CounterCurrents: Taking Stock of the Double Whammy

Dear Friend,

Yesterday, we were hit by a double whammy. Trump in America and an undeclared economic emergency in India. Today we should take stock of the situation. 

After a day of    closure, banks were opened today. Long queues were seen in front of the banks. There was melee every where. Bank employees are helpless. There are reports of people committing suicides and of a poor washer woman who saved two Rs 1000 notes died of shock after hearing, they are no longer valid. 

Yes, Trump presidency is a reality. What should we make out of it? For America, for the world, for our planet. Trump is a climate change denier. It's a indeed    a disaster for the world. But, was Obama or Clinton was any better? Wasn't the Paris agreement a sell off? An effort to monetise our forests, our seas, the biosphere and absolve the historical polluters of all responsibility of climate justice? Isn't it similar to the  "Indulgence" the Church practiced through the Middle Ages? Now the veneer is off. Now we have a climate change denier as the Commander-in-Chief. The onus is on us, The People, to take charge of the situation. What 'WE' do now from here on will decide the fate of our children and grand children. The gloves are off. It's time for some action. 

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



Trump The President: What Does That Mean For The World?
by Mirza Yawar Baig 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/trump-the-president-what-does-that-mean-for-the-world/

Meanwhile it is midnight where I live, far away from Trump and America and time to go to bed. Truly it is said that there is solace in sleep. So, good night, world. Sleep well. As long as you stay asleep you can escape responsibility.




President Elect Donald Trump: A Seismic Shock With The Magnitude Of A Political, Economic, Moral 9/11
by Irwin Jerome 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/president-elect-donald-trump-a-seismic-shock-with-the-magnitude-of-a-political-economic-moral-911/

During the 2016 election campaign itself, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton virtually remained tone-deaf to so many core issues facing America. Instead, they constantly haggled between themselves over other much lesser matters while their more-principled counterparts sought, as best they could against hopeless odds, with the aid of many tireless journalists and independent or alternative news organizations, to focus the voters attention on so many critical issues like #DAPL that collectively speak to what amounts to the American Dream’s Achilles Heel.





What Will President Trump Mean For Palestine?
by Ali Abunimah

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/what-will-president-trump-mean-for-palestine/

This base has no choice now but to rally from its despair, which at any rate the election of either candidate would have precipitated, to keep organizing and fighting for its rights and the rights of people around the world. The truth is, we had no choice but to wage that fight anyway.




America’s Future After The Presidential Election Of 2016
by Jon Kofas 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/americas-future-after-the-presidential-election-of-2016/

Trump has broken all political and ideological taboos about crossing the line from traditional conservatism to flirting with Fascism. This is America’s political future and it has been here for some time only to manifest itself more candidly in Trump.




The Very Positive Sides To Trump’s Victory: A Baker’s Dozen
by Rachel Olivia O'Connor 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/the-very-positive-sides-to-trumps-victory-a-bakers-dozen/

With regard to climate issues, racism and all else that concerns decent, aware citizens, I’d say that people are much more likely now to get into gear with hyper-activism, stirring up the creative juices of one and all dramatically to deal with the threats that Donald represents; activism, in general, would have gone to sleep with Clinton, as it did with Obama. The usual would have ensued. Not now. Just look at what’s being posted on alternative media outlets if you want to confirm that the Call of the Wild Activists is being screamed out loud and clear like never before.




Demonetisation – A Rat Being Imagined As A Dinosaur
by P Victor Vijay Kumar 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/demonetisation-a-rat-being-imagined-as-a-dinosaur/

To sum up, “ demonetization “ would have positive effect especially in arresting fake currency and little on black money excluding big shots and organized black money launderers. The problem is demonic and the promise by Modi is gigantic, and, however, the measure proposed is conciliatory. While the task is mammoth, the step towards it is feeble. While the benefit is a dwarf, the imagination is like a dinosaur. This is just a political pacifying measure to wash off the tears of voter who got disappointed for voting to Modi expecting Rs. 15 lakh into his account and reinstating the confidence of BJP cadre in the midst of all disappointing news everywhere including dealings with Pakistan.





Eradicating Black Economy or Encouraging Cashless Economy
by Jayashubha 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/eradicating-black-economy-or-encouraging-cashless-economy/

The current decision seems to be to make a shift to a cashless economy rather than a surgical strike on Black Money.





