Music interview by Louise Nousratpour
Thursday November 26, 2009
The Morning Star
Aruba Red's fiery rebel music hits like a refreshing blast of briny sea air, dissipating the stale, insular celebrity-obsessed atmosphere that passes for today's pop culture.
Named after a Caribbean pirate legend, Red, born Natascha Eleanor, released her self-titled debut album last year.
She is justly proud of having put together the record herself, albeit with a smidgeon of help and a load of inspiration from her socialist father, and 1960s Cream superband bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce.
"I was lucky enough to work with some of his close friends in New York when I was recording the album," she says, while emphasising that "I'm doing my own thing and my music is very different from his."
A unique London sound with a strident political message, Aruba Red's album fuses reggae, hip-hop, soul and jazz into an exquisite feast of progressive vibes.
Eleonore describes her music as "hard-hitting. It embodies all the different styles and experiences that define who I am."
The album, available on iTunes as well as CD and LP, has received rave reviews and her track Struggling which features big reggae artist Jah Mason made the top 10 in Jamaica.
Back in Blighty, the twenty-something singer/songwriter has impressed audiences from Glastonbury Festival to Abbey Road Studios.
And her no-nonsense lyrics and soulful vocals struck a chord with revellers at last year's Love Music Hate Racism carnival.
Her intelligently crafted lyrics address social issues ranging from the vapidity of consumerism to modern-day slavery, racism, and wars, linking seemingly abstract global injustice to our daily struggles.
"As ever, dark forces seek to divide us by race, colour or creed, so I want to highlight how we are not so different.
"Injustices are the only thing we have to fight against - we mustn't allow ourselves to be weakened, split up into different single issue campaigns or skin colour.
"Unity is the thing. As long as we fight each other we're not going to fight against the real problem - the system that exploits us all."
In the song It's Time Now, she deals with the lingering effects of British colonialism, singing: "Africa, all our motherland, forced to beg from the hand that enslaved her."
Eleonore damns the British government's failure to make amends for its central role in the genocidal transatlantic slave trade and criticises school history education as too "eurocentric.
"My friends from Africa feel frustrated when their hugely diverse, beautiful continent is yet again represented in the tired old terms of war, poverty or charity," she says.
"I understand it is difficult to squeeze a comprehensive study of world history into a busy curriculum, but I do believe that because we live in an ex-colonial ruler we should at least be taught about the effects that that has had on the rest of the world.
"In 2009 hundreds of millions of people are going hungry in Africa, India, Latin America and the Middle East.
"It is important that young people here are informed and know about the often destructive role that Britain has played - and continues to play."
She explains that the spine-tingling Rebel Soldiers track is inspired by the anti-war movement.
"I'm funding bloodshed with the taxes I pay, so come my friends let's light a candle for those we help murder in freedom's name," Eleanore sings.
Giving voice to a sentiment that is silently shared by millions, she says that, while happy to pay taxes "so that our health service works and our streets are kept clean it is hugely frustrating to know that the money is also being used to effectively kill people."
She salutes Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who was arrested earlier this month for refusing to go back to Afghanistan.
"We need to wake people up to the sacrifice he has made for standing up - he hasn't taken the easy way out. Some US soldiers are also refusing to fight."
Recalling the way in which the government sent troops into Iraq in the face of massive public opposition embodied in the peace march of February 2003, Eleanor wonders how democratic Britain's supposedly liberal representative political system really is.
"I remember marching against the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and it's very difficult to know what to do when all the peaceful means have been exhausted," she sighs.
She is adamant that the campaigning must continue.
So where does her political inspiration come from?
"My father has a very left-wing outlook - his parents were very active in the Labour Party," she explains.
"I remember he took me on a march against the first Gulf War when I was very young and he taught me about apartheid in South Africa."
Her Glaswegian grandparents, who tried to settle in Canada in the height of the McCarthy era, were branded communists and forced back to Scotland.
"The political activism has always been strong in my father's family. I always thought I'd be writing articles or books, but at the moment it is coming out through my music."
Her new single Light Up, Light Up features top Jamaican reggae artist Jah Cure and will be released in the new year.
