newsitems

*Metz/Angelo Marcopolo/- The inauguration of a High-Tech Security Center extended from Defense and Police up to Fire-Fighting and Civic Protection from Extreme Weather Events, (such as Storms, Heatwaves, Floods, Earthquakes, etc, on which a New Draft Resolution has just been lodged at EU Parliament for 2012 : See infra), at the Strategic pole of Metz, responsible for the protection of France's Nord-Eastern area including also Strasbourg with EU Parliament, CoE, ECHR, EUROCORPS and Shengen's headquarters, but also surrounded by almost 4 Countries and mainly close to Neighbouring Germany, gave to French President Nicolas Sarkozy an opportunity to start the 1st Day of the New Year 2012 with a vibrant call to safeguard and boost the "fundamentaly important" "Franco-German axis",  as well as to welcome the recent, and still on-going development and coordination of manifold, Permanent, Security and Civic Protection activities, spreading from Fighting Organized Crime up to Head and/or Food Urgencies to the Poorest People by Humanitarian Organizations, supported by an EU Program recently extended for 2 more years up to 2014 (year of next EU Elections) :
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-  "In this (New) Europe that we must Build", (See other "EuroFora's" NewsReport also from Metz, herewith), Europeans have to overcome "differences of Culture and views", (ways to understand things, understandings), Sarkozy stressed from the outset.

 - "Here, I want to say how much, the Axis formed by France and Germany, is  of Fundamental Importance". Let's become Ambassadors of the need for that (Franco-German) entente".

+ "And it's of fundamental importance for anyone to behave in a Responsible manner, when he speaks about our Neighbours, our Allies and our Friends", Sarkozy went on to add, making an indirect but clear Criticism to French Socialist candidate, Hollande, who had recently accused the German Government on EU Economic Policy : See previous "EuroFora" NewsReport)

- "If there is a Region where I can say that without any risk to be misunderstood, whatever might be your political sensitivity (orientation), it's here". Because, -"you, here, in Lorraine, where your fathers and grand-fathers have suffered a lot, so that we can't accept that anyone might compromise (mettre en cause : contest) that".

-"It's a Heritage, Peace and Friendship with Germany", "that generations gave us. Your parens and grand-fathers, and, at that period (era), never mind who was from the Left of the Right (political) side. "All Presidents of the Republc, all Governments, have worked for this Entente, for this gathering", he reminded.

"There are Politics, and, afterwards, there is also France and its Superior interests. Peace, etc. I.e. makes today so wonderful to live in this Region, in this City", the French President concluded.

=> "Let's make what is necessary so that nobody can affect it", he urged.
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Speaking earlier on the need also to physically Protect the City of Metz, at the center coreé of the Franco-German borders, where are located the Heaquarters for the overall Defense and Security of the North-Eastern Region of France, including nearby Strasbourg, (headquarters of the CoE, ECHR, EU Parliament, EUROCORPS, Shengen system, etc), the French President saluted the work of those Agents who are working 24/24 and 7/7, even during Saint Sylvester's Night, on Defense and Security issues, spreading from Criminal Police up to Fire-Fighting, Health and Civic Protection from Extreme Weather Events, etc.,Sarkozy stressed that they "incarnate the State which cares, the State which protects, the State which, by guaranteing Safety, ensures the framework of our Liberties".

- People must "know that, in case ...of unpredictable Meteorologic Phenomenon", as well as of other "Crisis, or Security breach", you all, Public Services staff, civil servants or workers of big public corporations in Transports and Energy, you'd be ready to serve them, any day of the year, in whatever circumstances"; the French President stressed.

- Saluting, "among" them, "at first,  the representatives of the Zonal Operational Pole of Infomation and Coordination (ZOPIC) of Metz",  that he just inaugurated, and which is responsible also for Security and Defense of the entire Nord-Est Zone, including also Strasbourg, (with EU Parliament's, CoE's, ECHR's,EUROCORPS' and Shengen system's main buildings, etc), Sarkozy observed that "it reflects efforts made since 4 Years in Security issues" :

=> Because "Metz's ZOPIC illustrates a New Cooperation between services in the domain of Security and Civic protection", extending further the logic behind the Reform which "rapproached Policemen and Gendarmes", and "is directed by a Prefect delegated to Security and Defense, Richard Vignon, that I've just appointed",  who "is, for the 1st time, a Colonel of Fire-Fighters" :

- "Fire-Fighters lead with efficiency, devotion and Courage, sometimes (even) by risking their Lives, this comitment in the service" of the People, stressed Sarkozy, "paying hommage to 11 Fire-Fighters killed on duty during last year and ensuring their Families of all our Solidarity", as he said speaking of the Corps which became World-famous by its sacrifices particularly since 9/11 deadly terrorist attacks against simple People in New York, but also during recently multiplied Fires mainly at the Mediterranean, (where last week's revelations by a former Turkish Prime Minister about Turkish secret agents acting already in the Past to destroy Greek Forests, in addition to trigger a Mediatic and Diplomatic upheaval starting to raise Questions inside EU Parliament addressed to EU Commission, EU Council, etc., highlighted, at any case, the timely parallel made in Metz between Civic Protection, Security and Defense  : See supra).

    Moreover, "it's because Fire-Fighters lead every day useful missions for each one of us, that we wished to strengthen the Status of Volunteer Fire-Fighters, inviting the Parliament to adopt a 2011 Law on Volunteers", which "marks a big Progress by attributing, at last, to Fire-Fighters, a Legal framework that protects them while on duty", he added, referring to an activity in which had been personally involved even the Chairman of the biggest Group of MEPs in EU Parliament, Joseph Daul, as he had recently reminded to  Journalists in Strasbourg, including "EuroFora".

     - "EuroFora" had a first-hand opportunity to personally witness Fire-Fighters' much needed Efficiency at New Years' eve, last night, when, at about 3 a.m. someone set a Car on Fire and threw the Burning and Exploding carcass against our Family Home in Strasbourg, crossing all over the pavement with High Flames, until Black Clouds of Toxic Smoke hit our Windows and penetrated inside the House's sleeping Rooms where air became dangerously unbreathable and suffocating, only a few Hours before the French President's visit at nearby Metz. An absolutely similar Aggression had been already curiously committed, with the same method, just 2 Years ago, also at the eve of 1/1/2010, when Huge Flames threatened to reach our Windows, and big Clouds of Black, Toxic Smokes intruded inside the House covering everything with thick layers of Black Dust which took many Hours of work to wash out next morning. But, while Police had in the Past run faster, trying to find and catch the aggressors, the Fire-Fighters coming only later-on, on the contrary, now, on 1/1/2012, the Fire-Fighters succeeded to arrive Faster on the spot, and even found apparently a new, more efficient way to rapidly erase the Fire, reducing considerably the Time and the Volume of Dangerous Flames and Black, Toxic Smokes. This Timely intervention probably prevented also other possible Damages and Threats, considering also the Strange Fact that the above mentioned Aggression suddenly intervened only after 2.30 a.m., hour at which 3 Journalists from Strasbourg's Newspaper DNA had reported that everything was "Calm" throughout all Strasbourg city, but almost at about 3 a.m. :  I.e. when People normally would be sleeping, and precisely at the same moment that also other, Exceptionally Serious Violent Incidents, threatening even People's Lives, were suddenly reported both right in front of "EuroFora" founder's Home, (a Driver reportedly attacking Policemen with his Car, who replied by real Bullets, etc), and at another area of the Town, (another Driver throwing his Car against a Tree and gravely wounding himself at a Life-threatening level), etc.. All these 3 Exceptionaly Serious and isolated, Violent and Dangerous Incidents occuring almost precisely at the same Moment, in one and same City, the very Night during which Meteo-France anounced that Temperature had been curiously raised at unprecedentedly High levels of Warm, never seen before in the middle of the Winter, (except, perhaps, of the only exception of ... 1883 !), also in Paris, so that this unusual and abnormal Heatwave etc. might have artificially provoked a dangerous augmentation of Tensions and eletrify the ambiant Atmosphere, explaining the sudden outburst of such exceptional incidents.

    - "Civic protection actors have been mainly sollicitated" f.ex. "on Violent Storms which have hit France's Southern area since November" 2011. "All in all, Civic Protection accomplished more than 7.000 Missions, (among which, 154 used Helicopters, and 2.000 Preventive Evacuations (of the local populations), mainly in Var, which was one of the most affected Departments" during 2011, the French President observed. -"I a were ranked on Vigilance (level)"orange",  while, "the Morbihan (area) was reinforced with 100 (more) Fire-Fightes of the West Zone in order to face the consequences of Cargo (Ship) "TK Bremen" (Teka Bremeune", last December 16, at the protected area of "Erdeven's beach. This same Storm didn't spare (also) the Eastern Zone, where more than 2.300 Fire-Fighters led 4.500 Operations", Sarkozy noted.

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+Cross-Parties MEPs lodge Draft Resolution on Natural Disasters in EU Parliament for 2012

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     + Meanwhile, "in (all) Europe, Natural Disasters increased both in Size and Frequency, Killing about 90.000 People during the last 20 Years, and affecting the lives of 29 Millions People, while also causing some 211 Billions € worth of damages", observes a Draft Resolution lodged at EU Parliament by 3 MEPs from various Political Parties, such as Mara Bizzotto (EFD), Barbara Matera (EPP) and Eider Gardiazabaal Rubial (Socialist), in a Press Conference at EU Parliament, December 2011 in Strasbourg, where they replied to "EuroFora"'s questions  :

    - "EuroFora" asked the MEPs "how much Time (they) need, and how many Votes" for "the Draft Resolution" that they've just lodged at EU Parliament according to a procedure routinely called for "written Declarations" (under Art. 123 of its Rules of Procedure).  

