Home > Our monthly paper > 2009 > 339: October
2010/09/02
America and Britain are losing the bloody war in Afghanistan - and it's official. US general Stanley McChrystal, who leads the occupation troops, told a London audience this month that the situation was "serious and deteriorating" more… Gordon Brown was hoping to fight the next election on a "save jobs" ticket by attacking Tory plans for cuts, writes Richard Brenner more… Gordon Brown has unveiled new plans for single teenage mums. No longer are they entitled to council housing but instead will be sent away to live in supervised homes where they will be taught parenting and "responsibility". Kam Kumar warns that this draconian scheme is reminiscent of Victorian years where "immoral" women were forced to live in rehabilitation homes more… The racist thugs from the English Defence League are marching again this month. With demonstrations planned for Manchester, Swansea, Newport, Leeds, Nottingham and Glasgow, the threat of these racist mobilisations is growing. Mark Booth calls on everyone to mobilise to stop the EDL and drive them off our streets more… Following the election of two British National Party MEPs at the Euro elections, the capitalist media has slowly been incorporating the BNP into mainstream political life. In the latest move, their leader Nick Griffin, writes Mark Booth, has been invited to appear on BBC Question Time more… The CWU ballot across Royal Mail closes this month. It is likely to signal a vote for a national strike. A CWU rep explains how they can win this dispute could change the political landscape more… Lecturers marched back into Tower Hamlets College after four weeks on strike, proud and united in having won a significant victory. Their decisive action can, writes Jeremy Dewar, now act as a shining example to other workers facing cuts and closure more… The all-out strike by 600 Leeds refuse and street cleansing workers has remained solid for over a month. Andy Yorke, who has been involved in solidarity work, says it is a key dispute more… South Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union (FBU) held a successful demonstration in Barnsley on 28 September more… Bank Bailout: £1.5 TRILLION
NHS Budget: £100 BILLION
Education Budget: £60 BILLION
INTEREST ON DEBT TO FUND BAILOUT: £60 BILLION
Rachel Brooks and Mark Booth explain why we shouldn't pay for their crisis more… At the TUC conference Brown announced that in an attempt to save £500 million over the course of three years, he would cut the "early retirement" option for Whitehall workers – and the Tory cuts are even worse more… The SNP has tabled a bill for a referendum on Scottish independence. The three mainstream parties have all opposed it. Yet under pressure Gordon Brown has said a referendum is possible – after the next election. Should socialists back one? Billy McKean reports more… General election approaching, Labour staring into the abyss – the time for a new working class party is now, argues John Bowman. So what is the left doing? more… Workers all over the country are signing up to the Call for a New Anticapitalist Party more… For the first time in many years, Beijing celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic with a military parade. President Hu Jintao watched from Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, as the latest weaponry passed him by. Unmanned drones, cruise missiles, nuclear-enabled missiles trundled past and, as official commentators emphasised, these were not only made in China but designed in China. Peter Main reports more… Soldiers belonging to the military rulers of Guinea have slaughtered scores of protesters in Guinea, West Africa. Keith Sellick reports more… Elections in Germany saw the Social Democrats hammered at the polls and an open party of the bosses. Martin Suchanek, editor of Neue Internationale, looks at the prospects for the working class more… Analysis of recent election results: Left Bloc advances in Portugal; Labour stays in power in Norway more… The conflict in Honduras is heading for a crunch point. The daily mobilisations and conflict between supporters of ousted president Manuel Zelaya and the military coup makers have reached new levels of intensity. Keith Spencer reports more… US revolutionaries report on the anti-G20 protests in Pittsburgh more… United States President Barack Obama’s decision to abandon a controversial missile defence system, intended to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, appears to have succeeded in persuading Russia to drop its opposition to sanctions on Iran, writes Marcus Halaby more… The New Anticapitalist Party in France has been the focus of attention for many on the left across Europe. Dave Stockton argues that it has major strengths compared with the timid and reformist “united lefts” and left parties that have arisen in Britain and Europe over the past ten years more… This is an edited transcript of a speech by Richard Brenner at the Workers Power Summer School in July 2007 more… As Labour and the Tories compete over who will deliver the most savage cuts, and the bosses and bankers demand the working class pay for their financial crisis, we need to think strategically about how we can organise the fightback. Joy Macready explains Marxist tactics more…
  
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