Islamic Identity In Secular India

Islamic Identity In Secular India

By Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

14 October, 2010
Csss-isla.com

Democratic polity in a multi-religious, multi-caste and multi-cultural country is based, more often than not, on identities. It is of course very complex issue which needs discussion and proper analysis. In any polity based on votes identity plays an important role. Identity can be divided into pre-mordial and acquired. Acquired identity is always post-natal and does not generate powerful emotions as primordial one does. One chooses acquired identity but not identity by birth.

India has been a multi-religious and multi-cultural since its known history. It never was mono-religious or mono-cultural. Then number of invasions and incursions from Aryans to Moghuls added to religious, cultural and linguistic pluralism. British colonialism also contributed to its cultural, if not religious, multiplicity. Thus with every invasion and incursion India became more and more complex and rich.

It is not that foreign incursions had impact over existing Indian civilization. Indian civilization also impacted on people who came from outside and their identities, customs and traditions also underwent a great change. Today we speak of Indian Christianity and Indian Islam but these terms are also inadequate to describe entire complexity of Indian Christianity or Indian Islam. We will discuss this at length.

Here in this paper we are mainly concerned with Islamic identity and polity in modern secular India, its role, its scope and its problems. It would of course necessitate some brief discussion on historical dimension as well including the colonial period which added new problems and complexities. However, it is contemporary period which we will focus on.

Islam entered India through south as well as north India. In south India it entered through trade channels as Arabs were trading with Kerala (Malabar area) since pre-Islamic days. The trading of course continued in post-Islamic period and many of them married local women who converted to Islam and this Islam began to spread peacefully in Kerala and Kerala has the oldest mosque believed to be constructed by Malik Dinar, one of the Prophet's companions.

However, in the north Islam entered India through invasion of Muhammad bin Qasim, a young general of Umayyad period who reportedly came to punish Raja Dahir of Sindh who had refused to surrender bandits who had looted some Arab trade ships. Raja Dahir was defeated and Qasim left legacy of Islam in Sindh. Sindh, like Kerala in South, was the first Islamic centre in the north which evolved rich composite civilization. Sufi Islam left greatest impact on Sindh.

North subsequently saw several invasions by Turks and Central Asian invaders as well as from Afghanistan and each Muslim invader came with different cultural traditions. Ghauris, Ghaznavis, Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Lodhis and so on belonged to different cultural and linguistic groups and fought each other to seize power. Thus it will be seen that Muslims, right from beginning, were far from homogenous or monolithic.

Also, it is interesting to note that as a result of various linguistic groups Turkic, Arabic, Persian along with some North Indian languages like Maithili, Khadi boli, Sanskrit (though not spoken by common people and mainly confined to Hindu religious scholars), Purbi, Punjabi coming together, mainly in military camps, a new language later known as Urdu, came into existence and this new language slowly acquired a new identity and within a few hundred years became main language of cultural expression by ruling elite.

Urdu, as we will see, has become part of Muslim identity in the north and became an issue in communal politics. Also, in North India a new civilization, composite in nature, came into existence generally known as Ganga-Jamni Tehzib (i.e. the culture prevailing in between two great rivers Ganga and Jamuna. This composite cultural identity, mainly of the urban elite, became the main identity both of Muslims and Hindus.

This composite culture produced great musicians, painters, calligraphers, architects, poets and religious tolerance. One can see its impact even today to some extent. However, communal politics of the colonial era focused more on Hindu and Islamic identities. Religion began to take precedence over culture and competitive politics began to erode composite nature of elite identity.

As pointed out above, primordial identities are more or less fixed and not much amenable to change and hence provide greater certainty and stability. However, cultural identity is rather more complex in nature. Though it is, in as way, primordial in nature but also undergoes changes. Culture is never static and changes with context. For example when Muslim dynasties began to rule over India, the Indian culture began to change and a new culture came into existence. With Moghul rulers, culture became more Persianized and Persian institutions acquired primacy.

The British culture also created great impact when British rule was established and the urban elite during colonial times took to English ways along with the language. British rule also brought new concepts, modernity and new technology. But British colonial rule proved to be much more problematic for Indian people. Muslim dynasties had assimilated Indian social and political institutions and created strong bond with Hindu ruling elite and hence they were hardly considered as 'alien'. They became part of Indian culture and society.

It was not so with the British rulers. They considered themselves more civilized and maintained their distance from the natives and natives also not only considered the British as foreigners but also took British rule as slavery. And the whole political struggle against the British was thought to be struggle against slavery. This was a big difference between the Muslim rule and British rule.

However, the British rule also resulted in a divide between Hindus and Muslims and communal elements in both the communities began to assert their separate identities and Hindu communalists extended the concept of slavery to Muslim rule as well and stretched it over 'thousand years'. One qualitative difference between pre-British and colonial period was that during pre-British period power could be captured only through might of sword.

But during colonial period new political institutions came into existence and sword was replaced by franchise, however limited it was. Thus for voting, identities became very important and through clever maneuvering the British brought religious identities into play. Now cultural identity and regional identities which were main identities, were replaced by religious identities which encouraged divisive politics.

Now the Hindu and Muslim elite sought share in power through assertion of religious identities. However, this was not total reality. There was a section of political elite which was conscious of religious and cultural pluralism and was well conscious of the fact that India can stay together only if Hindus and Muslims unite to fight British colonialism. Also, India should emerge as a secular nation.

It is also important to note that religion was not the principal issue, principal issue was share in power. The educated elite was more interested in negotiating share in power than on any religious issue. Thus religious identities took stranger turn. The educated elite led by M.A.Jinnah went separatist way and religious elite among Muslims led by Ulama of Deoband, preferred to ally with the Congress and accepted secular nationalism.

The Ulama of Deoband opposed partition and stood by united nationalism and Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, then chief of Jami'at-ul-Ulama-i-Hind wrote a tract Muttahida Qaumiyyat aur Islam [1] i.e. the Composite Nationalism and Islam justifying composite nationalism in the light of Qur'an and hadith and opposing Muslim League's separate nationalism. The reason was obvious: the educated elite were aspiring for power and hence wanted their exclusive domain whereas the Ulama's priority was an independent India where they could practice Islam without let or hindrance.

Muslim Identity in Independent India

The Indian constitution is secular in character and guarantees complete freedom of religion and fundamental rights to all its citizens. It also guarantees special rights to religious as well as linguistic minorities including right to establish ones own cultural institutions to protect and promote ones religion and culture (see Article 30). Minorities in India do establish their own institutions.

However, in independent India history of Aligarh Muslim University, a premier minority institution, has been quite chequered and Muslims had to launch several agitations to retain its minority character. Urdu also came under severe strain and it lost its central status in north India as it had in pre-independence period. It was slowly but completely replaced by Hindi written in Deonagri script.

