Québecor et les écologistes : polémique, polarisation et pistes de dépolarisation

L’urgence climatique est souvent désignée comme un « méchant » problème public (wicked problem) à cause de sa grande complexité. La polarisation du débat public rajoute à cette complexité et pose un défi à la communication climatique. Dans ce mémoire, je m'inspire de la littérature francophone sur le débat public et de la littérature anglophone sur la polarisation politique pour étudier les moteurs discursifs de la polarisation du débat public et explorer le rôle des médias d’opinion dans ce processus. À partir du cas du Québec, j’analyse la réception des mobilisations pro-climat par les commentateurs médiatiques suite à la publication Rapport du GIEC de 2018 et des mobilisations mondiales qui l’ont suivie. J’étudie les opinions diffusées sur une période de 18 mois dans les médias de Québecor, premier groupe médiatique au Québec. À travers une méthodologie mixte combinant analyse quantitative, qualitative, argumentative et rhétorique d’un corpus varié (chroniques, émissions TV, entrevues radiophoniques avec des activistes), je montre que les opinions diffusées sont principalement en désaccord avec les mobilisations : non seulement les messages, idées et revendications sont critiqués mais les sources de ces messages sont elles-mêmes ciblées ainsi que le « camp » plus large auquel elles sont associées. Le recours important au registre polémique donne aux désaccords polémiques un potentiel polarisant qui pourrait avoir des implications pour le soutien populaire aux mobilisations et à l’action climatique plus en général. Cependant, l’observation de terrains d’entente, de nuances et de rhétoriques positives permettent de relativiser ce portrait : ces « surprises empiriques » aident à tracer des pistes de dépolarisation du débat face au problème urgent des changements climatiques.The climate emergency is often referred to as a “wicked” public problem because of its great complexity. Public debate polarization adds to this complexity and challenges climate communication. In this thesis, I draw from francophone literature on public debate and anglophone literature on political polarization to study the discursive drivers of public debate polarization and to explore the role played by opinion media in this process. Using the case of Québec, I analyze the reception of pro-climate activism by media commentators following the publication of the 2018 IPCC Report and the world-wide mobilizations that it triggered. I study the opinions disseminated over an 18-month period in the main media of Québecor, the leading media group in Quebec. Through a mixed-method approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses of arguments and rhetoric applied to a diverse corpus (columns, TV shows, radio interviews with activists), I show that the opinions broadcasted are mainly in disagreement with the mobilizations: not only are the messages, ideas and claims criticized, but the message sources are also targeted as well as the broader “camp” they are associated to. The substantial use of a “polemic register” gives polemic disagreements a polarizing potential that could have implications for popular support to mobilizations and climate action more generally. However, observing common ground, nuances and positive rhetoric helps to put this picture into perspective: these “empirical surprises” help to chart ways to depolarize public debate in the face of the pressing issue of climate change

