scholarly journals Plastic ‘Highways’ to the Sea: The Problem of Litter in English Inland Waterways

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 473
Author(s):  
Samantha Davey
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Contextual Analysis ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Inland Waterways ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
Legal Duty ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Harmful Effects

There is a conspicuous lacuna in the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 because it imposes no legal duty on statutory bodies to clear litter from aquatic environments (rivers, canals and lakes) in England and Wales. This paper identifies a significant gap in the law on aquatic environmental protection by undertaking doctrinal research, including contextual analysis of references to rivers in ‘soft’ law (e.g., policy documents such as the Conservative Government’s Litter Strategy) and ‘hard law’ (e.g., legislation including the EPA 1990); an examination of the problems with existing legal frameworks in this sphere and an exploration of legislative and practical measures which could protect our rivers and other inland waterways from litter. A legislative amendment to the EPA is proposed with discussion of whether imposing a duty on an existing body or a new, specialised body to clear litter from rivers will ameliorate these problems. The intention behind this paper is to initiate an informed debate on how to protect aquatic environments from the harmful effects of litter.

scholarly journals Killing me Softly? Scrutinising the Role of Soft Law in Greece’s Response to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Evangelia (Lilian) TSOURDI ◽  
Niovi VAVOULA
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
Primary Basis ◽  
Full Swing ◽  
Second Wave

Greece emerged as the EU’s poster child in the fight against COVID-19 during the first few months of the pandemic. In this contribution, we assess Greece’s use of soft regulation in its regulatory response to COVID-19. Using “acts of legislative content”, which can be broadly conceptualised as softly adopted hard law, the Greek government largely achieved flexibility and simplified adoption procedures without having to resort to soft law per se. The role of soft law was limited - it complemented hard law rather than constituting the primary basis of COVID-19 restrictions - but not completely negligible. Soft law instruments regulated the processing of personal data, and was also pivotal in clarifying the criminal sanctioning of COVID-related rule violations. Greece’s success in handling the first wave of the pandemic, while effective, was arguably unfair to asylum seekers who saw their right to apply for asylum curtailed, and their right to freedom of movement restricted when limitations on the rest of the population were lifted. With a second wave of infections currently in full swing, it is imperative to keep scrutinising regulatory responses to ensure that they place the health and dignity of every individual (whoever they might be) at their core and fully respect their fundamental rights.

scholarly journals Broad diversity of bacteria degrading 17ß-estradiol-3-sulfate isolated from river sediment and biofilm at a wastewater treatment plant discharge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Mainetti ◽  
Marilena Palmisano ◽  
Fabio Rezzonico ◽  
Blaž Stres ◽  
Susanne Kern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
River Sediment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Degrading Bacteria ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Aquatic Wildlife ◽  
Harmful Effects

AbstractConjugated estrogens, such as 17β-estradiol-3-sulfate (E2-3S), can be released into aquatic environments through wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). There, they are microbiologically degraded into free estrogens, which can have harmful effects on aquatic wildlife. Here, the degradation of E2-3S in environmental samples taken upstream, downstream and at the effluent of a WWTP was assessed. Sediment and biofilm samples were enriched for E2-3S-degrading microorganisms, yielding a broad diversity of bacterial isolates, including known and novel degraders of estrogens. Since E2-3S-degrading bacteria were also isolated in the sample upstream of the WWTP, the WWTP does not influence the ability of the microbial community to degrade E2-3S.

Nuclear Powers' Disarmament Obligation under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Interactions between Soft Law and Hard Law

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALESSANDRA PIETROBON
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Nuclear Test ◽  
Good Faith ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Legal Obligation ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
The Us ◽  
Test Ban ◽  
Nuclear Test Ban ◽  
Test Ban Treaty