Though Muslim personal law (Sharri'ah law) was not touched the right wing Hindu forces constantly pressed for uniform civil code thus posing a threat to Muslim religious identity. Thus Islamic identity in post-independence India, secular Muslim intellectuals maintained, revolved around emotional issues. Also, after Maulana Azad and Zakir Husain there was no universally respected Muslim leader left and some Muslim leaders, in order to carve out their own niche often exploited these issues, strengthening in turn Hindu communal forces.

Also, even Nehru's prestige, could not prevent out breaking of communal violence after partition. These communal riots posed great threat to Muslim security. The first major communal riot took place in India in 1961 in Jabalpur in Central India[2]. It shook Jawaharlal Nehru as he never expected communal riots of such intensity in independent India. He was highly idealistic and thought in secular India all will behave to uphold secular values. However, it was far from so.

There were very complex reasons for that. The Congress had adopted secularism as its credo but had admitted, right from anti-colonial freedom struggle, all sorts of elements. Hardly a handful few had strong secular convictions. Even among its top leadership there were rightwing Hindu elements with anti-minority proclivities[3]. And there were many in the middle and lower rungs.

It is alleged that Chief Minister of M.P. Shri Katju coldshouldred Nehru's emissary Smt. Subadhra Joshi who was sent to establish peace in Jabalpur. Also, partition of India had created great bitterness among Hindus, particularly in the north and unfortunately they considered all Muslims responsible for it though it was not correct. Not only that they thought Muslims have no business living in India as they have created their own homeland. Jansangh, the Hindu communal party constantly indulged in this propaganda and even some secular Hindus too entertained such ideas.

Thirdly, text books were never reformed in independent India and continued to teach what Britishers had introduced to promote communal division. These text books still continue to be problematic and continue to communalise minds of young students who then look upon Muslims with suspicion and as demolishers of Hindu temples and Hindu-haters. Fourthly, with every election, and all elections are fought on identity politics, religious and caste identities become more and more central to power struggle.

The phrase 'vote-bank politics, coined by the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party), the Hindutva Party to begin with, is now used by all political parties. Every party has evolved combination of caste and religious groups to win electoral battles. The BJP itself has its upper and OBC caste groups and wins elections on that basis though it accuses Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics. It accuses the Congress of 'appeasement of Muslims' to get their votes at the cost of Hindus. Such accusations appeals to a section of Hindus who then vote for the BJP.

Two events were quite significant in mid-eighties from point of view of Muslim and Hindu identity – the Shah Bano case and Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid movement. Shah Bano, a Muslim divorcee, claimed maintenance from her husband under a secular law Indian Criminal Procedure Section 125 according to which she could bet maintenance until she re-marries or dies. She was 70 years old at the time of divorce. Her case was upheld even by the Supreme Court and she was awarded maintenance under the secular law.

Her husband, however, maintained that both of them being Muslim only shari'ah law will apply according to which his divorced wife was entitled to no more than 3 months maintenance called iddah period. He made the Muslim Personal Law Board a party but lost the case. The Muslim leaders, always exploiting emotional issues, as pointed out before, launched a huge agitation that Islam and Islamic identity is in danger in India unless the Government changes the law in order to upturn the Supreme Court judgment.

They brought hundreds of thousands of Muslims on street to agitate on the issue and ultimately forced the Rajiv Gandhi Government to change the law. A new law called Muslim Women (Protection on Divorce) law which provided for 3 months maintenance along with payment of mata' (which was one time substantial payment according to the Qur'anic verse 2:241).

This unleashed a highly charged and controversial public debate on meaning of secularism and religious identity.[4] The Muslim leadership, in mutual competition for power and pushing themselves ahead in political significance, caused great harm to the interests of Muslim masses. The Hindu middle class was convinced of the BJP propaganda that the Congress government 'appeases' Muslims to get their votes and they began to express their solidarity for the BJP. Thus the Congress opportunism became 'appeasement' for upper caste, upper class Hindus.

This was nothing but reckless and totally irresponsible exploitation of Islamic identity in secular India which proved totally disastrous for the Muslim community and immensely benefited the right wing Hindu forces represented by what came to be known as the Sangh Parivar which consisted of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), BJP, VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and Bajrang Dal. The Sangh Parivar represented Hindu identity in Secular India.

Rajiv Gandhi Government almost panicked at the strong reaction of not only Hindus but also of the well meaning secular forces by changing the Supreme Court and, in order to display another bout of opportunism, the Rajiv Government not only opened the Babri Masjid doors which were closed for more than 40 years for Hindus to worship Ram, but also laid the foundation of Ramjanambhoomi Mandir in the same complex.

He thought he would 'appease' both Hindus and Muslims but such opportunism was taken cynically by both and lost support of both the communities and hence lost the election in 1989. It was highly critical period for Indian secularism and competitive identity politics was destroying its very core in India. Both Government as well as opposition led by the BJP were cynically destroying secular values.

Unfortunately in this cynical game of religious identity, the Congress was looser and BJP the gainer. There were several reasons for that. The Congress had won most of the elections through combination of Brahmin, Muslim and Dalit votes but so far had played this game in a very subtle manner retaining its secular f ace. Mrs. Gandhi, after Nehru, was very shrewd politician and could brought to bear her shrewdness as well as experience in subtle maneuvers of religious identity. Rajiv Gandhi had neither experience nor such shrewdness.

On top of it the desperate and unwise Muslim leadership created insurmountable problems for him. The BJP, on the other hand, desperate to win lost ground by adopting secularism and Gandhian socialism in 1977 and merging with the Janata Party, also threw all caution to the wind and began to exploit grossly religious and emotional issue and even gave a slogan "garv se kaho hum Hindu hain i.e. say with pride that we are Hindus and also raised the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram' (long live Shri Ram) and made it a greeting for All BJP members. This had great emotional impact in highly charged atmosphere of polarized religious identities towards the end of eighties.

Added to this were series of major communal riots like 1985 Ahmedabad riots, 1987 Meerut riots, 1989 Bhagalpur riots and in all these riots large number of Muslims were killed usually 200 to 800) which intimidated Muslims and made them worry about their very existence. The Hindu communalism was at a great offensive. This was followed by demolition of Babri Masjid on 6th December 1992 followed by Bombay riots in which again more than 1000 Muslims were killed. Besides Mumbai communal violence broke out in Surat, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Bhopal and several other places.