    - But, "on Substantial issues", "EuroFora" reminded that, recently, "the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and also a Global Warming Group of Experts have Warned that there might be an Augmentation of Exceptional Natural Disasters in the Future, including Heatwaves, Fires, Floods, etc., and maybe also Earthquakes, which are sometimes related with Water penetration underground, while (MEPs) spoke also about "Prevention" :

    => - "Don't you think that it would be also good to think about Scientific Research and Practical Measures in order to became able to React Quickly, but also, if not to Prevent, at least to alleviate things before such disasters happen ?", "EuroFora" asked the 3 MEPs in charge of the trans-Parties' EU Parliament's text on the EU Solidarity Fund" for "the Rapid Recovery" of "Regions affected by Natural Disasters", reminding that even "in the USA, (f.ex). they had started to do a lot of "Weather Science Research" after the (devastating) Katrina" giant storm of 2005.

     - "Thank you very much for that question". Indeed, "we live in a very Fragile Region, where Disasters have contributed to make things Worse". "What we know is that Europe, and also Italy, has had also a Chaotic Policy of Urbanisation, which hasn't had allowed us to Protect our Region", she replied to "EuroFora", evoking an issue of importance for almost all the Mediterranean Sea area... - "So, we have a very Sensitive, Fragile situation. That's why I always say that we need to have Prevention, and to Train People, and make them Aware, there is a lot to be done there. As far as I know, (in such recent cases of "Natural Disasters"), the Warning came in Too Late, and led to Damages to People who could have been Avoided. So, there is a lot to be done, (f.ex.) in terms of Structural Funds, which go into such Regions, and there also is a lot that could be done by the EU" itself, she observed. "Our Region is in Danger, (both) the Countryside and the Towns, and we shall do what we can to intervene in (EU Parliament's) Plenary, and to draw a list of Victims and Damages. We (EU) have to Invest (in order) to make our Regions more Safe", "I think that the various (concerned) Institutions have made several Mistakes in recent years, but we (EU) can't continue to burry our Heads to the sand. We have to understand and act, and, as I said, Prevention (from Natural Disasters) is very important : It's our (EU's) Duty in Europe to ensure that", concluded, in reply to "EuroFora"s question Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto (EFD).

    - But, meanwhile, even if it's true that, indeed, "We (EU) have to continue speaking about Prevention, nevertheless, we mustn't mix things up, however : Here we are talking about the EU Solidarity Fund, and about improving existing EU Instruments". So that, "with this Declaration, what we (MEPs) are trying to do is to Improve an Exising Instrument in Europe, which has been in place for some Time, which has proved itself during Recent Years, which has been active, and which provides Aid and Solidarity : This is very Important support for a number of EU Regions",  clearly distinguished, in reply to "EuroFora"s Question ChristianDemocrat/EPP MEP Barbara Matera.     

    As far as  our Question on the Timing of EU Parliament's procedure concerning that Draft Resolution on the ESF and Natural Disasters, the MEPs replied to "EuroFora" that, in fact, the Text will be officially lodged "on January 2012", and should be Signed by a Majority of MEPs "until March 2012".

    Already, EU Parliament's Plenary adopted last Month in Strasbourg a 38 Millions € Aid from the EU Solidarity Fund to repair Damages caused by Earthquakes in the Spanish Region of Murcia (21,1 Millions €)", and Flooding in the Italian Region of Veneto (16,9 Millions €),

    - "Unfortunately, due to the excessive length of procedures in the case of Flooding in Veneto, the launch of the Fund will enter into force only ...13 Months after the heavy Rain that hit the region at the end of October 2010," denounced EU Parliament's Rapporteur for the Budget, Mrs Sidonia Jędrzejewska, showing the need for the acceleratiéng SImplfication lodged by the other 3 MEPs.
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    + Meanwhile, German chancelor Angie Merkel had just observed from the outset, at her New Year's eve address, yesterday night, that "in March (of 2011) Japan was hit by a giant Earthquake and a terrible Tsunami provoking a devastating Nuclear Disaster".

    This obviousy is one among the Facts which raise difficult but interesting Challenges, (including on Franco-German Coopeation needs and prospects) also to important Scientific and Technological Research Centers, as that of Germany's "Atmospheric Dynamics" Laboratory at nearby Bavaria, and Strasbourg's French "Earth Science Institute", (etc).

    - "Despite all Hardships, we must never forget that the peaceful re-Unification of our continent (Europe) is an Historic Gift to us. It has taken us over half a century of Peace, Freedom, justice, Human Rights and Democracy", as she said, shortly before meeting with French President Sarkozy next week in Berlin, to prepare the €uroArea/EU January 30 Summit.

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=> More recent threats for more Exceptional Weather Phenomena and other Natural and/or Man made Disasters in Europe and throughout the World, which have already started to incite big EU Countries like France and others to bring closer together Defense, Security and Civic Protection, as we saw here, on the occasion of Metz's ZOPIC, at the same moment that France and Germany, together with all €uroArea Members and other EU Countries focus on Integration and European Governance, obviously, should plead, logically, in favour of grouping together all available means, investments, know-how and efforts in order to create a kind of European response to the growing challenge of Disasters, f.ex. in the form of an EU Civic Protection Force, as it has been already suggested also by experienced, former Foreign Minister and currently long-time EU Commissioner Michel Barnier, according to an idea notoriously dear also to French President Sarkozy himself.

Published in English only after StockMarkets were closed this afternoon in Europe, the initial finding of some 7 Trillions cubic feet Gas in EU Member Cyprus, out of which 6 Trillions could be used by European a.o. big countries' Industry, since the island's needs are satisfied with 1 trillion c.f. for more than a Generation (30 Years), is only the 1st among a series of forthcoming Explorations there, for which interested companies prepare to bid in a procedure due to start in a few weeks' time (f.ex. at the end of January 2012), Nicosia's competent authorities, starting by President Christofias, anounced earlier today.

This "exciting" "discovery of significant natural gas resources" was  made in Block 12 of Cyprus' EEZ, which is part of a Total, unexplored yet Area of  more than 51.000 square-kilometers, and "is the 5th consecutive natural gas field discovery for Noble Energy (Texas, U.S. and our partners in the greater Levant basin, with total gross mean resources....currently estimated to be over 33 Trillions cubic feet", so that, "this latest discovery in Cyprus further highlights the quality and significance of this World-class basin", according to a Press Release by Charles D. Davidson, Noble Energy's Chairman and CEO.

OIl/Gas corporations being obliged by their status to remain sober on prognostics, other, independent Experts, as, f.ex. Houston Professor Nicolau, estimate that the total of Cyprus' EEZ resources, in all its 13 Blocks, might finally reach some 75 Trillions cubic feet.
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Cyprus has already negotiated and signed Agreements with Neighbouring South-Eastern Mediterranean Countries Egypt, Israel and Lebanon, according to the International Law of the Sea, while previous Turkish threats were repeatedly dismissed also by various Statements from EU Energy Commissioners, USA, Russia and other European/International main players.

Meanwhile, on Safety issues, already since 2006, key €urozone Countries, led by France (on Land forces) but also Germany (mainly on Ships), have established in and around Cyprus a useful Military presence, on the occasion of the UN-sponsored International Peace-keeping operation to protect and stabilize Lebanon's borders with Israel and its Sea-Coasts, which includes Strategic Logistics' bases in Cyprus. Among the participants (on Sea ship aspects) were aso Naval Forces from Denmark, the incoming EU rotating Chair for the 1st half of 2012.
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More €uroArea's Oil-Gas Resources are notoriously believed to exist also at another EU-Member Greece's territorial waters mainly in the Aegean Sea, as Experts suspect since the 1970ies, but they remain practically "frozen" only because of Turkey's brutal threats of War and refusal to admit the International Law of the Sea which recognizes since the 1980ies that Islands have also a Seabed with Exclusive Economic zone. Greek Oil-Gas Findings could, however, allow to pay back immediately the EU-Member Country's provoked huge Debt of Tens of Billions €, putting shortly an End to €urozone's Sovereign Debt mini-Crisis, considering also the Boost that big Energy Findings would give to the Economy of Neighbouring Mediterranean EU Countries Italy, France and Spain, etc.
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However, Cyprus' pro"European" party (EUROKO), led by former EU Parliament's MEP Sylouris, denounced today that a Secret deal with Turkey even on Oil-Gas could be planned by Christofias :  The current President elected back on 2008, but now supported only by his 30% strong former Communist Party AKEL and contested by  a huge Majority of some 70% represented in all other Political Parties, from the Right to the Left of the political spectrum, which ask his Resignation, since a July 2011 deadly and catastrophic Explosion which killed 13 People, including the Chief of Cyprus' Naval Defense, and destroyed the biggest Power Plant of the island, immediately after his return from a crucial Geneva High-Level meeting with UNO's Secretary Gerenal Ban Ki Moon and the Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community living in the areas still occupied by Ankara's Invasion and occupation Army. But only a prima facie justified complain lodged for a dishonoring, illegal act against him might trigger his "suspension" and subsequent condemnation by the Supreme Court (through an original "impeachement" procedure) according to Cyprus' Constitution, which excludes any Political Responsibility for the Country's President vis a vis its Parliament.

Apparently such a deal would practically mean that Cyprus' oil-gas findings might be exported through a Turkish pipeline, thereby practically cancelling EU's otherwise possible benefit from Direct Transport of NLG by Ships straight at European specialized Seaports, as the Foss II, the biggest and most modern NLG Terminal recently built in the Mediterranean, close to Marseille, (France), as well as several Italian and/or Spanish NLG terminals.