AbstractThe Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) will not be effective until all the 44 states listed in its Annex 2 ratify it. A special link has been established between the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the CTBT. The disarmament obligation set by Article VI of the NPT, which has not yet been complied with, remains highly controversial. The relevant subsequent practice of the states parties to the NPT shows that the ratification of the CTBT is to be considered the first of the practical steps towards compliance with Article VI. However, as the practical steps do not set any legally binding norms, there is no legal obligation to ratify the CTBT, not even for the 44 states listed in Annex 2 whose ratification is essential. The paper deals with the position of nuclear powers party to the NPT that have not yet ratified the CTBT (most prominently the US and China) and demonstrates that these states should at least provide detailed motivation for their conduct. Otherwise, other states parties to the NPT could consider them as not complying in good faith with Article VI of the NPT and invoke the inadimplenti non est ademplendum rule to justify breaches of their own obligations under the same treaty.

scholarly journals EXPRESSÃO MILITAR DO SETOR ESTRATÉGICO ESPACIAL: EVOLUÇÃO E O DIREITO. CASO BRASILEIRO: QUARTA GERAÇÃO DA FORÇA AÉREA BRASILEIRA

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Vagner Vital ◽  
Maria Helena fonseca de Souza Rolim
Keyword(s):  
Soft Law ◽  
Hard Law

A evolução e transformações das tecnologias aplicadas aos usos do espaço exterior interconectadas com o uso militar do espaço exterior a evidenciam a pressão dos fatos sobre o direito, avocando reflexão sobre o corpus juris internacional sobre a questão, em nível de soft law e hard law. Mesmo no contexto de autodefesa, as atividades espaciais militares possuem aspectos ofensivos e defensivos que precisam ser considerados e podem ser executadas ao abrigo da Carta das Nações Unidas (considerando o direito à autodefesa) e do Tratado do Espaço (ao se entender o termo “propósito pacífico” equivalente ao termo “não agressão”, exceto para autodefesa), além de outros tratados que podem ser evocados em situações de conflito, no âmbito do Direito Internacional Humanitário. Este artigo consubstancia o caso brasileiro, onde a Força Aérea Brasileira apresenta o entendimento do Brasil quanto ao Tratado do Espaço e à Carta das Nações Unidas, estruturando sua aplicação militar do espaço exterior de acordo com os documentos políticos e doutrinários do Ministério da Defesa do Brasil, sabidamente, a Política de Defesa Nacional, a Estratégia Nacional de Defesa e o Programa Estratégico de Sistemas Espaciais. As operações militares descritas neste artigo revelam que situações fáticas emergentes carecem de tutela jurídica com elevado grau de efetividade.

scholarly journals Los Incoterms como instrumento de derecho suave (soft law)

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-85
Author(s):  
Eduardo Calderón Marenco
Keyword(s):  
El Paso ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
Lex Mercatoria

Derivado de las profundas transformaciones que ha experimentado el Dere­cho internacional, la Lex Mercatoria y el Derecho suave (Soft law) han emergido como una alternativa al tradicional Derecho duro (Hard law). Con el paso del tiempo el Derecho suave (Soft law) ha ido adquiriendo un mayor protagonismo en el escenario jurídico internacional, posicionándose como un instrumento del que gozan las partes para regular sus transacciones internacionales, aun­que carezca de efectos vinculantes. No obstante se encuentra revestido de voluntariedad, por medio de la autonomía conflictual, lo que les otorga un carácter vinculante para las partes. Es así que este Derecho se compone de un amplio espectro de instrumentos, los que encuentran aceptación en los diferentes sistemas jurídicos, en variadas áreas del derecho, y dan respuesta a las necesidades de los diferentes interesados. Empero, en el ámbito comercial internacional estos instrumentos se han nutrido de la Lex Mercatoria, un ejemplo de ello son los Incoterms, usos y costumbres que uniforman y sistematizan este ordenamiento jurídico, creado por los comerciantes, propio de los negocios jurídicos de compraventa internacional de mercadería. Por esto consideramos relevante analizar esta nueva corriente a nivel internacional y su incorporación dinámica en estos instrumentos jurídicos.

scholarly journals Overcoming the hard law/soft law dichotomy in times of (financial) crises

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf Weber
Keyword(s):  
Financial Markets ◽  
Financial Crises ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Legal Doctrine ◽  
Organizational Issues ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
Multilateral Agreements ◽  
Recent Financial Crisis ◽  
The One