Die Flurnamensammlung im Herzogtum Braunschweig

In Part I of this article, I argue that cyber racism is inextricably linked with systemic discrimination. The definition of systemic discrimination relied on was first provided by Judge Abella in the Report of the Royal Commission on Equality in Employment (Abella Report), which states that systemic discrimination points to practices or attitudes that can result in inequality of opportunity for individuals or groups. The Supreme Court of Canada has since adopted this definition, and in some instances, has acknowledged that systemic problems require systemic remedies. The purpose of this discussion is to demonstrate how situating cyber racism within the context of systemic discrimination illuminates the sources of the problem, the appropriate responses, and the multiple stakeholders who have a role to play in curbing cyber racism. Following the contextualization of the problem, Part II will discuss cyber racism alongside the phenomenon of the Internet more specifically. In this part, I argue that cyber racism is not a new problem, but simply a new form of a well- known social ill. While the nature and location of racist speech may have changed due to advancements in digital media and the omnipresence of technology, the forces that work to perpetuate racist or discriminatory acts remain deeply embedded in society. For this reason, we must avoid demonizing the Internet, and direct our energy towards users of the Internet instead. Part III of this article will provide an overview of the legal framework related to racist speech in Canada, including human rights legislation and free speech jurisprudence. Here, I will introduce the relatively recent legislative change to the Canadian Human Rights Act (the CHRA), i.e. the repeal of section 13. I use the discourse and debates surrounding the repeal of section 13 of the CHRA to highlight the tension between freedom of expression interests and the need to protect vulnerable groups from hate speech. Secondly, Part III will introduce constitutional conflicts raising section 2(b) claims in order to demonstrate how Canadian courts have responded to this tension. I will explore five cases dealing with freedom of expression, beginning with Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Taylor, which provided a definition of hate speech in 1990 that was adopted in later decisions. Next I will discuss R. v. Keegstra which, though it was a case in the criminal context, is a key decision because the Supreme Court of Canada reaffirmed that hate speech is by its very nature degrading, of low value, and does not advance any of the goals of freedom of expression. This discussion is followed by an analysis of Citron v. Zundel, where the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal dealt with online communications. Lastly, two recent decisions, Whatcott v. Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal and Canada (Human Rights Commission) v. Warman reaffirm the constitutionality of section 13 of the CHRA. Specifically, in Whatcott, the Court emphasized that because hate speech has a ‘‘tendency to silence the voice of its target group,” it can ‘‘distort or limit the robust and free exchange of ideas,” and is therefore detrimental to the very values forming the basis of our fundamental freedoms. To conclude this section, I will discuss the serious implications of repealing section 13. Because the government has prioritized individual freedoms over robust collective protections, it has created a legislative void in relation to discrimination claims. In Part IV, I propose a specific constitutional amendment. While I appreciate the slow pace of legal reform, I posit that it is imperative that Canada creates progressive laws that can better protect society from discriminatory speech. To this end, the Canadian government and ultimately Parliament can gain inspiration from other jurisdictions. This discussion is followed by a broader theoretical analysis of the framework within which claims of human rights violations are assessed. I argue that the adversarial structure relied on by courts and human rights tribunals is an inappropriate method to adjudicate claims of discrimination. While structural reform of adjudicative bodies is beyond the scope of this article, Part IV invites readers to reflect on whether the adversarial framework can effectively protect victims of discrimination. Finally, the article will conclude with a focus on legal and policy recommendations. Part V will return to the discussion of systemic problems and systemic remedies introduced in Part I. In this section, I gain inspiration from pedagogical experts who explain that online manifestations of racism can be directly connected to how young people learn and interact in the school environment. The institutional culture of schools can inadvertently serve to perpetuate prejudices and stereotypes; this institutional culture includes the school’s values, norms, assumptions, and habits. For this reason, educators, administrators, and policy-makers must look beyond curricula when confronting racism in schools. I explore the incorporation of a literacy program which includes teaching both legal literacy and digital media literacy, and which has the goal of empowering young people to navigate the Internet in a safe and positive way

An explorative study towards using VR sketching as a tool for ideation and prototyping in product design

The advancements in the field of VR allow designers to use VR as a technology for sketching ideas in a virtual space. In this paper, Gravity Sketch (a VR sketching software) is used as an ideation sketching tool in the process of product styling. The goal of this research is to examine the advantages and points-of-pain when using virtual reality tools in the process of product styling. 29 Master students used the VR sketching tool in their design process and all of them had feedback and insights on the tool

An increase in erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from blood correlates with the use of macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin antibiotics. EARS-Net Spain (2004–2020)

