A debate amongst socialists - Peter Taaffe debates with Sonny Melencio
In February of this year, crowds gathered on the streets of Manila to commemorate the ‘People Power’ revolution of twenty years. They were also demanding the resignation of the country’s president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Support for the demonstration was expressed by rebellious officers and soldiers within the army. (more…)

Reviewed by UNITE Secretary, Anthony Main
Eric Schlosser’s book Fast Food Nation was released in 2001. It provided a good analysis and well structured arguments against the corporate greed of the fast food industry. The recently released movie however is not a documentary, but instead a fiction. It is directed by Richard Linklater and co-written by Linklater and Schlosser. The movie follows a group of characters through all aspects of the fast food industry. (more…)

Labor Party leader Kim Beazley has warned the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) that an ALP government would not do everything the unions wanted on industrial relations. Speaking at the triennial ACTU congress in Melbourne on October 24 he said that although he was committed to ripping up Howard’s industrial relations changes, he would not make the mistake of skewing the system in favour of working people.
By Socialist Party reporters, Melbourne. (more…)

When workers in their millions rose against Stalinism. By Clare Doyle, CWI.
“They were lying to us fifty years ago and we made a revolution! They’re still lying to us today!”. This was the sentiment of many on the angry protests of tens of thousands outside Hungary’s national parliament building this September. Fifty years ago, Hungarian students and workers had poured into the same square as they began their revolution. Is anything like those momentous events going to be repeated? (more…)

PETE DICKENSON looks at the lessons of the events known as the Battle of Cable Street 70 years ago. IN THE 1930s when Hitler was on the rampage in Germany destroying working-class organisations, the British Union of Fascists (BUF) were mobilising to try to repeat his victories. They targeted Stepney in London’s east end in their campaign because it was the centre of the Jewish immigrant community. (more…)

A ‘race to the bottom’ for workers’ rights and a disaster for the environment
BY THE year 2050 there will be another one billion cars in the world, on the on top of the one billion here today. Bill Mullins, Socialist Party (England & Wales) industrial organiser, former car worker and leading trade unionist in Rover Solihull, looks at the car industry today. How can we avoid the planet becoming one big polluted traffic jam? (more…)

The following article was published in todays AGE Newspaper today. It includes quotes from SP Councillor Stephen Jolly.
SWIMMERS at Melbourne’s best pools are set to be locked out during one of the hottest months, to make way for 2000 athletes training for the FINA World Swim Championships. (more…)

North Korea’s announcement that it carried out an underground nuclear weapon test, on 9 October, drew strong condemnation from regional and world powers. Although the strength of the blast is disputed by experts in the US and Russia, with some even claiming it was a failed test, the intention of Kim Il Sung to arm his regime with nuclear weapons is clear.
By Niall Mulholland, CWI (more…)

Women and children in the earthquake hit areas of Pakistan and Kashmir face forced displacement and human rights’ violations, as well as not having proper access to relief supplies, services and economic opportunities. Since the earthquake hit the Hazara region of North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistani-administrated Kashmir, on 8 October 2005, levels of crime, social injustice and poverty increased in the affected areas.
By Rukhsana Manzoor, Socialist Movement Pakistan (CWI) (more…)

“Social upheaval inflames Mexico” - This was the headline in the US Wall Street Journal in its weekend edition on 1-3 September. By Tony Saunois, CWI
On Friday 6th October the Spanish daily, El País carried an article by Ignacio Sotelo under the headline, ‘Mexico – a pre-revolutionary situation’. These articles reveal the true extent of the battles and struggles now unfolding in Mexico following the massive ballot rigging which resulted in the conservative right winger, Felipe Calderón of the PAN (Partido Acción Naciónal) being declared the winner of the presidential election in July. (more…)