Countercurrents.org

I Knew Them: Song Kosal… The Girl from the Rice Fields by Ghassan Shahrour https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/i-knew-them-song-kosal-the-girl-from-the-rice-fields/ At six, Song Kosal lost her right leg to a landmine while helping her mother plant rice along the Cambodian border. Years later, she became a youth ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, sharing her experience with governments, activists and survivors around the world. She addressed the 1995 Vienna disarmament conference and traveled to dozens of capitals, advocating for a ban on landmines, clearance of contaminated land and support for survivors. Ghassan Shahrour recalls meeting Song in Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Geneva and elsewhere, and reflects on her journey from a child survivor to a global voice for people affected by landmines.

The Unknown Cultural Revolution: Life and Change in a Chinese Village by Pon Chandran https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/the-unknown-cultural-revolution-life-and-change-in-a-chinese-village/ Dongping Han’s "The Unknown Cultural Revolution: Life and Change in a Chinese Village" examines China’s Cultural Revolution from the perspective of rural communities. Drawing on his experiences in Jimo County, Shandong, along with interviews and archival material, Han focuses on changes in village politics, education, healthcare and economic life. The book examines how ordinary peasants gained greater opportunities to challenge local officials and participate in governance, while rural schooling, healthcare, irrigation, electrification, agricultural mechanisation and village industries expanded. Pon Chandran explores Han’s account and its emphasis on rural experiences often overshadowed by histories centred on urban political conflict.

Chandra Singh Garhwali: The Soldier Who Chose Conscience Over Orders by Bharat Dogra https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/chandra-singh-garhwali-the-soldier-who-chose-conscience-over-orders/ In April 1930, during the freedom movement in Peshawar, British forces ordered Indian soldiers to fire on unarmed Khudai Khidmatgar protesters. Chandra Singh Garhwali, a Garhwali soldier commanding one of the units, refused to pass on the order and instructed his soldiers not to fire. He and his fellow soldiers were subsequently sentenced to long prison terms. Garhwali spent 11 years in prison before his release in 1941 and later participated in the Quit India Movement, serving another prison sentence. His life also included work with the communist movement and efforts toward people-based development in the Himalayan region. His stand remains a significant example of conscience in military service.

From the Privatization of Religion to the Wars of Identity by Dr Salim Nazzal https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/from-the-privatization-of-religion-to-the-wars-of-identity/ Dr Salim Nazzal examines the fragmentation of religion, culture and identity in the modern world through the idea of the “privatization of religion.” As contact between different faiths and worldviews expands, competing interpretations multiply and certainty becomes harder to sustain. Nazzal argues that identity, while essential to human belonging, can also become a barrier when transformed into hostility or isolation. He suggests that future conflicts may increasingly take the form of wars of identity, alongside broader cultural clashes. Against this fragmentation, he calls for a universal humanism that recognizes plurality while affirming the shared dignity and destiny of all human beings.

Prose Poems by Govind Geethanand https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/prose-poems/ Govind Geethanand’s two prose poems explore the uneasy distance between human suffering and the structures, habits and ideas that allow indifference to persist. “The Guise of Progress” moves from an unsettling conversation about the guillotine to memories of Auschwitz, Minab and Palestine, tracing a descent into moral disquiet. “An Invitation” follows an artist arriving in Le Havre, encountering a world of outward radiance and inward detachment, while searching through streets, churches and conversations for a way to understand collective pain. Together, the poems reflect on violence, alienation, memory and the difficulty of remaining attentive to suffering.

CEIA Launches International Pan-African Solidarity Campaign for the Republic of Cuba by The Coalition for the Elimination of Imperialism in Africa https://countercurrents.org/2026/10/ceia-launches-international-pan-african-solidarity-campaign-for-the-republic-of-cuba/ The Coalition for the Elimination of Imperialism in Africa (CEIA) has launched an international Pan-African Solidarity Campaign for Cuba, bringing together organizations from Africa and the African diaspora. The campaign seeks to build political solidarity, raise funds for the Cuban people, and reaffirm historical ties rooted in anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles. It includes a declaration seeking at least 100 African organizational signatures, a $10,000 fundraiser, an international webinar, and a month of action in October. Organizers also aim to reconnect younger generations with the history of Cuban solidarity with African liberation movements and encourage deeper political and diplomatic ties between African countries and Cuba.

The US Constitution Bars Those “Engaged in Insurrection” From Office – So Will Nicaragua’s by John Perry https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/the-us-constitution-bars-those-engaged-in-insurrection-from-office-so-will-nicaraguas/ Nicaragua is undertaking reforms to its electoral system amid growing tensions with Washington. The changes, discussed in neighborhood meetings across the country, would restrict electoral participation by people who receive foreign funding, conspire to overthrow the government, or call for sanctions or military intervention against Nicaragua. The article places these reforms in the context of US involvement in elections across Latin America, including Honduras and Brazil, and cites statements by US officials and President Donald Trump about influencing regional elections. It argues that Nicaragua’s measures are intended to protect its electoral process and popular sovereignty from foreign interference.