The Muslim masses now understood the game their leaders were also playing and began to ignore their calls for identity politics. These leaders who had, using these religious controversies, raised themselves to high political stature, were suddenly marginalized and Muslim masses now became more assertive. Meanwhile the implementation of Mandal Commission Report by V.P. Singh Government in 1990 brought many OBC (other backward classes) leaders like Mulayamsingh Yadav of U.P., Laluprasad Yadav of Bihar and Kanshi Ram and Mayavati to the fore who shunned communal politics but asserted caste identities. Thus the OBC identity began to weaken upper caste communal politics indulged in by BJP and Muslims got an alternative to the Congress and BJP. This by itself was a great relief for Muslim masses.

Though OBC caste politics was also basically identity politics but much less dangerous than religious identity politics of BJP as far as minorities were concerned. For example, Bihar which was a communal tinderbox for long witnessed no communal riots after Laluprasad Yadav came to power with Yadav and Muslim votes. He became a challenge to the BJP communal politics.

Thus regional and caste based politics has become an effective counter to communal politics on which BJP or entire Sangh Parivar tries to thrive. In south also Telugu Desam Party, DMK of Karuna Nidhi and AIDMK of Jayalalitha, though enter into alliance with BJP at times, do not directly promote communal politics and in these regions Muslims prefer to vote for these regional parties. South has much less been communalized compared to north India. But now BJP has succeeded to enter Karnataka in sought which it calls gateway to south.

Earlier for all terrorist attacks in India Muslims were blamed by the Sangh Parivar and large number of young Muslim boys were arrested by the police as suspected terrorists ruining their professional careers in some cases. The RSS even spread, through SMS, that though all Muslims are not terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims. It was certainly not so. Now, after thorough investigation by some honest police officers it has been established that Hindutvawadis belonging to Abhinav Bharat and Hindu Sanatan Sanstha were involved in terror attacks on Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Dargahsharif, Malegaon in 2008 and also probably on Samjhota Express near Panipat going to Lahore. Further investigations are going on.

Due to arrests of innocent Muslim boys Muslims were feeling highly unsafe, most unsafe after Gujarat riots. Now of course again there is apparent peace though one can hardly say how long this peace on the surface will last. It appears, at least of now, that people are not keen to respond to communal violence and BJP is undergoing serious political crisis involving several dimensions.

It is facing internecine fights, groupism, and corruption scandal, charges of fake encounter deaths of Sohrabuddin, his wife and colleague Tulsiram Prajapati. The CBI has accused involvement of Home Minister of State Amit Shah and has arrested him. Also Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court is investigating role of Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi himself. Thus political credibility of BJP has been seriously eroded.

But in politics fortunes change quickly and unpredictably. Also, RSS is quite active in spreading communal propaganda and therefore, absence of communal violence, does not mean absence of communalism. People's political attitude is moulded through communal propaganda and riots can erupt, at times, on petty issues if communal polarization exists in the society and which is increasing.

Thus it would be seen that situation is highly complex. There are interaction between caste, communal, regional and linguistic identities depending on the context. Caste identities can suppress communal identity and communal identity can also suppress, in certain context, caste identity. Thus there are different phases – communal identity overwhelming caste identity and vice-a-versa.

Much will depend on how Muslim leadership charters its political course. As pointed out above there are no leaders of all India stature who can inspire confidence among Muslims. Regional leaders are also petty and seen as utterly selfish often changing political parties depending on political fortunes. The ulama or theologians are too conservative to lead Muslim masses in this complex political geography. They are more worried about dogmas and doctrines than safety, security and progress of Muslims in India.

Muslim masses are immersed in poverty and illiteracy. And in communal riots too, it is these poor Muslims who suffer most. But in last few elections it is these poor Muslims who have shown more wisdom in voting and defeating communal forces. Also in this complex web of castism, communalism and regionalism it is secularism which gives hope for unity and co-existence. Not only minorities but a large number of majority Hindus also realize this and Islamic identity in secular India faces acute crisis in certain critical phases but also guarantees their safety and security as well as progress.

[1] -This tract written in Urdu has now been translated into English.

[2] - See for details Asghar Ali Engineer ed. Communal Riots in Post-Independence India (Sangam Books,1984) for communal riots in post-independence India; see also Asghar Ali Engineer Communal Riots After Independence – A Comprehensive Account (Shipra Publications, Delhi,2004)

[3] - See Maulana Azad who discuss these proclivities in his 30 pages published 30 years after his death in his book India Wins Freedom (Orient Longman)

[4] - See Asghar Ali Engineer ed. The Shah Bano Controversy (Orient Longman, Mumbai, 1986)

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David Broder: Symbol of Major Media Depravity
By Stephen Lendman

"Here is where Obama is likely to prevail. With strong Republican support in Congress for challenging Iran's ambition to become a nuclear power (suggesting weapons with no proof), he can spend much of 2011 and 2012 orchestrating a showdown with the mullahs. This will help him politically because the opposition party will be urging him on. And as tensions rise and we accelerate preparations for war, the economy will improve."

What We Face In The United States
By Timothy V. Gatto

I want to clarify just what I know to be true in the United States today and a little about my background

What Were They Thinking?
By Franklin Lamb

What were the International Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) investigators imagining as they walked into Dr. Iman Charara's private obstetrics and gynecology clinic this week demanding personal information on her patients? 

Stupid Economics: Blaming The Poor
And Hungry For Food Inflation
By Devinder Sharma

Obsessed with the growth figures, the planners have tried but failed to hide the ugly underbelly of India's economic growth

But Some Animals Are More Equal
Than Others...
By Karthick RM

For the past 110 days, a man called Seeman, leader of the Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam, is languishing in a prison in Tamil Nadu, arrested under the NSA. He voiced his opinions on the plight of the Eelam Tamils in pretty strong words, supporting their right to self-determination. And he was booked under a variety of charges, including for talking against 'national integrity'. And not a single 'radical intellectual' (read as Delhi based intellectuals who make statements on a variety of prominent issues) condemned it

The Ugly Face of Media
By Prabhat Sharan

Greed for profits the sole motive of Indian press barons

Mines: Ethical Diamond, Fair Trade Gold,
Frail Hands
By Farooque Chowdhury

Miners, working in many cases without natural light or ventilation, "creating voids in the earth by removing material and trying to ensure that there will be no immediate reaction from the surrounding strata", produce wealth worth of billions of dollars. As prices of these commodities soar, as poverty increases, persons accept this merciless working condition. Mining capital finds easy ways to dig profit

Ayodhya Verdict 2010:
Whither Indian Constitution!
By Ram Puniyani

The verdict given by Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court (Sept 2010) has been a landmark of sorts. On one hand it is culmination of the process of demolition of Babri Masjid, now that illegal act of demolition has got a legal sanction. On the other this judgment is the one based on every other consideration than the legal one. It has no rooting in the values of Indian Constitution, no guidance from the directive principles of the Constitution and no grounding in the law of the land

