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COUNTERCURRENTS NEWSLETTER IS POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY DUE TO
NUMEROUS SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL ISSUES.
Dear Friend,
This issue of Countercurrents.org brings together reports and reflections from multiple fronts of a world marked by deepening crises and persistent struggles for justice.
From Gaza come two devastating accounts: the continuing loss of civilian lives despite ceasefire agreements, and the agonizing efforts of families and rescue workers searching for thousands still buried beneath the rubble. In Lebanon, a United Nations report reveals the often-overlooked suffering of older persons displaced by war, reminding us that humanitarian crises affect societies unevenly and profoundly.
We also examine the interconnected ecological emergencies confronting humanity. An important article on planetary boundaries argues that climate change, while critical, is only one dimension of a broader ecological destabilization already underway. Meanwhile, a report from Congo highlights how conflict, poverty, and institutional fragility complicate the response to a new Ebola outbreak.
Several contributions address the changing global political landscape. Essays on BRICS, migration in South Africa, and India's democratic future explore questions of sovereignty, justice, citizenship, and the search for alternative political futures in a rapidly shifting world order.
This issue also reflects on enduring struggles for rights and dignity—from the unfinished promises of the Forest Rights Act to the rights of persons with disabilities, and from critiques of imperial power and ideology to the social consequences of loneliness and commodified care.
Finally, we remember lives dedicated to art, political commitment, and social transformation: filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj, socialist thinker Kishan Patnaik, and revolutionary leader Subrata Basu.
At a time when concentrated power, war, ecological breakdown, and democratic erosion increasingly shape our collective future, the need for independent, reader-supported journalism remains as urgent as ever. We thank our readers and supporters for helping sustain a space for critical thought, historical memory, and democratic dialogue.
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Binu Mathew
Editor
Countercurrents.org
PALESTINE
Two Children Among Seven Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attacks on Gaza Amid Daily Ceasefire Violations
by Quds News Network
The latest attacks in Gaza have killed at least seven Palestinians, including two children, amid continued violations of the ceasefire agreement. Reports from northern, central, and southern Gaza describe ongoing airstrikes, shelling, and attacks on displaced civilians. A recent UN commission report states that Palestinian children have been disproportionately affected, documenting thousands of child deaths since October 2023. Human rights officials and humanitarian organizations have condemned the continued violence and worsening humanitarian conditions. Meanwhile, Gaza's healthcare system faces a severe shortage of essential medical supplies, placing hundreds of patients with chronic illnesses at immediate risk.
Gaza Digs Under The Rubble For Its Dead With No Resources
by Palestinian Information Center
Eight months after losing family members in an Israeli airstrike, 12-year-old Mohammed Ghabboun waits beside the ruins of his home in Gaza City as rescue teams search for their remains. With an estimated 8,500 bodies still trapped beneath the rubble across Gaza, recovery efforts are proceeding at an agonizing pace due to severe shortages of fuel, heavy machinery, and equipment. This report documents the immense challenges facing Civil Defense teams and the prolonged suffering of families seeking to recover and bury their loved ones amid the widespread devastation left by the war.
LEBANON
ESCWA: The War on Lebanon Displaces 140,000 Older Persons
by Dr Marwan Asmar
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) warns that the war in Lebanon has displaced an estimated 140,000 older persons, exposing them to severe hardship, inadequate healthcare, economic insecurity, and social isolation. A new policy brief highlights how damaged health infrastructure, unsuitable shelters, and insufficient humanitarian responses have undermined the dignity and wellbeing of older people, many of whom live with chronic illnesses and limited mobility. The report calls for more inclusive humanitarian policies that address their specific needs while recognizing the vital role older persons play in sustaining families, communities, and social resilience during times of crisis.
ECOLOGY
Beyond Climate Change: The Seven Planetary Boundaries We’ve Already Crossed
by Utkarsh Mishra
The planetary boundaries framework offers a broader understanding of the environmental crisis than climate change alone. Recent scientific assessments show that humanity has already crossed seven of the nine boundaries that regulate the stability of the Earth system, including those related to biodiversity, freshwater, pollution, land use and ocean health. This article explains the science behind the framework, examines why these interconnected disruptions matter for the future of human societies, and explores how India’s environmental challenges reflect a wider global pattern of ecological instability.
