CounterCurrents: Aleppo, the story is not over yet, “The Platform”, How To Adjust To Climate Change, The Ascendance of Trump Makes Broad-Based Climate Action Essential And Achievable

Dear Friend,

Aleppo has fallen to the Assad forces. This is a turning point in the civil war in Syria. Round one goes to Assad, Russia and Iran. What are the western forces and the sunni Arab regimes that prop up the 'moderate rebels' going to do? The story is not over yet. 

Ralph Nadar analyses the early signs of the Trump presidency and it doesn't look good. 

The important question now on everybody's mind is whether we have passed the climate tipping point. John James puts the climate question into perspective. 

Everybody knows that a Trump presidency is going to be a disaster for the fight against climate change. Stan Cox asks all of us to ask this question loudly “What gives you more hope: broiling ourselves on the High setting under Trump, cutting emissions gradually so as to broil ourselves on Medium under the Paris Agreement,or turning off the broiler and living with a lot less material abundance but in a more just, more fair country?”

The demonitisation policy of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is wrecking the lives of millions of people. We have the story of a grandmother in our #HumanOfDeMonetised India series. 

Also more stories from around the world.

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In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org






Battle For Aleppo Ends With Beseiged City In Syrian Government Control
by Deirdre Fulton

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/battle-for-aleppo-ends-with-beseiged-city-in-syrian-government-control/

The Syrian government is reportedly in control of eastern Aleppo with a deal having been reached to evacuate civilians and opposition fighters





Trump Trumpets His Real Plans
by Ralph Nader 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/trump-trumpets-his-real-plans/

Even for a failed gambling czar, Donald Trump has been surprisingly quick to show his hand as he sets the course of his forthcoming presidency. With a reactionary fervor, he is bursting backwards into the future. He has accomplished this feat through the first wave of nominations to his Cabinet and White House staff.





“The Platform”, How To Adjust To Climate Change
by John Spritzler 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/the-platform-how-to-adjust-to-climate-change/

It appears that over the past 18 months or so we have pushed the earth into an irrevocable spiral. The accumulating feedback loops cannot now be contained, though with concerted effort we may be able to diminish them. Dr Thomas Crowther wrote “It’s fair to say we have passed the point of no return on global warming and we can’t reverse the effects.” And from Stephen Hawking “We are at the most dangerous moment in the development of humanity.”





The Ascendance of Trump Makes Broad-Based Climate Action Essential And Achievable
by Stan Cox 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/the-ascendance-of-trump-makes-broad-based-climate-action-essential-and-achievable/

Up to this point, the mainstream climate movement has been highly allergic to talking about energy reductions of 75 percent or more, let alone the economic transformation that would entail. Some have refused to let go of the idea that the “American way of life” can be sustained; others have known all too well what was required, but soft pedaled their message for fear of scaring the wider public away from climate action—a maneuver writer Chris Shaw has decried as the “not in front of the children” strategy.





Jeremy Corbyn And The Hope For A Kinder Government
by Harry Bentham 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/jeremy-corbyn-and-the-hope-for-a-kinder-government/

Richard Seymour’s book “Corbyn: The Strange Rebirth of Radical Politics” is a realist assessment of the hopes represented by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, as he repurposes the party to oppose the neoliberal state. Writing the book in sympathy with him, Seymour nevertheless warns against Corbyn being “encircled” and “chewed up” by entrenched governing elites even if he achieves state power.





#HumansOfDeMonetisedIndia: Shantha, The Grandmother

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/14/humansofdemonetisedindia-shantha-the-grandmother/

My name is Shantha. I work as a domestic help. My granddaughter fell ill on Sunday. She had to be hospitalised. We had no cash at home. Banks were closed for three days. I tried to borrow money from friends. They too had no cash. At last, our neighbourhood shop owner lent us money. I have to give him back the money. I have an ATM card. I don’t know how to use it. Last time I sought someone’s help. How do I enter the money to withdraw? I borrowed Rs 5000. How much money can I withdraw? Only Rs 4000?