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COUNTERCURRENTS NEWSLETTER POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY DUE TO THE
SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL ISSUES!
Dear Friend,
This issue arrives at a moment when multiple crises are converging with unusual intensity. The escalating military confrontation between the United States and Iran has expanded beyond isolated strikes into a wider regional conflict, raising fears of a broader war with consequences that could extend far beyond West Asia. At the same time, Gaza continues to remind the world of the devastating human cost of prolonged violence and the moral failures of international institutions.
Yet war is only one dimension of today's global emergency. New scientific findings from Antarctica underline how rapidly the climate crisis is accelerating, while environmental protections continue to be weakened in several parts of the world. Bharat Dogra's overview of the month's overlapping crises captures the growing sense that conflict, ecological breakdown, economic insecurity, and democratic erosion are no longer separate developments but interconnected features of our time.
This issue also examines struggles for democracy and justice closer to home. Several articles explore the treatment of Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, the medicalisation of dissent, the crisis in public education following examination controversies, and broader questions about the shrinking space for democratic protest. We also carry analyses of Bangladesh's evolving political landscape, labour rights within BRICS, the politics of intellectual property, and thoughtful explorations of ecological restoration and new frameworks for social transformation.
Alongside documenting crises, Countercurrents remains committed to exploring alternatives. Our contributors argue that meaningful solutions require not only political courage but also ecological wisdom, historical understanding, democratic participation, and international solidarity.
As always, Countercurrents exists because of its readers. We remain entirely reader-supported, publishing independent analysis free from corporate advertising or foundation funding. If you value this work, we invite you to help sustain it.
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Editor
Countercurrents.org
US-IRAN CONFLICT
US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Cross-Border Strikes Spread Across the Gulf
by Countercurrents Collective
The military confrontation between the United States and Iran has entered a more dangerous phase, with US strikes across southern Iran following the deaths of two American soldiers in Jordan and Iran responding with attacks on US-linked military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The conflict has expanded to include critical infrastructure, the Strait of Hormuz, and disputed claims involving nuclear facilities and advanced military drones. As diplomatic channels continue to weaken and regional states become increasingly involved, the risk of a wider Middle East war with global economic and security consequences continues to grow.
US-Iran War and Trump’s Lowering of Diplomacy: Creating Chaos in the World
by Syed Mohammad Raghib
The renewed US-Iran confrontation has become one of the defining geopolitical crises of the decade, with consequences extending far beyond the Middle East. This article examines how military escalation, sanctions, and coercive diplomacy under Donald Trump’s second administration have affected regional stability, global energy markets, trade, and the international order. It explores competing perspectives on Washington’s strategy, the risks of a wider regional conflict, humanitarian consequences, and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts. The article argues that lasting stability will depend not only on deterrence but also on sustained diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and negotiated conflict resolution.
Trump: Chasing A Mirage?
by Nilofar Suhrawardy
Donald Trump’s renewed military campaign against Iran marks a sharp departure from the diplomatic opening created by the June memorandum of understanding. This article argues that Washington’s expectation of securing strategic gains around the Strait of Hormuz overlooks regional realities, the resilience of Iran, and the wider costs of escalation. It examines the responses of Gulf states, the humanitarian and economic consequences of continued conflict, and the erosion of trust in diplomatic agreements. The analysis also considers how the renewed confrontation could deepen instability across the Middle East while making a decisive US victory increasingly uncertain.
PALESTINE
Genocide in Gaza Means Empty Seats at the 2026 World Cup
by Soleil-Chandni Mousseau
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its conclusion, this article reflects on the reported deaths of 567 Palestinian footballers in Gaza since October 2023 and asks how global sport responds to such losses. It examines FIFA’s differing responses to conflicts, the destruction of Gaza’s football infrastructure, and the absence of public recognition for athletes whose careers and lives were cut short. Arguing that remembrance is part of the values football claims to uphold, the article calls for acknowledgment of Palestinian players and renewed commitment to rebuilding the sporting institutions devastated by war and continuing violence.
FIFA WORLD CUP
Hope Doesn't Have a Ninety-Minute Clock
by Mythri Tewary
Football’s enduring legacy is not only found in trophies or champions, but in the hope that survives every final whistle. Drawing on moments from Cristiano Ronaldo’s farewell, Morocco’s historic World Cup run, Leicester City’s improbable Premier League triumph, and Saudi Arabia’s victory over Argentina, Mythri Tewary reflects on why football continues to inspire belief against overwhelming odds. The essay also turns to India’s aspiring footballers, whose perseverance reflects the game’s deeper promise. Beyond scorelines and statistics, this is a meditation on resilience, possibility, and the quiet conviction that every new match can open another path to history.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Shocking Revelations Out of West Antarctica
by Robert Hunziker
New satellite observations from West Antarctica show an unusually large area that has failed to refreeze during the Antarctic winter, raising fresh concerns among climate scientists. The article examines how this unexpected development fits into a broader pattern of accelerating ice loss, rising greenhouse gas concentrations, and mounting evidence that parts of the Antarctic ice sheet may be approaching irreversible change. It also reviews recent scientific findings on glacier retreat, methane releases, and potential sea level rise, arguing that developments in Antarctica deserve close global attention as climate change continues to outpace many earlier projections and scientific expectations worldwide.
