In Memory of Ted Grant 1913 – 2006
One year ago today the Marxist theoretician Ted Grant died after more than seventy years of political activity. His death marked the end of an era, but not the end of the struggle for the ideas he always defended.
July 2007
Mexico: Release Adán MejÃa López now! Stop repression in Oaxaca!
After the recent resurgence of the mass
movement in Oaxaca
the authorities have responded by launching a wave of brutal repression. Many
activists have been arrested. Among these is APPO activist and comrade of our sister organisation the Militante Marxist
Tendency. Workers and youth in all countries should protest strongly!
Oaxaca erupts once more: the battle of Cerro del Fortin
One year after the
revolutionary events in Oaxaca, Mexico, the movement has erupted again. The
Mexican ruling class thought they had put an end to the movement with a wave of
repression, but they were wrong. The underlying problems that provoked the
movement have not gone again. See also in Spanish.
Metronet – public services, private profit and the market
The collapse of Metronet , the consortium
entrusted with upgrading the tube, spells the collapse of the whole notion of
‘Public Private Partnership’, otherwise known as the Private Finance
Initiative.
World Premiere of “NO VOLVERAN – the Venezuelan revolution today”
From the makers of the Hands Off
Venezuela film ‘Solidarity‘, and the Sanitarios Maracay short film
series, comes ‘No Volverán – The Venezuelan Revolution Now’, an exciting
feature length documentary about the Venezuelan Revolution. The Film’s world’s premiere, London July 18th.
From July to September: Revolution and Counter revolution
This instalment, in a series of articles published by Socialist Appeal over the year that marks the 90th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, looks at the tumultuous events of the July days in Petrograd. What attitude Lenin and Trotsky took towards the movement of the workers in the capital is a valuable lesson in the tactical flexibility of the Bolsheviks. The impotence of the Kornilov reaction that followed demonstrates the irresistable power the working class wields when it is united.
El Salvador: the Mario Belloso case and the weakness of the Antonio Saca government
The ruling class of El Salvador is gearing up
for major class battles. Feeling the heat of the Latin American revolution, and
finding itself in a weak position, the state has moved to intrigues to launch a
dirty war against the left of the FMLN.
Teamster Rebellion by Farrell Dobbs – A Book Review
A review of Farrell Dobbs’ account of the Teamsters struggle in 1934, against bosses intent on holding down workers pay
and conditions. The Teamsters rebellion gets to the
heart of what trade unionism is all about, showing how workers’ innate ability
to organise and manage their affairs on a collective basis is brought into
sharp focus by the battles to improve their lives.
IRSP members arrested in Waterford
Some disturbing events have been taking place in the south
of Ireland, where two IRSP members have been arrested and are being held under
the notorious “section 30”. This is clearly a case of political victimisation
and should be condemned by all socialists.
UK interest rates: the chickens are coming home
Last week, the Bank of England hiked its
interest rates, yet again, to 5.75%. This
was the fifth rise since August 2005.
And the head of the bank, Mervyn King, said that "further action" on
interest rates could be necessary. Most
observers reckon the interest rate that most borrowing and mortgages are based on
– the bank rate – will go to 6% or more by the end of this year.
Ireland: Imperialism not neutral
As Gerry Ruddy
explains, "The issue of the national question in Ireland is at heart a class
question. The division of the country into two separate states has encouraged
sectarianism, seriously dividing the working class and allowing the continued
exploitation of all workers." This while in the recent period the IRSP in the
South of Ireland has come under attack from political policing.
Audio File: The Revolutionary Tactics of the Bolshevik Party in 1917 – part 2
This is the second part of the recording made at the Socialist Appeal day school
in June, where comrades gathered to discuss the Marxist theory of the
State and the Revolutionary Tactics of the Bolshevik Party in 1917. In
the second part of this session, Revolutionary Tactics of the Bolshevik Party in 1917 p2 , Rob Sewell talks about the flexibility of the tactics of Lenin, who consistently emphasised the need to patiently explain.