World Politics

[RetroActive]

That didn't take long:
Target to close all 133 Canadian stores, gets CCAA protection
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tar...anadian-stores-gets-ccaa-protection-1.2901618

Suncor to cut 1,000 jobs in response to low oil prices
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/suncor-to-cut-1-000-jobs-in-response-to-low-oil-prices-1.2899726

Global markets dive after World Bank cuts growth forecasts
http://business.financialpost.com/2...-dive-after-world-bank-cuts-growth-forecasts/

The housing bubble is collapsing around the periphery, only Vancouver and Toronto left. Canadians in hock to the tune of $1.63 for every dollar earned. I guess it's not different here and houses don't always go up, up, up. Might be a good time to buy in a year or two - cheap.

Remember what got us here though.

How's that Glenn?

 

[frenchfry]

That didn't take long:
Target to close all 133 Canadian stores, gets CCAA protection
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tar...anadian-stores-gets-ccaa-protection-1.2901618

Suncor to cut 1,000 jobs in response to low oil prices
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/suncor-to-cut-1-000-jobs-in-response-to-low-oil-prices-1.2899726

Global markets dive after World Bank cuts growth forecasts
http://business.financialpost.com/2...-dive-after-world-bank-cuts-growth-forecasts/

The housing bubble is collapsing around the periphery, only Vancouver and Toronto left. Canadians in hawk to the tune of $1.63 for every dollar earned. I guess it's not different here and houses don't always go up, up, up. Might be a good time to buy in a year or two - cheap.

Remember what got us here though.

How's that Glenn?

Glenn already filled his pockets with Canadian petro-dollars and went home.

Target has been in trouble since the beginning of their Canadian foray. Apparently Canadian consumers aren't as stupid as their southern neighbors.

The oil business has always gone from boom to bust, it has been riding a long period of prosperity, it was overdue for a correction.

From an ecology standpoint, the drop in oil price is a disaster.

 

[patricknd]

Glenn already filled his pockets with Canadian petro-dollars and went home.

Target has been in trouble since the beginning of their Canadian foray. Apparently Canadian consumers aren't as stupid as their southern neighbors.

The oil business has always gone from boom to bust, it has been riding a long period of prosperity, it was overdue for a correction.

From an ecology standpoint, the drop in oil price is a disaster.

but to be fair, Glenn had to live in Canada to get them

 

[RetroActive]

Glenn already filled his pockets with Canadian petro-dollars and went home.

Target has been in trouble since the beginning of their Canadian foray. Apparently Canadian consumers aren't as stupid as their southern neighbors.

The oil business has always gone from boom to bust, it has been riding a long period of prosperity, it was overdue for a correction.

From an ecology standpoint, the drop in oil price is a disaster.

Yeah, apparently Target shouldn't have surprised anybody.

"Please God let there be another Oil Boom I promise not to **** it all away next time."
Every time there's a bust the cost goes up.
http://www.oftwominds.com/blogjan15/Fed-oil1-15.html

From an ecological standpoint economic growth (as it is) is a disaster. Such is our predicament.

 

[python]

Russia to Shift Ukraine Gas Transit to Turkey as EU Cries Foul
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-...e-gas-transit-to-turkey-as-eu-cries-foul.html

yeah, i read the article recently. this is a HUUUGE geopolitical event. much more important than the article, which is somewhat mis-informative, has the readers realize...

i started to follow natural gas politics and flows a while back. one thing i learned was that the natural gas trade is the most geo-political business of any. this is mostly because unlike oil or almost any other energy commodity, the gas cost-effective, practical delivery almost always has to involve pipe lines. they cost tens of billions, thus, because of huge capital investments the delivery contracts are usually spanning decades...

new long-term alliances almost directly follow the direction of pipes. just about as the old ones die out where the pipes shutdown and rust. almost no exceptions !!

Most countries have something that makes them special... since ukraine lost its bread basket status and its nuclear weapons, its only national treasure left was the gas transition system to europe. without it, ukraine is in deep trouble.

vlad's move to turkey would not be possible without erdogan's similar goals. this is risky for vlad as it will be turkey instead of ukraine holding his jewels.
still the game is worth it, since ukraine behaves basically as an enemy state and russia in turn has its economic levers in turkey too.

bottom line, a new geopolitical alliance is getting born with dire consequences for the whole middle east, europe and beyond...

