CounterCurrents: Welcome To The Cashless Dream Land Of India!

Dear Friend,

To know how 'Demonetisation' or the 'Cashless dream Land of India' is faring, at least from the experience  of an educated urban senior citizen, I quote a Facebook Post from Nirjhari Sinha.

"I had a deposit in Monthly Income Scheme in the Post Office with a due date of 8th December 2016. Since I did not want to continue the deposit with them, I had asked them to hand over the principal amount in form of a cheque and the accumulated interest of the last few months in the form of cash. After calling them numerous times and visiting them twice, I finally managed to get the cheque after one whole month. One month for a cashless transaction - an issuance of a cheque! The cheque issued was of SBI main branch, Ahmedabad.

Once I got hold of the cheque, I went to deposit the cheque in the SBI bank near my residance which is where my account resides. The bank authorities there informed me that the clearing of the cheque will take atleast 10-15 days and if I wish to expedite the process then I would have to go to the main SBI branch in Ahmedabad! Imagine that, again this is a cashless transaction, a SBI cheque which gets deposited in my SBI account, yet I am told that it'll take atleast 10-15 days. The banking system is bursting at its seams and what was once becoming quite an efficient system now needs a week or two for a cheque clearing. Also, 62 days after #demonetisation, the bank was still over-flowing with people and I could barely deposit a cheque and walked out due to suffocation without finishing the other tasks that I needed to.

Meanwhile the post office had informed me this morning that the accumulated interested of the last few months which I was to receive in form of cash will be available at 4 p.m. today. However, just shy of 4 p.m. I got a call from the post office and was informed that they won't be able to pay me today as SBI hasn't sent any cash to them! I was asked to visit them tomorrow morning..

At 64, I'm still reasonably mobile even after having gone through breast cancer and 2 knee replacements. I can still manage to do this running around. I have been an independent woman all my life. While I do feel upset about having to run around for my own money, I feel extremely angry thinking about all the senior citizens who have had to struggle to get their money, who are older than me and probably not as mobile!

And it is not just that the banking system has gone for a toss, but the entire system. Because while the banking system has been crippled by the actions of the Govt, rest of the systems in place to safeguard this democracy like the Judiciary etc have not taken a single action and are busy sending notices to the Govt as to how the disabled should honour the National Anthem during a movie. I really did feel at my wits end today. And yet .. many people continue to live in their own disillusioned bubble."

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




Mexican Government, Trade Unions Mobilize Against Protests To Pave The Way For Trump
Co-Written By Rafael Azul and Eric London

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/mexican-government-trade-unions-mobilize-against-protests-to-pave-the-way-for-trump/

Mass protests in Mexico and the looming inauguration of Donald Trump as US president are adding to uncertainty in the Mexican ruling class and among foreign investors over fears of growing social unrest and economic crisis. Ongoing demonstrations continued across Mexico this weekend as Mexicans continue to reject the government’s gas subsidy cut.





Regenerative Agriculture: Our Best Shot At Cooling The Planet?
by Jason Hickel 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/regenerative-agriculture-our-best-shot-at-cooling-the-planet/

As our soils degrade, they are losing their ability to hold carbon, releasing enormous plumes of CO2 into the atmosphere. There is, however, a solution. Scientists and farmers around the world are pointing out that we can regenerate degraded soils by switching from intensive industrial farming to more ecological methods – not just organic fertilizer, but also no-tillage, composting, and crop rotation. Here’s the brilliant part: as the soils recover, they not only regain their capacity to hold CO2, they begin to actively pull additional CO2 out of the atmosphere.





Another Mass U.S Shooting: Wars And Consequences
by Dr Arshad M Khan

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/another-mass-u-s-shooting-wars-and-consequences/

Yet another mass shooting in the U.S., this time at Ft. Lauderdale airport, Florida’s second largest.  A certain Esteban Santiago flew from Alaska changing planes en route at Minneapolis.  Arriving, he headed to the baggage collection area, claimed his suitcase, opened it in the privacy of a toilet, removed a gun, methodically loaded it, and began shooting in the baggage area.  When the police reached him, he was sitting on the floor with the gun in front of him.  He offered no resistance.






What Is To Be A Muslim In America Today?
by Mustapha Marrouchi    

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/what-is-to-be-a-muslim-in-america-today/

I can only surmise that the road ahead for those of us who are Muslim and brown and yellow living in America and paying our taxes and dreaming of a better world will be quite steep during the next four years. We will have to work in harness with the other America (the one that is welcoming and generous and accommodating) so that we may be able at the end of the day to set our energies free. It is a consummation to be wished for.





Om Puri: An Appreciation
by Ali Mohsin 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/om-puri-an-appreciation/

Om Puri, one of India’s most celebrated actors, was found dead at his Mumbai home last week, apparently of natural causes. The 66-year-old Puri leaves behind an enduring legacy, having starred in some of Indian cinema’s most remarkable films. In his prime, Puri was among the principal actors associated with Parallel Cinema, a film movement in India that was beginning to reach a mass audience just as he embarked on his acting career





Open Letter To Chief Justice Of India On The Arrest Of Activists Of The Telangana Democratic Front
by Peoples Union for Democratic Rights 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/10/open-letter-to-chief-justice-of-india-on-the-arrest-of-activists-of-the-telangana-democratic-front/

We wish to draw you attention to the consistent erosion of rule of law and constitutional freedoms in Chhattisgarh in the wake of continuing attacks on civil rights defenders by the state police and administration in close collusion with the vigilante groups like the Samajik Ekta Manch and AGNI. In the most recent case of attack, on 25th December, 2016 a 7 member fact finding team was arrested by the Telangana police at Dummaguddem village of Bhadrachalam district at 6 pm and handed over to the Sukma Police (Chhattisgarh State).