Kashmir’s Green Gold at Risk by Rameez Bhat countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Kashmir’s apple orchards sustain thousands of families and support a wider rural economy encompassing farm labourers, transporters, traders and small businesses. Yet this vital source of livelihood faces mounting pressures from climate change, rising cultivation costs, uncertain market prices and inadequate infrastructure. Warmer winters, irregular rainfall and extreme weather threaten production, while limited storage, processing facilities and bargaining power weaken growers’ earnings. Rameez Bhat examines the challenges confronting Kashmir’s horticultural sector and outlines measures to protect orchardists, including climate adaptation, affordable modernisation, better market access, crop insurance and diversification. Preserving Kashmir’s green gold means safeguarding the livelihoods and future of its farming communities.

Gaza fears another famine by Weam Abu Daqqa countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Gaza’s markets are stocked with imported snacks, soft drinks and processed foods, but essential sources of nutrition remain scarce and unaffordable. Milk, eggs, fresh meat and fruit are beyond the reach of many displaced families, while children continue to suffer from malnutrition and food insecurity. The World Food Programme’s decision to cut food assistance by one-third threatens to deepen the crisis, leaving an estimated 500,000 people without critical support. With border restrictions limiting supplies, fishing prohibited and local agriculture constrained, families fear another famine as winter approaches. For Gaza’s people, access to nutritious food remains a daily struggle.

Israeli Occupation Forces Ramp Up Ethnic Cleansing in West Bank After Palestinian Resistance Attack by Brett Wilkins countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Israeli forces have begun demolishing homes and businesses and forcibly evacuating residents near Hebron in the occupied West Bank following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a wider military operation and proposed extending lockdowns and demolitions to other areas. Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have invoked Gaza and Lebanon as models for the campaign. A temporary Israeli High Court order halted the demolitions after a legal challenge. The escalation comes amid rising settler violence, Palestinian displacement and growing calls for West Bank annexation by Israel’s far-right coalition.

Barricades Are Not Rebuttals by M A Baby countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In "Barricades Are Not Rebuttals", M A Baby challenges Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s defence of the Election Commission of India, citing reported objections by two Election Commissioners, concerns over voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision, and questions about the Commission’s transparency and independence. The article examines changes to the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner, legal immunity for election officials, and restrictions on peaceful protest. It argues that barricades and detentions cannot answer constitutional concerns. Baby calls for an inquiry into the Commission’s functioning, safeguards against arbitrary voter deletions, reforms to the appointment process, and the reopening of established protest spaces.

Resisting SIR: An Autumn of Uprisings by Dillip Kumar Dash countercurrents.org/2026/10/… India’s resistance to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls brings together Gen Z protesters, civil society groups, Left organisations and Opposition parties against mass disenfranchisement. In "Resisting SIR: An Autumn of Uprisings", Dillip Kumar Dash situates these protests within decades of economic inequality, growing individualisation and the erosion of collective values. The emerging coalition reflects a convergence of different political formations, united by demands for accountability and opposition to the silencing of dissent. Though the movement’s future remains uncertain, its ability to mobilise citizens, revive solidarity and question power marks a significant moment in democratic politics.

ALIFA demands justice and accountability in Ankita Bhandari murder case by All India Feminist Alliance countercurrents.org/2026/10/… The All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) has demanded justice and accountability in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, calling for a presidential review of Dushyant Kumar Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor pending the CBI inquiry and a judicial finding. Ankita, a 19-year-old receptionist, was murdered in September 2022. Three men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in May 2025, but allegations concerning an unidentified VIP guest remain under investigation. ALIFA has called for a time-bound CBI inquiry, a Supreme Court-monitored judicial finding, a public explanation from the Union government, and an end to police detention of Ankita’s protesting parents.

El Niño: UN Concerns and the Future of Humanity by S Mohan countercurrents.org/2026/10/… The expected strengthening of El Niño by the end of 2026 raises concerns about droughts, floods, heat waves and their effects on food security. Uneven rainfall and rising temperatures could threaten agricultural production, water resources and the livelihoods of farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk and small producers. The consequences may extend to food prices, household expenditure and child nutrition. Governments and local authorities need to strengthen early warning systems, protect water resources, support farmers and prepare for climate-related emergencies. Public awareness, water conservation, heat protection and disaster preparedness can help reduce risks and protect vulnerable communities.

