On Tuesday December 7th 2010 the University
of London Union Marxist society concluded its autumn term programme of
discussions with a special ‘festive debate’ will on the philosophies
of Marxism and Christianity and their ability to further the human
race.
The deepest crisis since the Great Depression, with its accompanying
financial, banking and sovereign debt crises, has opened up splits and
arguments not seen for generations. Where do they go from here? Savage
austerity, which threatens the weak recovery, or possibly pump-prime the
economy and risk market turmoil? That is their choice as the crisis
moves into its next dangerous phase. Under the topsy-turvy logic of
capitalism they are both right and both wrong. Whatever they do they
will not be able to cure this unsolvable and protracted crisis of the
system.
Jimmy Kelly’s call for a General Strike against the cuts and austerity in the four year plan and the budget which it is to be discussed by ICTU this
week should be welcomed by all trade unionists and socialists in the
state. The scale of the measures that are being proposed and the long
term implications will have a huge effect on working people and “social
partnership” won’t stop the attacks. The cuts in the minimum wage and
the tax increases on the lowest paid workers are examples which
demonstrate that unlike the cuts directed against the public sector
workers the four year plan means that all workers are under threat.
For the second time in less than a month, Britain has ground to a standstill as a result of snowy weather. Heathrow
airport has virtually ceased operating with over half a million
passengers affected during what is normally the most busy time of the
year with people trying to get home for the holidays.
Yesterday, December 15, Greece was
shaken by yet another powerful general strike, which saw at least 80,000
workers march through the streets of Athens, with many more
demonstrating in other cities against the latest round of austerity
measures introduced by the government. A very angry mood is developing
among workers and youth, which will inevitably lead to a major
confrontation between workers and the capitalist class.
In October we witnessed a massive
mobilisation of the French workers and youth against Sarkozy’s attacks
on pensions. All the potential was there for the government to be
defeated. The overwhelming majority of the population supported the
protests. So what was missing? We are publishing an a analysis by the
French Marxists of La Riposte to explain what happened and why it
happened
Following on from last Thursday’s mass demonstration in London of youth
against the increases in college fees, the media has been full of
reports of how the police are now going to hunt down the troublemakers.
It seems this manhunt is being given top priority – murderers, rapists
and robbers can relax, the police are now otherwise engaged!
On Saturday 4th December, over 2000 trade unionists, students, and
activists braved freezing temperatures and marched through the streets
of Norwich as part of the Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts campaign.
Alan Waters, a Norwich councillor, said it was one of the biggest
protest marches the city had seen for several years. Despite the cold
weather, the atmosphere was hot, with impassioned chants throughout the
march and fiery speeches at the rally.
Around 250 trade union activists and local residents attended the
Peterborough Trade Union Council organised ‘March and Rally for Unity’
on Saturday 11th December, organised in response to the English Defence
League march in Peterborough.
Around noon on Thursday 9th December, students
gathered in various parts of London to march towards the centre of the
city. All over London the students had made a conscious effort to bring
out school students in the morning and the days before with leaflets. At
least half of the protesters were school students probably more. Many
were working class kids from poor areas. Even The Financial Times admitted that some 20-30,000 students participated.
With the bosses media foaming at the mouth over the throwing of a bit
of paint at the flash car being used to drive the Prince of Wales and
his wife to another shindig (no cuts here then), we reproduce an article
written for the Militant Student website just before the marches on Thursday which deals with the role played by the big business-owned press and media.
Following a successful day of action on November 24th that saw up to one
thousand school, college and university students mobilise across the
city Glasgow students again took to the streets and demonstrated on
their campuses on December 8th and 9th with the vote on fees looming.
This was despite the terrible weather conditions that had seen snowfall
down transport across much of the west of Scotland and close the M8
between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Schools were closed and the Universities
had cancelled exams but this wasn’t enough to deter the movement.