CounterCurrents: The Trump Effect

Dear Friend,

We are still taking stock of the double whammy. The demonitisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes have spread panick, frustration, anger across India. People are flocking to the banks to get cash for urgent needs like medical expenses, education, buying houses, marriages. The bank employees are helpless. Scuffles are reported from several parts of India. There is a cash crunch. Poor and ordinary people are feeling pinch. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Japan to sign a much reviled Nuclear agreement with that country. Anyone remember Fukushima? Any way, Modi in Japan is not in his selfie mood. Because of the havoc he left behind in India? A sombre, anxious Modi makes me nervous. Here are some photos which will bring home the point. https://www.facebook.com/binumathew100/posts/1170455579709525

Dr Binoy Kampmark in San Francisco is witnessing large anti-Trump protests. It's happening in many parts of USA. He writes," “Not my president” has been chanted across city centres – in as many as twenty-five across the country.  Trump effigies have been burned. This language of protest signals the cutting divisions through the country: be wary of what is white, and working class if you find yourself in metropolitan centres, or in areas of a technology boom.  If you are an immigrant, be even more fearful."

Dr Kim Scipes who teaches Sociology at Purdue University has some words of caution and practical wisdom. He writes,  "For all of us in the left: we have been talking for years that capitalism has failed, and that we need socialism. I agree with that. But what does that look like, not only practically, but in the light of the environmental devastation/global climate change that is upon us? We need to develop a program that will work for all of us—including Trump voters. It’s time to get serious about this—and now. If we don’t successfully address this problem, a lot of Trump voters who I believe could be won to our side—look what Bernie Sanders did—will be lost to the racists/misogynists/homophobes/xenophobes who, as we know, are out there."

Meanwhile Trump supporters are unleashing their anti-muslim attacks in several parts of the country, reports Abdus Sattar Ghazali. We in India had a similar kind  of situation two and half years back. A Trump like figure, Narendra Modi, came to power. Overnight, the rogue, lumpen, thuggish elements of his supporters took rule of law in their own hands and started attacking minorities, in the name of beef eating and many other issues. The ruling establishment and the law enforcement bear silent witness and even actively colluding with  these lumpen elements. I wonder if similar fait awaits America too!

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In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org



The Trump Effect:  Protesting The Result
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/the-trump-effect-protesting-the-result/

“Not my president” has been chanted across city centres – in as many as twenty-five across the country.  Trump effigies have been burned. This language of protest signals the cutting divisions through the country: be wary of what is white, and working class if you find yourself in metropolitan centres, or in areas of a technology boom.  If you are an immigrant, be even more fearful.





After Trump’s Election, Reports Of Anti-Muslim Attacks Spike
by Abdus Sattar Ghazali 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/after-trumps-election-reports-of-anti-muslim-attacks-spike/

Less than 48 hours since Donald Trump became the president-elect, reports of Islamophobia are already on the rise, according to Think Progress. Attacks on Muslim Americans were already high before Trump clinched enough electoral college delegates to win the presidency on Tuesday night, with hate group experts attributing the uptick to his candidacy. But the situation appears to have worsened since his win.



Reflections On The “Apocalypse”
by Kim Scipes 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/reflections-on-the-apocalypse/

For all of us in the left: we have been talking for years that capitalism has failed, and that we need socialism. I agree with that. But what does that look like, not only practically, but in the light of the environmental devastation/global climate change that is upon us? We need to develop a program that will work for all of us—including Trump voters. It’s time to get serious about this—and now. If we don’t successfully address this problem, a lot of Trump voters who I believe could be won to our side—look what Bernie Sanders did—will be lost to the racists/misogynists/homophobes/xenophobes who, as we know, are out there.




No Soul-Searching By Liberals And US Presstitutes After Clinton’s Defeat
by Dr Ludwig Watzal

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/no-soul-searching-by-liberals-and-us-presstitutes-after-clintons-defeat/

So-called liberals and leftists in the US and around the world, are now wailing and gnashing their teeth in reaction to Hillary Clinton’s crushing defeat. They are, however, the first to blame for the outcome of the US presidential elections






What Happened In This Election?
by John Chuckman 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/what-happened-in-this-election/

The election demonstrated perhaps better than ever, and better than has been generally been recognized, that American is, indeed, a plutocracy. It took a genuine American Oligarch, a multi-billionaire, a man with a lifetime’s economic empire-building, to defeat a family which could provide the very definition of being politically well-connected, a family which had laboriously constructed and carefully maintained a kind of deep well ever-flowing with money for their ambitions.






GM Mustard In India: “Fudged Data,” “Unremitting Fraud” And “Monumentally Bogus”
by Colin Todhunter 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/gm-mustard-in-india-fudged-data-unremitting-fraud-and-monumentally-bogus/

The case of genetically modified (GM) mustard in India has reached the Supreme Court. The government has said it will bow to the court’s eventual ruling. That ruling could green-light GM mustard as first commercial GM food crop. If this goes ahead, there will be wide-ranging implications for Indian food and agriculture.






The Role Of The UN And The Western World During Bangladeshi Military Coup In 2007: An Empirical Research
by M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/the-role-of-the-un-and-the-western-world-during-bangladeshi-military-coup-in-2007-an-empirical-research/

Shuttle and excessive diplomacy of western world especially the ‘Tuesday Group’s activities deteriorated 2006-2007 political situation in Bangladesh. Additionally, it was possible to declare the State of Emergency by Army Chief Lt. General Moeen U. Ahmed with the help of Military Secretary to the President (MSP) Major General Aminul Katim using the letter of UN Resident coordinator in Dhaka Renata Lok Dessallien, which has been also considered as external intervention.





Thumbs Up To Women Power In Village India
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/thumbs-up-to-women-power-in-village-india/

The transformation of women’s roles is the last great impediment to universal progress. Indian women haven’t always had much by way of social agency or power whereby they could formulate strategic choices, and    control resources and decisions that affect important life outcomes. This   , however, hasn’t stopped them from elbowing past certain patriarchal structures to powerful effect. 






Stop The Witch Hunt Against Prof. Nandini Sundar, Prof. Archana Prasad And Others: PUCL
by People’s Union for Civil Liberties 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/stop-the-witch-hunt-against-prof-nandini-sundar-prof-archana-prasad-and-others-pucl/

The People’s Union of Civil Liberties strongly condemns the action of the Chhattisgarh police in registering an FIR (Cr. No. 27/2016 PS Tongpal dated 5.11.2016) against DU Professor Nandini Sundar, JNU Professor Archana Prasad (also of AIDWA), Vineet Tiwari of the Joshi-Adhikar Institute and of the CPI, and Sanjay Parate of the CPI(M), villagers Mangla of Soutenar Namapara and Manju Kawasi of Gadiras in the case of the murder of a villager Samnath Baghel, from Soutenar Namapara village in Sukma on 4th November, 2016.




FIR Against Nandini Sundar And Others Is A Clear Act Of Vengeance

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/11/fir-against-nandini-sundar-and-others-is-a-clear-act-of-vengeance/

Press release by Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh (CPJC) and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)