The Black Panther Party at 60: Revolutionary Self-Defence, Community Power and the Lessons of State Repression by Harsh Thakor countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Founded in Oakland in 1966, the Black Panther Party combined armed self-defence with socialist politics, community organising and international solidarity. Its Ten-Point Programme linked racial justice to demands for employment, housing, education and freedom from police brutality. Free breakfast programmes, health clinics and political education became central to its work. The party faced sustained repression through FBI surveillance, infiltration and police violence, including the killing of Fred Hampton in 1969. Internal divisions and strategic disagreements also contributed to its decline. Six decades later, its history offers lessons on racial inequality, community self-determination, revolutionary organisation and the challenges of confronting entrenched power.

Why Are Love Songs So Common in Bedouin Societies? A Reading of the Social Function of Emotional Song by Dr Salim Nazzal countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Why are love songs so common in Bedouin societies where social conventions have often restricted emotional choice? Dr Salim Nazzal examines this apparent paradox through the social and psychological functions of popular song. Drawing on sociological and structural approaches, he argues that the abundance of love songs may reflect not the freedom to love, but the deprivation of emotional fulfilment. Song and poetry can provide symbolic spaces for expressing suppressed feelings, unfulfilled desires and postponed hopes. Comparing Bedouin songs with Afghan women’s poetry and Palestinian songs of freedom, Nazzal explores how culture expresses not only what societies possess, but also what they lack.

Climate Change’s Terrifying Gordian Knot by Robert Hunziker countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Global CO₂ emissions continue to rise despite a 415% increase in renewable energy installations since 2000. Robert Hunziker examines the combined pressures of population growth, fossil fuel dependence and an economic system centred on perpetual expansion. He argues that these forces are intensifying climate disruption, while technologies such as direct air capture remain expensive, energy-intensive and inadequate to address emissions at the required scale. Drawing on proposals to democratise the economy, Hunziker considers whether a fundamental transformation of economic priorities could support a collective response to global warming and the removal of atmospheric CO₂.

Marx, Ambedkar and the Buddha: Towards a Revolutionary Synthesis by Pon Chandran countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Marx, Ambedkar and the Buddha offer distinct approaches to understanding and transforming Indian society. Marx’s critique of capitalism examines class relations and economic exploitation. Ambedkar places the annihilation of caste, social democracy and equality at the centre of emancipation. The Buddha’s ethical teachings emphasise compassion, wisdom and human dignity. Bringing these traditions into dialogue requires confronting their philosophical differences while examining how caste, class and state power interact. The article argues that progressive movements must integrate struggles against economic exploitation and caste oppression, strengthen democratic participation, and ensure that the most oppressed communities exercise leadership in shaping social transformation.

Power, Protest and the Politics of Space in Delhi by Sucharita Sen countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Delhi’s changing protest sites reveal how control over public space shapes the right to dissent. The closure of Jantar Mantar and the relocation of demonstrations to designated grounds place financial, logistical and spatial barriers before citizens seeking to be heard. Tracing the shift from the Boat Club lawns to Jantar Mantar, Sucharita Sen examines how colonial-era policing practices, legal decisions and spatial restrictions continue to regulate public gatherings. The article explores how protests against possible mass disenfranchisement have brought together opposition parties, students and civil society, challenging the division between citizens recognised as rights-bearing individuals and populations managed by the state.

Reversing the Narrative: A Legal–Political Analysis of Terror, Occupation, and Indigenous Resistance in Balochistan by Baloch Siddik Azad countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Baloch Siddik Azad examines the contested labels of terrorism and resistance in Balochistan through international law, political history and the question of self-determination. The article challenges Pakistan’s portrayal of Baloch resistance as terrorism and argues that military operations, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and resource extraction without meaningful local consent sustain political domination. Drawing comparisons with anti-colonial struggles in Algeria, Eritrea, East Timor and Namibia, the author situates the Baloch struggle within a broader history of national liberation movements. The article calls for examining state violence, indigenous sovereignty and resistance through legal and moral frameworks.

