One more thing - The retail shareholders who were deceived and financially harmed by Barrick in 2002, filed their lawsuit in 2003. Now, 6 years later, they are finally going to get justice when the judge signs the settlement agreement on March 31.

This is a typical strategy for unethical large corporations. They calculate the likelihood of success of some illegal activity for their own gain, and they calculate the potential cost if they get sued, and how long they can string out that lawsuit (so as to wear down the other side, or cause them to run out of money to continue their lawsuit), and then, if the corporation has still been unsuccessful in getting away with their illegal activity, and know they will lose their suit in court, then just before trial date, they settle with the other side, so that the details of their wrongdoing don't become public court records.

Those who think that they should always assume that all corporations and all businessmen are basically honorable men and to be trusted with your investment dollars are ignoring history. Some of our current directors come from business affiliations with dubious records. We should not be so naive as to neglect to have a contingent plan in mind.