The Infamy Of The Palestinian Elites: An Imminent Split Within Fatah? 
by Dr Ramzy Baroud 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/the-infamy-of-the-palestinian-elites-an-imminent-split-within-fatah/

The Fatah movement is involved in a massive tug-of-war that will ultimately define its future. Though the conflict is between current Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, and once Gaza strongman, Mohammed Dahlan, is in no way motivated by ending the Israeli Occupation, their war will likely determine the future political landscape of Palestine.  





Murder Inc. In the White House; Obama’s Drones For Breakfast Club
by Thomas C Mountain 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/murder-inc-in-the-white-house-obamas-drones-for-breakfast-club/

Elections come and go but when “The Don”, Barack Obama, meets with his inner circle of Capos every Tuesday morning its breakfast with drones as in the Murder Incorporated assassination program. Think about it, every Tuesday morning in the White House this breakfast club decides who they are going to blow to smithereens that week, with fresh fruit and cappuccinos all around.





FIR Filed By Chhattisgarh Police Against Human Rights Activists Is Sheer Vendetta

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/fir-filed-by-chhattisgarh-police-against-human-rights-activists-is-sheer-vendetta/

None of the following named in the FIR – Dr Nandini Sundar, Head of the Department of Sociology, Delhi University; Dr Archana Prasad, Professor, JNU; Vineet Tiwari of the Joshi Adhikar Sansthan;Sanjay Parate, Secretary, CPM, Chhattisgarh and Manju Kawasi of the CPI – were anywhere near the spot of the killing of Shamnath Baghel. Implicating them for this heinous crime only smacks of sheer vendetta by the police against them for daring to enquire into human rights violations in the state as part of an independent fact finding team.





PUCL Opposes Political Appointees To The NHRC
by People’s Union for Civil Liberties 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/pucl-opposes-political-appointees-to-the-nhrc/

The PUCL strongly condemns the decision of the Government of India to nominate active politician and Vice President of the BJP, Sh. Avinash Rai Khanna, as the member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), for a post that has been kept vacant by the Government for the last two years. 





Tribute To Mahatma Tipu Sultan
by Prof.B.P.Mahesh Chandra Guru 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/tribute-to-mahatma-tipu-sultan/

The Government of Karnataka headed by Mr.Siddaramaiah have decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan despite strong protest by the Hindu fundamentalists supported by BJP, Viswa Hindu Parishat, RSS, Bhajaranga Dal and other organizations. Several individuals like Pejavara Shri, Promod Mutalik, Chidananda Murthy, S.L.Bhyrappa, B.S.Yadiyurappa, Shobha Karandhlaje, Pratap Simha and others who are wedded to Hindu fundamentalism rather than Indian nationalism have protested against the celebration of Tipu’s birth anniversary.





Seeds Of Farmer’s Distress     
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/seeds-of-farmers-distress/

Despite being the country with the second largest agricultural land in the world, hardly two fifth or forty percent of the agricultural land is irrigated. Also, even though the country boasts of being the highest producer of many major agro commodities in the world, it suffers from low productivity. The naked and cruel truth is  that agriculture remains its Achilles’ heel, the source of livelihood for hundreds of millions of people but a fraction of the nation’s total economy and a symbol of its abiding difficulties.





What Do We Know About Ram Puniyani And His Aman Katha
by Nasiruddin 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/what-do-we-know-about-ram-puniyani-and-his-aman-katha/

He is Professor (Dr.) Ram Puniyani. One can talk with him on any emerging social, political or cultural issue. His range of interest is vast. He wrote many books and writes regularly on current issues. He has received many prestigious awards for his work or communal harmony and peace. Here, I have put long list of questions before him. He addressed all the questions. 





Hundred Pisses And Thousand Spits For This Government
by Abdul Majid Zargar 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/hundred-pisses-and-thousand-spits-for-this-government/

This article is about arrest of  Khurram Parvez, the human rights defender who    was arrested on September 16, 2016 from his Srinagar residence, a day after he was stopped at Delhi airport and prevented from traveling to Geneva to attend the 33rd session of UN Human Rights Council. 




The Cat’s Paw Syndrome!
by Mohammad Ashraf 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/10/the-cats-paw-syndrome/

The Kashmiri Cat has been facing two monkeys fighting for the chest nuts. The two monkeys who are each other’s neighbours have been making Kashmiris pull their chestnuts out of the fire. In the process, the Kashmiris have always only been burning their paws!