CounterCurrents: A Historic Event Or A Fraud? Critical Thoughts On The Paris Climate Accord, Will Middle East Crisis Worsen In New Year?, TransCanada's $15B Lawsuit Against U.S. on Keystone XL Presents Strong Case

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In Solidarity
Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org


A Historic Event Or A Fraud? Critical Thoughts On The Paris Climate Accord 
By Saral Sarkar

http://www.countercurrents.org/sarkar080116.htm

If humanity can no longer indulge in the growth compulsions inherent in capitalism with its principle of competition in a free market economy, shouldn't the state(s) step in and order a stop in further economic growth? Shouldn't the state(s) then tell the people that they have to accept a contracting economy and all the consequences thereof? Shouldn't the state(s), from then on, plan an orderly withdrawal from the present mad economic system?


Obama's Tears 
By John Chuckman

http://www.countercurrents.org/chuckman080116.htm

Had I seen the image of Obama, weeping over American gun deaths, seven years ago, I know I would have been deeply moved. It would have reinforced my view of him then as an empathetic, bright, and progressive politician. But the image comes seven years later, following a period of Obama’s proving himself an utterly cold and dry-eyed killer. I don’t know whether the recent tears were artificially induced, as by an irritant placed on a fingertip to be touched to his face at the right moment of his performance, or squeezed out from heretofore unknown political acting talent. Perhaps they just reflect a kind of strangely compartmentalized brain


Jewish-Israeli Passengers Hijack Airline’s Integrity 
By Vacy Vlazna

http://www.countercurrents.org/vlazna080116.htm

Two passengers, on Sunday 3rd January, who in good faith had paid their fares, had passed security checks, boarded the Aegean Airlines flight from Athens to Tel Aviv unexpectedly found themselves at the centre of a racist onslaught by belligerent Jewish-Israeli passengers accusing the two passengers of being ‘terrorists’ and demanding their removal from the plane. The victims were attacked for one reason only- they are Palestinian … even though one carried an Israeli passport and the other an Israeli residence permit. For almost 2 hours, the Palestinians made a stand on their rights to stay on the plane but as the harassment and humiliation intensified from the bullies who had increased from 5 to 70 in number, the Palestinians agreed to disembark


New Years Eve 2016 
By William Blum

http://www.countercurrents.org/blum080116.htm

I stayed up about two hours past my usual bedtime to watch the New Years Eve celebration in Times Square. For one reason only. To see happy people. A year like 2015 can do that to you. The sight of many thousands of young people standing in the cold for hours, hugging and kissing, screaming and laughing, was very precious. Also a bit unnerving


Latin America Has To Fight And Win! 
By Andre Vltchek

http://www.countercurrents.org/vltchek080116.htm

For now, Argentina is lost and Venezuela is deeply wounded, divided and frustrated. Virtually everywhere in socialist Latin America, well-orchestrated and angry protests are taking place, accusing our left-wing governments of mismanagement and corruption. What was gained during those years of hard work and sacrifices, is suddenly evaporating in front of our eyes. And there seems to be no way to stop the trend in the foreseeable future. Whatever magnificent work our governments have done have been smeared. Western propaganda and its local serfs belittle the achievements of our people. In several countries, revolutionary zeal has almost entirely vanished


Will Middle East Crisis Worsen In New Year? 
By Jack A. Smith

http://www.countercurrents.org/smith080116.htm

"Worse" may be near, or far. The Wahhabi Saud clan has just accumulated substantially more power and authority in the region, and — despite occasional differences in tactics —is blessed by the higher and more powerful strategic authority at the headquarters of modern imperialism on the banks of the Potomac


TransCanada's $15B Lawsuit Against U.S. on Keystone XL Presents Strong Case
By Eric Zuesse

http://www.countercurrents.org/zuesse080116.htm

TransCanada, the Canadian company that had been planning to build and own its proposed Keystone XL Pipeline carrying Canada's tar-sands oil to Texas Gulf Coast refineries for export to Europe and elsewhere, released to the public, on Wednesday January 6th, two legal presentations against the United States, because U.S. President Barack Obama, through his Secretary of State John Kerry, on 6 November 2015, had said no to TransCanada's proposed oil pipeline


Islam: The War Within 
By Sazzad Hussain

http://www.countercurrents.org/hussain080116.htm

The Saudi-Iran spate reflects the century old sectarian rift within Islam which otherwise provide an egalitarian vision for mankind. It is the typical Middle-Eastern paradox to be sectarian which hardly to be found among Muslims elsewhere. But the important fact is that this divide in Islam has put the Sunnis in side with the western hegemonic designs as it has been for the last eight decades and Shiites with the global forces that oppose it—Russia and China


Social Boycott Of Dalit Scholars : Locating Caste In Modern Context 
By Agnes Amala. T

http://www.countercurrents.org/amala080116.htm

This University of Hyderabad incident could be the perfect preface to the larger version of oppression and it places in comparison to the caste ridden Indian society which has unfortunately penetrated and shed its poision into the most highly esteemed institutions of this country. In Particular reference to exertion of political pressure by BJP, it is not unusual given the way both their muscle, money and political power is used to suppress the voice of Dalits and minorities


Disposable Humans
By Abdul Majid Zargar

http://www.countercurrents.org/zargar080116.htm

Let me reproduce only two disclosures,from among many spine-chilling revelations, from Kishlay Bhattacharya’s recently released book -‘Blood on my hands-the confessions of a Staged encounter’. This book is about confession by an army officer which splits open the anatomy of staged encounters & extra-judicial killings .Its author is a senior journalist who has been associated with broadcast television for twenty years. He has won many awards to his credit, made several documentaries & is author of few books


How Can We Meaningfully Engage With The Rural Poor 
By Moin Qazi

http://www.countercurrents.org/qazi080116.htm

The poor are yet to find their voice, even as the media (for that matter, the entire establishment) have become the megaphone of the classes that are prospering. The preference for growth over social justice, indeed, the argument that economic growth is the road to social justice, is advocated over and above increased spending. But is it required for accelerated growth to translate into inclusive growth? The answer, I fervently believe, lies in inclusive governance


Good Governance In Sri Lankan Context: For You But Not Yours Yet 
By Nilantha Ilangamuwa

http://www.countercurrents.org/nilantha080116.htm

Today we are commemorating the first anniversary of the downfall of Rajapaksa governance, an autocratic reign which last over a decade. Sadly, in all honesty, we cannot say that we are celebrating the succeeding government because, in fact, one after coming to power we see little in the way of improvement with regard to the many core issues. Many of the allegedly corrupt politicians of the previous regime have the safe haven within the government