But the leader of Cyprus' biggest party, (DHSY) Democratic Rally's head, Nicos Anastassiades, speaking earlier to the European People Party's Congress of MEPs and Heads of State/Government in Marseille (France), near to the new, Foss II NLG Mega-terminal, appeared even more focused on the island's Natural Resources' potential benefits for Europe : - "The very Encouraging, Initial Findings of Oil and Gas reserves, within the EEZ of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean, ...with no doubt, present a huge Opportunity for Europe as a whole : (Because) they could save Europe from the Instability and Uncertainty related to Energy Production and Transportation (NB) zones lying outside of the EU", Anastassiades pointed out.  

It's true that Christofias also stressed today that "New positive Perspectives open for the Future of the area", since "Cyprus enters inside Europe's Energy Map, with perspectives of substantial contribution to EU's Energy Security". But, unlike Anastassiades (See supra) he didn't explicitly say anything about "Transports", despite the fact that, at least Israel''s Delek company has already proposed to build together in Cyprus a NLG Terminal in order to liquify Gas produced in the area and ship it directly to EU's mainland.

EU Parliament has already adopted a Resolution, since 2010 in Strasbourg, caling for EU's systematic support to the creation of several NLG Terminals around EU's Seaports, and for Ship Transport of NLG throughout all Europe's Seas and Rivers, in an attempt to stop EU's dependence on External factors which may affect Energy Production and Transport through Third, Non-EU Countries, exposed to Natural Catastrophs, Conflicts, Blackmails, etc.  provoking disruptions and/or uncertainty.
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Geology Experts from France (including, f.ex. CNRS' Research Director Gilbert Bellaiche, etc), who had conducted Research in Egypt, Israel and Lebanon, up to Cyprus' souhern coasts had already warned "EuroFora"s co-founder, as early as since a 2001 PanEuropean/International GeoScience mega-Conference organized by Strasbourg's University here, that its was very "probable" to make important Gas findings from River Nile's delta up to Israel's and Lebanon coasts, continuing throughout Cyprus' southern coasts as a kind of underSea "flow" of hydrocarbon producing alleviations and ingredients moving accross the coastline. This was added to other Experts' speculations about the famous "Eratosthenes" Seamount, (the biggest in the Mediterranean), a former island swallowed by Seawaters in Ancient times, which is located inside Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone.

Further 2001 Research by "EuroFora"s co-founder clearly indicated that South-Eastern Mediterranean's overall Energy Resources in Oil/Gas, in the Arch formed by Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus, could be Geologically similar to the recent Mega-Findings in the Gulf of Mexico, which are able to cover a Majority of 52% of USA's Energy needs according to former U.S. President G.W.Bush.

In consequence,previous Cyprus'Governments, starting by that of former Presidents Clerides and Papadopoulos, had already, systematically prepared the diplomatic, business and technical way for Oil/Gas findings since many years ago, leading to today's 1st concrete results.

But, meanwhile, several facts indicated that some circles should probably have guessed the immense Enerhy potential of the area at least as early as since 1999-2000. Something which could explain a lot about the unusually sharp Political developments which had followed particularly since that Date around Cyprus' political issue and Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid, etc..

However, the move now comes Timely at a moment when EU, (deprived from Energy sources, except from the declining Northern Sea deposits), is urgently seeking now ways to boost Growth mainly through enhanced Competitiveness, a factor of which is the proximity of abundant and safe Energy : A New Factor that €uroArea's Januaty 30 forthcoming Summit on Growth and Jobs could discuss at least on the sidelines of 26 Heads of State/Government Brussels' Top Meetings, (Comp. previous "EuroFora"s NewsReport).

In this regard, €uroArea Member Greece and Cyprus could obviously contribute by their World-class Merchand Fleets, Italy being the 1st big EU Country to benefit from the area's Resources, while Spain has already built several NLG Terminals in its coasts according to the idea endorsed by Spanish former EU Commission's vice-President Mrs Loyola de Palacio (in synergy, then, with "EuroFora"s co-founder) for the EU to include "Sea (and River) Highways" in the TransEuropean Networks of Energy Transports, France playing an obviously Strategic role because of its New, Mega-Terminal for NLG at Foss II, near Marseille, which could also transport NLG to Germany and the rest of Central Europe via Pipelines and/or by revitalizing the old Plan to open the Rhine-Rhone River Transport also for Ships of grand Gabarit : A practical possibility to link the Mediterranean with Central/Northern Europe via direct Ship transport of NLG, to which could contribute usefuly also Croatia, (that EU has just decided this December 2011 to accept as New EU Member on January 2013), by a coordinated use of both its Mediterranean/Adriatic Sea-Coasts and its part of Access to Danube River, (already opened to Grand Gabarit Ship Transport links with the Rhine river since 2001).

A European Coordination which might Timely be stimulated also by Cyprus' rotating EU Council's chairmanship scheduled for the period between July and December 2011.

 - "As Coordinated EU Action becomes more Effective", thanks to Decisions taken by €uroArea's Heads of State/Government on the December 2011 Summit in Brussels (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the spot), added to those already made since October, etc, the "Systemic Conditions (will) improve over time" for Banks, Businesses, and other Financial Markets' players, by "the Swift and Coordinated Implementation", in a "Committed and Timely" way, with "a Reliable and well Coordinated Execution of those Decisions", which "is Now of utmost Importance"; as "a prerequisite for the other Measures to Succeed", urged" all involved Member States, their New Financial Monitoring body, ESRB, in a Statement made at nearby Frankfurt and sent to European News Media, including "EuroFora", on Thursday.

The move includes also a Strong Push by the Central European Bank, which just started from Wednesday a 1st out of 2 operations almost Half a Trillion € strong each, in addition to EU Summits' decisions for a 440 Billlions European Financial Stability Facility and a 500 Billions € strong European Stability Mechanism from 2012, as well as 150 Billions € to be send to the IMF to bounce back, together with other "G-20" Partners for Global Growth focused on €uroArea, in parallel with a growing series of Fiscal Stabilisation Measures due to definitively  cut States' Debt and reCapitalize European Banks, together with Historic Decisions to resolutely advance also towards a Top Political and irreversible Institutional Integration of €uroArea and other willing EU Countries at the level of Heads of States/Governments, due to start "regular" work with Measures to boost Competitiveness and Growth from the beginning of 2012, etc : Apparently impressed by such unprecedented €uro-Activism, Financial and Stock Markets immediately started to respond Positively by lowering Interest Rates for Loans to Real Economy while also marking a series of Gains in Shares' Values, etc.

After French President Sarkozy had pointed, since December 9 early morning in Brussels' EU Summit, at ECB's anouncement of Loans at 1% for 3 Years, as "EuroFora" reminded on December 13 in EU Parliament's Press Conference of the "Green" Group  Co-Chaired by critical Franco-German MEPs Kohn Bendit and Rebecca Harms, finally, earlier this week, ECB, indeed, launched a "Massive central bank credit operation" on "Wednesday", December 21, "in which the ECB let (European) banks borrow as much as they wanted for up to 3 years. As a result 523 banks took euro 489 Billions : the largest ECB loan operation in the 13-year History of the €uro" !, as AP notes today, observing on Friday that, in consequence, "European Markets closed Higher" (See infra).

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- "Noting the Decisions taken thus far both by the Heads of State or Government and by the European authorities", ESRB's official anouncement observed on Thursday that "in particular, the €uro area Heads of State or Government have agreed on a new “Fiscal compact” and on a significantly Stronger Coordination of Economic Policies", while, "in order to increase the resilience of, and restore confidence in, the Banking sector, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued a Recommendation for banks to hold a temporary Capital buffer, (of) 9% at ...June 2012", and "the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)" decided to disclose and value Sovereign exposures" according to "International Financial Standards".

    + At the same time, in parallel, "EU's Central Banks ...have Eased Monetary conditions. ECB has Lowered its main refinancing Rate + and has introduced Extraordinary Measures to ease the pressure on Banks :  In particular, the ECB has announced 2 Longer-term refinancing operations with a maturity of 36 Months and the option of early repayment after one year, the Reduction of the Reserve ratio from 2% to 1%, and the Broadening of admissible Collateral".

    Acting together with €uroArea, "the Bank of England has also announced a new contingency Liquidity Facility, .....and Central Banks around the World have re-established Foreign Exchange Lquidity Facilities", (f.ex. in USA, Canada, Japan, etc), while China eased Trade opportunities, in a coordinated move starting to apply recent "G-20" Summit's decisions at Cannes (November 2011), chaired by France, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Cannes' G-20 Summit), ESRB resumed.

    - "Looking Ahead", "against this background", the EU Financial Monitoring body particularly added, f.ex., that "It is essential that the EFSF be fully equipped and operational" the soonest. At the same time, "the Resilience of the Financial Sector is to be increased", with the "ultimade Objective of these Measures" being "to restore Banks' Function of providing adequate Lending into the Real Economy". That's why, the "Capital Ratio of 9% should be achieved" by Banks wihout any "disoderly or excessive deleveraging process", but "mainly through an Increase in Capital levels, (and/or) also by reducing payouts", ESRB advised, so that "strict implemetation of EBA criteria .. could support the Supply of Credit and the provision of Financial services to the Real Economy".

    Indeed, Mervyn King and Andrea Enria, ESRB's Vice Chairs, both stressed, replying to Press Questions afterwards, that, indeed, the 9% ReCapitalisation of European Banks must never be done at the expense of Credit provision to the Economy, which should be a Priority, but only by finding Other ways :  - "The main Message in practice, is that Banks' reCapitalization must be achieved with other means, i.e. without affecting Credit to Businesses, ESRB vice-Presidents stressed.