"It's my first proper debut single release so I'm really excited about that," she says eagerly, adding: "I am developing my writing skills to try to appeal to a wider audience on an emotional level. But I still want to be part of a certain political movement and push the truth forward."
Through her music, she is voicing her discontent with the injustices done in her name and hopes that it will serve as a "historical documentation" to let future generations know that "we are not OK with what's happening and we will not be silenced."
• Aruba Red will be performing at the Big Chill House (257-259 Pentonville Road, London N1) at 7pm this Sunday (Nov 29). Tickets £3. For more information visit www.bigchill.net/house
Take message to wider community, urges charter chairwoman
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
The Charter for Women must widen its appeal beyond trade unions to engage more women and young girls, its steering committee chair said on Saturday.
Urging action at the Communist University in Croydon, Sharon Allen said that as an RMT union learning rep she had visited many schools and "it is depressing to hear that some young girls, affected by the media, aspire to ensnare a rich celebrity or appear on Big Brother.
"And they don't see the relevance of unions in their life because of a lack of job prospects."
And among wider society, Ms Allen said, many believe that women in Britain have already achieved equality.
"This is why we must take the reasonable demands of equal pay and equal opportunity outlined in the Charter for Women into the wider communities, not just trade unions," she stressed.
"I attended a Women's Institute meeting recently to promote the charter there because that is where most rural women - albeit middle class - are organised.
"When I told them about the pay gap, they were shocked," she revealed.
Ms Allen also urged activists behind the People's Charter not to ignore equality issues as "52 per cent of those people are women who suffer daily oppression.
"The two are inexplicitly linked because you cannot have social justice without addressing the injustice suffered by more than half of the population."
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
The Charter for Women must widen its appeal beyond trade unions to engage more women and young girls, its steering committee chair said on Saturday.
Urging action at the Communist University in Croydon, Sharon Allen said that as an RMT union learning rep she had visited many schools and "it is depressing to hear that some young girls, affected by the media, aspire to ensnare a rich celebrity or appear on Big Brother.
"And they don't see the relevance of unions in their life because of a lack of job prospects."
And among wider society, Ms Allen said, many believe that women in Britain have already achieved equality.
"This is why we must take the reasonable demands of equal pay and equal opportunity outlined in the Charter for Women into the wider communities, not just trade unions," she stressed.
"I attended a Women's Institute meeting recently to promote the charter there because that is where most rural women - albeit middle class - are organised.
"When I told them about the pay gap, they were shocked," she revealed.
Ms Allen also urged activists behind the People's Charter not to ignore equality issues as "52 per cent of those people are women who suffer daily oppression.
"The two are inexplicitly linked because you cannot have social justice without addressing the injustice suffered by more than half of the population."
Left 'can learn from miners' strike'
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
The left must draw lessons from the 1984 miners' strike and their "exemplary sense of unity" in order to mount an effective fightback against today's attacks on workers, a veteran of that struggle insisted on Saturday.
Durham Miners Association general secretary Davey Hopper gave a stirring account of the miners' titanic battle during an emotionally charged session at the Communist University in Croydon.
He hailed Arthur Scargill as "one of the greatest working-class leaders" and laid the blame for the tragic defeat squarely at the feet of the TUC and Labour leadership who he said had "betrayed" the miners.
"We appreciated unions' financial support at the time, but what we really needed was solidarity action," he said.
The consequent destruction of the industry in mining communities has left a new generation of young people "with no job prospects and vulnerable to fascist propaganda," Mr Hopper warned.
He described the "squalid conditions, the degradation, the drug abuse and the crime" still plaguing those communities, adding: "The biggest employers in Durham and neighbouring Oldham is now the territorial army - war is what our youngsters are left with."
Mr Hopper argued that the miners' defeat weakened the working class as a whole and paved the way for the anti-union laws and the rise of new Labour.
"We must learn the lessons and act upon them," he stressed. "That means taking solidarity action with workers who fight for their jobs in today's crisis."
The Morning Star's political correspondent at the time Andrew Murry agreed.
"The miners' strike exemplified the collective sense of unity, discipline and self sacrifice - human qualities which we must revisit to advance in today's struggles," he said.
He criticised the Communist Party for "trailing behind a reformism approach" during the strike, adding: "It must now step up to show political leadership and challenge class collaberationism."
