources of harm. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking and Low Energy Gauge Mediation

Dynamical breaking of supersymmetry was long thought to be an exceptional phenomenon, but recent developments have altered this view. A question of great interest in the current framework is the value of the underlying scale of supersymmetry breaking. The "little hierarchy" problem suggests that supersymmetry should be broken at low energies. Within one class of models, low energy breaking be achieved as a consequence of symmetries, without requiring odd coincidences. The low energy theories are distinguished by the presence or absence of $R$ symmetries; in either case, and especially the latter one often finds modifications of the minimal gauge-mediated spectrum which can further ameliorate problems of fine tuning. Various natural mechanisms exist to solve the $\mu$ problem in this framework.Comment: 20 pages (minor change in referencing