Funding the struggle
SP Newsletter No.244
As 2008 draws to an end, more and more people are looking for a socialist alternative. They are drawing the conclusion that it is capitalism itself, a system based on exploitation for profit in which crises are inevitable, that has brought the world economy to the brink of disaster.
As governments and big business attempt to make the working class and poor pay for their crisis, the Socialist Party calls for the defence of our jobs, homes and public services.
But we go further than that - we call for an end to the dictatorship of the market and for the nationalisation under democratic control of all the big companies and banks that dominate the economy. We are fighting for a society where resources can be democratically planned by the majority for the benefit of all, where poverty can finally be abolished.
As we move into 2009 more people will be questioning the system. We will need to be able to produce more leaflets, pamphlets and books to explain Marxist ideas and how they relate to the situation today. We need more posters and stickers to let people know we are here and we need more members taking the arguments for socialism into their schools, workplaces, universities, and local areas.
The Socialist Party, unlike all the main political parties, gets no money from big business. We rely on donations from members and supporters - ordinary working people - to finance our work.
Every member pays membership dues (called subs) which we rely on to pay for our day-to-day running costs as well as supporting the work of the Committee for a Workers’ International, the international socialist organisation of which the Socialist Party is a part.
If you are not yet a member of the Socialist Party, join us and start making your contribution so we can expand our party into new areas of the country and reach more people who are searching for the ideas of genuine socialism.
If you are already a member and you haven’t already increased your subs this year, think about whether you can do so in 2009 - every increase, from $1 to $10 a week or more, will make a real difference to our work.
Already this year our subs income has grown because our members have seen the correctness of our ideas confirmed by events and understand the importance of finance in getting out socialist ideas to as wide an audience as possible.
New members can also enable us to reach our full potential by taking on roles and responsibilities in the branches, including campaigning on membership dues and helping organise our public fundraising (fighting fund).
If you are interested in making a donation to the Socialist Party or becoming a member email our National Office or phone 0396399111.
SP National Office taking a break
The comrades who staff the National Office in Melbourne will be taking a well earned break over the holiday period. We will close down on Friday December 19th 2008 and return on Monday January 5th 2009. This means that the weekly newsletter will not be published again until mid January and the next edition of The Socialist newspaper will be out for February.
We will have a skeleton staff on hand but they will only be replying to urgent correspondence and alerting our members and supporters to any urgent actions that take place over the break. For all other business please wait until after January 5th.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members and supporters for their contribution in 2008. We hope that all of you have a safe holiday break and we look forward to working with you again in the many struggles that will take place in 2009.
Upcoming SP meetings
The first meeting of the Melbourne Branch of SP will be held on Wednesday January 14th 2009. This will be a special strategy meeting for the branch where we will discuss perspectives and our plans for 2009. We will also elect a new Branch committee.
The details are 7pm @ Trades Hall, corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. We urge all members to attend. For details of meetings in other parts of the country please contact our National Office.
News links
Italy: General Strike protests in more than 100 cities
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/12/15italya.html
Sweden: Ferry company sacks Pakistani workers
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/12/10swedea.html
Nigeria: The Jos mayhem
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/12/09nigera.html
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, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!
Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.
Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
http://www.sp.org.au
http://www.socialistworld.net
http://www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20461960776
