Countercurrents.org

PM’s Dictum, a Precursor to Darker Measures? by Biju Negi countercurrents.org/2026/05/pms-di… Biju Negi examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent public appeal for economic restraint and argues that it may signal the introduction of stricter austerity measures in India. Drawing parallels with past crises, including the Covid-19 period and international “structural adjustment” programmes, the article contends that economic burdens are often shifted onto ordinary people through cuts in social spending, privatization, and shrinking public services. It also reflects on declining public trust in the government and growing anxieties about the country’s economic direction. The piece situates the PM’s remarks within the broader trajectory of policies pursued since 2014.

Cancer Is More of a Social Problem Than a Medical Condition by Akhter Hussain Bhat and Aayat Bashir countercurrents.org/2026/05/cancer… Cancer is often understood as a medical condition, but its causes and outcomes are deeply shaped by social realities. In this article, Akhter Hussain Bhat and Aayat Bashir examine how poverty, inequality, environmental exposure, limited healthcare access, gender norms, and public policy influence cancer risk, diagnosis, and survival. The article argues that cancer reflects broader social injustices as much as biological disease. It highlights the role of health literacy, occupational hazards, rural healthcare gaps, and global inequality in shaping cancer outcomes, while stressing the need for stronger public health systems, social support, and equitable policy interventions.

WT-JAC Demands Immediate Arrest of Union Minister’s Son in POCSO Case, Alleges Preferential Treatment Press Release countercurrents.org/2026/05/wt-jac… The Women & Transgender Organisations Joint Action Committee (WT-JAC) has demanded the immediate arrest of a Union Minister’s son in a POCSO case involving allegations of grooming, coercion and sexual assault of a minor girl. In an open letter to Telangana authorities, the committee alleged that the accused is receiving preferential treatment because of his political background. WT-JAC also raised concerns over the circulation of the minor’s images and videos on social media, calling it a form of secondary victimisation. The group has urged an impartial investigation, protection for the victim and strict action against those sharing the content online.

Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Boy, Confiscate His Body in Occupied West Bank by Quds News Network countercurrents.org/2026/05/israel… Israeli forces shot and killed 16-year-old Fahd Zidan Owais in Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya near Nablus before confiscating his body and preventing medical crews from reaching him. The killing comes amid escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, where more than 70 Palestinian children have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2025. UNICEF says at least 850 children have also been wounded, many by live ammunition. Human rights groups and UN officials have warned of increasing settler attacks, military raids, arrests, and detentions targeting Palestinians, including children, across the occupied territory.

Congress is about to legalize the liquidation of america’s national forests by Jim Pattiz countercurrents.org/2026/05/congre… Jim Pattiz examines the Fix Our Forests Act and argues that the legislation would significantly expand federal authority for large-scale logging across U.S. national forests. The article details proposed changes to environmental review, endangered species protections, judicial oversight, and forest management rules, while placing them in the context of recent executive actions and timber production targets under the Trump administration. Pattiz contends that the bill would weaken long-standing safeguards governing public lands and concentrate greater discretionary power in agencies led by officials closely aligned with the logging industry. The article also traces the bipartisan political support behind the legislation and its expected path through Congress.

Inside the battle between Chile’s salmon industry and its Indigenous peoples by Elena Basso countercurrents.org/2026/05/inside… An investigation into Chile’s salmon industry examines its impact on Indigenous Kawésqar and Mapuche communities in Patagonia. The article traces how industrial salmon farming has expanded into protected marine areas, bringing pollution, ecological damage, and restrictions on traditional navigation and fishing practices. It also explores the growing political effort to weaken the Lafkenche law, which allows Indigenous communities to protect coastal and marine territories through ECMPOs. Community leaders, activists, and environmental advocates argue that the struggle is not only about environmental protection, but also about preserving cultural memory, sacred sites, and ancestral relationships with the sea.

How a different kind of education built the world’s most equal democracies by Sandra Ericson countercurrents.org/2026/05/how-a-… Sandra Ericson examines how education systems shaped the development of the Nordic countries into some of the world’s most equal and socially cohesive democracies. Drawing on the traditions of folk education, human ecology, and democratic participation, the article contrasts Nordic approaches to schooling with the competitive and hierarchical structure of American education. It argues that education is not simply about workforce preparation, but about cultivating civic responsibility, social trust, and collective well-being across generations. The piece also explores how early learning environments influence political culture, social equality, and the capacity of societies to respond to crises such as inequality and climate change.

