Water as a multi-dimensional value: implications for participation and transparency

The article co-authored by Marco Shouten and Klaas Schwartz is correct in arguing that water is a political issue and efforts to decentralize and privatize decision making as recommended by the World Bank will not take the politics out of water. At the same time, this review advocates a broadened understanding of the water to include the cultural, ethical, environmental, and life-style dimensions of water. Only institutions that are inclusive, open, transparent, and accountable can bring legitimacy to decisions affecting the many conflicting water values with a realistic expectation of implementation.     

EU update: Baker & McKenzie’s regular article tracking developments in EU law relating to IP, IT & telecommunications

This is the latest edition of Baker & McKenzie's column on developments in EU law relating to IP, IT and telecommunications. This article summarises recent developments that are considered important for practitioners, students and academics in a wide range of information technology, e-commerce, telecommunications and intellectual property areas. It cannot be exhaustive but intends to address the important points. Additional commentary is also provided in relation to a few select areas of particular interest. This is a hard copy reference guide, but links to outside web sites are included where possible. No responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of information contained in these links.     

Placing the suspect at a PC: A preliminary study involving fingerprints on keyboards and mice

Digital devices now play an important role in the lives of many in society. Whilst they are used predominantly for legitimate purposes, instances of digital crime are witnessed, where determining their usage is important to any criminal investigation. Typically, when determining who has used a digital device, digital forensic analysis is utilised, however, biological trace evidence or fingerprints residing on its surfaces may also be of value. This work provides a preliminary study which examines the potential for fingerprint recovery from computer peripherals, namely keyboards and mice. Our implementation methodology is outlined, and results discussed which indicate that print recovery is possible. Findings are intended to support those operating at-scene in an evidence collection capacity.     

“Unpalatable Messages”? Feminist Analysis of United Kingdom Legislative Discourse on Stalking 1996–1997

North American scholarship has charted resonances between 1990s legislative and feminist discourse concerning violence against women. Feminist critique of official discourse surrounding the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 suggests that 1990s resonances did not reach the UK: however, an examination of the Hansard debates suggests this under-estimates the influence of feminist discourse. Halley’s discussion of “bad faith” helps to explain both the tendency of feminists to under-estimate their influence and why this matters. A commitment to an understanding of themselves as powerless may encourage feminists to underplay similarities between feminist and official discourse, leading feminists to find only what they expect. Such an understanding gives feminism the capacity to change social life without acknowledging, let alone agonising over, the full range of its distributive effects. This is most troubling in relation to “carceral” feminism, since under-assessment of feminist impact encourages amplification and intensification of the carceral message.