 

[Jagartrott]

From an ecology standpoint, the drop in oil price is a disaster.

Well, yes, and no.
It becomes cheaper to buy and burn petrol, but there's also less incentives for very dirty ways of extracting it - like the Canadian oil sands (they're a real ecological disaster) - and extracting it from hard-to-reach (often fairly pristine) places - like the arctic.

 

[RetroActive]

yeah, i read the article recently. this is a HUUUGE geopolitical event. much more important than the article, which is somewhat mis-informative, has the readers realize...

i started to follow natural gas politics and flows a while back. one thing i learned was that the natural gas trade is the most geo-political business of any. this is mostly because unlike oil or almost any other energy commodity, the gas cost-effective, practical delivery almost always has to involve pipe lines. they cost tens of billions, thus, because of huge capital investments the delivery contracts are usually spanning decades...

new long-term alliances almost directly follow the direction of pipes. just about as the old ones die out where the pipes shutdown and rust. almost no exceptions !!

Most countries have something that makes them special... since ukraine lost its bread basket status and its nuclear weapons, its only national treasure left was the gas transition system to europe. without it, ukraine is in deep trouble.

vlad's move to turkey would not be possible without erdogan's similar goals. this is risky for vlad as it will be turkey instead of ukraine holding his jewels.
still the game is worth it, since ukraine behaves basically as an enemy state and russia in turn has its economic levers in turkey too.

bottom line, a new geopolitical alliance is getting born with dire consequences for the whole middle east, europe and beyond...

A Russophile tells a story:
http://cluborlov.blogspot.ca/2015/01/peculiarities-of-russian-national.html#more

 

[python]

A Russophile tells a story:
http://cluborlov.blogspot.ca/2015/01/peculiarities-of-russian-national.html#more

...i started reading it. it seemed different but an alternative view. fine, i told myself...i continued all the way to napoleon's invasion - the history subject i love and still study...it was enough.

the blogger pedals garbage...i thank you for the link but hope you dont take THAT source seriously.

 

[RetroActive]

...i started reading it. it seemed different but an alternative view. fine, i told myself...i continued all the way to napoleon's invasion - the history subject i love and still study...it was enough.

the blogger pedals garbage...i thank you for the link but hope you dont take THAT source seriously.

That's why I qualified the way I did, I don't take any of it as gospel but it's a different perspective. I found the ending the most interesting, when he gives his take on the more contemporary economic geopolitical stuff. I certainly wasn't reading it as a history lesson.

 

[blutto]

but to be fair, Glenn had to live in Canada to get them

...there is a rumour, in these here parts eh, that he was banished from the Queen's realm for activities unbecoming of someone living in Soviet Canuckistan ( a pretty ok place, though decidedly not really exceptional )....anyone know if this patently ugly rumour has any validity ?....I mean he seems like a nice guy and all ( even taking into account that he is Merikan )....

Cheers

 

[python]

That's why I qualified the way I did, I don't take any of it as gospel but it's a different perspective. I found the ending the most interesting, when he gives his take on the more contemporary economic geopolitical stuff. I certainly wasn't reading it as a history lesson.

i have to soften my tone - i did not mean to come across as harsh as i did (even to myself re-reading it)...i did read the conclusions - they are what i can certainly agree with. but the author imo did not need to use, mildly speaking, questionable historical passages, like 'russia never was invaded successfully'. it was. by the mongols, for example. they ruled their land for over 200 years and left a substantial mongolian dna in their genotype. look at brezhnev...or his mythical connections to space the westerners lacked etc etc...

where he seemed spot on was that the strong central authority appears the preferred arrangement to most russians. i agree with the conclusion but question the way he arrived at it.

overall, i agree with him...the west is bullying an entity too big and important to even send a message.

largely because the west is not capable of, or more accurately, out of its arrogant sense of superiority.

...there is a rumour that he [glenn wilson] was banished from the Queen's realm for activities unbecoming of a native of Soviet Canuckistan

no comments.

 

[blutto]

but to be fair, Glenn had to live in Canada to get them

...there is a rumour that he was banished from the Queen's realm for activities unbecoming of a native of Soviet Canuckistan ( a pretty ok place, though decidedly not really exceptional )....anyone know if this ugly rumour has any validity ?....I mean he seems like a nice guy and all ( even taking into account that he is Merikan )....