    - "The Intervention by Central Banks is expected to assuage the Funding Pressures felt by Banks in the EU in the Near Term". Therefore, "Supervisors are encouraged to keep the need for the temporary Sovereign Buffer under review", and "collect" .. "information for the assessment of the .. implications of ...Decisions", because, in the Longer Term, Private Funding Markets must be reVitalized".
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=> As ECB was bringing "€uroArea's Liquidity surplus at an Unprecedented level", this naturally started also to "exert a pressure towards Lowering Interest Rates among Banks", Reuters observed,, already in less than 1 Day time : - F.ex., "the Day to Day Interest Rate lowered down from 0,611% to 0,509%". On Longer Periods, Interests for 12 Months fell from 1,995% down to 1,988%, that of 6 Months : from 1;662% down to 1;658%; and "Euribor" rate for 3 Months  fell from 1;410% down to 1,404%".
 

+ ESRB's message seems to have started to be understood, if one judges also by this Friday's EU Stock Markets' rise for +1,02% in London's Footsie, almost similar to a +0,99% gain in France's CAC, followed by Germany's Dax in Frankfurt with +0,46%, Eurostoxx 50's rise for +0,76%, while Stoxx Europe 600 index closed +0.87% up, (added to a +1,1% gain already on Thursday), and USA's Dow Jones Industrial Average futures followed the EU move with a lower gain of +0,5%, similar to Nasdaq. But "Asian bourses lost ground, with China's Shanghai Composite down -0.2% to suffer its fourth-straight loss", noted Dow Jones, even if "Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose +1.4%", according to AP.

In overall, Paris' Stock Market won + 4,36% this week, and all "Europe largely kept its Gains", as MarketWatch observed on Friday, after "a rally in European markets gave investors reason for Optimism", according to Thursday's Dow Jones.

A similar overall Pattern had been witnessed f.ex. also last week, when "..European stocks recovered ... :   Germany's DAX gained +1.0 %... France's CAC-40 added +0.8 %....(and) Britain's FTSE 100 rose + 0.6 %", after "PanEuropean indicator FTE EuroFirst 300 closed with +1,1% gains", last Friday, while USA's "Wall Street posted Modest gains, with the Dow Jones industrial average up + 0.4 %  ....and the S&P 500 gaining + 0.4 %". But in Asia "stocks faced stronger headwinds ..:  Japan's Nikkei 225 index Shed - 1.7 %  to close.., a three-week low. South Korea's Kospi lost -2.1 % ....and Hong Kong's Hang Seng tumbled -1.8 %", while "mainland Chinese shares lost ground for a sixth straight trading day, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index falling - 2.1 % , while the Shenzhen Composite Index lost -2.3 %"  (See : http://www.eurofora.net/forum/index.php/topic,547.0.html).....

 
The extended EU move forward comes despite worse than scheduled Economic  results in the  : -"European markets closed higher Friday ... even though a batch of Disappointing U.S. economic figures ....showed that (U.S.) Consumer Spending and personal income ...were below market expectations, while....durable goods orders last month masked a Decline in a crucial investment" in the USA, as AP noted. 

In direct Contrast with "Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's success in gaining approval for his austerity package", considered as a "catalyst for the markets drive at present," according f.ex. to a Spreadex trader cited by AFP, on the contrary, Rating Agencies reportedly warned that a much more Heavy USA Debt threatens seriously the American Economy's Rank, and wisely postponed examination of whether they should Downgrade USA's rating until after the forthcoming 2012 USA Elections, towards late  2013...

- "EU has Better (Economic) Fundamentals than USA", but "needs Institutional" reforms in Economic Governance, recently observed the New Spanish Foreign Minister, former EU Parliament's Economic/Monetary Committee's vice-President,  Margallo y Marfil : A "Solution" finally found with the recent December 2011 EU Brussels' Summit's decisions for "a New, InterGovernemental Treaty", (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports from Brussels' EU Summit).

+ Another prerequisitive for the experienced long-time MEP,  Margallo y Marfil, is ECB's role in facing also with Monetary measures the Global Crisis, and this also seems fulfilled, after nearby Frankfurt's body's recent Measures to ease Cheaper Loans to National Banks up to 3 Years resulted in more than 489 Billions € of exces Liquidity which are now at the disposal of €uroArea's Banks : Reportedly a "Record" High, compared to just 380 Billions € which had been obtained back on 2010 only after 3 ECB's operations, instead of 1 now.

In comparison, €urozone's 3rd largest Economy, Italy's all Public Debt is estimated to be between 300 - 400 Billions €, as the Co-Chairman of the "Green" Group of MEPs in EU Parliament, Kohn-Bendit, reminded  in reply to  an "EuroFora"s question, earlier this week at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, (See relevant DraftNews, already sent to "EuroFora"'s  Subscribers/Donors). But this amount of Money was largely overpassed by ECB's current lending to Banks : 489 Billions € in just one (1) Day !

=> By giving some 500 Billions € to €uroArea's Banks, ECB allowed to Calm Tensions, .. by proving that Banks have enough Resources to face Businesses' demands", so that "during the next sessions, Stock Markets should keep their current Momentum and continue to benefit from this week's Good News", reportedly observed this Friday a Barclay's expert.  -“There was strong encouragement from the ECB for banks to take this liquidity to ensure that next year there’s much less risk of a problem with the banks". So that, indeed, now “there is Less Risk of Banks going under for 2012 than before this system was in place", according to other Experts cited by MarketWatch.  "European Markets rebounded ......as analysts and investors turned more optimistic about the European Central Bank's larger-than-expected refinancing operation, aimed at boosting liquidity among euro-zone banks", Dow Jones' noted since Thursday.
-----------------------------
+  Moreover, meanwhile, €uroArea's big Countries' Private Sector's Wealth is  Booming up, accumulating huge amounts of Money  : Even after French President Sarkozy observed that phenomenon and decided to attract some 36 Billions € for a "Great Loan" to Innovative Scientific Research and Technological Development projects of Excellence, (See "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReports since December 2009, etc), France still has today a "Higher Private Fortune" indicator "than before the (Global) Crisis" : Representing some 80% of the overall National Fortune, French Private Fortunes "jumped up +9,1% on 2010", reaching "10.223 Billions €".. At the same time, "Italy’s Private Wealth is Four times the Size of its Public Debt", i.e. X 400% Bigger than it, so that, in fact, "Europe is Rich enough to repay its debt, objectively speaking", observed on Thursday China's "People Daily".

++ An additional, New Factor is also the recent fact that "the Chinese government has responded coolly to pleas that it use some of its $3.2 Trillion in foreign Reserves to buy ...from struggling governments in Greece, Italy, and Spain. But (Chinese) officials ...have said they are interested in picking up European Assets", according to "Christian Science Monitor", who reports Today f.ex. a "3.5 Billion $ deal" by "China’s Three Gorges Corp.", ("the World's largest hydroelectric project"), which "has bought a 21% share in Portugal’s largest Power producer from the country’s debt-burdened government, in a clear sign that Beijing may help bail out cash-strapped European nations, but only if it gets something worthwhile in return", as China already started earlier to do with Greece's strategic Shipyards, etc.

Speaking before today's "largest-ever Chinese investment in Europe", "a senior economic policymaker, Wang Yiming", characteristically warned that "he European economy needs blood, but not in the form of a transfusion asking for us to buy their bonds,” because, in fact, “We need to create new blood by promoting Investment", CSM reported. "Chinese corporations are growing increasingly adventurous in Europe":

F.ex.,  "Shanghai-based automobile manufacturer Geely bought Volvo in 2010, and earlier this year the China National Chemical Corp. paid $2.2 billion for Elkem, the Norwegian manufacturer of key components in Solar panels".  The Government of "Beijing is encouraging its state-owned enterprises, many of which are flush with cash, to seek opportunities abroad, and Europe is a promising destination", notes CSM, particularly when Fiscal Consolidation Measures oblige certain EU Governments to privatize assets.     
------------------------------------------------------------      
+Meanwhile, as ECB reportedly has already anounced its intention to search the right moment also for a "2nd intervention" soon in Financial Markets, which are just showing the first consequencies of its 1st move, strong of almost Half a Trillion €; (see Facts supra and infra); it became obvious that a previous Criticism by a part of the Politcal opposition in EU Parliament on the way that German Chancellor Angie Merkel, in agreement with French President Sarkozy; had presented a set of Franco-German proposals for a road out of the Global Crisis, this was unjust, at least excessive or premature, as fas as ECB's role is concerned ;
----------------

Minority leaders, Presidents of the Socialist and "Green" Groups in EU Parliament, Martin Schultz, and Kohn-Bendit with Rebecca Harms, respectively, all from Germany, (with the unique "exception" of Kohn-Bendit's "dual" Franco-German nationality), had complained, last week in Strasbourg, that "ECB's role" had "not been defined as much as it should", (Schultz), and that "Financially speaking", there had been not enough to face the Markets", mainly because there was "No clear Signals sent to the ECB" (Harms) from the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Majority of Heads of State/Government, as they had claimed during their respective Press Conferences.

- But, as "EuroFora" had observed in a Question raised during the Kohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms' EU Parliament's Press Conference by the "Green" Group of MEPs, last week in Strasbourg, "Unquestionably, there was an ECB Move in Frankfurt, before the Brussels EU Summit" :

 -  And "in the latest Brussels' Summit,, EU Heads of State/Government spoke about the recent "Strasbourg compromise" on ECB between France Germany and Italy,  i.e. about not making explicit verbal interventions against, or in favour of a particular ECB action",  in order to respect its independence, we reminded. 