Role of Religions In Promoting Non-Violence:
Islam's Valuable Resources For Peacemaking
By Sultan Shahin

Full Text of a Speech delivered by Sultan Shahin, Editor, New Age Islam on 28 September 2010 at a parallel seminar organised by Al-Hakim Foundation and Himalayan Research in the UN Human Rights Council's September 2010 session at Geneva: International Day of non-violence: 28 September 2010

Human Rights Whitewash On Ethiopian Genocide
By Thomas C. Mountain

Human Rights Watch has just released an over 100 page "human rights" report on Ethiopia that whitewashes the crimes against humanity and genocide being committed by the Ethiopian regime

Dancing Under Siege
By Eva Bartlett

Story of an amazing dance group in Gaza

President Obama, India And Kashmir
By Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

We trust that President Obama during his forthcoming visit to India will bring its influence to bear on both India and Pakistan to initiate peace process with witch the United Nations as well as the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be associated so as to ensure that settlement arrived at will be based on the principle of justice

Plight of Kashmiri Militants in 'Azad Kashmir'
By Dr Shabir Choudhry

Story of Kashmiri struggle is a long and tragic story of suffering of human beings on both sides of the forcibly divided State of Jammu and Kashmir. During our study tour of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, I met a 'leader' of Kashmiri militants who still live in Azad Kashmir. Before giving details of their plight it is imperative to give short summary to the on going armed struggle

India's Arundhati Roy Moment
By Tariq Shah

India's post- partition generation may find it hard to let go Kashmir, India's gene-next, however, has no time or patience, much less need, for retaining an appendage that it can do easily, and arguably profitably, without

29 October, 2010

The Headley Saga: What Are They Hiding?
By Feroze Mithiborwala

There are far too many questions and far too many facts that challenge the official version of the reality of the 26/11 terror attacks. There is clearly an attempt even within our very own security agencies to collude and cover up the truth and thus we demand that a National Commission of Inquiry be created to investigate the truth about the 26/11 Terror attack

Arundhati Roy Must Go To Jail. Soon
By Sadanand Patwardhan

Roy's pre-eminence will help hold the harsh light of world scrutiny to such draconian laws, like Section 124A, and to the elected governments who use them with impunity for their narrow partisan ends. It would be good for Indian Democracy if Roy goes to jail for sedition. Even Roy would be happy if it helps the causes she espouses. It will

Can Pakistan Produce One Arundhati Roy
To Speak Truth?
By Dr Shabir Choudhry

Can Pakistani society produce one prominent writer, scholar and human rights champion who has guts to challenge Pakistan's Kashmir policy; and tell the world that Pakistan's control of Kashmiri territory is not legal? Someone who could tell the world people of Jammu and Kashmir State living on this side of the LOC are also deprived of their fundamental human rights. Or is this too much to ask, and Pakistani writers, intellectuals and scholars will continue to follow the out of date policy of Islamabad?

Time For A New Theory Of Money
By Ellen Brown

By understanding that money is simply credit, we unleash it as a powerful tool for our communities

Such Is The Peace Process: Obama As A Salesman
By Ramzy Baroud

As much as the political theater is organized and financed by US dollars, the full-scale destruction taking place in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is also courtesy of US coffers. Such is the self-defeating policy of the United States. Such is the peace process

Hiding Truth Behind Euphemisms, Omissions,
Slanders And Lies: A Reply To Rupert Murdoch
By William A. Cook

A critical analysis of Rupert Murdoch's recent speech before the ADL

2010 Election: Referendum On Reality,
Racism, And Revisionist History
By Bill Noxid

It's an all but unfathomable situation President Obama has placed the American people in. In a mere two years he has managed to squander the momentum and enthusiasm of the clear majority of this country, systematically discredit and disregard the voluminous grievances of the American People, continuously cede the moral and factual high ground to ignorance and hate, and ensure that the criminal elements that shredded the Constitution, killed millions in war crimes, and collapsed the global economy go into the 2010 midterm elections with more money, power, and influence than ever

Adnan Mirza: Another US War On Terror Victim
By Stephen Lendman

Post-9/11, Adnan Mirza is one of legions of war on terror victims - framed, charged, indicted, tried and convicted on bogus terrorism related charges

US-India CEO Forum Subverting Legal Process
Against Culprits of Bhopal Disaster
By Gopal Krishna

Government's Stance on Pursuing Industrial Disaster Case in US courts Contrary to Assurance given to Parliament. Law Minister & Attorney General Protecting Union Carbide, Dow Chemicals in US interest . Parliamentary Standing Committee on Government Assurances Urged to Examine Govt's Assurance

28 October, 2010

Two Worlds Collide At Cancun Climate Talks
By Laura Carlsen

Two worlds will collide in Cancun. The first is a world in denial where profits come before people and the planet, and the most threatening environmental crisis in history is viewed as a business opportunity. This world will be heavily represented by most developed country leaders and representatives of corporations hawking green projects as they continue to trash the environment and pursue unfettered access to ever-scarcer natural resources. The second is a world of small farmers, indigenous peoples, poor urban communities, and islanders that are suffering unprecedented droughts, water scarcity, and storms

Israeli Police Shoot 'Hated' Arab Legislator In Back
By Jonathan Cook

Israeli police injured two Arab legislators on Wedensay in violent clashes provoked by Jewish rightwing extremists staging a march through the northern Arab town of Umm al-Fahm. Haneen Zoubi, a parliament member who has become a national hate figure in Israel and received hundreds of death threats since her participation in an aid flotilla to Gaza in the summer, was among those hurt

Jeff Feltman's 'Really Great Plan'
By Franklin Lamb

UN created International Tribunal for Lebanon enquiring into the assassination of then Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was attacked yesterday in a doctor's clinic in Dayiya by a group of women

Child Soldier Omar Khadr
Coerced Into Plea-Bargain
By Keith Jones

In exchange for his guilty plea, the US government has agreed that Khadr will be incarcerated for one year in solitary confinement at Guantanamo Bay, then transferred to Canada, where he was born and his family now resides, to serve out the remainder of a sentence of no more than eight years imprisonment

Fun With Arithmetic - Winning The War
In Afghanistan
By Nicholas C. Arguimbau

Michael Nasuti of Kabul Press recently published an article in which he calculated that killing each Taliban soldier in Afghanistan costs on average of $50 million to the US. The article, seemingly carefully. researched with all assumptions laid out so that anyone can examine them, is well worth reading

American Democracy: Pro-Israel
Tweedledum And Tweedledee
By Maidhc Ó Cathail

Helen Keller's pithy observation about American democracy being little more than a choice "between Tweedledum and Tweedledee" was never more true than in the upcoming midterm elections in the ninth congressional district of Illinois. Tthe central issue here is not the two wars—or is it now three?—the country is fighting, nor is it the tanking economy, in great part caused by those debt-inducing wars. No, the burning issue here is… who cares more about Israel?