Cheers

 

[patricknd]

...there is a rumour, in these here parts eh, that he was banished from the Queen's realm for activities unbecoming of someone living in Soviet Canuckistan ( a pretty ok place, though decidedly not really exceptional )....anyone know if this patently ugly rumour has any validity ?....I mean he seems like a nice guy and all ( even taking into account that he is Merikan )....

Cheers

probably kicked him out for working to hard. that's why all you furiners hate us

 

[RetroActive]

i have to soften my tone - i did not mean to come across as harsh as i did (even to myself re-reading it)...i did read the conclusions - they are what i can certainly agree with. but the author imo did not need to use, mildly speaking, questionable historical passages, like 'russia never was invaded successfully'. it was. by the mongols, for example. they ruled their land for over 200 years and left a substantial mongolian dna in their genotype. look at brezhnev...or his mythical connections to space the westerners lacked etc etc...

where he seemed spot on was that the strong central authority appears the preferred arrangement to most russians. i agree with the conclusion but question the way he arrived at it.

overall, i agree with him...the west is bullying an entity too big and important to even send a message.

largely because the west is not capable of, or more accurately, out of its arrogant sense of superiority.



no comments.

Orlov has become much more romantic about Russia since the Ukraine fiasco and subsequent sanctions, I read his stuff less than ever. Having said that, the Russians response to being alienated by the west does seem to be to bunker down and simply look elsewhere for partners. There's been a lot of speculation as to how Russia would respond to the West and he offers what may be a glimpse into the Russian mindset.

As you noted this latest move (the pipelines) will be interesting to follow. I don't understand Turkey...it flirts with everybody, strange country.

Most countries have something that makes them special... since ukraine lost its bread basket status and its nuclear weapons, its only national treasure left was the gas transition system to europe. without it, ukraine is in deep trouble.

There's an understatement. Poor Ukrainians...

 

[blutto]

....The Ukraine has lost its status as a bread basket?....well, its hardly a slouch, though admittedly it could do much better....the big problem is the country has been run for decades by a bunch of incompetent, corrupt clowns ( sort of like the GOP with funny accents )... and the latest crew is far from being a change as they are in fact a superlative crowning touch on a long line of incompetence, corruption and general clown-like behaviour and now led by the nose by some exceptional world class clowns from abroad...so yeah pity The Ukraine...

"Although typically known as the industrial base of the Soviet Union agriculture is a large part of Ukraine's economy. In 2008 the sector accounted for 8.29% of the country's GDP and by 2012 has grown to 10.43% of the GDP. Agriculture accounted for $13.98 billion value added to the economy of Ukraine in 2012, however despite being a top 10 world producer of several crops such as wheat and corn Ukraine still only ranks 24 out of 112 nations measured in terms of overall agricultural production.[39][40] Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower oil,[41] a major global producer of grain and sugar, and future global player on meat and dairy markets. It is also one of the largest producers of nuts. Ukraine also produces more natural honey than any other European country and is one of the world's largest honey producers, an estimated 1.5% of its population is involved in honey production, therefore Ukraine has the highest honey per capita production rate in the world.[42] Because Ukraine possesses 30% of the world's richest black soil, its agricultural industry has a huge potential. However, farmland remains the only major asset in Ukraine that is not privatized.[43] The agricultural industry in Ukraine is already highly profitable, with 40-60% profits,[43] but according to analysts its outputs could still rise up to fourfold.[44]

Ukraine's flag resembles the nation's farmlands
Ukraine is the world's 6th largest, 5th if not including the EU as a separate state, producer of corn in the world and the 3rd largest corn exporter in the world. In 2012 Ukraine signed a contract with China, the world's largest importer of corn, to supply China with 3 million tonnes of corn annually at market price, the deal also included a $3 billion line of credit extension from China to Ukraine.[45][46]

In 2014 Ukraine total grain crop was estimated to be record 64 million metric tons, however as several regions are claiming their independence due to the War in Donbass and the Crimea Crisis the actual available crop yield was closer to 60.5 million metric tons. By October Ukrainian grain exports reached 11 million metric tons. Due to the decline of the metallurgy industry, Ukraine's top export in prior years, as a result of the War in Donbass agricultural products accounted for the nation's largest exported set of goods.[47]"

Cheers

 

[RetroActive]

Here's to Monsanto. The Europeans don't want the GMOs, neither do the Russians. Poor Ukraine.