  - "But, meanwhile, the (European Central) Bank has (already) started to act : F.ex. there were Loans with lower interest rates : just 1%, for 3 Years, etc", "EuroFora" observed.

+ And (ECB's President, Mario) Draghi was, at it's well known, at  EU/€uroArea Summit, on Thursday night's crucial unofficial Diner, in Brussels, for the 1st time", "EuroFora" also observed.

=>  - "So, what you mean is that this wasn't enough yet, or do you want another kind of Mechanism that you might propose for the ECB ?", we askled the 2 co-Presidents of the "Green" Group of MEPs to clarify, (paticularly in view of a forthcoming EU Parliament's "initiative" for more "Growth", due at the begining of 2012, apparently wished by all MEPs' Groups, in addition to; but in Harmony with, the specific €uroArea Summit, initially proposed by the Head of the French Governing Party "UMP"; Jean-Pierre Audy, as he had  told us, (See earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the latest EU Parliament's plenary Session).

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

Experienced Franco-German "Green" leader Kohn-Bendit's initial Reply to "EuroFora"s question on ECB's role appeared, at 1st sight, differend from what followed later-on :

- "I think that the situation is simple : Reportedly, Italy might need something around 300 or 400 Billions € from next year (2012), and I don't speak of Spain or Portugal, etc. If Italy and Spain have to take that (Money) in the Markets, as they stand today, i.e. with 7% Rates, can you explain me how Italy might succeed to obtain in a few years a balanced Budget, with such Interest rates ?", he asked "EuroFora"

  -"If anyone succeeds that,  I'll immediately nominate him for the Nobel Prize of Economy and Mathematics at the same time !", Kohn-Bendit joked, explaining that "the point, today, is how to create the conditions for these Countries to find Money in a way which allows them to respond also to the (Financial) Stability issue", (i.e. without excessive Interest Rates ; Comp. supra). -"It's not by promissing  indefinitively Liquidities to the Banks that we could solve this problem of Sovereign Debt", he went on to conclude, perhaps too fast...
----------------------------------------------
But now, a combination of previous and later developments, clearly indicated that what Kohn-Bendit initially thought as impossible, in fact, has apparently become already achievable :

- ECB has just offered, this week, to European Banks, some 500 Billions € (i.e. much more than Italy''s entire Debt), and is reportedly ready to add also a 2nd package of Liquidities with only 1% as interest rates, for more than 3 Years.(See supra and infra).

+ And French President Sarkozy has already described a possible, practical Scenario, precisely taking Italy as an eventual example in this regard, as he explained to Journalists, including "EuroFora", who managed to keep waiting without any sleep overnight, from Thursday to Friday, 8 to 9 December, during the latest Brussels' EU/€uroArea Summit :

- With an ECB interest rate as Low as just 1%, for 3 Years, f.ex. Italy could ask from Banks to take that Money, (which is more then enough : Comp. supra), in order to lend it to the Government at much Lower Interest Rates than those currently practiced in the Financial Markets (almost 7% now in this case), f.ex. 3%, 4% or 5%, etc., as Sarkozy had explained in substance. Thus, now, something which was previously impossible and even unimaginabe in the Past, Today it became both possible and even calculable..
-----------------
But, despite these new Facts and Possibilities, "Green" MEPs' leadership apparently had already aimed to ask also something more and Differend, from beforehand, (which wasn't, however, clearly motivated) :

- Thus, f.ex., Kohn Bendit had continued on his full Reply to "EuroFora"s Question earlier in EU Parliament in Strasbourg, by adding, "also" the case of "those 5 Wisemen, who have (according to the Constitution)  the task to advise the German Government, from  5 German Economic Instituts, and made a special Report taking as a Model what Germany had done during the ReUnification (of the Country), when a Redumption Fund had been established", expressing his "incomprehension" why such a more drastic solution had not been adopted by German Chancellor Merkel's coalition Government.

+ In fact, "EuroBonds, and also this idea of having a Redemption Fund, is always proposed in Combination with clear, responsible Measures for Stability". So that, when some "always pretend at Home (in Germany) that those who are in favor would be only those who don't take care of Stability, this is simply Not the Truth", had added also "Green" co-President Rebeca Harms from Germany, in her own reaction to "EuroFora"s Question, clearly revealing a persistent trend of the politcal opposition to ask for more measures, even before having yet tried to seriously examine and try to use the New Tools presently made available for the 1st time.
------------------------------------------
    However, even if she had earlier persisted to find the "Concrete (Financial) Measues" officialy anounced by Brussels' Summit as staying yet "far away" from what she wished, nevertheless, the co-President of the "Green" Group of MEPs, speaking later exclusively to "EuroFora", Welcomed French President Sarkozy and German Chancelor Merkel's firm decision to advance resolutely forward towards a Deep and irreversible Institutional Integration at the level of €uroArea's Heads of State : - "I'am; indeed,glad that they succeeded to go ahead, without being hindered nor diverted by (British Prime Minister'ss) Mr. Cameroon", Rebecca told "EuroFora" on this Historic move.

--------------------------------------                
But, even critical debates may stimulate action fpr Growth,where experienced observers noted that even the most pessimistic estimations stressed that "relaunch will come, but it might take some time", f.ex. on "Spring"  2012 in France,  which just anounced that it has already obtained + 1,7% Growth  for 2011 since the 3rd trimester, having still 3 Months' results to go.

+ But, meanwhile, the Head of the French Delegation to EU Parliament, from the Governing Majority of UMP party, Jean-Pierre Audy, launched last week a call in Strasbourg for a €uroArea Summit specifically focused on stimulating Growth, stressing also to "EuroFora" that he expects it to be a really important event.

=> Earlier this week, EU and €urozone President, Herman van Rompuy, officially confirmed that, indeed, such an €uroArea Governance (EAG) Summit of Heads of State/Government will, take place in Brussels on January 30, 2012, focusing on "Employment", putting in practice €AG's decision to start holding "Regular", even "Monthly" Summits on Growth's various aspects (Jobs ans Skills, Competitiveness, Infrastructures; Research and Innovation, etc), with Top Political Meetings at the pace of a normal Government, (as well as EU Parliament's and EU Commission's, which also hold Plenary Sessions each Month).
 
- "Let there be No Doubt about it : There is a Fundamental Political Will to move forward as a Union, while respecting fully each other's situation", stressed in his anouncement EU's and €AG's Head, Herman Van Rompuy. Now "we (€AG) must take Strong action on Employment", while "Financial Stability on the €urozone remains absolutely a Key for our Future".

Previously, EU Parliament is due to kick off a 2012 campaign, starting with an "Initiative" to help boost EU Economy's Growth in stability, according to an Agreement already reached by Heads of Politiical Groups, as "Greens" co-Chairman, Kohn Bendit revealed in a Press Conference in Strasbourg last week, after SocialDemocrat Group's President, experienced long-time MEP Martin Schultz, (who is due to take over the rotating EU Parliament's chair, according to a complex, controversial and multifacet Deal brokered shortly after the 2009 EU Elections with the Head of EU Parliament's biggest Group of MEPs, that of ChistianDemocrats/EPP, Josepg Daul from Strasbourg), launched an appeal "to win the Trust not only of Markets but also of our (EU) Citizens", as he characteristically said; (See specific "EuroFora"s Draft NewsReport, already sent to Subscribers/Donors earlier).

.

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- 2 Nobel Prizes' Scientific Researchers of Strasbourg's University, Jules Hoffman (Physiology/Medicine, 2011) and Jean-Marie Lehn (Chemistry, 1987), speaking to "EuroFora" on the occasion of a special Ceremony attended by many Scientists, CoE Diplomats, Elected Politicians, Students, and full of People, to Welcome Home the 2011 New Prize Winner, both confirmed their Will to advance forward in concrete new Projects, without excluding even to cooperate together in some joined activities in the Future. But even if this would certainly ameliorate Strasbourg University's standing in Europe and at the Shanghai Global Ranking, it's not yet certain that it will be enough to boost its rank up to the Heights which meet the Ambitions of the 1st French University to have become "Autonomous" in 2009, at the borderlines with Germany and Switzerland, in an area hosting EU Parliament's Plenaries and EU Ombudsman, the CoE, ECHR, Shengen, EuroCorps, European Pharmacopea, Human Frontier, International Space University, EU RadioTV ARTE, Rhine's Navigation International Committee, European Science Foundation, the best Seismologic Center in Europe, and several other prestigious Organizations of European/International fame in Science, Law and Politics, close to several other important outlets at nearby Germany and Switzerland, which has just started to prepare a brand new "Institute of Advanced Studies", in possible cooperation with nearby Freiburg, due to host visiting Top level Scientists from around the World, together with its pemanent, landmark "Gutenberg circle", composed exclusively by Nobel Prize Winners and/or Academicians, (to whom was added last year also Professor Westhof, UniStra's vice-President for Research+, for his work on RNA structure and functions).

But the rare fact that both Nobel Prize winners have been both Educated and allocated breakthrough Research possibilities in Strasbourg, where they have almost spend all their Life until now, might give a stronger boost, at least in Shanghai's International University Ranking, (See supra and infra), than if they had lost time in "mobility" elsewhere, experienced observers noted.

(+ See also other NewsReport with 2011 Nobel Prize Hoffmann's more Statements to "EuroFora" on a differend, Specific issue).
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- "I was, indeed, in Shanghai and elsewhere in China, not only for the award of the Shaw Prize (a kind of Asian "Nobel Prize", established since 2004 by Shanghai-born but USA-educated Millionaire Run Run Shaw, based in Hong Kong and Taiwan), but also for some Lectures", observed Hoffmann in reply to an "EuroFora"s question.

