SP Newsletter No.201
Catastrophe faces our planet because of climate change. A whole number of studies, reports and films have highlighted this fact. In February of last year, a report written by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed that temperatures could rise as much as 6.4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

Already climate change has resulted in the doubling of category four and five storms in the last 30 years, while arctic ice has thinned by 40% in the last 40 years.

While climate change affects our planet as a whole, it is the world’s workers and poor who will bear the brunt. If major action is not taken to halt climate change then 600 million more people in sub-Saharan Africa will go hungry from collapsing agriculture, 400 million more will be exposed to malaria and 200 million people will be forced to migrate due to rising sea levels, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

Bali conference

Recently in Bali, at the United Nations Climate Change conference, the Rudd ALP government refused to agree a mild proposal for developed nations to aim to reduce global emissions by 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020.

Instead Rudd agreed to a longer term target of a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050. By then world temperatures could increase by 2.0 degrees with devastating impact on the lives of millions of people, wildlife and coral reefs.

Rudd has demanded an economic impact study first. The interests of the profit system come before the interests of the planet in his view. The Rudd government will sign Kyoto – which allows Australia to INCREASE its emissions by 8% from the 1990 level, so it’s hardly radical.

Big Business opposes tackling climate change

It was oil and car companies who lobbied to stop the development of environmentally friendly electric car ten years ago in the US. They were afraid that the production of such a car would cut across the obscene profits that they make annually. When the IPCC report came out this year, Exxon oil offered $10,000 to any scientist who could discredit its findings. When it comes to tackling climate change big business, and their representatives in the Liberal and Labor parties, is the problem not the solution!

Build a movement for system change

Alongside fighting for day to day environmental reforms, the Socialist Party stands for the building of a mass movement of working and young people to challenge climate change. We need to fight for a democratic publicly owned and properly funded transport system as an alternative to cars. We should demand that adequate resources are put into renewable energy as a step to phasing out our reliance on fossil fuels.

The international dictatorship of big business means climate change, war, poverty and attacks on the rights of workers and young people. In a socialist society the democratic public ownership and planning of our world’s resources could make the necessary investments into challenging climate change, while at the same utilising our planet’s wealth to abolish want and insecurity.

This could be done by getting rid of the wastage that capitalism produces such as the over $30 billion spent on the international arms trade each year, the over $1 trillion spent on military expenditure world wide each year, the unnecessary duplication of goods as well as the $385 billion spent globally advertising.

Socialist Party regional activity-

Victoria

Save Condell Park in Fitzroy!

The Socialist Party has called a rally and BBQ as part of the campaign to save one of Fitzroy’s last remaining parks. We will also be highlighting the importance of open spaces in the inner city.

The State Government wants to sell the land or do some sort of dodgy land swap with another piece of land in the area. They hope to raise $3.5 million for their coffers on top of their already massive budget surplus.

Yarra Council has leased the land from the State Government for many years. When the current lease runs out in December, the Department of Housing (with the minister being our local Labor Party MP, Dick Wynne!) plan to sell the park and playground to developers.

Come along and defend public open spaces and let the state government know they won’t be taking our park away! Meet at 1pm Sunday February 17th at Condell Park corner of Napier & Condell Sts Fitzroy. If you can’t attend please consider making a donation to the campaign. Contact the SP National Office.

Public Meeting in Melbourne

This week the Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party will be discussing the situation in South Africa. The speaker will be Stephen Jolly who has just returned from a visit to that country. The meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday February 20th @ Trades Hall, corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton. All Welcome.

Socialism 2008

SP will be holding our annual Socialism event on the weekend of March 14 & 15 in Melbourne. Posters and leaflets are available now. Please contact the National Office if you can help do some postering or leafleting.

Our special guest for the event will be Pakistani socialist and trade unionist, Khalid Bhatti, who will report on the situation in that country as well as talk about the Middle East and the war on terror. Book this event into your diary now it is not to be missed!

The agenda for the weekend is as follows-

Friday March 14th

7.00pm – 9.00pm – The Middle East and the War on Terror. Speaker: Khalid Bhatti (Pakistani socialist & trade unionist)

Saturday March 15th

10.00am – 11.30am – World economy on the brink! Will China save Australia? Speaker: Stephen Jolly (SP councillor)

11.45am – 1.15pm - Environmental challenges in the 21st century. Speaker: Kylie McGregor (SP)

2.00pm – 3.30pm – The future of the unions under Rudd. Speakers: Shaun Reardon (CFMEU), Dave Kerin (Union Solidarity), Anthony Main (UNITE)

3.45pm – 5.15pm – France 68: 40th anniversary of the biggest general strike ever! Speakers: Khalid Bhatti and Denise Dudley

Socialism 2008 Raffle

In order to pay for the costs of bringing over our Pakistani guest we have organised a special raffle. Tickets are $10 and the prizes are $400 first prize, $200 second prize and $100 third prize. It will be drawn on Saturday March 15 at Socialism. To purchase a ticket, or to get a book of 5 on a sale or return basis, call our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

New South Wales

To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 02 9728 7727.

To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 02 4968 1545.

Western Australia

To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 08 9402 0728.

Rest of Australia

To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.

We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!

Become a supporter of SP by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. It only costs $20 per year or $10 concession and you will receive our paper delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe phone 03 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

The new February edition is out now! Pick it up from one of our street stalls!

News links just a click away –

Chad: Coup attempt fails
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/14chada.html

Poland: Strike victory due to iron determination
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/13polisa.html

France: Workers not defeated
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/02/12franca.html

Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party.

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). To contact or join the SP or the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’

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