Staphylococcus aureus; Antibiotic resistance; MacrolidesStaphylococcus aureus; Resistència als antibiòtics; MacròlidsStaphylococcus aureus; Resistencia a los antibióticos; MacrólidosObjectives: To describe and analyse erythromycin resistance trends in blood isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (EARS-Net Spain, 2004–2020) and the association of these trends with the consumption of macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B (MLSB) antibiotics. To assess molecular changes that could be involved in erythromycin resistance trends by whole genome analysis of representative isolates. Materials and methods: We collected antibiotic susceptibility data for all first-blood S. aureus isolates in patients from 47 Spanish hospitals according to EARS-Net criteria. MLSB antibiotic consumption was obtained from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (2008–2020). We sequenced 137 representative isolates for core genome multilocus sequence typing, resistome and virulome analysis. Results: For the 36,612 invasive S. aureus isolates, methicillin resistance decreased from 26.4% in 2004 to 22.4% in 2020. Erythromycin resistance in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) increased from 13.6% in 2004 to 28.9% in 2020 (p < 0.001); however, it decreased from 68.7 to 61.8% (p < 0.0001) in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Total consumption of MLSB antibiotics increased from 2.72 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID) in 2014 to 3.24 DID in 2016. By WGS, the macrolide resistance genes detected were erm (59.8%), msrA (46%), and mphC (45.2%). The erm genes were more prevalent in MSSA (44/57, 77.2%) than in MRSA (38/80, 47.5%). Most of the erm genes identified in MSSA after 2013 differed from the predominant ermC gene (17/22, 77.3%), largely because ermT was significantly associated with MSSA after 2013 (11/29, 37.9%). All 13 ermT isolates in this study, except one, belonged to ST398 and came from 10 hospitals and six Spanish provinces. Conclusion: The significant increase in erythromycin resistance in blood MSSA correlated with the consumption of the MLSB antibiotics in Spain. These preliminary data seem support the hypothesis that the human ST398 MSSA clade with ermT-mediated resistance to erythromycin may be involved in this trend.This research was supported by CIBER—Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CB21/13/00095, CB21/13/00006, CB21/13/00054, CB21/13/00068, CB21/13/00084, CB21/13/00099 groups of CIBERINFEC; CB06/06/0058 group of CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea-NextGenerationEU. This research was also supported by Personalized and precision medicine grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MePRAM Project, PMP22/00092), and by the Antibiotic Resistance and Staphylococcus aureus Surveillance Programs of the National Center for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Reversing motor adaptation deficits in the ageing brain using non-invasive stimulation

Healthy ageing is characterised by deterioration of motor performance. In normal circumstances motor adaptation corrects for movements’ inaccuracies and as such, it is critical in maintaining optimal motor control. However, motor adaptation performance is also known to decline with age. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) of the cerebellum and the primary motor cortex (M1) have been found to improve visuomotor adaptation in healthy young and older adults. However, no study has directly compared the effect of TDCS on motor adaptation between the two age populations. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the application of anodal TDCS over the lateral cerebellum and M1 affected motor adaptation in young and older adults similarly. Young and older participants performed a visuomotor rotation task and concurrently received TDCS over the left M1, the right cerebellum or received sham stimulation. Our results replicated the finding that older adults are impaired compared to the young adults in visuomotor adaptation. At the end of the adaptation session, older adults displayed a larger error (−17 deg) than the young adults (−10 deg). The stimulation of the lateral cerebellum did not change the adaptation in both age groups. In contrast, anodal TDCS over M1 improved initial adaptation in both age groups by around 30% compared to sham and this improvement lasted up to 40 min after the end of the stimulation. These results demonstrate that TDCS of M1 can enhance visuomotor adaptation, via mechanisms that remain available in the ageing population

Causal evidence that intrinsic beta frequency is relevant for enhanced signal propagation in the motor system as shown through rhythmic TMS

Correlative evidence provides support for the idea that brain oscillations underpin neural computations. Recent work using rhythmic stimulation techniques in humans provide causal evidence but the interactions of these external signals with intrinsic rhythmicity remain unclear. Here, we show that sensorimotor cortex precisely follows externally applied rhythmic TMS (rTMS) stimulation in the beta-band but that the elicited responses are strongest at the intrinsic individual beta-peak-frequency. While these entrainment effects are of short duration, even subthreshold rTMS pulses propagate through the network and elicit significant cortico-spinal coupling, particularly when stimulated at the individual beta-frequency. Our results show that externally enforced rhythmicity interacts with intrinsic brain rhythms such that the individual peak frequency determines the effect of rTMS. The observed downstream spinal effect at the resonance frequency provides evidence for the causal role of brain rhythms for signal propagation