Diversifying Nature Protection: Evaluating the Changing Tools for Forest Protection in Canada and Norway

Governments increasingly struggle to protect representative nature types and ecological diversity within their territories only via the instrument of publicly designated protected areas. This article examines the rise of voluntary conservation and certification (i.e., private conservation) as tools for forest protection in Norway and Canada. We contrast the differing potential of these private conservation tools with protection through government legislation and regulation using four evaluative criteria: the representativeness of protected areas, the strength of protection, the longevity of protection, and the information generated through protection. We find that private conservation tools can match the strength of legal protection and help to dispel conflict, but that private tools create protection that is more likely to be reversed in the future. However, we also show that voluntary private conservation can become public protection, which highlights the importance of examining different paths toward secure and long‐lasting protection.     

A Case for Applying the Theoretical Semiotics in the Practice of Trade Mark Law

The application of semiotics in trade mark law is an interdisciplinary endeavour in its infancy. The author traces its genesis in recent years and situates it within the context of general theoretical approaches, in particular of an interdisciplinary kind, appearing in the trade mark law literature in the past. The purposes for which such theories are applied, and questions of methodology arising from this, are examined. In particular, it is observed that semiotic theory has, by and large, been used for the purpose of debating legal policy in trade mark law (especially in the United States), and that this has given rise to argument about the extent to which semiotic theory can exert any normative force of its own upon the law. This article offers a different perspective. It is sought to demonstrate the usefulness of theoretical semiotics in solving trade mark law questions in practice. The author emphasises that this involves no threat to orthodox legal problem-solving methodology (whatever one may think of the orthodoxy), and in particular does not require the normative use of semiotic theory. Taking as a starting point the concept of ‹trade mark use’, and having regard to trade mark law and literature in Europe, the United States and Australia, the author proceeds to demonstrate the proposed approach by reference to some current problems in trade mark infringement.     

Robbery, recession and real wages in Hong Kong

Between 1965 and 1975 Hong Kong experienced a dramatic increase in reported crime. Criminologists have put forward two major explanations for this: 1) modernization (or convergence) theory, and 2) the alleged break-up of the police-triad (Chinese secret societies) alliance following the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Data from the 1970s show a remarkably close relationship in Hong Kong between changes in real wages and robbery rates. In this paper we argue that declining wages are related to increased rates of such 'quick cash' crimes, particularly in societies lacking a safety net of unemployment benefits, universal health insurance and income security provisions. The results offer support for this alternative, but admittedly partial, explanation of Hong Kong's rising crime rate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

关于单位行贿罪中的主体认定及相关问题的法律思考

具有法人资格的企业是单位行贿罪主体已成定论,但随着我国经济的快速发展,单位行贿罪的主体逐渐多样化和复杂化。实践中,一人公司、私营企业、单位分支机构或内设机构、个人挂靠型、风险经营型企业、承包企业等几种特殊企业能否成为单位行贿罪的主体是司法实践中对于该类犯罪行为定性的关键。除了正面了解单位行贿罪的主体范围,还应了解其与相关因素的关系,以期准确把握单位行贿罪与相关行贿受贿犯罪的关系。     

Die Zust?ndigkeit der L?nder und Gemeinden zur Erlassung allgemeiner Bestimmungen auf dem Gebiet des Abgabenrechts und von Abgabenverfahrensregelungen

Die mit 1. J?nner 2010 in Kraft getretene Vorschrift des ?? 7 Abs 6 F-VG gibt dem Bundesgesetzgeber die Zust?ndigkeit zur Regelung der allgemeinen Bestimmungen auf dem Gebiet des Abgabenrechts und des Abgabenverfahrensrechts. Welche Zust?ndigkeiten nun den L?ndern und Gemeinden f??r die Erlassung von abgabenrechtlichen Vorschriften bleiben, war bereits Gegenstand von Untersuchungen einiger Fachautoren und wird in diesem Beitrag unter Ber??cksichtigung der aufgeworfenen Argumente nochmals vertieft analysiert.