Traditional legal doctrine calls for hard law to regulate markets. Nevertheless, in financial markets, soft law has a long tradition, not at least due to the lack of multilateral agreements in this field. On the one hand, the recent financial crisis has shown that soft law does not suffice to avoid detrimental developments; on the other hand, a straight call for hard law would not be able to manage the recognized regulatory weaknesses. Therefore, emphasis should be put on the possibilities of combining hard law and soft law; specific areas allowing realizing such kind of “combination” are organizational issues, transparency requirements, and dispute settlement mechanisms.

scholarly journals Tratamiento de la norma societaria desde la perspectiva económica Hard Law vs Soft Law

Lumen ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 128-135
Author(s):  
Enrique Vigil Oliveros ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Law ◽  
Hard Law

scholarly journals GREEN CONSTITUTION INDONESIA (DISKURSUS PARADIGMATIK PEMBANGUNAN BERKELANJUTAN)

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Lucas Prabowo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Severe Damage ◽  
International Environmental Law ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
The Right ◽  
International Conventions ◽  
Good Environment

Efforts to meet the economic needs of humans has resulted in severe damage to the ecosystem. Being aware that there is damage to natural resources and ecosystem are getting worse, various efforts underway to hold international conventions in the field of environmental protection has resulted in agreements, both of which are binding (hard law) and non-binding (soft law). Participating countries adopted the convention rules agrred up on into their legaislation, and even to strengthen the protection and enforcement of laws relating to environmental protection and the right to a good environment for the present dan future generations, environmental norms are then contained in the constitution including the Indonesian constitution, namely the post-UUD 1945 amandement. Keywords: environmental damage, international environmental law damage, intergerational equity, sustainable development, and constitution.

scholarly journals LEGAL HARMONIZATION IN ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES (LOOKING FOR THE BEST LEGAL HARMONIZATION MODEL)

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-141
Author(s):  
Candra Irawan
Keyword(s):  
International Agreements ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Regulation System ◽  
Legal Basis ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
Asean Country ◽  
Shared Awareness ◽  
Asean Countries ◽  
Binding Power ◽  
Legal Harmonization

ASEAN countries need to be encouraged to make responsive, effective, efficient, non-discriminatory, and pro-competition regulations that are adjusted AEC Blueprint 2025. This means that each ASEAN country needs to harmonize regulations so that the rules that apply in each national territory do not conflict with each other and in line with AEC Blueprint 2025. There is no clear regulation system in force in ASEAN, nor is the legal harmonization mechanism and binding power of the AEC. Questions that should be asked, is the legal basis for the implementation of AEC Blueprint 2025 deliberately based on international agreements only (intergovernmental, soft law) and not upgraded to legal force (primacy principles, hard law)? The most important thing is that there is a shared awareness to build the ASEAN region's economy more productive, advanced and shared prosperity. The commitment is not enough just to use soft law approach, but must be followed by hard law approach (primacy principles). ASEAN leaders should hold talks and seek agreement to implement the principle of supranational (primacy principles) that the implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025 be adhered to by all member states.

scholarly journals Judicial Resources and the Public Trust Doctrine: A Powerful Tool of Environmental Protection?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Richardson Oakes
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Civil Law ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
Federal Courts ◽  
Environmental Discourse ◽  
Supreme Court Justice ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Trust Doctrine ◽  
Legal Frameworks

AbstractUnited Kingdom Supreme Court Justice Robert Carnwath has urged the judiciary to develop ‘common laws of the environment’, which can operate within different legal frameworks, tailored where necessary towards specific constitutions or statutory codes. One such mechanism with the potential for repositioning environmental discourse in both common law and civil law jurisdictions is the doctrine of the public trust. Basing their arguments upon a heritage of civil law and common law, supporters of the public trust doctrine are currently testing its scope in United States federal courts via groundbreaking litigation aimed at forcing the federal government to uphold its duty to protect the atmosphere. This article considers whether common law judicial resourcefulness can transform a transatlantic hybrid of uncertain parentage into a powerful tool of environmental protection.

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