Legal and Public Trust Considerations for the Ndumo Game Reserve and South Africa-Mozambique Border, following the Migration of the Usuthu River

The Usuthu River forms part of the international boundary between South Africa and Mozambique. In 2002, this River breached its south bank within the Ndumo Game Reserve and established a new channel within the protected area. In response to the breach, Mozambique proposed the excavation of the floodplain and the establishment of berms to force the flow of the river back into its original alignment. Analysis of the origin and associated history of this portion of the international boundary indicates that it is unlikely that the international boundary has moved with the breech. Furthermore, customary international law pertaining to avulsion or mutation alvei of rivers supports the notion that the international boundary remained in the original channel of the Usuthu River. Finally, case history of a similar circumstance in Africa affirms that this boundary is unlikely to have shifted with the avulsion of the Usuthu River. The Mozambican proposal brings to the fore an array of public trust considerations which are founded in South Africa’sConstitution, and environmental and biodiversity conservation legislation. These considerations prohibit the excavation of the Ndumo Game Reserve. The concept of the state acting as a trustee for, inter alia, biodiversity and protected areas, is reinforced by various water and biodiversity-orientated multilateral agreements to which South Africa is a signatory. Within these, the ones adopted by the Southern African Development Community are the most profound in that they, and specifically the Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement, enjoin state parties from taking decisions that may cause damage to the trust entity beyond the limits of their sovereignty.

The Terms of Ethnoracial Equality

This article initially accounts for the discussions concerning the notions ‘ethnic origin’ and ‘race’ that have taken place in the Swedish legislative context and places these within a wider European context. Next follows a mapping of the ways in which Swedish courts, in cases of alleged ethnic discrimination, read the notion of ‘ethnic affiliation’ – defined as ‘national or ethnic origin, skin colour, or other similar circumstance’ – and decide whether a statement or an act is related to it. The purpose, to borrow Michel Foucault’s words, is to ‘make visible precisely what is visible’. By bringing together, arranging and connecting what the courts have said about ‘ethnic affiliation’, the conclusions they have reached and the circumstances that they have ignored, three observations are made: (a) ethnic affiliation is treated as an authentic and stable personal individual attribute, (b) ethnic affiliation is seen as a question about body types and bloodlines solely and (c) discriminatory acts are connected to ‘ethnic affiliation’ only if related to visual appearance or accompanied by ‘incriminating words’. The article discusses and analyzes the significance and implications of these observations in engagement with theorists such as Barnor Hesse and David Theo Goldberg.

Error Analysis of the Settlement Observation

This document bases on settlement observation of a residential district which is influenced by the subway construction in Shanghai China.Because of the long-term measurement,there were some equipment boxes installed on the top of the settlement marks.Thus making the leveling rod in an leaning angle to the right or left direction relative to the sight line.In order to know the error of the measurement,we make analysis of the error.And it also can be a reference for other surveyings when encounter this similar circumstance.

XIV. A letter from Mr. Edward Nairne, F. R. S. to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. P. R. S. containing an account of wire being shortened by lightning

Sir, In the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1780, vol LXX. are printed some experiments of mine, shewing the method of shortening of wire by the effect of electricity. I have since met with a similar circumstance produced by lighting; and, if the following account should meet with your approbation, should be happy to have it communicated to the Society.