The regulation and flow of information continues to have a critical impact upon how people live their lives and the way society functions. In recent times, disinformation and privacy violation have become the 'information pollution' of the 21st century. This book explores ways and means of protecting the 'information environment' by drawing upon four theories of contemporary environmentalism: welfare economics, the commons, ecology, and public choice theory. Welfare economics highlights the need to focus on costs (as well as benefits) when evaluating regulatory structures. The commons encourages queries about the validity of propertisation. Ecology speaks to the importance of diversity and resilience. And public choice theory hazards against the regulatory effect of concentrated interests. The lessons from each inspire the proposed information environmental governance framework. By neatly capturing the metaphorical relationship between the physical environment and the information environment, Robert Cunningham explores progressive regulatory pathways for the digital age. This book will be a thought-provoking read for scholars and students with an interest in intellectual property or the regulation of information.

The regulation and flow of information continues to have a critical impact upon how people live their lives and the way society functions. In recent times, disinformation and privacy violation have become the 'information pollution' of the 21st century. This book explores ways and means of protecting the 'information environment' by drawing upon four theories of contemporary environmentalism: welfare economics, the commons, ecology, and public choice theory. Welfare economics highlights the need to focus on costs (as well as benefits) when evaluating regulatory structures. The commons encourages queries about the validity of propertisation. Ecology speaks to the importance of diversity and resilience. And public choice theory hazards against the regulatory effect of concentrated interests. The lessons from each inspire the proposed information environmental governance framework. By neatly capturing the metaphorical relationship between the physical environment and the information environment, Robert Cunningham explores progressive regulatory pathways for the digital age. This book will be a thought-provoking read for scholars and students with an interest in intellectual property or the regulation of information.

Alpha, recently graduated from the East-West University in Hawaii, seeks his fortune in Japan by becoming an English teacher. He falls in love with Rie, the receptionist at the company where he is employed. Neither is aware of a hidden connection through Rie's uncle and father to the Japanese mafia (yakuza).

When Rie's terminally ill uncle tries to break into the domestic monopoly on the sale of pachinko machines, a strange twist of fate occurs. When her father tries to sever similar ties with the yakuza by opting not to play a monthly "gratuity," he pays a steep price.

Finally, the yakuza violates on of it's own cardinal rules, resulting in Rie's alarming disappearance. Alpha faces very limited options as he contemplates his future.

The plot line of 893 is based on a composite of true events. The book offers readers a pleasurable introduction into the current Japanese culture and worldview, focusing on the complexities that arise in interactions between that society and Western culture.