SP Newsletter No.185
Hurricanes have hit the Caribbean, large areas of the UK and Asia are recovering from floods and Australia and southern Europe suffers from drought. So how can we save the environment? The APEC leaders meeting will be discussing climate change next week but will this talk shop of the rich solve anything? (more…)

There are areas of common ground between Anarchism and Marxism – in opposing bureaucracy, for example, and in seeking the destruction of the capitalist state, in contradistinction to reformists who want gradual change within the existing state. But there are also important differences between Marxism and Anarchism on questions of theory, programme and methods.
By Vincent Kolo, Committee for a Workers’ International (more…)

“Daily wage labourers Shiv Sagar Sahni and his young son Sugarth Sahni had a thatched house, two goats and 2,000 rupees (£24) until a fortnight ago. Now they are a penniless and famished family of eight taking shelter in National Highway 57… sharing a little space under a black polythene sheet and wooden cot.
By Cillian Gillespie, Socialist Party (more…)

With over 325 million copies of all seven books sold worldwide, the last four books have also been, consecutively, the fastest selling in history. They have been translated into over 65 languages and author JK Rowling has amassed over $1 Billion (US). In short Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon.
Suzanne Beishon from the Socialist Party asks why? (more…)

Over the last week, billions of dollars have been wiped off share values worldwide as stock markets plunged. The capitalists have watched, horror-struck, fearing that their finance system could face a drastic fall like a house of cards collapsing. The UK stock market dropped by around 10% - officially classified as a sharp correction. Twenty per cent or more is classified as a crash.
Editorial from The Socialist newspaper, paper of the Socialist Party England and Wales (more…)

SP Newsletter No.184
The APEC summit is drawing nearer and it seems that the state and the bosses’ media are stepping up their campaign against people planning to protest against the summit. Thousands of protesters are planning to rally in Sydney during the meeting, including about 200 travelling from Melbourne. (more…)

A mass shop stewards meeting was held in the historic Regent theatre in Melbourne yesterday. It was organised by the Building Industry Group (BIG) unions from the Victorian Trades Hall. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposal of a mass rally to be held on September 26 in the lead up to the federal election.
By Socialist Party reporters Melbourne (more…)

The following is a report of last nights Yarra Council meeting written by SP Councillor Stephen Jolly.
Last nights Council meeting heard from Joan Doyle, State Secretary of the Posties Union (CWU), who spoke about the union’s campaign to stop Australia Post’s replacement of 17 fulltime posties covering Abbotsford and Fitzroy with casual staff on four hour shifts and 15% less pay. (more…)

How serious is the turbulence on global stock markets and can central bank intervention, such as last Friday’s discount rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, restore calm? Commenting after the Fed’s intervention, the Telegraph (London, 19 August), warned the world is still facing “the most serious financial crisis since global share prices collapsed back in 1987.”
By Laurence Coates, CWI (more…)

Constructing Fear is a new documentary exposing the activity of an industrial inquisition targeting building workers across Australia. The film shows how building workers are the front line in an attack on civil liberties that has implications for every worker in Australia. (more…)