CounterCurrents: Remember Your Humanity, US And Ukrainian Officials Seek To Torpedo Minsk Cease-fire Agreement

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US And Ukrainian Officials Seek To Torpedo Minsk Cease-fire Agreement
By Niles Williamson

http://www.countercurrents.org/williamson140215.htm

American and Ukrainian officials issued provocative threats and accusations against Russia less than 48 hours after German, French, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reached a cease-fire agreement following marathon talks in the Belorussian capital of Minsk


The Minsk Peace Deal: Farce Or Sellout?
By Paul Craig Roberts

http://www.countercurrents.org/roberts140215.htm

As Washington is not a partner to the Minsk peace deal, how can there be peace when Washington has made policy decisions to escalate the conflict and to use the conflict as a proxy war between the US and Russia?


Putin Wins, Obama Loses, In Draft Plan For Ukraine
By Eric Zuesse

http://www.countercurrents.org/zuesse140215.htm

The only way that U.S. President Barack Obama can win in Ukraine now is by negotiating subsequent details to become deal-breakers to the February 12th draft agreement, such that for Russian President Vladimir Putin not to accept Obama's proposed details would mean that no deal will be signed. This could happen, because the prestige of both leaders is on the line in this new draft deal on Ukraine


Remember Your Humanity
By John Scales Avery

http://www.countercurrents.org/avery140215.htm

This year, 2015, marks the 60th anniversary of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, which contains the following words: “There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise. If you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death.”


Beyond The Market-State: Decentralizing Power In A Sharing Society
By Rajesh Makwana

http://www.countercurrents.org/makwana140215.htm

At a time when governments are failing abysmally to mitigate climate change, reduce inequality or end poverty, the key to creating a more equal and sustainable world is establishing participative forms of political engagement at all levels of society—from the local to the global


Solon To Iceland To Greece: Adventures In Democracy
By Robert Snefjella

http://www.countercurrents.org/snefjella140215.htm

And so we turn back to Greece, once again, with social and economic dysfunctions and debt problems and oligarchs. Are there shades of Solonic inspiration in the 'we're not going to take it any more' reformist rebellion playing out right now, February 2015?


Mending ‘Axis Of Resistance': Hamas Returns To The Start
By Ramzy Baroud

http://www.countercurrents.org/baroud140215.htm

Despite its success of rebelling Israeli military advances in Gaza, Hamas's regional political maneuvers of recent years are not bearing fruits. Jointly isolated by Israel and other Arab parties, unaided by the Palestinian Authority (PA) of Mahmoud Abbas, the Islamic Resistance Movement is once again facing difficult choices, and it seems to be choosing a cautious return to its old camp of Iran and Hezbollah. The maneuver this time is particularly risky


Time To Honor Lucy Parsons For Black History Month
By A D Hemming

http://www.countercurrents.org/hemming140215.htm

Why was Lucy Eldina Gonzales Parsons whitewashed, and that’s the right word for it, for so long out of US history and black history as well with all her high profile activism across a whole range of issues over a rather long time and thus denied her due in recognition of the tremendous number of actions she took on behalf of those without a voice and honoring her for same? Was any truth in the notion that it had to do with the reference to her by the Chicago Police referring to her as “more dangerous than a thousand rioters”? The FBI? Maybe some of of all this?


Cuba Through The Looking Glass
By David Swanson

http://www.countercurrents.org/swanson140215.htm

In other unusual Cuban phenomena, the U.S. government is allowing tourists to bring home $100 worth of rum and cigars. And the U.S. State Department is working on a forthcoming list of products that Cubans can export to the United States. The list will not include numerous life-saving medicines currently unavailable in the United States, and not apparently because the U.S. government believes rum and cigars are better for its people than life-saving medicines. No, the reason is bizarre yet predictable. Stop and guess for a minute before reading on


When Terrorism Is Not Terrorism
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

http://www.countercurrents.org/ghazali140215.htm

The execution-style of the three students at Chapel Hill and the environment of hate warrants a moment of national reflection: What is it that we are doing to create such a toxic atmosphere? Where does this anti-Muslim sentiment stem from? Who are the individuals and groups who are peddling this hate?


Delhi: A World Class Smart City or An Inclusive And Equitable Capital?
By Shalu Nigam

http://www.countercurrents.org/nigam140215.htm

An integrated coordinated approach to urban management is recommended keeping in mind the diverse needs of people from different background. The task of building an inclusive city is also predicated on meaningful participation on the part of disadvantaged and disenfranchised women and men. This implies facilitating people to organize their everyday lives and to engage in a planning process where they can negotiate on their own terms. An inclusive and equitable city is about accountability of those who are in governance and about dignity of inhabitants of the city and is possible by striving towards holistic approach that is possible through social equity and creating just and fair society, environment sustainability, economic growth with equitable distribution and political empowerment of disempowered


A “Popular” Government In J & K ?
By Mohammad Ashraf

http://www.countercurrents.org/ashraf140215.htm

In the present context of a fractured mandate, can a government formed by two ideologically incompatible groups be called a “Popular” government? Half of the government would be popular in the valley while the other half would be popular in Jammu! In reverse, the Kashmir part would be unpopular in Jammu and vice versa. The popularity would have to be redefined in case of J & K. It would be region wise popular government


The Murky Politics Of West Pakistan Refugees
By abdul Majid Zargar

http://www.countercurrents.org/zargar140215.htm

While the world is slow in resolving the long outstanding dispute of Kashmir, India is fast widening its scope of intervention in the state to strengthen its hold. The latest is its bid to accord citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees(WPR) so as to change the demographic character of the state. And local collaborators & facilitators to help it in redeeming this objective are in abundant supply. Another Palestine is in the making, If the Indian attempt goes unchallenged


Lucknow Declaration
By Annual Convention of Uttar Pradesh Land Alliance

http://www.countercurrents.org/upla140215.htm

Landless agricultural labourers, Khet Mazdoors, Dalits, Adivasis, most backward communities, Pasmanda Muslims, women, activists working on land and livelihood issues from different parts of Uttar Pradesh gathered here on February 13, 2015 for 11th Annual Convention of Uttar Pradesh Land Alliance (UPLA) in Lucknow and resolved to continue to work for the rights of the most marginalized communities in different parts of the state and request the government to put a moratorium on further land acquisition of poor marginalized communities who need state protection from growing alienation from their livelihood and natural resources


Arvind Kejriwal’s Victory In Delhi Is A Sign Of India’s Vibrant Democracy
By Mohammad Behzad Fatmi

http://www.countercurrents.org/fatmi140215.htm

The Indian electorate’s ever growing impatience on delivery of the promises made in the election campaigns must be a lesson for politicians to achieve what they promise or at least make effort in that direction. The Indians have also time and again proved that no election in India is like an India-Pakistan cricket match in which they would always support the Indian side, no matter who plays better. No political party or leader is invincible and it literally takes less than a year to decimate the non-performers


Stop Harassing Teesta Setalvad And Javed Anand
Press Release

http://www.countercurrents.org/pr140215.htm

People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) expresses alarm at the Gujarat Police move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand