Ocean Floor Grab: International Law and the Making of an Extractive Imaginary

Abstract In this article, I argue for a critical recognition of the law of the sea, as it developed from the post-war period, as fostering a ‘grab’ of the ocean floor via national jurisdiction and international administration. I discuss why we should view what might be discussed otherwise as an ‘enclosure’ or ‘incorporation’ of the ocean floor within the state system as its grab. I then trace the grounds on which the ocean was brought within national and international regimes: the ocean floor’s geography and economic value. Both were asserted as givens – that is, as purely factual, but they were, in fact, reified through law. The article thus calls attention to the law’s constitutive effects. I examine the making of this law, showing that law-making by governments was influenced by acts of representation and narrative creation by many non-state actors. It was informed by both economic and non-economic influences, including political solidarity and suspicion, and parochial as well as cosmopolitan urges. Moreover, the law did not develop gradually or consistently. In exploring its development, I bring into focus the role played by one influential group of actors – international lawyers themselves.</jats:p

Extraction of Magnesium, Titanium and Aluminium

Magnesium, titanium and aluminium are classified as light metals. They are extensively in structures and components where the strength/weight ratio is an important factor determining the choice of the metal. India possesses vast reserves of these metals in its minerals, in the form of oxides, silicates, carbonates etc. Developments in tech-nologies for the extraction of these metals have been driven by the need to reduce the cost of production and make the utilization of these metals and their alloys viable in industrial application. The processes must have no adverse impact on the environment, too. Cost of raw materials, cost and availability of reducing agents and the cost of energy are the major factors that dete-rmine the viability of any process for the extraction of these metals. Magnesium and titanium are fast emerging as the favoured metals in the manufacture of automobile components due to their high strength/weight ratio and excellent properties at high temperatures. The high cost of production of these metals has severely limited the exploitation of this huge emerging market. Therefore, the focus is on developing alternative technologies to reduce the cost of production of these metals. The technology for the extraction of aluminium is well established. Attempts are being made to reduce the impact of the extraction process on the environment and also to reduce the energy consumption. Another interesting attempt has been to use carbon as a reducing agent for the reduction of the oxide. The relevance of the emerging technological options for India will depend on the type of raw materials available; the cost of the same; the energy resources available and the preferred scale of operation

The technique of successive partial equilibria to predict precipitation of carbides in equilibrium with a solution phase

The technique of successive partial equilibria has been employed to predict the equilibrium precipitation of carbides in iron-based alloy systems. To employ this technique, the principle that the equilibrium state is independent of the path followed, is utilized. The technique is illustrated with respect to the Fe-Cr-C system and also with respect to a steel containing several alloying elements. The technique is applicable to the precipitation of nitrides, oxides etc. also, in addition to that of carbides

The Value of Narratives

__Absttract__ Fragmentation’, ‘pluralism’, ‘constitutionalisation’ and ‘global administrative law’ are among the most dominant narratives of international legal order at present. Each narrative makes a descriptive claim about the current state of the international legal order, and outlines a normative vision for this order. Yet we must not lose sight of the conflicts between, and the contingency of these, and other narratives. This article seeks to recover both conflicts and contingency by showing how each may be used to explain a given event: the inauguration of a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation between the United State and India, better known as the ‘India-US nuclear deal’. I explain how the four narratives may be, and were, co-opted at different times to justify or critique the ‘deal’. This exercise serve two purposes: the application of four narratives reveal the various facets of the deal, and by its example the deal illuminates the stakes attached to each of the four narratives. In a final section, I reflect on why these four narratives enjoy their influential status in international legal scholarship

Religion, politics and the secular state in India

India has been declared to be a 'Secular State' since 1976, by an amendment to the Constitution, although its supporters claim that it has been one since 1950 when the Constitution was first adopted. From its inception the weaknesses of secularism as an operational category was apparent, but was ignored by politicians as well as by academics. 'Secularism' has since then not been defined in terms of the institutions of the state or the dominant values of the political system. It was given different interpretations by different groups. Even among the ranks of secularists there have been distinct divergences.The Constitution recognizes not only ethnic but also religious minorities and has given them special rights to maintain educational institutions. Similarly caste based privileges were provided on the plea of 'backwardness'. Moreover, India continued to be a religious society although the state claimed to be secular. Some secularists would identify it with anti-religious policies.The Hindu revivalists would identify the state with pro-minority and even anti-Hindu policies. In modern political idiom it was called 'minorityism' and 'pseudosecularism'. The Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, on the other hand, felt that such special rights are essential to maintain their identities. The rise of religions based politics in the eighties has created a major problem for the secular state.In the light of the above 'Secularism' needs to be redefined in clearer terms. Religious syncretism and political and cultural accommodation associated with South Indian tradition where some of this necessary re-definition has been achieved through the process of historical evolution needs be looked into. Similarly, the de-linking of religion from culture in Indonesia and the adoption of a national ideology which can provide some helpful insights for India is worth pursuing. ' Apparently, Malaysia has established a viable democratic state by adopting an inter-communal than an noncommunal approach to its political problems. By taking a comparative look at the problem of secularism, in the light of the experiences of other nations, perhaps, the Indian secular state could face the future with more confidence

Partnership for lifelong learning: Canadian community colleges & the hospitality industry

Building and nurturing an active partnership between the community college and the hospitality/tourism industry, that will look beyond the scope of currently existing internship environment at the workplace for all workers to enable to learn continuously in fundamental to the creation of a quality workforce. A workforce that can adequately meet the needs of the industry and boldly face the world of the future. The burning issue is - are partnerships between educators and the industry to provide training and education feasible? Cross sectional study was undertaken in the present environment in the Province of Ontario in Canada. This study, through a survey questionnaire gathered data from the hospitality/tourism educators and the managers. The hypothesis was that the study will show the need for a partners arrangement that will be efficient and effective for developing the full potential of the workforce to pursue the organizations quality and performance objectives. Another expectation was that it will demonstrate to Canadian Community College faculties as well as the Human Resource Managers in the industry the compelling need for collaborative and co operative thinking on strategy formulation for future management/employee training programs. This study concludes that partnerships are feasible as there is evidence of interest on both the sides to the principles of collaborative ventures. It recommends undertaking of a pilot project to test the practicality of a working relationship