EBOLA OUTBREAK
In Congo, a Newly Complex Ebola Emergency
by Merveille Assani
A new Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is exposing the deep challenges of controlling infectious diseases in regions affected by conflict, poverty and mistrust. As the Bundibugyo strain spreads through Ituri province, health workers are struggling with delayed detection, misinformation, inadequate medical resources, funding cuts and the threat of armed groups. This report by Merveille Assani examines how funeral traditions, disrupted healthcare systems, political instability and humanitarian crises have combined to create one of the most complex Ebola emergencies Congo has faced in recent years.
SOUTH AFRICA MIGRATION PROTESTS
South Africa’s Migration Debate Is Missing The Bigger Picture
by Marisa Lourenco
South Africa’s migration debate often focuses on border control, documentation and xenophobia, while paying less attention to the conditions that drive migration across the African continent. This article argues that economic stagnation, political instability and limited opportunities in neighbouring countries are central to understanding migration patterns. It examines South Africa’s own social and economic challenges, the political use of anti-immigration rhetoric, and the regional dynamics that shape migration flows. The article calls for a broader conversation that addresses both the realities facing migrants and the structural conditions that compel many people to leave their homes.
BRICS
BRICS Emerging as reality in the new World Order
by Dr Arun Mitra
Dr Arun Mitra examines the shifting global balance of power and argues that BRICS is emerging as an important platform in a changing international order. The article traces the decline of Western dominance, the rise of China and Russia, and the growing significance of the Global South. It also assesses India's evolving foreign policy, its relationship with the United States, and the challenges it faces as the incoming chair of BRICS. The article argues that India's credibility and leadership within BRICS will depend on its ability to pursue an independent and development-oriented international agenda.
OPEN-ACCESS BOOK
New Book – The Great Flattening: Enclosure, Extraction and the New Age of Concentrated Power
by Colin Todhunter
A new open-access book, "The Great Flattening: Enclosure, Extraction and the New Age of Concentrated Power", argues that the historical process of enclosure has expanded far beyond land to encompass culture, biology, knowledge and everyday life. Drawing on examples from agriculture, technology, urban development, tourism and ecology, the book presents a unified framework for understanding contemporary social and environmental crises. It examines how systems of standardisation and extraction reshape landscapes, communities and ecosystems, while also exploring traditions of resistance, ecological restoration and local resilience as pathways towards a more diverse and democratic future. The book is free to download
INDIA
Path Ahead for India should be based on Equality-Based Unity of All, Peace and Protection of the Environment
by Bharat Dogra
India's future development path, argues Bharat Dogra, should be grounded in justice, equality, peace, and ecological sustainability. The article calls for strengthening unity across religions, castes, and communities while addressing growing inequalities and environmental crises. It emphasizes India's responsibility to contribute to global peace, support the Global South, and pursue development models that protect both people and nature. Drawing on India's historical experiences, cultural traditions, and freedom struggle, the article advocates a policy framework that prioritizes human welfare, social harmony, ecological balance, and long-term sustainability in an increasingly uncertain world.
The Doubtful Citizen: Electoral Verification and the Future of Indian Democracy
by Dr Madabhushi Sridhar Acharyulu
As debates over electoral roll verification intensify, a recent clarification by the Ministry of External Affairs that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document, not a definitive proof of citizenship, has added a new dimension to discussions on democracy and constitutional rights. This article examines the legal and constitutional implications of that distinction, the ongoing revision of electoral rolls, and the challenge of balancing electoral integrity with the universal right to vote. It argues that the strength of a democracy depends not only on accurate voter lists but also on ensuring that no eligible citizen is excluded from participation.
India Needs a Democratic Alternative, Not Political Spectacle – Beyond the Cockroach outline
by Dr Ranjan Solomon
For India’s democratic crisis, satire and symbolic protest are not enough. In this essay, Dr. Ranjan Solomon argues that resisting authoritarianism requires more than viral movements and political spectacle. Drawing on the traditions of democratic, socialist and anti-caste struggles, he contends that India needs a broad-based political alternative rooted in constitutional values, social justice and grassroots organisation. The article examines the limitations of spontaneous protest and calls for a renewed democratic movement capable of confronting inequality, corporate power, caste oppression and the erosion of civil liberties through sustained political action and collective solidarity.