Franklin Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights
By Stephen Lendman

These benefits are fast eroding today, Obama administration neoliberal ideologues wanting social benefits slashed, and Social Security and Medicare privatized so Wall Street racketeers can pillage them for profit until nothing's left for the needy

Interview With Syed Ali Shah Geelani
By Yoginder Sikand

Syed Ali Shah Geelani of the Jamaat-e Islami of Jammu and Kashmir is a veteran Kashmiri politician. Presently, he heads the Tehrik-e Hurriyat-e Jammu Kashmir. He talks about the Kashmir conflict and its possible solution in this exclusive interview with Yoginder Sikand

27 October, 2010

Pity The nation
By Arundhati Roy

Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds. Pity the nation that needs to jail those who ask for justice, while communal killers, mass murderers, corporate scamsters, looters, rapists, and those who prey on the poorest of the poor, roam free

Section 124 A: An Evil Law
By Ajit Sahi

Roy is no Gandhi. But if she is tried for sedition and for spreading disaffection, she should proudly accept the charge and happily go to jail. That will make the future so much easier for Kashmir's millions of freedom fighters

Wikileaks For Dummies
By Mamoon Alabbasi

Despite the commendable efforts of the whistleblower website WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange to expose the truth about the Iraq war in a responsible manner - that not only would not endanger lives but aim ultimately to save millions of lives, in addition to seeking justice for the countless number of lives already lost - some media outlets are determined to mislead the public about the lessons to be learned from the war

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange
On Iraq War Logs, "Tabloid Journalism"
And Why WikiLeaks Is "Under Siege"
By Amy Goodman

Democracy Now! interview with Julian Assange

Toxic Brew
By George Monbiot

The Tea Parties didn't arise spontaneously: they were boiled up by big business

A Buddhist Vision of Life Beyond Consumerism
By Craig K. Comstock

Is there an alternative to consumerism? If the future will be less affluent than the past, for whatever reasons -- we don't know -- will we cling to a system that is failing, or will we have adopted new basic premises? If the latter, what are values that don't depend on having a growing amount of stuff?

An Open Letter To President Obama
By Ravikiran Shinde

Your mentor Martin Luther King Jr. visited India when Dr. Ambedkar was alive but met only the then prime minister Nehru and seems to have been kept in the dark about his civil rights counterpart in India and perhaps never came to know about him. Please do what MLK couldn't. Get introduced to Dr. Ambedkar and his thoughts and contribution to India's democratic system. This will definitely make your trip a worthwhile in the long run

America's Gulf: Ongoing Coverup And Denial
By Stephen Lendman

On October 22, AP reported that over 7,000 square miles of Gulf waters off Florida's Panhandle were declared oil-free and reopened to fishing. According the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 96% of Gulf waters are now safe and reopened, spokeswoman Jane Lubchenco saying, "Our tests continue to reveal seafood from the reopened areas is safe to eat." Others disagree

BP Dispersants 'Causing Sickness'
By Dahr Jamail

Two-year-old Gavin Tillman of Pass Christian, Mississippi, has been diagnosed with severe upper respiratory, sinus, and viral infections. His temperature has reached more than 39 degrees since September 15, yet his sicknesses continue to worsen. His parents, some doctors, and environmental consultants believe the child's ailments are linked to exposure to chemicals spilt by BP during its Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. Gavin's father, mother, and cousin, Shayleigh, are also facing serious health problems. Their symptoms are being experienced by many others living along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico

When Criminals Vote…
By Mickey Z.

Whatever side we choose in these fabricated conflicts, human society maintains its steady, relentless path toward mass homicide/suicide. If we'd ever look up from our text screens or peek out from our voting booths, we might actually catch the final act

Why Should I Vote?
By Timothy V. Gatto

Two years is not a great deal of time to pull out from under the oppressive yoke of our corporate masters. Just getting people to agree on what our objectives should be is a herculean task. For now, I believe that it is in our best interests to rid our political system from corporate interests that go against the wishes of the American people

Book By Innocent Prisoner Reveals
Torture Was Widespread
By Sherwood Ross

Although U.S. officials have attributed the torture of Muslim prisoners in their custody to a handful of maverick guards, in fact such criminal acts were widely perpetrated and systemic, likely involving large numbers of military personnel, a book by a survivor suggests. Additionally, guards were responsible for countless acts of murder, including death by crucifixion, lynching, poisoning, snakebite, withholding of medicines, starvation, and bludgeoning of innocent victims

The Forests Are Worth Nothing!
By Ranjan K Panda

Now the coal ministry teaches Jairam Ramesh, India's Environment Minister, that forests are worth nothing. Just 10 per cent of it is enough to maintain the biodiversity. What we need for growth is Coal

Pakistan Observes International
Disarmament Week
By Zia Ur Rehman

Karachi's anti-gun campaigners, civil society and political parties have asked the government to launch a de-weaponisation campaign during International Disarmament Week, October 24-30. They say it is essential to stem the growing rate of assassinations in the city, and; governmental officials have hinted they are considering a de-weaponisation programme

Fixing Global Finance
By Kavaljit Singh

A Developing Country Perspective on Global Financial Reforms

26 October, 2010

Bible Does Not Legitimize The Occupation Of Palestine: The Vatican
By Salim Nazzal

The synods for the Middle East which lasted two weeks in the Vatican, have issued an important document which supports the Palestinian right to live free in Palestine. The document signed by more than 180 bishops from the catholic churches and other churches invalidated the Jewish argument that they are exclusively chosen by God. The document has cast out the zionist argument which uses the bible to authenticate its occupation. It makes it crystal clear that the bible cannot be used to inflict pain, occupation, or injustice on Palestinians

Growing Calls For Moratorium On
Climate Geoengineering
By Stephen Leahy

Delegates to the world summit on biodiversity here are calling for a moratorium on climate engineering research, like the idea of putting huge mirrors in outer space to reflect some of the sun's heating rays away from the planet

How Reliable Are OPEC Estimates?
By Dave Cohen

So the next time these Persian Gulf countries don't answer the IEA's call on OPEC to produce more oil to prevent the price from getting into the stratosphere, as it did in mid-2008, you should remember that it's not for lack of oil—they've got over a trillion barrels now! And I'm sure there's more to come. OPEC will never run out of oil. And you thought the global economy was screwed up