- "But we hadn't at all foreseen the Nobel prize", and, therefore, certain Shanghai meetings had to be cancelled at the last minute,  when we learned about that, Hoffmann added.             

 - "We were together in Shangai. I was with my Husband  when we first heard about the Nobel prize, and it was such a Surprise that, at the beginning, we couldn't even believe it", said to "EuroFora, his wife and collaborator, Daniele Hoffmann, smiling just by remembering the event.
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+ Professor Lehn, already 1987 Chemistry Nobel Prize, who stressed that he "knows" Eurofora", was Positive, even if rather vague for the moment, on prospects of Future cooperation with Hoffmann :

- "Yes, it's possible, and I have some ideas in mind", Lehn simply replied to "EuroFora"s question, before speaking together with Hoffmann, later-on.

However, he wasn't yet convinced that this might be mainly done with "New Drugs" invention and/or development based on macro-molecules as polymers etc., including some proteins used also by Hoffmann and other Immune System researchers, since "my (personal) focus is on Supra-molecular chemistry", as Lehn reminded to "EuroFora".

But this is also a level reportedly used also for invention of "New Materials", as well as various Drugs' recipients and/or "vehicles" ("capsules" etc), i.e. offering various obvious possiblities for Complementarity with Hoffmann's Drug creation approach.
Lehn currently is the main backbone of Strasbourg University's projects who recently won the "Future" and "Excellence" labels triggering long-term Funding by the Great Loan decided by French President Sarkozy in order to boost Economy - Scientific Research links related to Innovation able to develop Competitiveness and Growth, (in harmony with a similar "Excellence" initiatives in SRT launched in parallel by nearby Germany by his main partner, chancellor Merkel, a former scientist in Physics as well as her husband, a professor of Chemistry).

Lehn had notoriously received various proposals from Foreign Universities, "including (the famous) MIT" of USA, but decided to settle in his "native" University in Strasbourg. - "Whenever I want I get in touch and communicate with many Foreign Research centers around the World, including USA, Russia, etc.", while also being able to travel a lot, participate in European or International Conferences, etc, Lehn had told "EuroFora" earlier.
--------------------------------
+ Dr Hoffmann's wife and collaborator, Daniele, to "EuroFora" :
-----------------------------------------------------------
+ Hoffmann also said today that, even if he had received several "proposals of posts, both abroad and elsewhere in France", he had decided to "stay here", in Strasbourg, whose "attractivity" had already started to create a "cosmopolitan spirit", (Geist) on the spot.

- "A lifespan of a Scientific career has many aspects : Initially, it's focused at working on Labo experiments. Afterwards, comes a period where it's also about Training young researchers. Followed by another, where more and more time is given in managing a group or structure, finding Funds to support new projects, etc. And then, it's also about promoting results and making Science and ideas known to the Peuple. It's never about doing always the same thing !", resumed for "EuroFora" 2011 Nobel prize winner Hoffmann's wife, Daniele, (who has always been also one of his closest, long-time collaborators).

As UniStra's President Beretz had just observed earlier, the 2011 Nobel Prize indeed had found in Strasbourg University also his wife, Daniele, "as also Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker"...
---------------------------------------------------------------
- However, it's not because that they are (both) Nobel Prizes that they might work together", observed Strasbourg University's President Beretz, for Lehn and Hoffmann, to "EuroFora".

- "We (UniStra) are already busy into how to use best the Money that we've just got on our "Projects for the Future", so that we have, still, to see what we might do more in a possible next step", cautiously but openly replied Strasbourg University's President Alain Beretz to an "EuroFora"s question about eventual New Projects stimulated by Hoffmann's Nobel Prize win.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        - "It's not a University which might augment the value of (valorize) a Nobel Prize winner. It's a Nobel Prize Winner who can augment the Value of (valorizes) a University, since, thanks to the Nobel Prize, it can became more Famous, more Visible".

- "So that, we (Strasbourg's University) don't have to valorize him. On the contrary, it's him (i.e. the Nobel Prize winner, now Hoffmann, added to Lehn) who will show us the way, I believe", by what he has done, and/or wishes to do inside it", optimistically observed to "EuroFora" UniStra's President Alain Beretz.

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 - "By a coincidence, Dr. Jules Hoffmann was at Shanghai (China) when the Nobel Prize was anounced, where is also located the world-famous University Rating system, while the French Government has repeatedly expressed its ambition for Strasbourg University to start moving, during the next few years, towards the first 10 of Shangai's International Universities' Rating. In this regard, is it true, as some recently observed, that Hoffmann's Nobel prize might be Doubly helpful, because he was both educated and worked as a Researcher in Strasbourg ?", "EuroFora" asked Beretz.

- "Yes. Shanghai's rating includes a calculation also about both where a Nobel Prize was educated, and where he received the Prize, etc.. But, at least for the time being, Shanghai's rating is not a topical issue for us", replied to "EuroFora"s question Strasbourg University's President.

-Indeed, as the "Gutenberg circle"'s Secretary General, Gerard Bellitto, explained to "EuroFora", the prestigious Think Tank which brings together all Nobel Prize Winners and Academicians  working in Strasbourg's Alsace Region, had already been obliged to propose, during the 2008 French EU Presidency, for the EU to create its own Universities' Rating system, at least as long as the Shanghai's initial Rating doesn't evolve in order to take into account also important particularities of Regions of the World, as Europe, which have some key specific characteristics :

- "Initially, Shanghai's Rating of Universities Worldwide had been simply made in order for Chinese Authorities to be able to choose where to send their Students abroad to study for a while, according to simple and objective criteria. But, afterwards, when it became World famous and started to be used around the World, it became obvious that it wasn't well fit everywhere, and needs to be updated :  F.ex., on Publications, it only takes into account some English language Scientific Editions, ignoring French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and other languages' Media, which are, nevertheless, frequently used in Europe for Law and Economy, Political Science and Sociology, Philosophy and Religion, Art and Culture, History and Psychology, etc. In addition, Shanghai's current Rating is based just on a distinction between each Organisation's and each Universitues' own structures, and, thus, doesn't reflect well the reality in some European Countries as France and Germany, etc., in which exist also big National Research Organizations with Regional outlets, as the CNRS, Max-Plank, etc., because it calculates separately the Researchers paid by the National bodies, from those paid by the Universities, even if they are working together, in a same local site, often even inside the same building and offices, whose expenses might be shared 50%-50% between CNRS or Max-Plank and a University. But, in this way, Strasbourg's Alsace region, which hosts, f.ex., the Biggest implantation of CNRS' researchers out of Paris' capital, is hindered to use them in the current Shanghai Rating System, unless it becomes adequately updated in order to take into account all Scientific Publications and all Scientific Research really done by People working at a University's site", Bellitto concluded.

+ "However, it's true that, if the system proposed by (French) President Sarkozy, for Autonomous Universities attracting Scientific Research inside them, develops even further,  f.ex. as it's currently being progressively done in Strasbourg, (comp. Sarkozy's recent statements, at his November 2011 visit to the University of Strasbourg, where he pleaded in favor of concentrating "Research at the heart of the University", See "EuroFora"s NewsReport from the spot), then; it might become possible for this second problem to be more or less solved by the concentration of most Researchers inside Universities", he observed.
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+ Westhof, Gutenberg's cercle + :

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Strasbourg University's potential also benefits recently by the Award of the title of "Academician" in France to Hoffmann's successor as New Director of the Biological and Molecular Institute (IBMC), Professor Eric Westhof, a Belgian educated at the USA and Germany, specialized in RNA Structure and Functions, who has become UniStra's vice-President in charge of Scientific Research and Doctoral studies.

Westhof accompagnied Hoffmann, together with President Beretz, to the Stockholm's award of the 2011 Nobel Prize a few Days earlier, as "EuroFora" learned, and he recently became also New Vice-President of the prestigious Top level Think-tank "Gutenberg circle" in Strasbourg, which brings together an Elite Group of Nobel Prize winners and Academicians working in Strasbourg's Alsace region, aiming to stimulate Stategic Projects and other landmark initiatives of excellence.

Westhof, as a brand new Academician, is also vice-President of the prestigious, Top Level Think Tank for Strasbourg's area Alsace, the "Gutenberg Circle", which brings together all Academicians, Nobel Prizes, and other Scientists/Researchers of Excellence, as his experienced, sympathetic and inventive Secretary General, Gerard Bellitto, reminded to "EuroFora".

Bellitto, while being naturally enthousiastic about Hoffmann's 2011 win and for the prospect to strenghen, from now on, the "Gutenberg circle" with 2 Nobels, instead of only 1, (Lehn), nevertheless, was as Careful as UniStra's President Beretz about "EuroFora"s questions on possible New Projects which could be stimulated in Strasbourgby Hoffman's success, while the "Great Loan" established by French President Sarkozy still has some 16 Billions € for "Investments for the Future", (in addition to the 15 first Billions € already invested throughout France): ..

 - "All this looks, indeed, interesting, and there will, certainly, be added some New Projects", Gutenberg Circle's Secretary General reacted to "EuroFora"s questioning after Hoffmann's new Nobel prize (See supra), "but we must also take into account the Fact that, already, the Projects officially presented by Strasbourg's University last year, including, mainly, those who succeeded to receive "Initiative of Excellence" labels, and to get  Long-term State Funding, etc., inevitably have started to "dhape" UniStra's activities' overall Structure and Strategy for the next few years, so that it would be rather difficult to eventually change all that in the middle of the road,  as he said, (almost agreeing with UniStra's President Beretz that the 1st Priority, these years, is to manage well the State Funds already received for the presented pluri-annual projects)-

However, even some among those projects seem to have enough "Plasticity" in the way in which they may be used, so that they might include also several interesting additions, in a coherent manner ;

- F.ex. the project to establish soon in Strasbourg a brand New "Institute of Advanced Studies", where UniStra plans to invite High Level Scientists from Europe and all over the World to stay and work on certain Projects, probably in cooperation also with nearby Freiburg's University (Germany), which reportedly has some rather similar plans, as Gerard Bellitto told "EuroFora".

