SP Newsletter No.294

When clothing manufacturer Pacific Brands announced in February last year that it would be moving offshore and sacking 1850 workers, people were clearly angry. But when it came out soon after that Pacific Brands chief executive Sue Morphet would have her pay increased from $685,775 to $1.8 million that anger turned into outrage.

Even Kevin Rudd could not stand by and support someone rewarded for decimating so many jobs. Especially when the company had received government handouts and Rudd himself had been blaming “extreme capitalism” for the onset of the economic crisis.

Continue reading A pathetic response to executive pay

For more than 25 years the Tote Hotel in Collingwood has been at the centre of Melbourne’s live music scene. The venue has helped launch some of Australia’s best known bands and played host to a long list of international acts. The pictures and posters that adorn the walls of the bar and band room give only a taste of the musical greats that have played at the venue.

When the current licensee, Bruce Milne, announced that the venue would be closing down last week there was a mass outpouring of anger. Punters set up Facebook pages which attracted thousands of people in a matter of hours. Talk back radio lines ran hot and a protest was called to coincide with ‘last drinks’.

By SP reporters Melbourne

Continue reading Music fans rally to save the Tote

Impoverished masses face new disaster

Disaster has struck the impoverished people of Haiti once again; a powerful earthquake, early on 13 January, toppled buildings in the capital Port-au-Prince. The 7.0 magnitude quake - the biggest recorded in this part of the Caribbean - left the capital’s 3 million people who live on hillside slums made of wood, tin and cheap concrete, particularly vulnerable. There are growing fears that thousands of people were killed, with many more badly injured or missing. According to the Reuters news agency, “Bloodied and dazed survivors gathered in the open and corpses were pinned by debris.” Many buildings were destroyed, including the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission (around 9,000 UN police and troops are stationed there to “maintain order”) and the presidential palace.

By Niall Mulholland, CWI

Continue reading Haiti: Earthquake kills thousands

SP Newsletter No.293
The Rudd Government, who boast about their concern for human rights, have ignored the plight of over 250 Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking refugees held in a small boat near Merak, Indonesia.

Continue reading Rudd must grant asylum to the refugees in Merak

100 days and counting…Time for Rudd to act!

As part of an international day of action, the Tamil community and a range of progressive groups will be holding a protest at 5.30pm Monday January 18th outside the State Library in Melbourne. (Corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets in the City)

The protests are demanding that the 254 Tamil refugees, currently in Merak (Indonesia), be allowed to come to Australia.

As part of the government’s alleged ‘Indonesian Solution’, Kevin Rudd personally requested that the Indonesian Navy intercept the boat to stop the people from entering Australian waters. His aim was to sub contract the problem out to Indonesia.

Continue reading Melbourne: Protest in solidarity with the Merak refugees

What has changed?

One year ago, millions of Americans were in the streets cheering the election of Obama as the end of Republican policies and the start of a new era. How quickly these hopes have been dashed. One year after Obama’s election, it’s hard to identify one positive achievement of his presidency.

Obama’s campaign was filled with lofty speeches, and he repeatedly promised to change who controls politics in Washington. He promised that ordinary Americans “will have as much access and influence over the course and direction of our campaign that has traditionally [been] reserved for the wealthy and the powerful.”

By Tony Wilsdon, Socialist Alternative (CWI in the USA)

Continue reading US: One year of Obama

“Abolish functional constituencies – we want universal suffrage!”

The first day of 2010 saw Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement hit the ground running. On 1 January the crowds of demonstrators exceeded the organisers’ expectations, in a massive protest setting the tone for what could be an explosive political year in Hong Kong – and China. Instead of the 10,000 hoped for, 30,000 took part.

By Chinaworker.info reporters

Continue reading Hong Kong: 30,000 march against fake democracy

New website of the USP now online!

In late December the United Socialist Party (USP) in Sri Lanka launched its presidential election campaign by distributing their election manifesto in the North, East, and Central Provinces. This incorporated most major cities in these provinces including Jaffna.

As part of the campaign USP leader and presidential candidate Siritunga Jayasuriya has held a number of pocket meetings and public gatherings in the areas of Hatton, Thalawakele, Lindula, Nuwara Eliya, and surrounding areas. Siritunga addressed plantation workers and other communities in these areas.

Continue reading Sri Lanka: USP launches Presidential campaign

Savage social cuts, workers’ resistance and growth of socialist ideas

The Socialist Party extends warm New Year greetings to all of our members and supporters and to all of our sister sections and groups worldwide. We thank all those who have given assistance – large and small – to our party over the past year.

We call on those who have not yet joined our ranks to do so and help us meet the challenges for the international workers’ movement in 2010 and to help in the struggle for a socialist world, a new society free of the diseases of capitalism - mass unemployment, poverty, wars and environmental catastrophe.

Below, Peter Taaffe, General Secretary of the Socialist Party in England and Wales, looks at the main events of 2009 and perspectives for 2010.

Continue reading 2010: Economic crisis provokes mass revulsion and anti-capitalism

As unrest once again spreads throughout Iran, and is met with brutal state violence, listen here to a discussion on events in Iran during 1979 and today. The two speeches by Bob Labi and Judy Beishon were delivered last month at the ‘Socialism 2009′ event held in London.

1979 Revolution: Why did it end in dictatorship? - Bob Labi, Committee for a Workers’ International.

Will the regime be overthrown? - Judy Beishon, editor of The Socialist, newspaper of the Socialist Party in England and Wales.