Quasicrystals, model sets, and automatic sequences

We survey mathematical properties of quasicrystals, first from the point of view of harmonic analysis, then from the point of view of morphic and automatic sequences. Nous proposons un tour d'horizon de propri\'et\'es math\'ematiques des quasicristaux, d'abord du point de vue de l'analyse harmonique, ensuite du point de vue des suites morphiques et automatiques

U.S. COTTON SUPPLY RESPONSE UNDER THE 2002 FARM ACT

Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Pierre Trudeau and the “Suffocation” of the Nuclear Arms Race (SWP 52)

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau is known for his challenge to Canada’s NATO policy at the beginning of his tenure in power and his peace initiative at its end. Less well known is his support for innovative arms control policies designed to eliminate the technological impetus behind the nuclear arms race between the US and the USSR during the Cold War. At the first UN Special Session on Disarmament in May 1978, Trudeau delivered a speech outlining a “strategy of suffocation” that provided a novel package of four arms control measures that, taken as a whole, would represent an effective means of halting and eventually reversing the nuclear arms race. Although the superpowers were largely indifferent to them, these ideas helped spur the Department of External Affairs to invest in developing the institutional capacity to enable Canada to play a leadership role in future disarmament diplomacy

The 2010 NPT Review Conference: An Assessment of Outcome and Outlook (SWP 11)

The May 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was the first such conference in a decade to conclude with a substantive Final Document, containing a 64 point Action Plan. How significant was the agreement reached by consensus at the Conference, and what does it portend for the health of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime? This paper assesses the outcome across the three ‘pillars’ of the NPT—nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy—as well as the major regional and institutional issues addressed at the conference. It concludes that the result of the 2010 Review Conference is best described as a status quo outcome and little was achieved in resolving the underlying tensions that threaten the NPT\u27s authority

The Diplomacy of Space Security: Whither the International Code of Conduct? (SWP 38)

The potential for outer space weaponization represented by the testing of anti-satellite weapons by China and the U.S. in 2007 and 2008 respectively has raised long dormant concerns. These may help explain the initiative of the European Union to present a draft Code of Conduct on Outer Space activities in December 2008. This collection of voluntary confidence-building measures has had a difficult diplomatic roll-out, with over five years of EU-conducted consultations still not resulting in an agreed product. An evaluation of the Code\u27s contents concludes that its most promising elements lie in its provision for an on-going, institutionalized discussion of outer space issues amongst subscribing states. A review of reactions to the proposed Code on the part of leading space nations highlights some of the outstanding areas of concern. Unless the EU finds a way to "multilateralize" the negotiation of the Code it may prove difficult to bring this initiative to a successful conclusion

Seizing the Diplomatic Initiative to Control Cyber Conflict (SWP 45)

Cyberspace is a unique human-made environment on which global society is increasingly dependent for its well-being. At the same time, states and non-state actors are engaged in detrimental cyber activity that can threaten to transform this special environment into just another battleground. Diplomatic efforts to develop international “norms of responsible state behavior” have not kept pace with growing military cyber security capabilities. A Sino–Russian initiative for an “International Code of Conduct for Information Security” has problematic aspects and could prove divisive if brought before the UN General Assembly for adoption. A series of reports by UN Group of Governmental Experts have generated some important general conclusions and positive recommendations for confidence building measures, but they remain only proposals. There is a need for more Western leadership in ensuring that expert recommendations are transformed into state commitments if the peaceful nature of cyberspace is to be preserved. Published in the Simons Working Papers series as: Meyer, Paul. Seizing the Diplomatic Initiative to Control Cyber Conflict. Simons Papers in Security and Development, No. 45/2015, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, September 2015

Cooperative Measures for International Cybersecurity (SWP 57)

Via stealthy means a new and promising environment of tremendous importance for humanity\u27s welfare and prosperity is being compromised by damaging state action. The environment is cyberspace and its "militarization" by covert state operations is posing a threat to the continued safe and peaceful use of this crucial domain of information and communication. Diplomatic action to develop norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace have not kept pace with military developments. The wider stakeholder community will need to become engaged on behalf of cooperative security measures if the dogs of cyber war are not to devour the disciples of cyber peace