We’re Choking on Smoke—Where Do We Go From Here?
by Jason Pramas
Global warming is no longer a distant warning but an everyday reality. In this article, Jason Pramas reflects on decades of environmental advocacy and examines how extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and political inaction have combined to deepen the climate crisis. She argues that scientific advances alone cannot address the challenge without sustained public commitment and effective policy. As climate impacts become more frequent and severe, the article calls for greater civic engagement and collective responsibility to reduce emissions and strengthen efforts to protect communities from the accelerating consequences of a warming planet before irreversible damage becomes entrenched.
The Retreat from Global Warming and Environmental Protection
by Mel Gurtov
Climate policy is undergoing a significant reversal in parts of the world. This article examines how the United States has rolled back environmental protections, weakened climate science, and reshaped regulations in ways that favor fossil fuel interests. It also explores similar retreats among some Western governments and institutions, while highlighting China's expanding leadership in clean energy technologies. Despite these setbacks, scientists, judges, whistleblowers, and local communities continue to defend climate research and environmental safeguards. Mel Gurtov traces these competing trends and argues that the future of climate action will depend on sustained public commitment and institutional resistance.
POLYCRISIS
12 Reasons why July 2026 has become one of the most dangerous months ever
by Bharat Dogra
July 2026 has seen multiple global crises deepen simultaneously, raising concerns about escalating conflict, humanitarian distress, economic instability, and environmental breakdown. Bharat Dogra surveys twelve interconnected developments, including the Russia-Ukraine war, renewed violence across West Asia, conflicts in Africa, rising tensions in the South China region, energy insecurity, expanding military spending, worsening climate impacts, and the erosion of diplomatic mechanisms. The article argues that these overlapping risks demand urgent international attention and stronger commitments to peace, humanitarian action, environmental protection, and multilateral cooperation before the crises intensify further and their consequences become even more severe.
COUNTER SOLUTIONS
A Global Fossil Fuel Phaseout Is a Challenge ‘Big Enough to Solve’
by Tom Athanasiou
Climate negotiations remain stalled as global emissions continue to rise, underscoring the urgency of a coordinated transition away from fossil fuels. Tom Athanasiou argues that a credible global phaseout requires more than technological progress. It depends on fair financing, international cooperation, and policies that recognize the differing responsibilities and capacities of wealthy and poorer nations. Examining recent developments such as the Santa Marta conference, the article explores what a just transition could look like and why climate justice must be central to any effective strategy for stabilizing the planet while supporting sustainable development across the Global South.
Why Ecological Restoration Begins with Cultural Memory
by El Habib Ben Amara
Ecological restoration is often approached as a technical challenge, but lasting recovery depends on restoring the cultural relationships that once sustained landscapes. Drawing on the traditional oasis communities of the Algerian Sahara, El Habib Ben Amara examines how modernization disrupted systems of water sharing, architecture, agriculture, and collective memory that had evolved over centuries. The article argues that environmental resilience cannot be rebuilt through engineering alone. Recovering local ecological knowledge and the social practices embedded within it is essential to restoring degraded ecosystems and creating sustainable futures rooted in both culture and place.
Beyond Dogma: Why Concrete Analysis Must Embrace Ecology, Geography and History
by Pon Chandran
This article revisits Lenin's principle of concrete analysis and argues that it must evolve to address the realities of the twenty-first century. It contends that class analysis alone is no longer sufficient without accounting for geography, ecology, history and climate. Drawing on examples from Tamil Nadu and global social movements, Pon Chandran examines how environmental degradation, resource extraction and regional inequalities shape contemporary struggles. The article calls for an integrated framework in which social, economic and ecological justice are understood as inseparable, offering a broader materialist perspective for movements confronting today's interconnected crises.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Who Owns Knowledge? The Politics of Patents and Global Power
by Utkarsh Mishra
The debate over patents is not only about innovation but also about power, development, and access to essential knowledge. Using the COVID-19 vaccine waiver proposal at the WTO as a starting point, Utkarsh Mishra examines how global intellectual property rules shape public health, technology, and economic inequality. The article traces the origins of the TRIPS Agreement, explores its impact on developing countries, and considers whether the current patent regime fairly balances private incentives with public needs. It offers a clear analysis of how the ownership of knowledge has become a defining issue in the global political economy.
BRICS
BRICS Trade Union Forum’s `Hyderabad Declaration’ calls for extending Universal Social Protection Coverage to the last worker
by Ch Narendra
The BRICS Trade Union Forum 2026 has adopted the Hyderabad Declaration, urging member governments to extend universal, adequate, and sustainable social protection to all workers, including those in the informal economy, platform work, agriculture, and migrant labour. The declaration also supports stronger protections for gig workers, gender equality, skills development, and human-centred governance of artificial intelligence. It calls for a permanent institutional mechanism to strengthen trade union engagement within BRICS and aligns with the newly launched BRICS CONNECT initiative. The article examines the declaration’s key commitments and their significance for labour rights and social justice across BRICS countries.
