Saturday, August 19, 2017

CounterCurrents: Why Climate Change Isn’t Our Biggest Environmental Problem, And Why Technology Won’t Save Us



Dear Friend,

We all know that Climate Change is a serious issue. Is it a stand alone issue? Richard Heinberg argues that Climate Change is only a symptom of Earth's more deep rooted disease. 

Rima Najjar, an uprooted palestinian writes an open letter to Jews world wide. 

Moin Qazi  elaborately paints the dilemma of Muslims in India. 

Don't miss a powerful video by a young student to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who ordered all Madrassas in U.P to hoist the tricolour on Independence day and shoot a video and send it back to verify it. 

Also more stories from around the world. 

I hate to say it, but I have to say it to save CC, our fund raising is going slow. Please lend a helping hand to keep CC survive http://www.countercurrents.org/subscription/

In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org




Why Climate Change Isn’t Our Biggest Environmental Problem, And Why Technology Won’t Save Us
by Richard Heinberg


Our core ecological problem is not climate change. It is overshoot, of which global warming is a symptom. Overshoot is a systemic issue




An Open Letter To Jews Worldwide From A Palestinian Arab
by Rima Najjar 


Look at me. Look at me as I am — a fellow human being. Look at me independently from your Jewish identity and your Jewish suffering. Are you offended? Does your worldview need wrenching out of a life-long schooling in a painful collective memory? Does it need, as a Jewish friend explained, an “internal revolution” to coax you out into a full awareness of my suffering, utterly independent of a Jewish perspective?




The Burka Comes To Parliament: Pauline Hanson’s Panto
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 


In few environments could this work. A member of Parliament (barely breathing, but still a parliament) running within a Muslim minority country (a small minority, at that) with mocking intent, dons a burka, sits in the stands, and receives appropriate mind bending outrage when she strips it off.




Burqa Stunt Failed To Stir Anti-Muslim Sentiments In Australian Senate
by Abdus Sattar Ghazali 


Perhaps taking cue from the Trump fomented rising tide of ultra-rightists, Neo-Nazis and white supremacists, Australia’s rightwing One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson Thursday (August 17) staged a burqa stunt to stir anti-Muslim sentiments.




Is Donald Trump Promoting Kim Jong-un’s “Erratic Behaviour”?
by Taj Hashmi


Now, Trump is playing an alarmist, dirty, and dangerous game with his nation and the whole world, over the so-called nuclear threat from Pyongyang. He’s doing this to divert Americans’ attention from various domestic issues, especially his alleged involvement in the Russian Election Hacking in America. It’s time for Trump to behave and act Presidential like his predecessors, especially Clinton and Obama. His cry wolf about “impending nuclear attacks” by North Korea on the US and/or its allies in the Asia-Pacific doesn’t bode well for peace and stability, within and beyond America. It might be good for him in the short-run, but could trigger a catastrophic war across the region, which could last at least for another generation.




Hate Speech, Fear And The Primitive Human Brain
by Dr Nayvin Gordon  


It is illegal to shout “fire” in a crowded theater.  The idea of fire creates intense fear deep in the primitive human brain known as the Limbic System, or emotional center.  The “Fight or Flight” reaction is activated causing a stampede, resulting in injury and death.  Similarly “Hate Speech” can activate the emotional centers of the primitive human brain.  “Hate speech” can be understood to be as intrinsically dangerous as shouting “Fire” in a crowded theater.




JUST ASIA BULLETIN: Thai student activist Pai Dao Din sentenced
by Asian Human Rights Commission 


A weekly video round up of human rights issues in Asia




Thirumurugan Gandhi: ​90 Days – Prison Continues..!


Human rights activists Thirumurugan Gandhi, Daison Jose, Ilamaran , Arun who were arrested on 21.5.2017 for conducting candle light vigil for the dead in the Srilankan civil war. The arrested activists were denied bail and on 29/5/2017, the police levied charges under “The Goondas Act” in short, on four of the jailed activists Thirumurugan Gandhi, Daison Jose, Ilamaran , Arun.These activists have voiced their support for various democratic people’s movements and human rights issues.




Everyday Agnipariksha Of UP Madrasaas To Prove Patriotism: Hindutva Attack Must Be Faced Innovatively
by Shamsul Islam


On the eve of 71st anniversary of India’s Independence, the government of UP led by a senior leader of Hindu Mahasabha and RSS, Mahant Adityanath Yogi, came out with a stunning order for madrasaas (Islamic seminaries). They were ordered to compulsorily observe the Independence Day, August 15, and the same had to be video-graphed to be sent to the administration as a proof. 




A Student's Message to Yogi Adityanath





The Dilemma Of A Muslim In India
by Moin Qazi  


India has been a flag bearer of pluralism and has always held the candle of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Muslims have time again responded to the challenges of the nation and facts and history attest to their role in building this great nation. Alienating one fifth of this population will not help the country and will be against the spirit of its centuries’ old ethos.




Gang Graffiti
by Achuthan Vatakketath Ravi 


you’ve the loud cries
of mothers :
your national anthem –
the song of veneration –
all went on admirably simple ,
dear gang graffiti ,
when you all stood
in attention
on this day
in the capital of gang’s territory .




High Speed Freedom
by K P Sasi 


Freedom is like a metro
Rushing through all stations
Leaving us all behind
In full speed
And our freedom is gone.



An Account Of My Abduction By The Police
by Bilal Khan


It is indeed a rare stroke of luck that I reappeared otherwise no one would have known what had happened to me. At the end I just want to admit that I was seriously traumatized by this event but at no point did I think of stepping back. I will continue defying my mother tactfully! 




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