Anyway...
Scientists: Human activity has pushed Earth beyond four of nine ‘planetary boundaries’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...2b61b6-9b5e-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html

 

[RetroActive]

What happens when the b.s. runs out? roh-roh
http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/in-praise-of-price-discovery-the-market-is-off-its-lithium/

 

[blutto]

Here's to Monsanto. The Europeans don't want the GMOs, neither do the Russians. Poor Ukraine.

....yup..the resource, the chornozem, is there...all that is needed apparently is the sweet hand of privatization....

...poor Ukraine indeed...

Cheers

 

[Merckx index]

Here's to Monsanto. The Europeans don't want the GMOs, neither do the Russians. Poor Ukraine.

There are two basic criticisms of GMO, one fair, one mostly BS. The fair one is ecological, the possibility of new DNA sequences spreading into and altering ecosystems. The BS one is that they are unsafe to eat.

 

[RetroActive]

The BS one is that they are unsafe to eat.

You can't say that with any degree of certainty or authority. You simply can not.

ps, one of the criticisms plays into the other. Your argument sucks as it's the same argument arbitrarily split macro/micro. We are the environment, an ecosystem (I want to add ding-**** but I'll refrain).

pps, I don't understand the argument for GMO these days. Is there any yield benefit? Is there any health benefit? Is there any cost benefit? Is there any environmental benefit?

Or are the only benefits in scientism and profit? Control.

 

[Merckx index]

The BS one is that they are unsafe to eat.

You can't say that with any degree of certainty or authority. You simply can not.

Sure I can. I can't say this with 100% certainty, but nothing in science or medicine is 100% certain.

The burden of proof is on those who claim they aren’t safe to eat. Why wouldn’t they be? To the digestive system, DNA is DNA, proteins are proteins. The only way they could present themselves to the body any differently from a natural organism is if some DNA or protein isn’t fully digested (broken down into nucleotides and amino acids) by the time it reaches the intestine, and is taken up by some of the bacteria there. But studies have not found any evidence for this, and it seems very unlikely that enough DNA or protein would survive digestion for this to happen. In fact, if it did, then one could make the same argument for natural foods, that they could cause health problems for the same reason.

What makes a gene a gene is a sequence of nucleotide bases. This sequence is degraded during digestion, so the gene is no longer a gene. At that point, whatever information the gene contained is gone. Arguing otherwise is sort of like claiming that cannibalism will result in adopting of the personalities/belief systems of the people eaten. Or maybe a less outrageous example, that eating fish will result in developing scales. After all, fish DNA includes genes that code for scales. I've never heard anyone worry about this, or use it as an argument for not eating fish.

Speaking of fish, here's an even better example. A popular delicacy in Japan is fugu, or pufferfish. Fugu contains tetrodotoxin, a potentially lethal nerve poison. If one wants to eat the fish, it must be prepared carefully to remove all the toxin, and my understanding is that only certain restaurants in Japan are allowed to serve it. But even a preparation of fugu completely free of toxin contains cells with DNA that make the toxin. I'm quite sure that no one has ever died from eating these cells, or that anyone is worried in the slightest that this might happen.

ps, one of the criticisms plays into the other. Your argument sucks as it's the same argument arbitrarily split macro/micro. We are the environment, an ecosystem (I want to add ding-**** but I'll refrain).

Well, if you mean by that that effects on the environment can have effects on individuals, of course. But let's be clear that these effects on individuals are different from those resulting from ingesting these substances. That's a valid distinction to make when we're debating the benefits vs. risks of GMO.

pps, I don't understand the argument for GMO these days. Is there any yield benefit? Is there any health benefit? Is there any cost benefit? Is there any environmental benefit?

Or are the only benefits in scientism and profit? Control.

All kinds of benefits. E.g., can modify crop plants so they're resistant to pests.

 

[RetroActive]

Sure I can. I can't say this with 100% certainty, but nothing in science or medicine is 100% certain.