Embrace The Cooperative Movement
By Carlos Perez de Alejo

In the midst of mounting economic insecurity, fueled by widespread unemployment, foreclosures and budget cuts, many people are seeking alternative models to business as usual. From community gardens to bartering networks, grassroots efforts are sprouting up across the country. One of the main pillars of this growing trend is an international institution with over 160 years of experience in local, sustainable economic development: a cooperative

The Fishing Communities And The Politics Of
Climate Change
By K.P. Sasi

The ultimate need is to restructure our dominant world view, a revolution which determines the future of all species including the human beings. The only way is to unite with all like minded activists globally and have common struggles to force some wisdom to our global leaders who determine the fate of this planet

Fixing Access To Medicines Regime Essential
By Richard Elliott

At the United Nations last week, Canada reiterated its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. But one critical initiative to advance global health is languishing unnecessarily: Parliament could easily fix Canada's Access to Medicines Regime with Bill C-393, which passed Second Reading last December and is currently in limbo before a committee

French Lessons For U.S. Workers
By Shamus Cooke

If labor, student, and community groups succeed in stopping the pension reform -- or toppling the government -- workers in other countries will likewise be inspired to fight back and organize in the French fashion

Everyday Is Halloween In Empire:
The Zombie Apocalypse Of Duopoly
By Phil Rockstroh

Because, at this time of the year, we take pleasure in being frightened, let's shuffle through the US Empire's House of Horrors. On our tour, we cringe before: Brain-eating zombies of exponential destruction; soul-sucking vampires of eternal self-justification; right-wing, talk show demons whose wrathful voices rage into empty air; road-rage werewolves; hungry ghosts shuffling the aisles of supermarkets, convenience stores, corporate restaurant franchises and the food courts of shopping malls

Our Holocaustic Global Empire:
Wars, Famines, Slavery
By Gary Steven Corseri

A review of THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS: The Great Depression of the XXI Century By Michel Chossudovsky and Andrew Gavin Marshall

Ayodhya Judgement: Triumph of Faith
Or Constitutional Legality?
By Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

All Hindus and Muslims and others have shown great solidarity this time to maintain peace marginalizing even extremists who used to issue statements in very shill tone. They are issuing statements in much more muted tones. It is people of India who have made them behave. I, therefore feel civil society must assert itself and give direction to our political leaders how to behave. If such initiative could be taken before the highest court's doors are knocked it will be much better. Only peace is our future and it civil society alone which can ensure this in a democracy

Anti-Defamation League Demagoguery
And Islamophobia
By Stephen Lendman

Claiming human rights credentials, ADL backs the worst of Israeli lawlessness

Congressional Fleecing The Public Legislation
By Stephen Lendman

On February 23, HR 4646: Debt Free America Act was introduced "To establish a fee on transactions which would eliminate the national debt and replace the income tax on individuals." The bill aims to raise enough revenue in seven years to begin phasing out the personal income tax, a goal helping big earners more than lesser ones, and provides no help for the millions of low income households paying little or no tax. They, however, will be saddled with an immense burden if this bill passes

Violations Of The Forest Rights Act
In The POSCO Project Area
Referred To The Tribal Ministry
By Campaign for Survival and Dignity

The Ministry and its officials are desperately shopping for somebody to give them a pro POSCO report, since they are finding it difficult to get around the proof of illegality. This is the same thing they have done in several other projects

Underreported Facts of 'Azaadi' Meeting
At New Delhi
By Syed Ali Mujtaba

Even as the chorus to book the Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer Arundhati Roy on sedition charges, for their statements made at the meeting held in New Delhi on October, 21, 2010, is gaining currency, there are some underreported facts about the meeting that needs to be put into circulation so that the popularly held views of it do not become a gospel of truth

Why Everybody Hates Three Idiots
By Nawaz Gul Qanungo

It was no surprise that the three interlocutors from New Delhi stood rejected and disgraced before they even set their foot on the ground in the valley. Despite this, the trio might as well leave with some degree of success at the end. Such could be the cost Kashmiris pay for playing political double agents; for doing 'Bharat ka jhanda ye ragda' one day and running to polling booths like wild monkeys let loose the next. And just another reason why a genuine resolution process appears elusive even today

25 October, 2010

Deaths Revealed By Wikileaks Are
Tip Of An Iceberg
By Nicolas Davies

These 15,000 deaths are only the tip of an iceberg of hundreds of thousands of unreported Iraqi deaths that have already been detected by more serious and scientific epidemiological studies, but the U.S. and British governments have successfully suppressed these studies by confusing the media and the public about their methods and accuracy

New York Times Tries Character Assassination
Against WikiLeaks Founder Assange
By Barry Grey

The response of the New York Times to WikiLeaks' posting of classified American military documents exposing US war crimes in Iraq is to downplay the atrocities and portray WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as the criminal party

Private Manning And The Making Of Wikileaks
By Denver Nicks

The incredible journey of a young man who became the greatest whistle blower in military history

Palestinians Have The Right To Resist Occupation
By Any Means, Even Non Violent Ones
By Agustin Velloso

A contribution to Ramzy Baroud's The Violence Debate

Seeing Red
By Real Climate

This is the first of two or more articles on the extensive tree mortality now being caused by bark beetles in western North America. The goal of this first post is simply to provide necessary background on the relevant biological/ecological processes involved, so that future articles discussing climatic and other possible influences, are more understandable

Socialism? The Rich Are Winning
The US Class War: Facts Show
Rich Getting Richer, Everyone Else Poorer
By Bill Quigley

The rich and their paid false prophets are doing a bang up job deceiving the poor and middle class. They have convinced many that an evil socialism is alive in the land and it is taking their fair share. But the deception cannot last – facts say otherwise. Yes, there is a class war – the war of the rich on the poor and the middle class – and the rich are winning. That war has been going on for years. Look at the facts – facts the rich and their false paid prophets do not want people to know

Jurassic Ballot: When Corporations
Ruled The Earth
By Rebecca Solnit

We call these monsters corporations, from the word corporate which means embodied. A corporation is a bunch of monetary interests bound together into a legal body that was once considered temporary and dependent on local licensing, but now may operate anywhere and everywhere on Earth, almost unchallenged, and live far longer than you

The World Liberal Opportunists Made
By Chris Hedges

The legitimate rage being expressed by disenfranchised workers toward the college-educated liberal elite, who abetted or did nothing to halt the corporate assault on the poor and the working class of the last 30 years, is not misplaced. The liberal class is guilty. The liberal class, which continues to speak in the prim and obsolete language of policies and issues, refused to act