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
The left must draw lessons from the 1984 miners' strike and their "exemplary sense of unity" in order to mount an effective fightback against today's attacks on workers, a veteran of that struggle insisted on Saturday.
Durham Miners Association general secretary Davey Hopper gave a stirring account of the miners' titanic battle during an emotionally charged session at the Communist University in Croydon.
He hailed Arthur Scargill as "one of the greatest working-class leaders" and laid the blame for the tragic defeat squarely at the feet of the TUC and Labour leadership who he said had "betrayed" the miners.
"We appreciated unions' financial support at the time, but what we really needed was solidarity action," he said.
The consequent destruction of the industry in mining communities has left a new generation of young people "with no job prospects and vulnerable to fascist propaganda," Mr Hopper warned.
He described the "squalid conditions, the degradation, the drug abuse and the crime" still plaguing those communities, adding: "The biggest employers in Durham and neighbouring Oldham is now the territorial army - war is what our youngsters are left with."
Mr Hopper argued that the miners' defeat weakened the working class as a whole and paved the way for the anti-union laws and the rise of new Labour.
"We must learn the lessons and act upon them," he stressed. "That means taking solidarity action with workers who fight for their jobs in today's crisis."
The Morning Star's political correspondent at the time Andrew Murry agreed.
"The miners' strike exemplified the collective sense of unity, discipline and self sacrifice - human qualities which we must revisit to advance in today's struggles," he said.
He criticised the Communist Party for "trailing behind a reformism approach" during the strike, adding: "It must now step up to show political leadership and challenge class collaberationism."
People's Charter 'a lifeline for Labour'
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Growing fascism and discredited neoliberal policies can only be combated by the broadest possible mobilisation around the People's Charter, speakers at Saturday's Communist University urged.
The modern-day charter, now TUC policy, was a "lifeline" to Labour at the looming general election, activists said.
And there were calls for the TUC leadership to draw lessons from its past and challenge MPs to back the charter if they want the millions-strong support of unions.
Reading an extract from the 1905 TUC conference minutes, John Hendy QC recalled how the organisation had issued an ultimatum to candidates of the day to support the historic Trade Disputes Bill or forfeit the working-class vote.
"Just over 50 candidates passed that test, of which 30 were elected at the 1906 general election - enough to make the Bill into Act that year," he said. "Why can't today's TUC adopt the same approach with regards to the charter?"
Speakers stressed that the six-point document was a way for millions of working people "to speak with one voice" at a time of economic crisis, mass unemployment, cuts in public services and growing fascism.
Investment in council housing, a fairer tax system, a publicly run financial system and an end to the current wars are some of the modest demands outlined in the charter, for which campaigners are aiming to collect one million signatures.
Young Communist League (YCL) general secretary Joanne Stevenson highlighted the importance of mobilising the young as they made up about 40 per cent of the unemployed.
She reported that the YCL had recently adopted an associated Youth Charter and called for investment in "real apprenticeships with job guarantees" and free education for all.
Rather than demonising young people, Ms Stevenson said, the government should address anti-social behaviour through investment in youth clubs and decent housing.
"And stop army recruits in our schools," she demanded.
Speaking from the floor, former YCL leader Gawain Little argued: "The TUC and Labour leadership will only act when there is grass-roots pressure. So let's take the charter into the communities and wherever there is a strike picket or a local campaign against academies, council privatisation and hospital closures."
Campaigners in Scotland have organised a Scottish Parliament lobby for later this month, while charter committees are being set up across the country.
The date of the People's Charter conference is November 21 at the Camden Centre, London.
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Growing fascism and discredited neoliberal policies can only be combated by the broadest possible mobilisation around the People's Charter, speakers at Saturday's Communist University urged.
The modern-day charter, now TUC policy, was a "lifeline" to Labour at the looming general election, activists said.
And there were calls for the TUC leadership to draw lessons from its past and challenge MPs to back the charter if they want the millions-strong support of unions.
Reading an extract from the 1905 TUC conference minutes, John Hendy QC recalled how the organisation had issued an ultimatum to candidates of the day to support the historic Trade Disputes Bill or forfeit the working-class vote.