Real economic change requires more than reform; we must build a solidarity economy by Pamela Boyce Simms countercurrents.org/2026/05/real-e… Pamela Boyce Simms argues that today’s economic crises cannot be resolved through limited reforms within existing systems. The article explores the need for a solidarity economy rooted in cooperation, shared ownership, community wellbeing, and democratic control over economic life. It examines how concentrated corporate power, political unaccountability, and deep inequality have weakened social and economic stability. Drawing on ideas of interconnectedness and collective responsibility, the piece highlights grassroots alternatives already taking shape and reflects on the cultural, political, and personal transformations required to build a regenerative post-capitalist future grounded in solidarity rather than extraction.

Discourse on War Should Expose the Complete Futility and Existential Threats of Wars Now and in Future by Bharat Dogra countercurrents.org/2026/05/discou… Bharat Dogra argues that contemporary wars must be understood not only as political or military conflicts, but as existential threats to humanity itself. The article examines how modern weapons, including nuclear and emerging technologies, have vastly expanded the destructive potential of war, while prolonged conflicts also undermine the global cooperation needed to address climate change and other ecological crises. It critiques war discourse that focuses narrowly on military victory and calls instead for stronger peace movements, structural reforms in global governance, and innovative international initiatives aimed at preventing catastrophic destruction and securing a peaceful future for humanity.

Congress Padayatra in Odisha: Clashes Erupt Between Police and Workers; Highlights Unclear Stance and Activist Concerns by Prakash Kumar Samantsinghar countercurrents.org/2026/05/congre… A nine-day Congress padayatra from Dhinkia to Bhubaneswar concluded with clashes between police and party workers as protesters attempted to march towards the Odisha Vidhan Sabha. The march raised concerns over displacement, land acquisition, mining projects, environmental destruction, and alleged violations of Gram Sabha consent under the PESA and Forest Rights Acts. The article documents statements from Congress leaders, activists, and members of the Jindal POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, while also examining criticism of the Congress party’s unclear position on industrial and mining projects in Odisha’s tribal and Fifth Schedule areas.

Baramulla Bypass: Between Development, Delay, and the Changing Face of a Town by Rameez Bhat countercurrents.org/2026/05/baramu… Rameez Bhat examines the long-delayed Baramulla bypass as more than a traffic project, tracing how it has reshaped daily life, public trust, and the character of the town itself. The article explores the frustrations caused by unfinished roads, dust, diversions, and deteriorating infrastructure, alongside the economic hopes tied to the project. It also reflects on the deeper social, environmental, and political questions surrounding development in Kashmir, where promises of progress often collide with lived realities. The piece presents the bypass as a symbol of both aspiration and contradiction in a rapidly changing region.

Vamandada Kardak: The Resonant Voice of Ambedkarite Thought and Song by Vikas Parashram Meshram countercurrents.org/2026/05/vamand… Vamandada Kardak was one of the most influential voices of the Ambedkarite movement, using songs and poetry to carry the ideas of Buddha, Phule, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to ordinary people across Maharashtra. Born into poverty and shaped by hardship, he transformed personal struggle into a lifelong commitment to social awakening. Through more than ten thousand songs, performances, and writings, Kardak helped strengthen Ambedkarite consciousness among workers, villagers, and marginalized communities. This article revisits his life, literary contributions, and enduring role in the cultural history of the Ambedkarite movement on the occasion of his death anniversary.

The Cost of the See-Saw – India’s Credibility Crisis in BRICS by Dr Ranjan Solomon countercurrents.org/2026/05/the-co… India’s evolving position within BRICS has exposed growing tensions between its claims of strategic autonomy and its increasingly close alignment with Western and Israeli geopolitical interests. The article examines diplomatic disagreements within BRICS over Gaza, Palestine, and the Middle East, arguing that India’s balancing approach is eroding trust among key Global South partners. It traces how India’s historical identity as a leader of non-alignment and anti-colonial solidarity is now under strain amid competing pressures from the U.S., Israel, Russia, China, and Iran. The piece reflects on whether strategic flexibility can survive without political consistency and moral credibility.

