Sorely missed! CounterCurrents: Welcome Back!.....MUST READ: A Good Beginning

Dear Friend,

CC is back again. The flu was bad , a bit weak and fatigued, I'm easing into work. 

My worst suffering is over, but not that of Kashmiris. It is day 61 of shut down and restrictions in the valley.  In Kulgam a School goes up in flames after forces fire teargas shells into a rally. Elderly man dies of cardiac arrest amid clashes in Kulgam. 

With death toll at 75 in Kashmir, Dr. P.S. Sahni&Shobha Aggarwal goes for a comparison with other conflict situations in the last hundred years where the Indian army/ British Indian Army was engaged with an uprising within the country or a conflict with a neighbouring country

On the second anniversary of the 2014 Kashmir flood – dubbed by some as the worst in a century – Zeenat Masoodi  writes a short piece as a victim of climate change.

While we were away a lot of things happened in Brazil. Dilma Roussef was formerly removed as president of Brazil in a constitutional coup. Andre Vltchek  a veteran of South America and a resident of Lebanon worries about the 'Lebanization' of Brazil. President Michel Temer is a migrant from Lebanon!

Peace activist    Robert J Burrowes writes an open letter to people of Brazil. 

And a lot of stories from around the world. 

If you don't mind, and if you think the content of this news letter is critical for the dignified living and survival of humanity and other species on earth, please forward it to your friends and spread the word. It's time for humanity to come together as one family! You can subscribe to our news letter here http://www.countercurrents.org/news-letter/. 

In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org



Undeclared War Of Sorts In Kashmir?
Co-Written By Dr. P.S. Sahni&Shobha Aggarwal

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/undeclared-war-of-sorts-in-kashmir/

On an average about 200 people have been injured per day or about eight per hour. The number of injured over a period of sixty days is frightening and calls for a comparison with other conflict situations in the last hundred years where the Indian army/ British Indian Army was engaged with an uprising within the country or a conflict with a neighbouring country




The Himalayan Victims Of Climate Change
by Zeenat Masoodi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/the-himalayan-victims-of-climate-change/

On the second anniversary of the 2014 Kashmir flood – dubbed by some as the worst in a century – I write this short piece as a victim of climate change.





Intellectual Property Rights And Free Trade Agreements: A Never Ending Story
by Beatriz Busaniche 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/intellectual-property-rights-and-free-trade-agreements-a-never-ending-story/

The European Union and the United States are especially active when it comes to promoting the signing of free trade agreements. As of 2011, the United States had signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with 17 countries, while the European Union has FTAs with Chile, Mexico, and South Korea, among others, and is negotiating more with India, Asian bloc nations and the Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur, or Common Market of the South). The treaties contain chapters expanding intellectual property provisions often known as “TRIPS-plus” clauses.





Fossil Fuels: At What Price?
by John Scales Avery 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/fossil-fuels-at-what-price/

We often read comparisons between the prices of solar energy or wind energy with the prices of fossil fuels. It is encouraging to see that renewables are rapidly becoming competitive, and are often cheaper than coal or oil. In fact, if coal, oil and natural gas were given their correct prices renewables would be recognized as being incomparably cheaper than fossil fuels.





Why Brazil Under President Michel Temer Risks Becoming ‘Lebanized’
by Andre Vltchek 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/why-brazil-under-president-michel-temer-risks-becoming-lebanized/

Instead of being an example to the world, would Brazil get brutally Lebanized? The West would definitely like that, as it worked so hard to make it happen in the first place. But in the name of Brazilian people, the rot, this deadly destruction has to be stopped. Before leaving Btaaboura village, I stop my car for a few moments. And suddenly I see it: the beautiful and dear Brazilian flag is not waving in the wind. It is torn, dirty and looks like a rag. And there in front of the entrance to the park garbage lies strewn everywhere.





An Open Letter To The People Of Brazil
by Robert J Burrowes 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/an-open-letter-to-the-people-of-brazil/

As I read of the latest coup in Brazil, once again removing a democratically elected leader from power, my anger surged. Not again! However, as I see and read about the ongoing massive protests, as well as calls by prominent community leaders to mobilize in defense of your country’s democracy, I feel great hope for Brazil. Having been a nonviolent activist for many years, I would like to support Brazilian activists to develop a nonviolent strategy that will increase your chances of success.





Keeping Track Of U.S. Special Ops In Africa
by Nick Turse 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/keeping-track-of-u-s-special-ops-in-africa/

The U.S. military either can’t or won’t come to a consensus on how many missions have been carried out by its most elite troops in Africa.    Incredible as it might seem, given that we’re talking about an organization that notoriously can’t keep track of the money it spends or the weapons it sends to allied forces or even audit itself, it’s entirely possible that no one actually knows how many JCETs — and as a result how many special operations missions — have been carried out on the continent, where they occurred, or what transpired during them.





A Good Beginning
by Kathy Kelly 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/a-good-beginning/

It seems that some who have the ears of U.S. elite decision-makers are at least shifting away from wishing to provoke wars with Russia and China.






Will The Music Be Heard Again In Chhattisgarh?
by Shobha R 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/will-the-music-be-heard-again-in-chhattisgarh/

A team of two of us, theatre artists and curators of music and stories, travelled to Sukma, Bastar, Dantewada, and Bijapur in August 2016 to try and document stories and music of resilience from the region. In a few days of travel, we heard dozens of accounts of violations. People were not scared to talk anymore, it seemed. As they say, beyond a point there remains nothing to be scared of anymore





Southern Birdwing Will Flutter For Karnataka
by Marianne de Nazareth 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/southern-birdwing-will-flutter-for-karnataka/

The Southern Birdwing has a magnificent wing span. I have seen them in Goa and often wondered if it was a butterfly or a small bird! Karnataka plans to  announce the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) as its state butterfly. It’s stunning beauty will leave one in no doubt as to why.





An Honest And Simple Test For Racism And Casteism
by Dr Subramani Mani 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/an-honest-and-simple-test-for-racism-and-casteism/

As Nicholas Mirzoeff, a professor of media, culture and communication at New York University nicely put it recently, in the end it all boils down to this kernel, this essence: “When we see another person, do we see them as another human being, not just equal to us in law, but someone that we can listen to, learn from and fall in love with? Or not?”That is the real test of humanity. And I would add for starters—at least let our sons and daughters fall in love with whomever they choose; let us grow up and broaden our horizon to concede that and sleep well over that. It is not too late to chart that course and the world will be a better place if we can do it.






Relentless Racism Never End
by Maanvender Singh 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/09/07/relentless-racism-never-end/

The Indian e-commerce company Flipkart which was ridiculed last year for sending a sexist email to female customers has done it again, this time with an offensive advertisement that reinforces the stereotype of Gorkha/Chowkidar