"Just over 50 candidates passed that test, of which 30 were elected at the 1906 general election - enough to make the Bill into Act that year," he said. "Why can't today's TUC adopt the same approach with regards to the charter?"
Speakers stressed that the six-point document was a way for millions of working people "to speak with one voice" at a time of economic crisis, mass unemployment, cuts in public services and growing fascism.
Investment in council housing, a fairer tax system, a publicly run financial system and an end to the current wars are some of the modest demands outlined in the charter, for which campaigners are aiming to collect one million signatures.
Young Communist League (YCL) general secretary Joanne Stevenson highlighted the importance of mobilising the young as they made up about 40 per cent of the unemployed.
She reported that the YCL had recently adopted an associated Youth Charter and called for investment in "real apprenticeships with job guarantees" and free education for all.
Rather than demonising young people, Ms Stevenson said, the government should address anti-social behaviour through investment in youth clubs and decent housing.
"And stop army recruits in our schools," she demanded.
Speaking from the floor, former YCL leader Gawain Little argued: "The TUC and Labour leadership will only act when there is grass-roots pressure. So let's take the charter into the communities and wherever there is a strike picket or a local campaign against academies, council privatisation and hospital closures."
Campaigners in Scotland have organised a Scottish Parliament lobby for later this month, while charter committees are being set up across the country.
The date of the People's Charter conference is November 21 at the Camden Centre, London.
Israel boycott steps up a gear this week Sunday 08 November 2009
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Two of Britain's biggest supermarket chains will be targeted in a "week of boycott action" to highlight their continued sale of produce from illegal Israeli settlements, solidarity campaigners have announced.
Waitrose and Morrisons will be the main focus for action this week in protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and coinciding with a week of action called by the Palestinian grass roots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign.
The Palestinian-based coalition has called on supporters to launch a week of global mobilisation against "the walls of apartheid" in the West Bank and Gaza from today.
Actions in Britain will include demonstrations and pickets outside Waitrose and Morrisons and mass co-ordinated phone calls to the headquarters of both stores on Wednesday.
Sarah Colborne of PSC said: "We are specifically targeting Waitrose and Morrisons as they have so far failed to engage in serious discussion with us.
"The PSC are hoping that they will take a principled position and stop stocking goods from illegal settlements."
In a statement, Waitrose insisted that the produce it sells from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank is grown on farms where a "Palestinian and Israeli workforce have worked side by side for many years."
Refuting the supermarket's claims, Ms Colborne noted: "There is no equality.
"Palestinian workers are forced to work in the settlements because their own economy has been destroyed by the Israeli occupation," she said.
"The settlements are built on stolen land and are irrigated by water stolen from the Palestinians. Palestinian children as young as 12 work on settlement farms."
Palestinian workers in Israeli settlements earn less than 50 per cent of the minimum wage and sometimes as little as five US cents an hour, according to Israel/Palestine-based employment rights organisation Kav LaOved.
They receive no holiday pay, pensions or sick pay and require work permits which can be rescinded if they complain about conditions or ask for a pay rise.
In September, the TUC conference voted to support a campaign of boycott, sanction and disinvestment, targeting Israeli goods as well as companies which benefit from Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
The resolution was a culmination of a wave of motions at individual union conferences this year in anger following Israel's war on the Gaza Strip in January, which killed 1,314 Palestinians.
Sunday November 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Two of Britain's biggest supermarket chains will be targeted in a "week of boycott action" to highlight their continued sale of produce from illegal Israeli settlements, solidarity campaigners have announced.
Waitrose and Morrisons will be the main focus for action this week in protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and coinciding with a week of action called by the Palestinian grass roots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign.
The Palestinian-based coalition has called on supporters to launch a week of global mobilisation against "the walls of apartheid" in the West Bank and Gaza from today.
Actions in Britain will include demonstrations and pickets outside Waitrose and Morrisons and mass co-ordinated phone calls to the headquarters of both stores on Wednesday.
Sarah Colborne of PSC said: "We are specifically targeting Waitrose and Morrisons as they have so far failed to engage in serious discussion with us.
"The PSC are hoping that they will take a principled position and stop stocking goods from illegal settlements."
