CounterCurrents: Demonetisation: Stories Of Flesh And Blood

Dear Friend,

Venezuelan's revolted in just three days and forced President Nicolas Maduro to suspend the demonetisation of the country's largest denomination,100 bolivar note. It's 40 days after 86 % of cash was confiscated from the people of India. No signs of any meaningfule protest!

In the meanwhile, the misery of the people keep piling up, paying the ultimate cost with their own lives. Hundreds of people have died or are dying. Prof. Shah Alam Khan of one of the most prestigious hopitals in India  tells some flesh and blood stories of demonetisation from his experience at the hospital. These are really heart wrenching stories. 

Our #HumansOfDeMonetisedIndia video series continues with the story of the plight of auto rickshaw drivers. 

Also more stories from around the world. 

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In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org




Demonetisation: Stories Of Flesh And Blood
by Prof Shah Alam Khan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/demonetisation-stories-of-flesh-and-blood/

Prof. Shah Alam Khan of AIIMS, New Delhi tells some flesh and blood stories of demonetisation from his experience at the hospital





#HumansOfDeMonetisedIndia: How Do We Live?

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/humansofdemonetisedindia-how-do-we-live/

The workers in the unorganised sector are hit hard by the note ban. They can’t find work. With the introduction of new Rs 2000 notes, a new malady is upon them. They can’t find change for these notes. Auto-rickshaw drivers tell their woes of #Demonetisation. Report by Akhil K Prabhakar & Chidhambaram





Demonetisation Debate: Clash Between Faith And Evidence
by T H Sreerama 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/demonetisation-debate-clash-between-faith-and-evidence/

The silent suffering of the people is largely due to extreme faith in individual actions of the superhero. It is due to extreme belief that these are genuinely intended and would prove effective in tackling black money. The fact of demonetisation only creating inconvenience to the poor, but having little effect on black money may perhaps shake the large sections to become more conscious to the realities of irrational actions of an individual. The shaking of faith in super hero could prove to be a blessing in disguise. It could break the pattern of belief in supremacy of faith, religion, irrational actions of an individual and beliefs based on lack of evidence.





Singing Of National Anthem In Cinema Halls: Can Compulsions Elicit Respect?
by Ram Puniyani 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/singing-of-national-anthem-in-cinema-halls-can-compulsions-elicit-respect/

Ultra nationalism, while operating in the broad democratic setup, is an attempt to instill the values of dictatorial state. Hope such a realization will prompt the Supreme Court to revisit the judgment with a larger bench.





Carter Helped Argentine Satellite Dictator Drown Thousands of Dissidents: New Docs
by Robert J Barsocchini 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/carter-helped-argentine-satellite-dictator-drown-thousands-of-dissidents-new-docs/

Newly declassified documents pertaining to ‘Operation Condor‘, a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy sentiment in US satellites in Latin America, reveal that the government of Jimmy Carter provided assistance to the US proxy dictator in Argentina that helped him drown thousands of dissidents in the ocean or rivers.




Killing The Messenger: The Politics Of Bringing Up The Russian Hacking Story Again
by Dr Arshad M Khan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/killing-the-messenger-the-politics-of-bringing-up-the-russian-hacking-story-again/

Informing the public of high level corruption is a grievous sin in the Obama administration. So it was that a jaunty President Obama appeared for his final news conference — just before setting off for a Christmas vacation to Hawaii costing millions and paid for by the taxpayer. The Russians hacked the emails; the Russians influenced the election; this has to stop; we’ll consider a measured response.






Microfinance Can Actually Harm The Poor
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/microfinance-can-actually-harm-the-poor/

Although the poor obviously do not have enough money, the reason why they remain poor goes beyond the mere availability of cash, especially if it comes with a price tag of high interest rates. Poor people need to be economically empowered by addressing the underlying reasons for their exclusion from political and economic processes, not by providing them with just a small loan.





Jungle Nights And Mornings
by Mirza Yawar Baig 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/jungle-nights-and-mornings/

One of the greatest needs today is for us, human beings, to get back in touch with nature. It is not our evil intent but our indifference, ignorance and disconnect that is the root cause behind global warming, environmental destruction, wildlife extinction, pollution of rivers and oceans and the consequent backlash to our own existence





Trying Misogyny Welcome, But How About Curbing All Crimes Against Women?
by Samar 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/12/18/trying-misogyny-welcome-but-how-about-curbing-all-crimes-against-women/

It is fourth anniversary of 16 December 2012, the brutal gang rape and murder of a student in Delhi that shook the conscience of the nation and led to unprecedented protests against sexual violence across India. Crime against women has been common in India, as has been the support for such crime in the form of misogynist statements by those holding seats of power. The grammar of shame in cases of sexual violence has always been inscribed on the bodies of victims, avoiding most perpetrators. It is in this context that the Supreme Court of India taking on Azam Khan, a powerful minister of Uttar Pradesh government, and making him unconditionally apologize for a brazenly misogynist statement against gang rape victims, is a welcome step.