Takfirism or J.Lo: The Theology of Regime Survival by Junaid S Ahmad https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/takfirism-or-j-lo-the-theology-of-regime-survival/ Junaid S Ahmad examines how Saudi Arabia’s political order has combined religious authority, strategic alliances and entertainment-driven modernization. He focuses on the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, and on statements by Pakistani clerics that frame the confrontation with Ansar Allah in explicitly religious terms. The article argues that the distinction between defending Islam’s holy cities and defending the Saudi state becomes blurred when sacred language is used to reinforce political authority. It also contrasts the treatment of Gaza with the response to Saudi security concerns, examining how sectarian rhetoric can redirect public attention away from questions of power, wealth and accountability.

Occupation inside occupation: Where the Prison Is Not a Building, But an Occupation by Rev E Immanuel Nehemiah https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/occupation-inside-occupation-where-the-prison-is-not-a-building-but-an-occupation/ Rev E Immanuel Nehemiah examines Palestinian imprisonment as an extension of occupation rather than confinement to a building. Drawing on accounts attributed to the Palestine Centre for Prisoners’ Studies and other cited sources, the article describes detention without charge, the imprisonment of children, solitary births, alleged torture, forced disappearance, inadequate food and medical care, and the detention of people from Gaza. It also traces Yahya Sinwar’s 23 years in Israeli prisons, including his studies, hunger strikes and writing, as part of a broader prison biography. The article argues that prisons, checkpoints, Gaza and control form one continuous system of occupation.

Genocide Is Genocide: Why Palestine Matters to Nigeria by Oseahumen Freedom https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/genocide-is-genocide-why-palestine-matters-to-nigeria/ From Lagos, Oseahumen Freedom reflects on why Palestine matters to Nigerians who know the realities of terrorism, displacement and civilian suffering. The article draws a connection between the devastation in Gaza and Nigeria’s own experience with Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry and displacement. It also examines unsubstantiated claims about foreign sponsorship of armed groups, arguing that allegations should be tested against credible evidence rather than repeated as fact. The author calls for a consistent standard of human rights, rejecting collective blame against Palestinians, Israelis, Muslims or Nigerians. Justice, the article argues, should not depend on whose suffering is being considered.

The Unravelling Paradigm and Settler-Colonial Decay by Dr Ranjan Solomon https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/the-unravelling-paradigm-and-settler-colonial-decay/ Dr Ranjan Solomon examines what he describes as a deepening structural crisis in Israel’s political, military, economic and social order. The article frames Israel through the lens of late-stage settler colonialism and argues that its reliance on military dominance, Western diplomatic support and economic resilience is increasingly under strain. It discusses international legal proceedings, diplomatic isolation, economic disruption, capital flight, brain drain and internal political polarisation as interconnected pressures. Solomon argues that military force cannot resolve a political struggle rooted in land, displacement and sovereignty. The article ultimately calls for decolonisation and a single secular democratic state based on equal citizenship and shared political rights.

Israel Violated Gaza Ceasefire Over 5,140 Times, Killing 1,421: Palestinian Authorities by Quds News Network https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/israel-violated-gaza-ceasefire-over-5140-times-killing-1421-palestinian-authorities/ Palestinian authorities say Israeli forces have killed 1,421 Palestinians and injured 4,983 in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, 2025. The Gaza Government Media Office reports 5,147 violations of the agreement, including attacks and the abduction of 198 Palestinians. It says only 72,826 of the 210,600 expected aid trucks have entered Gaza, while restrictions have also limited the movement of people. More than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are reportedly living in tents, with around 162,000 tents no longer fit for use. The Office also warns that 255 damaged buildings remain at risk of collapse.

US Technologies Shouldn’t Be Used in Sudan War by the UAE by Mohamed Suliman https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/us-technologies-shouldnt-be-used-in-sudan-war-by-the-uae/ The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has been marked by widespread atrocities and has been prolonged by external support, particularly from the UAE to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The article examines cases in which US-origin technologies and products have allegedly been used in support of the RSF, including a Boeing aircraft used to transport weapons and personnel, a Pratt & Whitney engine found in a Turkish-made drone, and AI-related operations targeting UN experts. It also discusses congressional efforts to assess whether UAE activities involve US technology being used in gross human rights violations and calls for investigations by US authorities.