In a statement, Waitrose insisted that the produce it sells from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank is grown on farms where a "Palestinian and Israeli workforce have worked side by side for many years."
Refuting the supermarket's claims, Ms Colborne noted: "There is no equality.
"Palestinian workers are forced to work in the settlements because their own economy has been destroyed by the Israeli occupation," she said.
"The settlements are built on stolen land and are irrigated by water stolen from the Palestinians. Palestinian children as young as 12 work on settlement farms."
Palestinian workers in Israeli settlements earn less than 50 per cent of the minimum wage and sometimes as little as five US cents an hour, according to Israel/Palestine-based employment rights organisation Kav LaOved.
They receive no holiday pay, pensions or sick pay and require work permits which can be rescinded if they complain about conditions or ask for a pay rise.
In September, the TUC conference voted to support a campaign of boycott, sanction and disinvestment, targeting Israeli goods as well as companies which benefit from Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
The resolution was a culmination of a wave of motions at individual union conferences this year in anger following Israel's war on the Gaza Strip in January, which killed 1,314 Palestinians.
Proud to be at the grass roots
Interview by Louise Nousratpour
Friday November 6, 2009
The Morning Star
Sitting in the cosy study of her modest home in the heart of Tower Hamlets, one of the poorest boroughs in Britain, talking animatedly with mug of coffee in one hand, fag in the other, Anita Halpin does not fit the caricature of the dull union bureaucrat, abstracted from the lives of ordinary people.
Though she has held, and still holds, many senior positions in the trade union movement and the Communist Party, she proudly describes herself as a lay activist and explains that her decision to stand down from the general council this year is to spend more time with her local union and party branch.
"I'm seeking nomination as NUJ delegate to the next TUC congress. It will be nice to be back on the conference floor," she smiles, revealing that it's been 20 years since she was a first-time delegate.
At this year's TUC congress Halpin won a prestigious gold badge for services to the trade union movement, an achievement which she is typically modest about.
"I have to take it to the jeweller because it is designed for men. It has a stickpin for ties," she says, encapsulating the prejudice that she has had to contend with in order to receive the award.
Halpin became the third woman president of the NUJ in 1994, when the rest of the executive were all male. And she is the only woman treasurer in the union's 100-year history.
But her election in 2001 was no token gesture to gender equality. She has turned round the union's dire finances in the past decade "from an overdraft of £3 million to a subscription income of £3 million," she declares proudly.
Little wonder she has just been re-elected as treasurer.
Though progress has been made to shake off the "male, pale and stale" image, the movement is still far from being truly representative of women and minority workers who are often the lowest paid and most likely to suffer discrimination.
Halpin is particularly excited about TUC equality conferences - LGBT, women, and disability - now being motion-based and she hopes the young members' forum will soon be given the same democratic right.
"This provides lay activists with a greater democratic voice and has boosted representation. It is their voice that should be heard, not only the men in grey suits whose speech are written by, presumably, NUJ members working in some communication office somewhere."
One of the greatest gains of recent years, the minimum wage, was first adopted by the sisters at a TUC women's conference some years before Labour made it law in 1999, Halpin notes.
"That was in response to Thatcher's decision to close the wages council which regulated low-paid industries.
"I wasn't attending TUC women's conference then, but the evolution of the arguments must have come from discussions around how to protect low-paid workers, who are mainly women," Halpin observes.
She regrets some sisters' tendency to shy away from accepting nominations and thereby achieve progressive change.
"Many fewer women accept nominations to union positions than men do - if for no other reason it has to be a problem of confidence and feeling 'I can make a difference.'
"Women have an equal right to be nominated and they should exercise that right by equally accepting that nomination."
Halpin believes that a truly representative movement is crucial to win the fight against voter apathy and the fascist menace.
The work, she insists, must start at grass-roots level, using the straightforward, progressive policies outlined in the People's Charter - now TUC policy - and the Charter for Women.
"Abstention is a very dangerous thing. That is how the BNP got votes in the north-west - they polled fewer votes than the previous election," Halpin notes, adding: "We must build our local trade councils as well as party and union branches."