FOREST RIGHTS ACT
Twenty Years After the Forest Rights Act, Adivasis and Forest Dwellers Continue to Be Denied Their Legitimate Rights
by Prakash Kumar Samantsinghar
Twenty years after the enactment of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, activists, researchers, and community leaders meeting in Bhubaneswar have argued that the rights promised to Adivasis and traditional forest dwellers remain largely unrealized. Organized by the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), the meeting examined the continued challenges in implementing both the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. Participants highlighted political and administrative barriers, the weakening of Gram Sabhas, and the marginalization of forest-dependent communities, while calling for stronger public mobilization to secure rights over land, forests, and natural resources.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The Pharmacist’s Role in Protecting Persons with Disabilities from Medication Errors: A Human Rights Perspective
by Ghassan Shahrour
Medication errors pose a disproportionate risk to persons with disabilities due to communication barriers, complex treatment needs, and limited access to health information. In this article, Ghassan Shahrour examines the critical role pharmacists play in preventing medication errors and advancing the right to safe and accessible healthcare. Drawing on international evidence and examples from Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, the article highlights how disability-inclusive communication, pharmacist-led medication reviews, and accessible digital tools can improve patient safety. It argues that strengthening the pharmacist’s role is both a public health priority and a fundamental human rights obligation.
NEW ATHEISM
New Atheism, Western Hegemony, and the Imperial Calculus
by V A Mohamad Ashrof
"New Atheism, Western Hegemony, and the Imperial Calculus" offers a critical examination of the New Atheist movement and its relationship to power, empire, and global politics. Drawing on postcolonial theory, political sociology, and international relations, V.A. Mohamad Ashrof argues that leading New Atheist thinkers often detached religion from its historical and material contexts while overlooking the role of Western militarism and imperial intervention. The article explores debates surrounding secularism, the War on Terror, Palestine, and the legacy of Enlightenment thought, calling for a more historically grounded and politically engaged critique of religion.
LIFE
Can Synthetic Care Be Life-Affirming? The Science and Politics of Touch
by Dr Trishna Sarkar
Dr Trishna Sarkar examines the growing market for synthetic care and the science of human touch in an age of widespread loneliness. Drawing on neuroscience research on C-Tactile fibres and the role of touch in emotional development, the article explores why human tenderness cannot be fully replicated by technology or commercial substitutes. It argues that the expansion of paid companionship, AI partners, and tactile substitutes reflects deeper social and economic transformations that have weakened human connections, raising important questions about care, inequality, and the future of human relationships.
TRIBUTE
K. Bhagyaraj: The Storyteller Who Taught Tamil Cinema to Look Into the Human Heart
by Pon Chandran
K. Bhagyaraj, who passed away on June 27, 2026, at the age of 73, leaves behind one of the most significant legacies in Indian cinema. Revered as the "King of Screenplay," he transformed Tamil filmmaking by placing ordinary people, domestic relationships, and human behavior at the center of popular cinema. This tribute by Pon Chandran examines Bhagyaraj's contributions as a writer, director, and actor, highlighting his innovations in screenplay structure, characterization, and narrative craft. It also reflects on his enduring influence on generations of filmmakers and the storytelling traditions he helped establish in Tamil cinema.
Kishan Patnaik: A Life of Uncompromising Values and Independent Socialist Thought
by Dr Suresh Khairnar
On the 96th birth anniversary of socialist thinker and activist Kishan Patnaik (1930–2004), Dr. Suresh Khairnar reflects on the life and values of one of India’s most original and uncompromising political minds. The article traces Patnaik’s early rejection of communal politics, his lifelong commitment to democratic socialism, his opposition to political opportunism, and his advocacy of alternative development and politics. Drawing on decades of personal association, the author recalls Patnaik’s intellectual independence, moral integrity, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding human values in adverse times.
Subrata Basu (1940–2026): Remembering a Marxist Revolutionary Who Sought Unity Through Struggle
by UCCRI(M-L)
The passing of Comrade Subrata Basu marks the end of a long chapter in the history of India's communist revolutionary movement. Active for more than six decades, Basu dedicated his life to the pursuit of people's democracy, socialism and revolutionary unity. This tribute traces his political journey from the upheavals of the 1960s to his later efforts to rebuild relations among communist revolutionary organisations, highlighting his association with Kanu Sanyal, his critique of left adventurism, and his enduring commitment to mass politics and ideological struggle.