The burden of proof is on those who claim they aren’t safe to eat. Why wouldn’t they be? To the digestive system, DNA is DNA, proteins are proteins. The only way they could present themselves to the body any differently from a natural organism is if some DNA or protein isn’t fully digested (broken down into nucleotides and amino acids) by the time it reaches the intestine, and is taken up by some of the bacteria there. But studies have not found any evidence for this, and it seems very unlikely that enough DNA or protein would survive digestion for this to happen. In fact, if it did, then one could make the same argument for natural foods, that they could cause health problems for the same reason.

What makes a gene a gene is a sequence of nucleotide bases. This sequence is degraded during digestion, so the gene is no longer a gene. At that point, whatever information the gene contained is gone. Arguing otherwise is sort of like claiming that cannibalism will result in adopting of the personalities/belief systems of the people eaten. Or maybe a less outrageous example, that eating fish will result in developing scales. After all, fish DNA includes genes that code for scales. I've never heard anyone worry about this, or use it as an argument for not eating fish.



Well, if you mean by that that effects on the environment can have effects on individuals, of course. But let's be clear that these effects on individuals are different from those resulting from ingesting these substances. That's a valid distinction to make when we're debating the benefits vs. risks of GMO.



All kinds of benefits. E.g., can modify crop plants so they're resistant to pests.

I'm dealing with a computer that's still running on windows xp, it's pretty much done and is getting increasingly frustrating even doing copy and paste - the cursor gets screwball. That's not your problem though so let's see how I do.

"The burden of proof is on those who claim it isn't safe to eat." So this is a problematic assertion for me right at the start, the burden of proof is on those claiming it is. We've evolved on this planet over a very long time eating biology as it is (co-evolving with it, and it with the larger environment), with some problems. I'm lactose intolerant, but lactose is just sugar - what's your problem? Aren't you a machine like the rest of us?

You assume far too much, you don't know and neither does science.

Look at what happens to the Seralini study. There's a real problem with money in science, not unlike politics. I'm not a scientist but there are plenty of scientists speaking out if you care to look.

There are many of examples of nature accommodating these chimeras and adapting, the pests aren't perturbed by the GMOs, and the yields are in fact lower regardless, if you care to look.

What you are basically saying is that only American science matters and European, Russian, Indian, and probably others be damned.

Lower yields, higher expenses, more pesticides, American scientific safety guarantees and keep buying our seed. A real winner. Your pig is patented too, made in the USA. Pay us.

 

[rhubroma]

There are two basic criticisms of GMO, one fair, one mostly BS. The fair one is ecological, the possibility of new DNA sequences spreading into and altering ecosystems. The BS one is that they are unsafe to eat.

The issue transcends "safety."

In Italy people are very conscious about what they but into their bodies. And it really is a much discussed topic, in ways that most Americans wouldn't be able to relate to: in short it is cultural (the way etymologically agri-culture, the cult-ivation of the land, has sacred and civilized connotations). They don't want the American stuff, because, frankly, looking at Americans, they have every reason not to trust it. Their prejudice is a valid concern when we look at the obesity rates between the two countries and all the health concerns this causes.

A women from New York visiting Rome and Italy for the first time recently, asked me how come everybody is so "healthy?" Ahh. I responded with perhaps it isn't just the amount of food Americans eat, but the quality as well (what's put into it and how it is produced). I know, for example, that the methods of farming and food production in Italy are much less industrialized than in the US, which in turn seems to have beneficial, as opposed to deleterious, effects on health. It isn't for nothing that an organization like Slow Food was started by an Italian, or, by contrast, that Fast Food was invented in the US.

And the problem will be that Italians and Europeans will now be forced to consume the same sh!t.

 

[blutto]

....and the "I am Charlie" was about what exactly?...

"Thursday, January 15, 2015

Those who aren't Charlie posted by Richard Seymour


Unfortunately, there are a few troublemakers in our midst, people who aren't Charlie, who need to be rooted out and dealt with. As explained by Nathalie Saint-Cricq, chief political editor of France 2 (state-owned TV channel):

« C’est justement ceux qui ne sont pas "Charlie" qu’il faut repérer, ceux qui, dans certains établissements scolaires ont refusé la minute de silence, ceux qui "balancent" sur les réseaux sociaux et ceux qui ne voient pas en quoi ce combat est le leur. Eh bien ce sont eux que nous devons repérer, traiter, intégrer ou réintégrer dans la communauté nationale. Et là, l’école et les politiques ont une lourde responsabilité. »


"It is those indeed who are not "Charlie" who must be identified; those who in certain schools refused to observe the minute's silence, those who "spout off" on social networks, and those who don't see that this struggle is theirs. Well, they are the ones that we have to identify and treat, integrate or reintegrate into the national community. Schools and the politicians bear a heavy responsibility in this regard."