If Republicans Win
By Mary Shaw

If the Republicans win these elections, it will be a direct result of the stubborn attitudes of the disappointed Democrats who chose to stay at home and let it happen. That, in my opinion, is so much worse than the ignorant and misinformed Tea Partiers who mindlessly vote against their own best interests. At least the Tea Partiers will be voting

Systemic Washington-Sanctioned Fraud
By Stephen Lendman

Overwhelming evidence shows "the entire foreclosure process is riddled with fraud, (yet) President Obama refuses to support a national moratorium," making him conspiratorially complicit in a huge scandal, ravaging millions of homeowners lawlessly. Protecting bankers, not victims, is policy, so coverup and denial of systemic fraud persists

Miners: Pressed Down To Dice With Death
By Farooque Chowdhury

Deaths come in rows in mines. Crude appropriation of labor, and deprived life invigorate it. But all fail to subdue miners the world over. They stand unvanquished atop this profit driven world, symbolized by the San Jose miners in Chile

Mass Protests In France: An Interim Balance Sheet
By Dr. Peter Custers

Reactions by the French population have been highly critical, to say the least. Over a period of roughly a month, mass protests in cities all over France have been staged, and have snowballed into a major challenge to Sarkozy's government. In analyzing the reasons for the large response to, and the success of the social actions, we need to highlight at least two factors, i.e. their unitarian thrust and their militancy

The Dark Face of Mumbai
By Prabhat Sharan

Blood stained brown gold and mean streets of Mumbai housing mafia and Mumbai underworld

24 October, 2010

The Shaming Of America
By Robert Fisk

Robert Fisk delivers a searing dispatch after the WikiLeaks revelations that expose in detail the brutality of the war in Iraq - and the astonishing, disgraceful deceit of the US

Before Wikileaks, Iraq War Vets
Revealed War Crimes
By Laila Al-Arian

For too long the American people have been shielded from this narrative. The country has long lost interest in Iraq, which has now become "The Forgotten War." But perhaps these leaked documents can spark a conversation that's long overdue

Growth Madness: The Thief Who Stole Time
By Tim Murray

I resent this growth-mad society for its destruction of personal relationships. When is the last time someone sat down and poured out their feelings in a long handwritten letter to you? That once was common-place. How often are people taking time to really listen to their friends? To think that hunter-gatherers worked just two hours a day. What happened to this leisure society that was promised by our industrial civilization a half century ago?

Days Of Oil And Roses
By Peter Goodchild

Over the next one or two decades, the only thing we won't have half of is population. And there, ladies and gentlemen, is where we have a problem

Bigotry Needs To Be Defeated
By Dr. Habib Siddiqui

None of these promotions of bigotry should be taken lightly, and must be defeated before America falls into the same trap that Europe continues to dig for herself. My vote for Sestak would be one such small step to defeat the demons of bigotry

Lebanon's Palestinian Civil Rights Campaign
Moves Into The Christian Heartland
By Franklin Lamb

A major effort is being undertaken to take this civil rights struggle to the rightist Christian community in Lebanon who constitute the only real barrier to enacting meaningful rights in Parliament. Christian support, at least one quarter of the Lebanese Forces, Phalange party or Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement is vital in convincing their members in Parliament to help Lebanon by allowing its economy to benefit from Palestinian involvement

Life In Palestinian Refugee Camps
By Stephen Lendman

In its January 2010 report titled, "Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, 2008 - 2009," the Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights (BRC) calls them "the largest and longest-standing case of forced displacement in the world today," numbering 9.8 million, increasing by about 100,000 a year

The US- Saudi Military Deal
And Global Military Expenditure
By Chandra Muzaffar

The US plan to sell US 60 billion dollars worth of military equipment to Saudi Arabia will not contribute to peace and security in the Middle East

Lynne Stewart Given "Fighter For Justice" Award
By Stephen Lendman

Though incarcerated, Lynne Stewart is not forgotten and will be honored at the Party for Socialism and Liberation's (PSL) November 13 and 14 National Conference on Socialism at the University of Southern California's (UCLA) Los Angeles campus

Food Security As If Women Mattered:
A Story From Kerala
By Ananya Mukherjee-Reed

Kerala, hailed as God's own country, attributes its high development indices to the local women. Through their group Kudumbashree, these women have not only rejuvenated the local agrarian economy but also brought about a social transformation in the way women are perceived. Ananya Mukherjee-Reed explores the myriad achievements of Kusumbashree as she travels across the state

23 October, 2010

WikiLeaks Releases Iraq War Logs
By WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks released the largest classified military leak in history. The 391,832 reports ('The Iraq War Logs'), document the war and occupation in Iraq, from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2009. The reports detail 109,032 deaths in Iraq, comprised of 66,081 'civilians'; 23,984 'enemy' (those labeled as insurgents); 15,196 'host nation' (Iraqi government forces) and 3,771 'friendly' (coalition forces). The majority of the deaths (66,000, over 60%) of these are civilian deaths.That is 31 civilians dying every day during the six year period

Iraq - War Logs Reflections- Part1
By Layla Anwar

This is what happened yesterday to Iraqis who felt so alone with their Truth - they sighed a little relief and hoped to sleep with a little peace, hoping like I did, that maybe, just maybe they will be woken up from their solitary nightmare....

Seven Million Without Shelter
Months After Pakistan Floods
By Sampath Perera

Seven of the 21 million Pakistanis affected by this summer's floods are still without shelter, the United Nation's Pakistan Office reported this week. And an estimated 14 million continue to need urgent humanitarian assistance

Weimar In Jerusalem
By Uri Avnery

I don't know if the Berlin exhibition tries to answer these questions. Perhaps not. Even now, 77 years later, there is no final answer to the question: Why did the German republic collapse? This is an all-important question, because now people in Israel are asking, with growing concern: Is the Israeli republic collapsing?

The Violence Debate: Teaching The Oppressed
How To Fight Oppression
By Ramzy Baroud

Only the unique experience of the Palestinian people and their genuine struggle for freedom could yield what Palestinians as a collective deem appropriate for their own. This is what happened with the people of India, France, Algeria and South Africa, and many others nations that sought and eventually attained their freedom

Ecuador's Challenge: Rafael Correa
And The Indigenous Movements
By Benjamin Dangl

Indigenous movements protested a right wing coup attempt on September 30 th while criticizing the negative policies of Correa, a president widely considered a member of Latin America's new left who is working to implement modern democratic socialism. How did it come to this? The history of the dance between Correa and the indigenous movements offers insight into the current political crisis in the country

Climate Change Denial - Scrabble
By Bill Henderson

A wiki process has already been proposed to help speed up and improve the IPCC review of climate science . If President Obama asked the AAAS or NAS to facilitate this science innovation an American lead global initiative to finally get serious about effective mitigation might become possible within a very short time considering we've wasted at least several decades in denial

Immanuel Wallerstein's Worldview
By Stephen Lendman

America "has been a fading global power since the 1970s, and the US response to the (9/11) terrorist attacks has accelerated this decline....the economic, political and military factors that contributed to US hegemony are the same factors that will inexorably produce the coming US decline."