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Beyond Exile
by Ashish Singh
Bangladesh’s political future is being shaped by debates over democracy, secularism, freedom of expression, and growing geopolitical competition. In this article, Ashish Singh examines the views of Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Anisur Rahman, who argues that lasting stability depends on restoring democratic participation, strengthening independent institutions, protecting dissent, and preserving the pluralist ideals of the 1971 Liberation War. The article also explores the implications of political polarization, the role of the diaspora, concerns over rising extremism, and Bangladesh’s increasingly strategic position in regional and global politics. It offers a perspective on the country’s evolving democratic trajectory.
COCKROACH JANATA PARTY PROTEST
Horrible Shame!
by Cedric Prakash
Cedric Prakash argues that India is facing a deep crisis affecting democratic institutions, education, civil liberties, minority rights, press freedom, and environmental protection. The article begins with the forced hospitalization of hunger striker Sonam Wangchuk and ongoing student protests over the NEET examination controversy, before expanding into a wider critique of government policies and governance. It also raises concerns about electoral processes, corruption, academic freedom, civil society restrictions, and the treatment of dissent. Framing these developments as interconnected, the author contends that they threaten the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, and calls for sustained public engagement.
Medicalisation as Depoliticisation in the Sonam Wangchuk Case
by Rahul Banerjee
Rahul Banerjee examines how Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike shifted from a political protest to a medical emergency in public discourse. Drawing on ideas from medical humanities, Ivan Illich, and Michel Foucault, the article argues that medicalisation can depoliticise dissent by redirecting attention from demands for accountability to questions of treatment and survival. It explores the legal, institutional, and ethical dimensions of Wangchuk’s hospitalisation, the responses of his family and supporters, and the broader implications for democratic protest. The article reflects on how states and institutions can reshape political conflicts without addressing the grievances that sparked them.
Dead Democracy at Jantar Mantar: Wangchuk, Gandhi, and Betrayal
by Mohammad Arsalan Baig
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk from his hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has intensified debate over the state of democratic dissent in India. This article examines the episode through the lens of Gandhian satyagraha, the government’s response to peaceful protest, and the wider demands raised by the Cockroach Janata Party, including education reforms and Ladakh’s constitutional protections. It argues that the treatment of non-violent protest reflects deeper questions about accountability, dialogue, and the space for dissent in contemporary India, placing Wangchuk’s fast within a broader discussion of democracy, governance, and citizens’ rights.
Indian Education System in the Coffin
by Ch Ehtisham Ul Haq
India’s education system faces renewed scrutiny after the cancellation of NEET 2026 following a reported paper leak, subsequent student suicides, and nationwide protests demanding accountability. This article examines the recurring pattern of examination leaks, the government’s response, the hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk, police action against protesters, and the constitutional questions raised by these events. It argues that the absence of accountability is eroding public trust in educational institutions and democratic processes. The article calls for meaningful reforms to protect the integrity of examinations and safeguard the future of students across the country.
QUESTION PAPER LEAK
NET Sociology Exam Exposes a Flawed Centralization and Standardization through NTA
by Jatin Mathur
The controversy surrounding the UGC NET Sociology examination has renewed concerns about the National Testing Agency’s credibility. Allegations of spelling errors, flawed questions, lack of transparency, and a possible paper leak have raised broader questions about centralized, standardized testing in higher education. Drawing on personal experience and sociological analysis, Jatin Mathur argues that these problems reflect deeper structural weaknesses in the design and functioning of the NTA. The article examines issues of accountability, digital inequality, and exclusion while calling for more equitable, transparent, and diverse methods of evaluating students for research and academic careers across India.
MID DAY MEALS WEST BENGAL
When Ideology Trumps Nutrition: ISKCON, School Meals and the Politics of Eggs in West Bengal
by Mehar Azmi
The removal of eggs from government school meals in West Bengal has reignited debate over nutrition, public policy, and the role of religious organizations in welfare programmes. The article examines the state's partnership with ISKCON, the nutritional significance of eggs for children from low-income families, and the implications of replacing them with vegetarian alternatives. It also explores the broader questions of representation, dietary diversity, and whether public nutrition policies should reflect the beliefs of a minority when most of the population consumes non-vegetarian food.
TRIBUTE
Remembering Dr. Kumar Saptarshi: The Death of a Neglected Socialist
by Dr Suresh Khairnar
Dr. Kumar Saptarshi was among the most distinctive socialist leaders to emerge from Maharashtra in the 1970s. In this personal remembrance, Dr. Suresh Khairnar reflects on Saptarshi's lifelong commitment to democratic socialism, his role in student movements, struggles for social justice, support for reservations, and efforts to build a politics rooted in equality. The article also offers an intimate portrait of a friend whose independence, idealism, and uncompromising convictions shaped both his achievements and his isolation within the socialist movement. A tribute to a leader whose contributions deserve wider recognition and remembrance.
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