+ Another concrete area where it doesn't seem excluded at all to see Hoffmann play a role, together with Lehn and other Top Scientists, might, eventually, be that of "BioEthics", an obviously crucial domain, particularly at this period of History when expected pressure by some business and technocratic lobbies to get hold of Human Embryos, extend Tests on Human persons, etc, augments, with any pretext, despite the astonishingly persisting lack or any Scientific or Technologic breakthrough by those who have already done so, wasting many Millions of dollars $ for several years, without any convincing result...  Indeed, "BioEthics" stand at an InterDisciplinary CrossRoads between Law and Politics, Philosophy and Morals, Religion and Sociology, Medicine and Chemistry or Genetics and Physics, Communication and Press Media, etc. the "Gutenberg Circle"'s Secretary General reiterated to "EuroFora". - "And it's often, precisely, there where 2 or 3 and more Differend Disciplines meet each other, that a Light might emerge", he wisely observed.

Something which interests also CNRS' Director of Research in Physics, Biology and Genomics, Dr. Jean-Pierre Thierry, of the Institute for Genetics and Molecular/Cellular Biology IGBMC, who is also in charge of Science - Society relations, and knows well Hoffmann, as "EuroFora" saw in practice.
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    A Film prepared on Hoffmann spoke about what it called "Fear" of "Science", opposing a mythical period during which "Science was something wonderful, before...", contrary to a "recent" period, when "many People in France and Germany, as well as Schwitzerland and other Countries, somewhat less in the UK and in USA (an inaccurate claim in this last case), express Fears and Mistrust", while "controversies" go on, as it said, (committing the mistake to confuse noble "Science" with petty "Technocracy")...

    F.ex. the very concept of "Evolution", pushes now to Controvercy, while "AIDS : a Catastrophe", was nevertheless "identified in France", and "the case of Contaminated Blood,  didn't accuse Science, but those who managed the Stocks of blood, i.e. the Economy and Politics", as Hoffmann observed.

    => In consequence, "Scientific Research and activities should be Monitored by some Independent bodies, preferably International", he advised.

    Moreover, we all should "take enough Time to get Informed, Think, and leave Ideology out", Hoffmann concluded.
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    Meanwhile, Hoffmann had already anounced his intention to consider investing his forthcoming activities into "certain projects", including also on the relation between "Science and Society", (a probably inditect reference to BioEthics : See supra), but without giving any concrete details...

    But, replying afterwards to questions by a German collegue, apparently about BioEthics and on-going Controversies about the Human Embryo, ("Ungebornen" in Deutsch, i.e., the Unborn Child), Hoffmann apparently advised what he called "DeSacralization" of the Human Embryo debate, (as far as our incomplete German languaga practice could judge), probably urging to skip the well known opposition of mainly the Christian Catholic Church, as well as of some Evangelical Christians, in Europe and at the USA, etc., against Genetic Manipulations of Human Embryo, (who join also various other People's concerns, f.ex. from the traditional "Green" movement, up to certain Free Thinkers, etc).
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    Hoffmann reminded, meanwhile, that, when he first arrived in Strasbourg from a German-speaking province of Luxembourg, 40 Years earlier, back on 1961, "I didn't know anyone here".. But "I was soon attracted by the Human and Cultural aspects of the city, where I was married to a Strasbourg lady", and "preferred to always stay here", rejecting various proposals to work elsewhere.

    While making a parallel between the "Millenary History of Saint-Odile", (a landmark Christian former Monastery, but also a largely known Massive Tourism sight-seeing scenery), "and Esternach Monastery", back in his native Luxembourg area that he abandoned young,  Hoffmann also stressed his meetings not only with the kind Guy Ourisson, but also with the business-active Genetician Pierre Champon, (who built a huge Private Labo for research on Mouses' Genes, etc).

    Concerning Local Politicians, Hoffmann revealed a rather closer link to "Socialists" as Bigot, also Mayor of Illkirsch, that he "thanked for having helped to set up a Company "AcoMed", and Ries, Mayor of Strassbourg, "whose political Majority has a Member working inside our Labo", as he unveiled, than to the ChristianDemocrats/EPP members of the Governing Majority Party in France : UMP, Kennel and Richert, Presidents of Low-Rhine's District and of Alsace Region , as well as Minister, respectively, (despite Region's key role on Funding Scientific/Technologic Innovation, from Business' projects up to Post-Doc. Research), that he said that he "didn't know personally", but only "through Press Articles" on their activities in the area.
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    + Speaking to Strasbourg Journalists, including "EuroFora", Hoffmann  expressed also the view "that a Doctoral Thesis is much more about learning how to work and think in a Scientific manner, than in order to find a job and a concrete place in Society for a student".     

He was apparently reacting to a frequently heard now Complaint by some Young Researchers concerning the multiplication of Short-term, small, superficial "PHD" papers, finished in a few years (2 or 3, rarely 4), opposed to the Long-term, big and profound "State Doctoral Thesis", which existed in the Past in France, in principle reserved just to the Best Researchers, who consecrated between 5 and 15 or even more Years of serious work (in the latter case in parallel with other related activities), before being notoriously undermined and later droped, leading to the recently generalized Mediocrity of "Inflation" by Small baby- or Nano-"Thesis", which copies only the Bad aspects of an Anglosaxon system, but not the good...
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+ Trend towards Older Nobel Prize Winners ?

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Concerning Age, Jules Hoffman, aged 71 at the moment of his 2011 Nobel Prize win (but looking 45-55 in physical shape, fast and sharp), is a perfect example of recent Global Statistics recently showing a progressive but rapidly growing Increase in the Age of Nobel winners, among whom, the number of those who received the Prize when aged 41-50 grew from 35% in 1921-1940, up to 52% in 2001-2008, while those who won at an age Older than 51 years have increased with an even Faster pace, from 5% in 1920 up to 22% in 2008, (i.e. an average multiplied by  X 440 %, and this trend should certainly have gone even Higher until 2011), according to data published today by the French Newspaper "Le Figaro"....

His Nobel Partners, Canadian and American professors Steinman and Beutler, with whom Hoffman shares  the 2011 Prize, were aged 68 and 54 years, respectively, i.e., also much older than the average of Nobel winners in the Past.

Jean-Marie Lehn, now aged 72, is today (2011) an excellent example of a particularly active Nobel prize winner (since 1987), fully engaged in his brand new Research centre recently built in Strasbourg University's main Campus, and as the main inspirator of many Hundreds of Millions € invested from 2011 by the French State in UniStra's projects of Excellence and other Initiatives for the Future in various multi-annual programs (funded President Sarkozy's idea to establish for such purposes a 36 Billions € strong "Great Loan"), in cooperation with the private sector, structured mainly around Chemistry's attractiveness and its potential to create links and interactions also with various other Disciplines, including f.ex. Medicine (Drugs, etc), Law-Philosophy-Sociology (f.ex. Bioethics, etc. Comp. Strasbourg University President Beretz's previous statements to "EuroFora" on 2009 and 2010 about pluri-disciplinarity, etc).
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    At any case, all stressed that Strasbourg's area was proud to have today 2 Nobel Prizes, after that of Jean-Marie Lehn, Chemistry Nobel winner as early as since 1987, now joined also by Jules Hoffmann, Physiology or Medicine Nobel winner on 2011, boosting the region's "Spirit of Excellence".

    But the obvious Question, without yet a crystal-clear answer,  is : - In order to do What ?
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- "It's the Duty of a Researcher to do anything possible in order to reach Knowledge", with "patience and tenacity", stressed the President of Strasbourg's University, Alain Beretz, who already had an opportunity to cooperate in the Past with Hoffmann "as Pharmacologist. - "Proud that you found in Strasbourg the Intellectual food for your brillant career", we know that you also found here your Wife, Daniele, as did also the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker", he reminded, noting also that Hoffmann's father was already a "Professor of Biology" interested in insects, while, after arriving to study in Strasbourg 40 years ago, he "became a Researcher and always remained one", here.

- "You searched to find out what rules govern Living beings" ("ce qui règle le vivant"), stressed from the outset, saluting Hoffmann on behalf of France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), its Director of Biology. - "Interested in the Immunity System's defense against Virus, you studied certain Insects which are Vectors of Virus, and, in particular, Flies transmitting Virus". But, "interested to Human Health, Why study Insects ?" Strasbourg's University was then "indifferent" to this apparent paradox, but "the CRNS was open", he reminded.

- Hoffmann's "concern for what (Scientific) Research can offer to the Economy", as well as in order to "protect our Health and bring ameliorations for Humankind", was noted by Jacques Bigot, President of Strasbourg's Urban Community.

- Both "Medical applications, certainly very useful", but also the "spirit of Excellence" in Science, was highlighted in the case of Hoffmann by Guy-Dominique Kennel, President of Lower Rhine's district, who invited the 2011 Nobel Prize winner to give his name to a new Building of the bi-lingual, French and German "Science Vehicle" Media Center,  dedicated to stimulate the "Scientific vocation among Young people".

- Strasbourg's Mayor, Senator Roland Ries, went on to stress Hoffman's full interest extending both to insects' "Immunity System's responses" and to their "Development".  This "opens pathways towards New Drugs and Vaccines", he added.

