Global heating and sea-level rise are pitting humans against tigers in the Sundarbans.

In a century or two, the Sundarbans will be inundated entirely. With time, adjoining areas now inland might become like what the Sundarbans are now. But those areas are full of farmers who will not relinquish their farms willingly to mangrove trees and tigers.

Iran seized a cargo ship that isn't American, which the US has accepted the obligation to protect.

I suspect that the Marshall Islands are one of the "flags of convenience". Most of the world's cargo ships fly the flag of one of the countries that impose little requirement on ships. This enables the owners of the ship to save money by skimping on safety requirements. Apparently the Marshall Islands flag carries protection by the US Navy as well.

I think the US should cancel arrangements for protection of any shipping unless it flies the US flag and, therefore, complies with US regulations for safety, pay rates, and so on.

Defending freedom of speech, including the freedom of Charlie Hebdo and others to criticize Islam, and defy its censorship demands, is a separate matter from evaluating Charlie Hebdo's statements in either political or artistic terms.

Courage is a third separate matter. If the Charlie Hebdo writers had previously received death threats (I think they had), and carried on despite the threats, that was courage. Recognizing that is separate from evaluating what Charlie Hebdo said.

I think there is a lot of arrogance and injustice in Islam that deserves condemnation and ridicule.

Canadians: oppose the Anti-Civil-Liberties Bill, C-51.

US citizens: call on Obama to publish the full text of the TPP and all pending "trade" agreements.