In fact (a correspondent tells me, referring to this article), the provisions of recent legislation (13.11.2014) on the monitoring and reporting of school pupils' speech and behaviour appear to have been put into effect for the first time as the names of children who failed to observe the minute's silence were reported by teachers or supervisors to the head, then to the rectorat - the regional education administration - and on to the police and prosecuting authorities, to be analysed by the intelligence services, who decide whether the facts in question are serious enough to warrant formal investigation of the pupil and his/her family and social network.

More widely, there are a series of arrests and sentences being handed down for "justification/glorification of terrorism", including that of a 28 year old man diagnosed with learning disabilities.

If you are not Charlie, would you please speak up so that we can have you arrested and flung in jail, or re-educated?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers

 

[frenchfry]

....and the "I am Charlie" was about what exactly?...

"Thursday, January 15, 2015

Those who aren't Charlie posted by Richard Seymour


Unfortunately, there are a few troublemakers in our midst, people who aren't Charlie, who need to be rooted out and dealt with. As explained by Nathalie Saint-Cricq, chief political editor of France 2 (state-owned TV channel):

« C’est justement ceux qui ne sont pas "Charlie" qu’il faut repérer, ceux qui, dans certains établissements scolaires ont refusé la minute de silence, ceux qui "balancent" sur les réseaux sociaux et ceux qui ne voient pas en quoi ce combat est le leur. Eh bien ce sont eux que nous devons repérer, traiter, intégrer ou réintégrer dans la communauté nationale. Et là, l’école et les politiques ont une lourde responsabilité. »


"It is those indeed who are not "Charlie" who must be identified; those who in certain schools refused to observe the minute's silence, those who "spout off" on social networks, and those who don't see that this struggle is theirs. Well, they are the ones that we have to identify and treat, integrate or reintegrate into the national community. Schools and the politicians bear a heavy responsibility in this regard."

In fact (a correspondent tells me, referring to this article), the provisions of recent legislation (13.11.2014) on the monitoring and reporting of school pupils' speech and behaviour appear to have been put into effect for the first time as the names of children who failed to observe the minute's silence were reported by teachers or supervisors to the head, then to the rectorat - the regional education administration - and on to the police and prosecuting authorities, to be analysed by the intelligence services, who decide whether the facts in question are serious enough to warrant formal investigation of the pupil and his/her family and social network.

More widely, there are a series of arrests and sentences being handed down for "justification/glorification of terrorism", including that of a 28 year old man diagnosed with learning disabilities.

If you are not Charlie, would you please speak up so that we can have you arrested and flung in jail, or re-educated?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers

The entire "Je Suis Charlie" phenomena is complicated to analyse.

Although I am shocked by the useless violence and experienced a certain amount of emotion after the events of last week, I do not consider myself "Charlie". That would be hypocritical as I don't even appreciate the paper itself.

There have been similar attacks recently that have not solicited even a small amount of the buzz created by the Charlie massacre despite being equally horrible in nature. Mohammed Merah assassinated 7 including 3 children and a teacher that he shot in their school. The liberty of the press is an important principle to defend, but so is the right for children to be able to go to school without worrying about being shot to death yet there weren't 4 million people on the streets in protest. I don't recall a minute of silence after the Merah killings either. Why not?

Don't get me wrong, it isn't a lack of sympathy for the victims of last weeks carnage, it is just that we should be prepared to display the same sympathy for all victims of similar attacks even if it isn't the fad of the day. There has been an enormous amount of political recuperation the past few days, complete with a catchy slogan to rally under.

On the other hand, there is a real problem when the killings of this nature are exploited to encourage more of the same - which is happening to a certain extent. It is one thing not to adhere to a minute of silence imposed by a wave of political correctness and surfing a trend, and yet another to express satisfaction that journalists were assassinated because they satirized the excesses of a religion (or more correctly the excesses of a group who exploit a religion to justify their actions).

There is a lot of work to be done to encourage tolerance within certain communities, but PR slogans are not enough to obtain a satisfactory result.