The Classroom That Doesn’t Teach. The Degree That Doesn’t Pay by Utkarsh Mishra countercurrents.org/2026/05/the-cl… India’s education crisis is no longer about access alone. Millions of children attend school but struggle with basic reading and arithmetic, while graduates enter a labour market unable to provide stable employment. Drawing on recent data from ASER and the State of Working India report, Utkarsh Mishra examines how inadequate public investment, weak school infrastructure, gender inequality, and poor employment outcomes are shaping the lives of young people across the country. The article argues that education must be measured not by enrolment or degrees, but by whether it creates real learning, dignity, and economic security.

Australia: Homelessness could be four times higher in a decade due to impacts from climate change Press Release countercurrents.org/2026/05/austra… A new study from researchers at the University of Sydney warns that climate change could sharply worsen Australia’s housing crisis over the next decade. Under a high-emissions scenario, homelessness could rise fourfold, while home ownership and rents become significantly less affordable. The study argues that climate-driven shocks, rising insurance costs, extreme weather and disruptions to construction and investment patterns are already reshaping the housing market. Researchers say broad housing policies may unintentionally deepen inequality unless they are tailored to protect renters, low-income households and people vulnerable to homelessness. They call for climate resilience to be central to future housing policy.

Exiting the Oil Cartel: The United Arab Emirates Leaves OPEC by Dr Binoy Kampmark countercurrents.org/2026/05/exitin… Dr Binoy Kampmark examines the United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave OPEC amid tensions within the oil cartel, regional instability linked to the Iran War, and changing global energy dynamics. The article explores how production quotas, disrupted supply routes, and the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz shaped the UAE’s move. It also considers the wider implications for oil market control, Saudi Arabia’s influence, and the future of coordinated production policies. At the same time, growing electrification and rising electric vehicle adoption across major economies point to a long-term shift that may reduce the strategic value of oil dominance.

Between Roses and Revolutions by Ashish Singh countercurrents.org/2026/05/betwee… Ashish Singh’s “Between Roses and Revolutions” reflects on Barcelona through literature, memory, exile, and political history. Drawing from conversations with poet Anisur Rahman during the twentieth anniversary congress of the International Cities of Refuge Network, the essay moves through Saint George’s Day celebrations, the legacies of Gaudí, Cervantes, Lorca, and Tagore, and the enduring cultural identity of Catalonia. Blending travel writing with poetry and historical reflection, the piece presents Barcelona as a city shaped not only by architecture and tourism, but also by dissent, artistic imagination, migration, and the continuing struggle for freedom of expression and human dignity.

Trump’s Iranian Nightmare by Chris Hedges countercurrents.org/2026/05/trumps… Chris Hedges argues that the Trump administration’s war on Iran reflects the same failures that marked earlier U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan: strategic miscalculation, militarism, and disregard for long-term consequences. He links the conflict to rising global economic instability, disruptions in energy and food supplies, mass displacement, and widening poverty across Asia and Africa. The article examines Iran’s leverage through the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s escalating attacks in the region, and the growing risks of a wider war. Hedges presents the conflict as a sign of imperial decline whose human and economic costs are being borne by ordinary people worldwide.

The Assault on a French Nun and the Forgotten Story of Palestinian Christians by Dr Ramzy Baroud countercurrents.org/2026/05/the-as… Dr Ramzy Baroud examines the assault on a French nun in Jerusalem to explore the wider, often overlooked reality faced by Palestinian Christians under Israeli occupation. The article traces the historical roots of Palestinian Christian communities, their displacement since the Nakba, and the steady erosion of their presence in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It argues that violence against Christians is not incidental but part of a broader system of exclusion and dispossession affecting all Palestinians. By linking recent attacks on clergy and churches to the destruction in Gaza, the piece situates Palestinian Christians within the larger struggle for justice, coexistence, and survival in Palestine.

Beware of “Urban Nixonites”! by B R Bapuji countercurrents.org/2026/05/beware… B R Bapuji traces the political origins of terms like “Urban Naxal” and contrasts them with an older counter-term coined by poet Sri Sri: “Nixonites.” The article examines how language is used to delegitimize dissent and justify state repression, linking contemporary political rhetoric with earlier anti-communist narratives. It reflects on the targeting of intellectuals, activists, and critics under expanding definitions of internal enemies, while also drawing attention to corporate interests behind militarised policies in forest regions. The essay situates these debates within a broader history of political language, ideology, and resistance in India.