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Israel Resorts To “Psychological Warfare” To Try To Break Strike
by Charlotte Silver
More than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners entered their fourth week without food on Monday as Israel intensifies its efforts to break the hunger strike.
In Defence Of Justice Karnan’s Constitutional Rights
by PIL Watch Group
The Supreme Court’s order of today (09 May, 2017) sentenced Calcutta High Court judge, Justice C.S. Karnan to six months imprisonment for contempt of court; additionally media has also been barred from publishing pronouncements of Justice Karnan. This order undermines the Constitution of India as it violates Article 19(fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression) and erodes the independence of the High Courts contrary to what is envisaged in the Constitution. The High Courts in India function independently of the Supreme Court.
Go Electric, Young Man! The Story of the Electric Fiat “500”
by Ugo Bardi
Some ten years ago, myself and my friend Pietro Cambi had the weird idea of “retrofitting” Pietro’s old Fiat 500, turning it into an electric car. So, we put this idea into practice in 2007 and it worked. It was, actually, rather easy. An electric car is so much simpler than a car powered by a combustion engine.
Midnight Raids And Fabricated Surrenders of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti Activists
CDRO expresses deep concern about the intensifying repression on the Dongria Kondhos of Niyamgiri mountains whose sustained resistance against bauxite mining is a fight for their survival and livelihood. CDRO condemns the midnight raid of the CRPF on the night of May 1, 2017 and the illegal and arbitrary manner in which 20-year old Kuni Sikaka was forcibly taken to the police station in the absence of women police personnel, leave alone any warrant. The next 36 hours were the most torturous for her and activists of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti(NSS),who followed her to the police station.
The Macron Denial
by Dr Binoy Kampmark
Rather than showing France revived and optimistic, the victory of Macron poses an enormous headache which is being shielded by aspirins from various quarters. Instead of considering the model of reform so desperately needed in institutional Europe, the excuse to bury, rather than examine the current revolt, is all too real.
Pakistan’s Tense Relations With Its Three Neighbors
by Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The head of the Iranian armed forces warned Islamabad on Monday (May 8) that Tehran would hit bases inside Pakistan if the government does not confront militants who carry out cross-border attacks. Ten Iranian border guards were killed by militants on April 26. Iran said Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a militant group, had shot the guards with long-range guns, fired from inside Pakistan. Jaish ul-Adl claimed responsibility for the attack.
Threat To Muslim Identity: Perception And Reality
by Afroz Alam
The blame is not entirely on others. The Hindu Right is able to make short work on Muslims because everything within the community is not right. The community itself has failed to set up an example of playing a role of conscious and secular citizenry. The rational voices within the community are sidelined. The community needs to come out from their ghetto mindset, work meaningfully on their fault-lines and engage in secular politics. In other words, there is need to realise that minoritarian politics have only placed them in communal situations and thus they need to explore the tools and technique of post-minority politics not only to preserve their identity but also to ensure a share for all disadvantageous groups in the national resources of the country as equal citizens.
What’s So “Interesting” In Bangladesh Today?
by Taj Hashmi
Interestingly, “interesting” is an English expression, which may hide one’s actual opinion about something one considers “interesting”. What I read in Bangladesh media in the last one month is very “interesting” to me. Stories that I read are absurd, bizarre, entertaining, frightful, and sickening. I learnt from media reports and articles that there’s nothing immoral, or impossible in Bangladesh today. Seemingly, everyone there believes what Cliff Richard sang, “Nothing is impossible”!
The Presidential Election Show In Iran
by Akbar E Torbat
Under the clerical leadership, Iranians have suffered too long. The secular Iranian political groups are now asking the voters to boycott the elections and demand ousting of the clerical regime. They believe participation in this election will legitimize this theocratic regime that is ready to implode.
Hindu Rashtra: Is It Good For Hindus?
by Ram Puniyani
The society is suffering as age old values of love and amity are being demolished; the issues of poverty, illiteracy, hunger and health are being relegated to the margins of policy making. All this is against the interests of Hindus at large. Average Hindus are a big victim of this agenda.
How The Law That Bhanwari Devi Inspired Fails Marginalised Women Like Her
by Urmila Pullat
India has recently seen a spate of allegations of sexual harassment at the workplace. While analysing the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, we caught ourselves wondering – would the Act have changed anything for Bhanwari Devi?
Communal Politics In India Is primarily Due To Absence Of Land Reforms; Absence Of Process Of Secularization And Failure To Reduce The Hold Of Clergy: Dr Ram Puniyani
Interview by Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Dr Ram Puniyani has been one of the foremost voices against communalism and has been active in promoting communal amity and national integration through various engagements at the grassroots. A regular commentator on the important socio-political issues, Dr Ram Puniyani has written as well as edited many books on communalism and for secular polity in India. In this detailed conversations with activist-writer Vidya Bhushan Rawat, he explains various issues confronting the nation.
Poetry Against Violence: A Prayer For Peace
by K Satchidanandan
Transcript of a talk given at Bombay Poetry Fest.
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