For 6,000 years humanity controlled water. Climate change is changing the equation by Jeremy Rifkin https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/for-6000-years-humanity-controlled-water-climate-change-is-changing-the-equation/ For 6,000 years, human societies have reshaped water through dams, canals, reservoirs, irrigation and other infrastructure. Jeremy Rifkin examines how climate change is now disrupting the water cycles on which this hydraulic civilization was built. A warming planet is bringing heavier rainfall, floods, prolonged droughts, heatwaves and changing precipitation patterns, making water less predictable in time and place. The article explores a shift from controlling water to adapting to its natural flows, through approaches such as slow water, sponge cities, rainwater harvesting, green infrastructure and decentralized water systems. These initiatives seek to restore ecosystems while strengthening resilience to climate-driven extremes.

Returning to a shattered Jabaliya, my childhood sanctuary by Noor Abu Mariam https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/returning-to-a-shattered-jabaliya-my-childhood-sanctuary/ Noor Abu Mariam recalls Jabaliya camp as the place of her childhood, family gatherings and cherished memories. Her grandfather’s home was a sanctuary where relatives shared meals, stories and time together away from the pressures of city life. After being displaced, she returned to Jabaliya in February 2025 to find her family home reduced to rubble. Families were clearing debris by hand and trying to create shelter amid the destruction. Later displacement forced residents to leave again. Through the memories of her uncle and a young child who barely remembers his former home, Abu Mariam reflects on how war can destroy both homes and memories.

Israel turns Gaza into largest ghetto in modern history, killing residents one after another as three-year genocide continues by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/israel-turns-gaza-into-largest-ghetto-in-modern-history-killing-residents-one-after-another-as-three-year-genocide-continues/ Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says Israel has transformed Gaza into a densely confined area where more than two million Palestinians face military control, displacement and severe restrictions on essential supplies. The report describes widespread destruction of homes and health facilities, shortages of food, medicine, fuel and shelter materials, and restrictions on medical evacuations. It says 1.7 million people remain displaced, while hundreds of thousands of children have been deprived of regular schooling. The report also highlights starvation, disease, unemployment and the breakdown of family and social support systems. It calls for an end to the blockade and unimpeded humanitarian access.

The Walls Closing Around Indian Democracy by Hiren Gohain https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/the-walls-closing-around-indian-democracy/ Hiren Gohain examines the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission, and wider concerns about the functioning of constitutional institutions. He traces the appointment of senior election officials, the role of the Selection Committee, disputes over the Special Intensive Revision, and the Supreme Court’s interventions. The article argues that focusing only on individual officials risks overlooking the institutional structures through which decisions are made. It also discusses the CJP rally at Jantar Mantar, growing public concern, and the political disengagement of younger people. Gohain concludes by calling attention to the need for deeper scrutiny of the system.

From Caste to Code: Will AI Democratize Knowledge in India? by Mouhamed Noordeen https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/from-caste-to-code-will-ai-democratize-knowledge-in-india/ AI tools are making information easier to access, but access to information does not necessarily mean access to knowledge. In India, where caste has historically shaped education and intellectual authority, artificial intelligence inherits inequalities already embedded in digital knowledge systems. English and dominant narratives remain better represented, while oral histories, anti-caste movements, subaltern archives and community knowledge receive less visibility. LLMs can reduce educational barriers, support translation and assist learners, yet they can also concentrate epistemic authority by presenting synthesized answers through centralized systems. The article examines how AI may reproduce existing hierarchies of knowledge rather than fundamentally transforming them.

ALIFA extends solidarity to the week-long protest by thousands of women students across Delhi campuses resisting sexual violence by All India Feminist Alliance https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/alifa-extends-solidarity-to-the-week-long-protest-by-thousands-of-women-students-across-delhi-campuses-resisting-sexual-violence/ All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) has expressed solidarity with thousands of women students protesting across Delhi campuses following the gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park. Students have demanded safer campuses and public spaces, better lighting, night-time patrolling and institutional accountability. Protests were held between September 23 and 29, including marches involving students from several Delhi University colleges. ALIFA has called for time-bound trials, survivor confidentiality and support, prompt investigations in cases involving minors, and public disclosure of safety audits and patrol records around Aastha Kunj. It also opposes curfews and restrictions that limit women’s mobility and access to education.

Four Pillars, One Question: Is India Heading for Anarchy or Awakening? by Nihar Nalini Sarangi https://countercurrents.org/2026/09/four-pillars-one-question-is-india-heading-for-anarchy-or-awakening/ India’s democratic institutions face questions over parliamentary scrutiny, executive accountability, judicial delays and press freedom. The article examines these concerns alongside rising economic inequality, high youth unemployment and the growing gap between economic growth and household security. It also considers contrasting views that point to elections, judicial independence, regional and digital media, welfare delivery, infrastructure and sustained growth as evidence of democratic resilience. Drawing on developments in India and neighbouring countries, the author distinguishes between political anger that creates instability and civic mobilisation that can strengthen democratic institutions. The central focus is the role of citizens in shaping what comes next.