CounterCurrents: The Mexican Protests Spread, Cities Of Sickness: Pollution, Dementia And The Modern Condition

Dear Friend,

Protests continue to spread across Mexico after the govt announced a 20 % fuel price hike. 4 people are dead and over 1000 arrested. The govt is not in a mood to relent to popular demand. 

Meanwhile in India people are taking their anger over not being able to withdraw their own money at the banks. There are reports of several banks being attacked. In Maharashtra a women committed sucide after not being able to withdraw her own money from her account.

Can we blame the banks? What can they do, if the government won't provide enough currency? They are out of 'business' for the past two months. They are technically flushed with money. They don't have time to lend out money or even if they had time, there are few takers. Who will incur debt in a contracting economy? Debt is the lifeblood of banks! If they can't lend money, what will happen? I won't be surprised if some banks fail adding more misery to people.    The govt knows it and that's why they have put a weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24, 000 only. 

Sad and bad story on the global warming front. 2016 was the hottest year on record, breaking the previous years record by a 0.2°C. Last three years saw three of the hottest years on record, that too at a time when a global warming denier is going to be the most powerful person on this planet!

Professor Francis Boyle, who has seen much, writes "The Anti-Russian Warmongering Is As Bad As The Anti-Iraq Warmongering Of 2003". Is there something sinister lurking in the dark?

Yesterday, a dear friend of mine from USA sent me this mail regarding the demonetisation in India. "Somebody in your country needs to organize something like Gandhi’s salt march against the monetary situation. They need to go to government sites and protest peacefully. Look at Boston. If we can do this, so can people in India! Mobilize, I recommend!" I wrote a short reply to her. I posted it here with the headline "Will A Gandhi Like Figure Emerge To Fight Demonetisation?". That's a big question. An answer may be found in the months and years to come. 

And also more 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





Four Dead, 1,000 Arrested As Demonstrations Continue Across Mexico
by Eric London 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/four-dead-1000-arrested-as-demonstrations-continue-across-mexico/


The Mexican government on Thursday declared that it would not rescind its gasoline subsidy cut, as clashes at protests against the measure in recent days left four dead, dozens hurt and over 1,000 arrested. The cut, known as the gasolinazo, will result in a 20 percent gas price hike in the coming year. 






2016 Goes Down As Hottest Year On Record
by Andrea Germanos 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/2016-goes-down-as-hottest-year-on-record/

The first global assessment of last year’s temperatures finds that 2016 broke the record set in 2015 by close to 0.2°C , with last year’s record having broken the record set in 2014. According to meteorologist Jeff Masters, who is not part of the C3S: “The 3-year string of warmest years on record is the first time such an event has happened since record keeping began in 1880.”






The Anti-Russian Warmongering Is As Bad As The Anti-Iraq Warmongering Of 2003
by Professor Francis A Boyle 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/the-anti-russian-warmongering-is-as-bad-as-the-anti-iraq-warmongering-of-2003/

Zbig is going for broke! All the anti-Russian warmongering we are seeing everywhere today 24/7 is just as bad as the anti-Iraq warmongering before President Bush Jr. invaded Iraq in 2003.






The Insane Circus Now Going On In Washington Is A Sad Parody Of Joseph McCarthy
by John Chuckman 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/the-insane-circus-now-going-on-in-washington-is-a-sad-parody-of-joseph-mccarthy/

The single most important point to keep in mind about the “Russians did it” three-ring circus underway in Washington – after the essential fact that still no proof has been provided to support accusations coming from the highest level – is that there is no issue around the contrived notion of interfering in an American election or endangering American security. None.






Cities Of Sickness: Pollution, Dementia And The Modern Condition
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 


http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/cities-of-sickness-pollution-dementia-and-the-modern-condition/


The Lancet, which published a gloom-filled study on January 4 examining trends linking the affect of major traffic to incidence of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.  “We aimed to investigate the association between residential proximity to major roadways and the incidence of these three neurological diseases in Ontario, Canada.”





Senate Democrats Introduce Bill To Block Trump Muslim Registry
by Abdus Sattar Ghazali 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/senate-democrats-introduce-bill-to-block-trump-muslim-registry/

On January 5, 2017, nine Democratic senators filed a bill blocking the executive branch from registering people based on religion, race, gender, age, national origin or nationality. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect American Families from Unnecessary Registration and Deportation  Act of 2017’’ or the ‘‘Protect American Families Act.’’





US Corporate Press Selectively Publicizes Disagreements Between CIA, President
by Robert J Barsocchini 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/07/us-corporate-press-selectively-publicizes-disagreements-between-cia-president/

The US corporate press was abuzz with front page, top stories today about the disagreement between incoming president Trump and some figures from the CIA and other intelligence agencies regarding the leaking of facts about Hillary Clinton, which some in the US speculate caused her to lose the election.