CounterCurrents: March 8, Special edition, Trump, Fake News, And The Press

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www.countercurrents.org





WikiLeaks Reveals Vast CIA Spying, Cyberwar Operation
by Bill Van Auken 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/wikileaks-reveals-vast-cia-spying-cyberwar-operation/

The bitter internecine struggle within the US state apparatus and ruling political establishment, featuring unsubstantiated Democratic claims of Russian hacking in support of Trump, on the one hand, and Trump’s own charge that his campaign was bugged by Obama, on the other, was overshadowed Tuesday by a massive release of CIA documents by WikiLeaks.






As US Deploys Anti-missile System, China Warns of Nuclear Arms Race
by Peter Symonds 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/as-us-deploys-anti-missile-system-china-warns-of-nuclear-arms-race/

The US has begun the installation of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea, provoking an angry reaction from China, which warned that it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the region. The provocative move will heighten the already tense situation on the Korean Peninsula as the US and South Korea engage in huge annual war games.






Trump, Twitter And The Ban Debate
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/trump-twitter-and-the-ban-debate/

The puppeteers of the platform are not always predictable. Nor, perhaps, can they be.  Besides, shutting off the Trump reality show from a crucial feature of his communications apparatus would be to deprive Planet Earth, not merely of a hysterical show, but a first hand, unvarnished view of what the current President of the United States thinks. That would be even more dangerous.





Women – To Be Celebrated On A Day?
by Nivedita Dwivedi

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/women-to-be-celebrated-on-a-day/

I don’t want you to celebrate my existence on a particular day
I want you to understand that before being a woman I am a human, just as you






The Blight Man Was Not Born For
by Richard Oxman 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/the-blight-man-was-not-born-for/

Many decisions respecting our collective crises can be made by the youngsters I want to teach, their loved ones, and other ordinary members of their community. With regard to many major matters, policies and legislation can grow out of that demographic, rather than remain in the hands of career politicians. And I have a proposal for action that could culminate in securing such significant reins of power for good decent people not concerned with a career in politics, but devoted to the Collective Good.






On Women’s Day,  Some Suggestions To Improve Women’s Safety In Trains
by Mission Bhartiyam 


http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/on-womens-day-some-suggestions-to-improve-womens-safety-in-trains/

Request to Issue Suggestions to Indian Railways to Improve Safety of Women in Trains






Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Periyar And Ambedkar — International Women’s Day
by Tata Sivaih 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/08/jyotirao-phule-savitribai-phule-periyar-and-ambedkar-international-womens-day/

To celebrate Women’s Day without recognizing the contribution of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, and Ambedkar is hypocrisy and shameful act. Here are few of the highlights of work done by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule for women empowerment.







Sweat Shops, GMOs and Neoliberal Fundamentalism: The Agroecological Alternative to Global Capitalism
by Colin Todhunter 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/sweat-shops-gmos-and-neoliberal-fundamentalism-the-agroecological-alternative-to-global-capitalism/

Much of the argument in favour of GM agriculture involves little more than misrepresentations and unscrupulous attacks on those who express concerns about the technology and its impacts. These attacks are in part designed to whip up populist sentiment and denigrate critics so that corporate interests can secure further control over agriculture. They also serve to divert attention from the underlying issues pertaining to hunger and poverty and genuine solutions, as well as the self-interest of the pro-GMO lobby itself.





Bill Gates  Can End Starvation
by Jay Janson 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/bill-gates-can-end-starvation/

Bill Gates, with $75 billion owns at least twice as much wealth as the poorest 1/10th of humanity – 750 million fellow human beings suffering hunger throughout the year and watching millions of their children die of starvation. If Bill gave the UN the $30 billion it needs to end hunger everywhere for one year, he would drop to fourth richest person in the world. Trump could have the 540 US billionaires raise that $30 billion.






Israel’s Welcome Now Reserved Only For Jews Who Back Netanyahu
by Jonathan Cook 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/israels-welcome-now-reserved-only-for-jews-who-back-netanyahu/

Dustin Pfundheller, 30, an American dentist living in Singapore, was set to become the youngest person to visit every country in the world while in a full-time job. His globetrotting has taken him to 192 of the 193 recognised states, bringing his medical skills to the world’s remotest places. But in January he was barred for the second time from Israel, the only country left on his list, having previously been refused entry last year.







From a Free Society to a Surveillance Society
by T Navin 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/from-a-free-society-to-a-surveillance-society/

Gorge Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty Four depicts a situation of extreme state power in which the super state is controlled by a privileged few of the Inner Party. It is overseen by Big Brother who enjoys intense cult of personality. In this state there is omnipresent government surveillance. The government persecutes those with independent thinking which is considered as thought crime and enforced by the thought police. Those in outer party are expected to rewrite everything according to the party line







Women’s Equity and Justice in Tourism
by Equations 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/womens-equity-and-justice-in-tourism/

This practice of inequity and non- inclusiveness of women into various ‘developmental projects and programmes’ of the government  are visible across sectors with tourism being one of them. It is critical to look at women’s growth in a hoslistic way which stands in convergence with the good intentions of other ministries and state departments working towards the social, economic and political empowerment of women apart from the Ministry of Tourism.






