“It is crucial that the underlying problems of mass unemployment, poor housing and lack of access to education which give rise to the poison of racism and sectarianism are tackled. Working class communities more than ever need to stand together to defend jobs, wages and public services which are facing huge attacks from employers and the politicians in Stormont and Westminster.”
11 February: From the revolution of the oppressed 1979 to the new wave of resistance 2010
The regime in Tehran is officially celebrating the 31st anniversary of the 1979 revolution, made by the oppressed, workers and poor. At the same time, thousands of people are imprisoned for the “crime” of demanding democratic rights. But the movement continues: from the protests against the rigged elections, the struggle has moved on to demand the bringing down of the dictatorship of the new elite. If the movement for democratic rights is linked to mass struggle of the working class and the poor, the regime will fall.
Pop sensation of the moment, Lady Gaga, has recently topped one billion views of her videos on Youtube. Her new 10-minute music video Telephone is creating quite a stir. The video has been praised as exemplifying “liberated” female sexuality and Lady Gaga herself has been held up in the media, including by feminists, as a “feminist icon and a gender revolutionary” and “a strong symbolic figure… for the openly and secretly flamboyant of all genders and sexualities.”
Time magazine paid a tribute to people power by choosing 'The Protester' as its Person of the Year. 2011 was certainly about protest but it was about a lot more as well.
A battle that mass strike action can win
From the Socialist, paper of the Socialist Party (CWI in England & Wales)
Royal Mail bosses in Britain have declared war on the postal workers and their union, the Communication Workers Union (CWU). They are intent on providing a worsening mail service to the public and on giving post workers intolerable workloads and terms.