UN Peacekeepers Complicit In Sex Trade
By Stephen Lendman

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for example, where MONUC (renamed MONUSCO in July 2010) never brought peace and stability, and may be involved in reports of mass rapes and other atrocities. It wouldn't be the first time there or elsewhere

Bhagwat Puran of A Different Kind :
Conflating Hinduism and Hindutva
By Subhash Gatade

It is imperative that before getting confused with what Mr Bhagwat wants to convey , it would be definitely helpful if one refers to this classic monograph and understand for herself / himself that when we say Hindutva terror then it is does not at all mean all those people who have deep faith in principles of Hinduism. Just as Islam and Political Islam cannot be considered equivalent, Hinduism and Hindutva cannot be measured on the same scale

Majority Report Of MOEF Committe
A Vindication Of Peoples Just Struggle
Against POSCO Porject
By Ashok Chowdhury, Dr. Manoranjan Mohanty & Leo F. Saldanha

For project affected communities, the Committee's majority findings are a strong vindication of their resolute stand that the POSCO project represents the worst form of development – where our nation's resources are looted, our environment is devastated and Transnational Corporations walk away with tonnes of money, and not merely our iron ore

21 October, 2010

In A Nuclear War The 'Collateral Damage'
Would Be The Life Of All Humanity
By Fidel Castro

The World's peoples have an obligation to demand of their political leaders their Right to Live. When the life of humankind, of your people and your most beloved human beings run such a risk, nobody can afford to be indifferent; not one minute can be lost in demanding respect for that right; tomorrow will be too late

Viva Palestina Convoy Breaks Siege
And Enters Gaza Into Jubilant Crowds
By Viva Palestina

The Viva Palestina convoy of almost 150 vehicles, 370 people from 30 different countries and $5 million of aid has entered Gaza

"Zionism And Peace Are Incompatible"
By Alan Hart

At last somebody has said it in the most explicit way possible. The somebody also said: "The problem is Zionism and the solution is dismantling the Zionist framework and instituting a secular democracy that does not discriminate between Israelis and Palestinians." The somebody was Miko Peled, a Jewish peace activist who was born in Israel and lives in America

Jewistan: Finally Recognizing Israel
As The Jewish State
By Francis Boyle

If Netanyahu is really serious about Israel being recognized internationally as "the Jewish State" then there is a simple manner by which this universal diplomatic status can instantly be achieved unilaterally and without the consent of the Palestinians. Under basic principles of international law, every state is free to change its own name if it so desires: e.g., from Congo to Zaire then back to Congo. Therefore Israel is free to change its name to Jewistan -- the State of the Jews

Ahmadinejad Galvanizes Lebanon's Palestinians
By Franklin Lamb

One largely unnoticed achievement of the Iranian President's visit remains among the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon. Close to a quarter million of whom are " living in cages" to borrow President Carter's description during his meeting this week with Hamas leader Khaled Mashall in Damascus, to describe how their sisters and brothers are forced to exist in Gaza

Israel Shooting And Electric-Shocking
Palestinian Children
By Stephen Lendman

For the first time....three (documented) cases of children reporting being given electric shocks by Israeli interrogators (occurred) in Ari'el Settlement." Each was accused of stone throwing. Electric shocking extracted confessions although the boys maintain their innocence

Honduras: Crisis And Progress
By Bill Quigley & Laura Raymond

Today, October 21, the democratic resistance in Honduras will celebrate Artists in Resistance Day. This event contrasts directly with today's official recognition of Honduras Armed Forces day. The resistance, which is working for a truly democratic Honduras, renamed the day and created an alternative celebration because of a brutal police attack on musicians and others last month that left one dead and scores injured

"In America Most People Have No Conception
That Anything Can Really Change Radically"
By Alexander Ac, Karel Dolejsi & Tomas Hyjanek

Interview with John Michael Greer

Continuing Growth Is Not An Option
By Tim Murray

It is astounding that civic debates are conducted without the slightest comprehension or awareness of Peak Oil and its implications. With triple-digit oil and ten dollar a litre gasoline on the near horizon, we will have more to worry about than keeping ice rinks and schools open. Feeding the mouths that are already here may prove to be an insuperable challenge. Forget fuelling the local Zamboni, fuelling tractors will be our focus. Growth ,"smart" or dumb, will not be an option

Digging In For The Long Haul In Afghanistan
By Nick Turse

How Permanent Are America's Afghan Bases?

Latin America: Roads To 21st Century
Capitalist Development
By James Petras

A wealth of data based on extensive field interviews, statistical studies published by international development agencies, reports by economic consultancies and business and investment houses, as well as discussions with independent social movement leaders provides ample documentation to argue that Latin America has taken multiple roads to 21st century capitalism, not socialism or anything akin to it

America's Tea Party Phenomenon
By Stephen Lendman

About Tea Partiers and their deep-pocketed ability to manipulate minds effectively with considerable right wing media support

Flaming France
By Farooque Chowdhury

Success or abortive effort of the present French protest will not be the last act of the French people opposing neoliberalism. The movement, if subdued by force and tricks, and compelled to retreat, will learn lessons and equip itself for future rising for a fair share in economy and politics

Ensuring Right To Education In The Red Corridor
By Gladson Dungdung

The Indian State must understand that the right to education and the police camps in the schools cannot go together. The Indian State has been practicing betrayal tricks (giving rights by one hand and taking away by another mighty hand) with the marginalized people of the country for last six decades. If the Government doesn't stop it, the rapid growth of left-wing extremism cannot be halted

Ayodhya Controversy A Conspiracy
Against Composite Culture,
Take The Issue To The Supreme Court:
Jugal Kishore Shastri
By Syed Mansur Agha

Ayodhya is a symbol of India's composite culture, and the people of the town want to live in harmony and peace. The Ayodhya controversy has been created and is being perpetuated by people and forces from outside the town who want to sabotage India's shared tradition and heritage. If these outside forces stop interfering, the issue can be settled at the local level. So insisted the head of a monastery in Ayodhya, editor of the Hindi magazine 'Ayodhya Ki Awaz' and noted social activist and crusader for inter-communal harmony, Jugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, at a press meet recently organized in New Delhi

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