Toronto has had a turbulent summer, with crises ranging from SARS to the failure of the power grid. The season has been especially difficult for the city’s poor who have had to cope with these added difficulties on top of eight years of attacks by the provincial Tory government. (more…)

On the 14 September, there will be a referendum in Sweden on joining the EMU and the Euro. The following is an editorial from Marxismen Idag (Marxism Today), the journal of Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden). It deals with the real EMU - in stark contrast to the picture of a prosperous and stable euro-zone given by the ‘Yes’ campaign. Since the article was written in June, the French president, Chirac, has openly asked for a softening of the EMU demands on budget deficits. (more…)

By Greg Bradshaw, Socialist Party Melbourne
For centuries, the people of China have been exploited and repressed. The corrupt Manchu Dynasty had ruled China since 1644. But the Chinese peasantry and working classes were not ones to lay down and die. They were willing to strike, willing to take up arms, willing to take affirmative action. They had a tradition of struggle. (more…)

Greg Bradshaw deconstructs the new ASIO anti-terrorist bill
On June 26, the federal parliament passed the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill 2002. This bill marks the end of some of the most basic civil liberties that until now were considered undeniable in liberal democracies. The new laws are completely without precedent in peacetime, and arguably make Australian security laws the most repressive in the western world. (more…)

The British military in Basra, Iraq’s second biggest city, is under attack. This is not from ‘rogue elements’ of the former Ba’athist regime but local residents incensed at the lack of mains electricity and, ironically in oil-rich Iraq, the continuing shortage of petrol. (more…)

Brilliant expose of Western hyprocisy on World Trade, despite reformist conclusion. By Oxfam head of research, Kevin Watkins. In Australian Financial Review 22nd August 2003 (more…)

Read this article where Matt McCarten talks about the new Unite Union in New Zealand that is fighting for the rights of casuals and part-time workers. From the NZ Listeren July 26-August 1, 2003. By Alex Spence. (more…)

Matt McCarten interviewed about Unite, the grassroots community trade union in NZ that fights the exploitation of casuals. The Unite campaign in Australia has been inspired by many of its ideas. From the NZ Listeren July 26-August 1, 2003 Vol.189 No. 3298 (more…)

George Bush has recently shown a keen interest in African affairs, from moves to combat the spread of HIV to the strengthening of diplomatic and military ties with a number of governments. (more…)

100 years ago, on July 30 1903, the second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party began in Brussels. This congress saw the historic division between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
By Per-Åke Westerlund, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden) (more…)