Donald Trump Rolls Out Muslim Ban 2.0
by Abdus Sattar Ghazali 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/donald-trump-rolls-out-muslim-ban-2-0/

President Donald Trump Monday issued a new Muslim ban executive order that will temporarily halt entry to the U.S. for people from six Muslim nations who are seeking new visas, though allowing those with current visas to travel freely.






Trump, Fake News, And The Press
by Thomas Riggins 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/trump-fake-news-and-the-press/

There is a more honest politician who also shows that the corporate media are liars, purveyors of fake news, and the enemy of the American people, although he does not use the intemperate (though accurate) language of Trump. That politician is Senator Bernie Sanders and his charges are detailed in his recent book Our Revolution.






The Perfect Necklace
by Sally Dugman 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/the-perfect-necklace/

With a sense of inclusion and mutuality, such as the Masai and my parents together enjoyed, we can extend tenderness and vitally needed support, too. We can all become a Masai as I have become through my father’s membership in the tribe.







Resolving the Crisis in the Catholic Church in Kerala
by Kandathil Sebastian 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/resolving-the-crisis-in-the-catholic-church-in-indias-gods-own-country/

Recent reports of criminal activities committed by some clergies of the Kerala Church have shaken many of its faithful followers. These reports have become favourite themes of the social media,not only among the Malayalam speaking community in Kerala but also among people from other states too. It is a grave situation and has precipitated a crisis within the Catholic Church in Kerala.The incidents which happened in the Church recently are of serious nature and include rape, murder, attempt to destroy evidence and threatening victims to not to report the offences to others. Whoever committed these crimes should be punished as per the law of the land.






Palestinian Women – One for All, All for One
by Dr Vacy Vlazna 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/palestinian-women-one-for-all-all-for-one/

Honouring All Palestinian Women by Honouring Three: Hanin Zoabi, Ahed Tamimi, Samah Sabawi





March 8, 2017, Yet Another Day Without a Dalit or Adivasi Woman
by Priti Gulati Cox 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/march-8-2017-yet-another-day-without-a-dalit-or-adivasi-woman/

In today’s India, there are women who win some and lose some while others lose some and then lose some more. Babasaheb Ambedkar once said, “Caste is not just a division of labor, it is a division of laborers.”On March 8th, 2017, International Women’s Day and A Day Without a Woman when we wear red in solidarity, let us also raise our voices in support of the daily struggles of our Dalit and Adivasi sisters, who are victims of the Hindu caste system. 





India’s Gender Reforms Need Greater Bite
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/indias-gender-reforms-need-greater-bite/

Of all the world’s major ills – such as war, hunger, and natural disasters – none can quite compare to the millions of baby girls and female fetuses killed by parents  .The  National Family Health Survey 4 data for 2015-16  indicates that the practice of aborting female fetuses and murdering girls after birth is being contained  efforts






Support The Struggle Of The Powrakarmikas On International Working Women’s Day
  Press Release 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/support-the-struggle-of-the-powrakarmikas-on-international-working-womens-day/

On 8th March, International Working Women’s Day, the BBMP Contract Powrakarmika Union of Bengaluru are going on strike and will hold a large rally to intensify their ongoing struggle for a life with dignity.







Workers’ Rights Derailed
by Venkatachandrika Radhakrishnan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/workers-rights-derailed/

Who is that outsider? Countering the narrative of the powerful whether its social protests or labour reforms..






Corporate media distorting electoral picture in Uttar Pradesh
by Vidya Bhushan Rawat 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/07/corporate-media-distorting-electoral-picture-in-uttar-pradesh/

The condition of Indian media is pathetic to say the least. They are stoopting slavishly. Of Course, many are trying to balance. If they publish one article of Sitaram Yechury, the next day they give a much bigger space to Subrahmanyam Swami. If they joke Narendra Modi then you must make a bigger joke on Rahul and his mother.





Ornithological Ox Omen
Co-written by Rachel Olivia O’Connor and “Billy”

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/05/ornithological-ox-omen/

Our good friend, Richard Martin Oxman (“Ox”), who has socially-conscious/environmentally-conscious pieces posted on www.countercurrents.org quite often, recently published a pamphlet spotlighting activist lessons to be learned from birds; his American Must Crow Anew is a good example of one to glance at for the purposes of this article, typical of the pamphlet’s contents.





Secrecy About Process Of Accrediting Colleges Is Baffling
by Dr Ambrose Pinto 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/05/secrecy-about-process-of-accrediting-colleges-is-baffling/

NAAC’s idea of IEQA flawed; it’s a quiz where you aren’t told the answers. An objective assessment would show that an automated reply can’t be charged Rs 28,000





Ahwazi Activist, Denied Asylum In Netherlands, Gets Six Year Sentence For Campaigning For Freedom
  by Rahim Hamid 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/03/05/ahwazi-activist-denied-asylum-in-netherlands-gets-six-year-sentence-for-campaigning-for-freedom/

An Ahwazi human rights activist who was denied asylum in the Netherlands and forced to return to Iran after fleeing Iranian regime persecution was sentenced on Friday to six years imprisonment in an Iranian court for the ‘crime’ of attending protests calling for freedom.  According to reports, he was savagely tortured during his detention to force him into signing a false confession.