- Minister for Decentralisation and President of Strasbourg's Region Alsace, Jean-Philippe Richert, (a former Professor of College in Science-Geography, as Hoffmann's own Father), joined together the Nobel winner's aim to "better know some fundamental Scientific mecanisms", as well as his work's "possible Therapeutic applications", in order to plead for Alsace"'s "Competitiveness' poles, including "BioValley", Illkirsch, etc,, as well as for an alliance between "Fundamental Scientific Research's need for Liberty", and its "links to the Economic world", on which, "now exists a consensus", thanks also to the (State funded) "Investments for the Future".  
It's in Strasbourg's region Alsace that, among other brillant Scientists, Bloch (History), Schweitzer (Medicine), Lehn (Chemistry), and Hoffmann (Physiology), etc. developed their roots, pointing at a Future focused on Innovative Research, creative Ideas and "Promethean" spirit, Richert went on to dream...
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CNRS' publication :
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    A recent booklet making a presentation of Hoffmann's work, published by the French National Center for Scientific Research : CNRS, which has just awarded him its "Gold Medal", reminds that "when Jules Hoffmann started his research, (many Decades ago), his aim was Double : Understand why and how Insects defend themselves so efficiently against external aggressions, and use this knowledge in order to better fight against them".

    F.ex., at the beginning, Hoffmann's research focuses on "an Hormone involved in the Development of Crickets", and "invents an Inhibitor "acting against the synthesis of that hormone, so that it could "Stop the damages done to Farmers by Crickets" : A big Agricultural stake, which "brings much Money and Contracts to his Labo", even "from the former Soviet Union, which needed to be able to control the population of those Damaging Insects" ...

    But, "with the progress of Molecular (i.e. Genetic) Biology", and "the discovery .. of the first anti-microbian peptid in butterflies by a Swedish labo", (i.e. from the Country which gave him later the Nobel prize), Hoffmann made the "Strategic choice" to "focus 100% on the Immunity System" of insects, and, in particular, "of the FruitFly, because it was Easier to Mutate Genetically".

    Thus, he works afterwords on the "Identification of all Anti-Microbian Peptids produced by FruitFlies to Defend themselves". But, "In order to isolate each one of these substanes, we had to .. infect about 100.000 Flies !", Hoffmann reminded... While, "today, with our full knowledge that we have, of Fruitfly's Genes, 100 Flies would be enough"; he observed.. All this results into the Finding of "7 Families of Anti-Microbian Peptids", (2 of which are "similar to those found also in Butterflies).

    But, Hoffmann "took he FruitFly as a perfect Model in order to study Resistance to Infections" in general, stressed USA researcher Bruce Beutier, with whome he shares the 2011 Nobel prize, a Genetician who made research on the Immunity System of Mammals. Indeed, Hoffmann "advances accross Borderlines" at this point, "willing to rapproach Labos working on Immunity Systems in Mouses and in Humans", as he reminded himself.

    Therefore, "he establises the Foundations of a Cooperation between Insects and Mammals (from Mouses to Humans), and gets, since 1994, Funds hrough the "Human Frontiers in Science" International program (whose Secretariat is based in Strasbourg), and, later-on, directly from American "National Institutes of Health", (USA).

    At that same moment, the CNRS gave to Hoffmann the Direction of Strasbourg's Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCB or IBMC in the original in French), where he transfered his Team composed from some 40 researchers and technicians from the Institute of Zoology, in his new Labo named "Immunity responses and Development of Insects". There, Hoffmann adds also experts on Genetics, who serve to "search how are produced the Anti-Microbian Peptids", i.e. the substances earlier identified by his team as crucial for the Immunity System (See supra).

    Thus, on 1996 he discovers that a "Receptor Toll .. plays a crucial role in the innate Immunity of FruiFly, because it helps to Identify Aggressors  and to Trigger the Anti-Microbian Response".  While Hoffmann starts to study Analytically the Dozens of chemical interactions which serve to give that Signal, only 1 Year later, on 1997, American Researchers "find Similar Tolls-Receptors also in the Anti-Microbian Defense of Humans" !

    + Moreover, it was also found that "those Toll-like Receptors, in addition to Monitoring a "direct" Response of the Anti-Microbian Defense, (as in the Innate Immunity System of FruitFly), also work as an Alarm-clock which triggers even the Adaptive Immunity System of Mammals, (mainly by activating Lymphocytes)"

    => "The Repercussions of such a Discovery on  Human beings, are just starting too be examined today : They concern many domains, such as Inflamations,anti-infectious responses, Vaccinations, auto-immunity, ImmunoTherapy, etc". But "Jules Hoffmann now continues (in 71 years of age !) to work on FruitFly's AntiMicrobian Defenses, particularly on the role of ... Immune Deficiency (IMD), which has also an equivalent to Humans : the Tumor Necrose factor, (TNF)",  the CNRS document concludes.     

Curiously, this long CNRS document totally ommits the fact that Viruses are often used nowadays also as Vectors in order to penetrate Cells' Genome, if they bypass the Immunity System.

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    Hoffmann's partner in sharing together 50% of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Pysiology and Medicine, "American Genetist and Immunologist" Bruce Beutler, "best known for his pioneering ...Genetic studies of inflammation and innate Immunity, ... was the first to isolate mouse Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF)... Subsequently, he invented recombinant molecules expressly Designed to Neutralize TNF".

    + Moreover, "Beutler used TNF production ...to identify the LPS receptor", i.e. "the Mechanism by which LPS Activates mammalian Immune cells". He "thus discovered the ...Sensors of microbial Infection in Mammals, demonstrating that one of the mammalian Toll-like receptors, TLR4, acts as....component of the ....LPS receptor complex. The TLRs (of which 10 are now known to exist in Humans) are now widely known to function in the Perception of Microbes, each detecting signature molecules that herald infection"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
     "Beutler ....continued to apply a forward Genetic approach to the analysis of Immunity in Mammals. In this process, Germline Mutations that Alter Immune function are Created,.... detected by their phenotypic Effects, and then Isolated by positional cloning. His work disclosed numerous essential Signaling Molecules required for the innate Immune Response".

    "MutaGenesis was also used by Beutler ... to study ...Response to a defined infectious agent. By screening Mutant mice...., (he) identified a large number of Genes that make a Life-or-Death difference during infection,.... ...Some of these Genes were wholly unexpected, .. and Mutations that affect them cause sudden Death during infection".

    + Also,"Beutler ... identified Genes required for other important biological processes, including the regulation of ..... Embryonic Development, since their disruption ...created strikingly abnormal visible phenotypes", according to Wikipedia.
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    But the most extraordinary story related to Hoffmann's 2011 Nobel obviously is that of his other, major partner, who shared alone 50% of  the Prize, Canadian immunologist Ralph Steinman, "for his discovery of the Dendritic Cell and its role in Adaptive Immunity", i.e. mainly Human, as the Swedish institution anounced.

    Concerning the main role of these Cells named after the Greek word for "Tree" : "Dendro", for their branches, Steinman wrote that "a consensus view emerged ... in which Dendritis Cells ...could Capture antigens, Mature, and Move ....to the T-cell areas  to initiate Immunity". (See VIDEO).

    "Dendritic cells are present in tissues in contact with the External Environment, such as the Skin ....and the inner lining of the Nose, Lungs, or Stomach and Intestines".

    In an "Unprecedented" event in Nobel's History, Steinman surprisingly ...died from pancreas Cancer just a few Days before his landmark win of 50% of the 2011 Prize was officially anounced. So that he was Hindered both to personaly receive the Nobel, and, (more impotant), to Explain his Findings and present their Future Perspectives on Human Health, in the Stockholm lectures systematically given by all Nobel recipients.

    This exceptional Tragic Incident is so more Regrettable, that Steinman, (at the difference of Hoffmann and even Beutler) was not only the Youngest in Age among the 3 recipients of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in 2011, but also the most directly and intimately linked to the crucial and unquestionably Positive issue of the Protection of Human Health from Cancer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
    Indeed, Steinman not only worked directly on Human adaptative Immunity System, but also engaged Personaly (according to information given by his Rockfeller University) in an Urgent Fight against Cancer, stuggling dramatically to use his own Scientific Findings in order to Prolonge his Life during the last 4 Years !

    Thus, his Sudden Death just when the Nobel Prize committee was going to officially anounce that Steinman had been selected as the No 1 winner on Physiology and Medicine in 2011 for the adaptative Immune System of Humans, and his Discoveries on Dendritis Cells' positive role into Protecting Human Genes and Health even from intrusions which might provoke Cancer, (Comp. supra), Hindering him, a the last minute, to make a thorough and updated presentation of his latest Findings and their Future Perspectives in the Fight to protect Human Genes from External Aggressions provoking Cancer, (as Dendritis Cells obviously try to do  : See attached Video), certainly makes Steinman's latest, personal Notes, Manuscripts, Computer and Labo Data, a precious source of probably valuable and original, unedited yet Information about what the Scientist was really trying to do, what he had almost found, etc., before he was suddenly hindered to reveal it in Public by sudden Death....

    => Therefore, an Interesting (and even Morally Justified) Research into Steinman's latest Notes, Experiments, Findings, Scientific Hypothesis, etc. (which should naturally be Safeguarded, meanwhile), is certainly a must for anyone who might be sincerely motivated by a real struggle to protect the Human Genome from any External Aggressions which might provoke Cancer, etc.

    The contrary (i.e. a kind of strange "Silencing" of Steinman's eventual findings, even if incomplete or immature at present), woud be very curious, almost scandalous and, at any case, both Morally and from a purely intellectual and Scientific point of view, unacceptable.-