Less Decoherence and More Coherence in Quantum Gravity, Inflationary Cosmology and Elsewhere

In Crull (2015) it is argued that, in order to confront outstanding problems in cosmology and quantum gravity, interpretational aspects of quantum theory can by bypassed because decoherence is able to resolve them. As a result, Crull (2015) concludes that our focus on conceptual and interpretational issues, while dealing with such matters in Okon and Sudarsky (2014), is avoidable and even pernicious. Here we will defend our position by showing in detail why decoherence does not help in the resolution of foundational questions in quantum mechanics, such as the measurement problem or the emergence of classicality.Comment: 37 page

The legal status of sustainable development in the Nigerian environmental law

Sustainable development underpins environmental governance in all jurisdictions, but its legal status is still controversial. The major problem which Nigerian courts and policy-makers will continue to face when implementing and enforcing sustainable development in environmental governance is whether it is a moral or legal concept and, if it is the latter, whether it has metamorphosed into a legal principle or the rule of law having a normative value. This article argues that the legal status of sustainable development in Nigeria depends on which legal instrument it is incorporated and whether it is expressed in a general or specific mandatory language. Also, its legal status depends on the pronouncements of Nigerian courts on it. Methodologically, the qualitative content analysis is used to ascertain the legal status of sustainable development in the statutes and case law examined. In order to enhance the implementation and enforcement of sustainable development in the Nigerian environmental law, the conclusion of this article adopted as recommendations the latter part of its argument that sustainable development should be made an essential part of the right to life, the relevant constitutional provisions on the environmental should be amended to reflect it and, in addition, section 20 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 should be transferred to Chapter IV of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental human rights.Keywords: Sustainable development, legal status, implementation, enforcement and qualitative content analysi

Legal and Socio-Ethical Issues in Punishment

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the legal and socio-ethical implications of punishment. We have reviewed existing literatures on punishment with a view to establish a synthesis of scholarly opinions on punishment. It is appropriate for civil authorities to be properly educated on the functions of punishment. Public policy on punishment should have social dimension. Punishment should be seen as an aspect of social engineering. The study has strongly recommended that the purpose of punishment should ultimately be the reformation of offenders

Achieving Sustainability of Marine Fish Stocks in Nigeria: Can the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Make a Different?

Globally and in Nigeria, Marine Fish Stocks (MFS) are in a deplorable state and the consequences are unimaginable. Having identified this as one of environmental causes of the world’s greatest challenges—how to feed more than 9 billion people by 2050—the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution on Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda), which contains, among others, Goal 14 that specifically deals on how to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. How this goal will impact on the sustainability of MFS in Nigeria is the burning issue for policy makers, fisheries managers and academics. This article argues that the implications of the Agenda on the sustainability of MFS in Nigeria depends on, first, the extent Nigeria has integrated sustainable development into its marine fisheries law; second, the extent which Goal 14 and its associated targets have addressed the causes of the deplorable state of Nigeria’s MFS and, third, the extent Nigerian Marine Fisheries Law (NMFL) has implemented the targeted activities. The major findings of this article are (1) NMFL does not integrate sustainable development, (2) the Agenda does not address all the factors causing the poor state of Nigeria’s MFS, and (3) the level at which the NMFL has implemented the targeted activities under Goal 14 is low. In order to achieve sustainability of Nigeria’s MFS, this article recommends, among others, the enactment of a new NMFL that integrates sustainable development and contemporary conservation, management and compliance measures recommended or prescribed in the Agenda and other UN instruments on marine fisheries