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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#129476: Jul 10th 2016 at 12:41:58 AM

Yeltzin's reign as President was marked by corruption but best I can tell he wasn't terrible on human rights stuff as such. Gorbichov before him as the last Soviet leader who led the way for reform. There were probably also some tzars that weren't terrible.

edited 10th Jul '16 12:42:56 AM by Elle

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#129477: Jul 10th 2016 at 4:22:31 AM

Felt like it should be posted here too,

The Bahamas have issued a travel warning to citizens visiting the United States.

Advising black citizens abroad, especially young males, to "exercise extreme caution" when interacting with American police. This warning was issued in light of the current racial tensions and the rash of black Americans being killed by police.

edited 10th Jul '16 4:27:32 AM by LeGarcon

Oh really when?
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#129478: Jul 10th 2016 at 5:51:58 AM

Enter the Universal All Purpose Task Force Title Generator, for the next time you need to get to get a title for your next foreign policy report, initiative or attempt to spread democracy. All we need now is a script to automate it.

Whatever happened to the Future Planning Committee?

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129479: Jul 10th 2016 at 6:42:55 AM

@Terminus: There was no formal agreement, but there was a verbal agreement (the article says as much) not to expand NATO "one step" further east.

Moreover, there's no way expansion of NATO eastwards couldn't be taken as a threat to Russia, regardless ofthe lack of a formal agreement.

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#129480: Jul 10th 2016 at 6:58:55 AM

Wasn't this agreement made with the Soviet Union, a country which no longer exists?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129481: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:00:39 AM

[up] Russia is the legal successor to the Soviet Union, and all agreements and obligations of the Soviet Union apply to Russia.

edited 10th Jul '16 7:06:55 AM by CaptainCapsase

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#129482: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:17:26 AM

The reunification of Germany effectively annulled agreements, and a verbal agreement is not a legally binding document. Results of the GDR disappearing included Finland breaking off from the Paris Peace Treaty for example.

There was no agreement whatsoever, on further NATO enlargement. What was discussed related to Eastern Germany and placement of troops. It has been followed up till now (or a few years back when the Ukraine mess started).

I wouldn't blame US foreign policy on this.

edited 10th Jul '16 7:30:43 AM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129483: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:30:42 AM

[up] It's not legally binding, but everyone involved was perfectly aware moving NATO eastwards would be seen as a threat by Russia. Now, the fact that Russia didn't immediately protest NATO's expansion when it happened is a big part of why things have reached this point; it's not a one way thing by any means.

edited 10th Jul '16 7:32:50 AM by CaptainCapsase

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
#129484: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:31:29 AM

[up]

That I agree on.

There's also some problematic parts with things like the Helsinki Final Act Article 1 combined with NATO open-door policy.

edited 10th Jul '16 7:32:47 AM by TerminusEst

Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
Matues Since: Sep, 2011
#129485: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:47:20 AM

Hmm. Thinking about voting Green in this election cycle.

ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#129487: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:53:12 AM

Also, back in the Yeltsin era, wasn't Russia trying to get into NATO? Or am I relying on rumor again?

Matues Since: Sep, 2011
#129488: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:54:38 AM

The Magnolia State, which Trump will win handily anyway.

pwiegle Cape Malleum Majorem from Nowhere Special Since: Sep, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Matues Since: Sep, 2011
#129490: Jul 10th 2016 at 7:58:31 AM

Then again, the Green Party is full of anti-GMO people. :/

Political support is always such a matter of compromise.

Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#129491: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:06:17 AM

Entirely too many anti-vaxxers for my peace of mind as well.

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129492: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:07:38 AM

[up][up] The green leadership isn't anti-GMO or anti-vaccine, just pro-labeling, which honestly isn't a particularly big deal. If people care whether or not their food contains GMOs, they're well within their rights to spend more money on organic food. A lot of the more unreasonable elements of the green platform have been getting tossed out as it's starting to look more and more likely that the GOP will completely collapse, leaving an opening for a new party to take their place.

edited 10th Jul '16 8:08:45 AM by CaptainCapsase

Matues Since: Sep, 2011
#129493: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:15:06 AM

Yeah, I see their ten principles have nothing about GM Os, which gives me hope.

I deeply dislike the anti-GMO/antivaxxer crowd because they seem kind of like anti-science Luddites.

I was looking at my states chapter of the Green; it did state a bit about GM Os, but nothing about vaccines, luckily.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#129494: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:24:54 AM

Labeling GM Os just fuels the fear that they're some kind of scary frankenfood.

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#129495: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:31:00 AM

And like "all natural" you can stretch the definition to fit anything you dislike.

edited 10th Jul '16 8:31:16 AM by carbon-mantis

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129496: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:42:15 AM

[up][up] I disagree. GMOs aren't inherently harmless despite what certain parties insist; the potential for dangerous oversights exists, just as it does in every other field, and labeling of GMOs would allow such an oversight to be noticed far more quickly than it would otherwise, assuming of course that people reported as much to their doctors. That means a quicker recall, and fewer damages in such an eventuality. It wouldn't be a huge difference, but I'm extremely skeptical that labeling would drastically alter consumption patterns.

desdendelle Hooded Crow from Land of Milk and Honey (Sergeant) Relationship Status: Hiding
Hooded Crow
#129497: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:43:42 AM

Dude, we've been eating GMOs since humans discovered crossbreeding. It's just the means of modification that is different.

On empty crossroads, seek the eclipse -- for when Sol and Lua align, the lost shall find their way home.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#129498: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:47:00 AM

[up] I'm perfectly aware of that; biology (molecular biology) is my area of expertise. The same potential for oversights in selective breeding also exist, perhaps even to a greater extent than with contemporary techniques. Current GMOs are indeed harmless (compared to their unmodified counterparts), and have been verified as such by extensive studies. That being said, there is a general consensus in the scientific community that new GMO products need to be evaluated for safety on a case by case basis since, as with pretty much every other field of applied science, the potential exists for dangerous oversights.

edited 10th Jul '16 9:13:24 AM by CaptainCapsase

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#129499: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:47:36 AM

The problem is that the screaming masses don't care what the science says.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#129500: Jul 10th 2016 at 8:49:33 AM

Most people assume that GM Os are inherently unsafe in some manner-labeling them feeds into that myth.

Another thing is that GM Os aren't much different than traditional breeding in terms of safety. You can intentionally expose crops to a mutagen to bring about genetic traits you want to breed. This doesn't require FDA approval or labeling.

Leviticus 19:34

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