Environmental River Flows, Water Sharing, Compensating Carbon Dioxide Removal in Croplands by Sagar Dhara countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Rivers are living ecological systems, not merely sources of water for agriculture, industry and cities. In this article, Sagar Dhara examines how excessive diversions, climate change and forest degradation threaten river ecosystems, livelihoods and equitable water sharing. Drawing on examples including the Cauvery, Aral Sea, Colorado and Indus, he argues that environmental flows must be determined scientifically before water is allocated among competing users. The article also proposes compensating farmers, agricultural labourers and forest-protecting communities for removing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Such payments, he argues, could support rural livelihoods while advancing climate mitigation without further damaging rivers.

Alternative Path for Youth Movements by Bharat Dogra countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Bharat Dogra outlines a vision for youth movements centred on peace, justice, environmental protection and a safer future for children and young people. He argues that climate change, weapons of mass destruction, wars and excessive inequality threaten the conditions necessary for a secure and fulfilling life. Meeting these challenges requires redirecting resources from militarisation and excessive luxury towards basic needs, education and social well-being. Youth movements, he writes, must build lasting organisations, connect immediate concerns with long-term structural change, and cooperate across countries while resisting sectarian interests and foreign regime-change agendas. Their commitment must endure throughout life.

“Regime Change” – Beyond Dialectics by Biju Negi countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In “Regime Change – Beyond Dialectics,” Biju Negi examines the debate over regime change in India amid growing public protests and similar demonstrations across Europe. While the Indian government associates the term with violent upheavals, the opposition argues that a change of government through free, fair and peaceful elections is constitutionally valid. Negi contends that the demand extends beyond replacing the government. It involves restoring democratic institutions, constitutional values, the independence of the media and the integrity of public institutions. Above all, it calls on citizens to reclaim their constitutional rights and responsibilities as the people who gave themselves the Constitution.

Bhagalpur Riots: 37 Years On by Dr Suresh Khairnar countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Thirty-seven years after the Bhagalpur riots began on October 24, 1989, Dr. Suresh Khairnar reflects on the violence, the role of the RSS, the conduct of political leaders and the involvement of backward-caste communities in attacks on minorities. Drawing on his experiences and encounters with political leaders and police officials, he examines how communal polarisation shaped Indian politics and how caste divisions were exploited. The article also traces the peace and harmony work undertaken in Bhagalpur after the riots, which continues with the support of local organisations and activists. Khairnar reflects on the lessons of this history.

The Economy of Death: How Capitalism and Rituals Deepen Human Suffering by Dr G Shankar countercurrents.org/2026/10/… Death is inevitable, but the indignities surrounding life and death are shaped by social and economic systems. In contemporary India, the privatisation of healthcare and education leaves many families struggling to afford essential services, while elaborate funeral rituals can push bereaved relatives into debt. In this article, Dr G Shankar examines how capitalism, caste hierarchy and ritual expenditure reinforce inequality and undermine human dignity. Drawing on dialectical materialism, evolutionary anthropology and historical sociology, he argues that scientific education alone cannot overcome superstition. Universal healthcare, quality public education and simpler, dignified mourning practices are essential to building a more humane and egalitarian society.

Countercurrents at 25: A Writer’s Tribute to Truth, Courage and Editorial Freedom by Heather Stroud countercurrents.org/2026/10/… As Countercurrents celebrates its Silver Jubilee, Heather Stroud reflects on the platform’s role in sustaining independent journalism and providing space for voices often rejected by mainstream media. Writing on Palestine, Lebanon and the threat of fracking in North Yorkshire, the author describes how Countercurrents offered not only a publishing platform but also confidence in her work, without political censorship or pressure to conform. The tribute recognises editor Binu Mathew’s commitment to judging articles on their merits and considers possibilities for the platform’s future, including an online forum to connect its widely dispersed writers and readers.

Before Israel: The Canaanite Civilisation, the Alphabet and the Myth of a Divine Title to the Land by Binu Mathew countercurrents.org/2026/10/… In “Before Israel: The Canaanite Civilisation, the Alphabet and the Myth of a Divine Title to the Land,” Binu Mathew argues that Canaan was a thriving civilisation of city-states, kingdoms and maritime trade long before ancient Israel emerged. Its people contributed to the development of early alphabetic writing that later influenced the Phoenician, Greek and Latin alphabets, ultimately giving us the English alphabet used today. Drawing on archaeology and ancient history, the article challenges the claim that a divine promise establishes exclusive ownership of the land. It argues that religious narratives cannot override the historical presence and fundamental rights of Palestinians.