Reaffirming her confidence in the electoral strategy outlined in the Communist Party of Britain manifesto, the British Road For Socialism, Halpin is crystal clear that the trade union movement must pull out all the stops for a Labour victory at the looming election.
The Thatcher years, she remembers grimly, "knocked the guts out of a whole generation of workers.
"Following Lenin, the British Road to Socialism acknowledges the special relationship between the trade union movement and Labour, albeit a social democratic party or even worse than that now."
Halpin is well aware that many recoil at the thought of voting for a warmongering government. For her, the Labour Party is not sacrosanct or above criticism but it is simply where the bulk of the organised workers are politically represented.
A new workers' party, she believes, could only emerge from "the trade union movement, whatever the evolutionary solution is going to be.
"Disaffiliating lock, stock and barrel from Labour would just cut the ground from under our feet."
Ultimately, she says, "an artificially constructed left coalition without a groundswell of trade union support" will get nowhere.
Halpin believes that, in the first instance, unions must use the power of their affiliation fee "much more radically."
This, she argues, can be done through the trade union parliamentary co-ordinating group, launched at the TUC last year and including affiliated and non-affiliated unions.
"I don't like this 'them and us' situation. We can overcome this division through the TUPCG, which provides a co-ordinated lobbying voice within Westminster."
Halpin is respected even by those on the right for her unstinting commitment to the working class and her consistent internationalism.
She believes that the labour movement must overcome its fear of being branded anti-semitic and adopt an unequivocal position on the festering injustice that is occupied Palestine.
No-one can accuse her of being anti-Jewish. Her grandparents Alfred and Tekla Hess were persecuted by the nazis and were forced to emigrate to England in 1938.
Halpin describes her early politics as "instinctively anti-fascist" due to her father Hans making a conscious decision to relay the family's tragic history to his young daughter.
"I learned my politics from my parents," she explains. "They were anti-fascist refugees from nazi Germany. Most refugees decided to assimilate and not tell their offspring anything about the history. Maybe because it was just too horrendous.
"But my father, a Marxist art historian, was sufficiently political to think it was his duty to tell me what had happened."
Today a new generation of activists faces the same fascist menace in a new suit.
At a time when the Establishment parades Nick Griffin's ugly politics on our screens in the name of "freedom of speech," the working-class movement cannot afford to be divided or ignore the issues which give rise to fascism.
This threat needs to be countered and it's up to people on the left to adopt some of Halpin's enthusiasm and build the confidence that they can make a difference after all.
EDL fails to spread its poison in Wales
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday October 25, 2009
The Morning Star
Newport anti-fascists scored a major victory this weekend when an impressive show of local unity stopped the English Defence League's (EDL) attempt to spread its racist poison in Wales.
The EDL had planned a rally in the city's John Frost Square on Saturday to launch the Welsh Defence League, but a 500-strong counterprotest and a complete lack of local support forced it to cancel.
This followed the fascists' disastrous visit to Swansea last weekend, where they were driven off by a larger counterdemonstration.
"Newport is a multicultural city with an industrial background," explained Ian Titherington of Searchlight Cymru, "and today's fantastic turnout shows that racists are not welcome here."
Campaigners, joined by local politicians and faith groups, occupied the square to celebrate multicultural Newport with live music, including a drum band and an impressive performance from the Cor Cochion Caerdydd (Cardiff Red Choir).
Unite Against Fascism marched through the city centre before joining the rally, which also heard speeches from Welsh Assembly Minister John Griffiths and local Labour MP Paul Flynn.
Mr Titherington, while welcoming support from local politicians, blamed the rise in fascism on the main political parties' failure to address working-class concerns about unemployment, housing and the impact of public-service cuts.
He urged support for the newly formed Newport Communities Against Racism - a broad community-based coalition - arguing: "Such grass-roots organisations are the most potent ways of facing up to and defeating organised fascism. We must get involved at local level."
Communist Party of Britain general secretary Robert Griffiths told the crowd: "Fighting fascism is a great Welsh tradition and our united display of opposition today is a testimony to that."
He attacked government failure to invest fully in working-class communities, where fascists are active, adding: "We must go back to the slogan of 'drowning the fascists in a sea of mass activity'."
Mr Flynn said that such a show of force proved how "weak and ineffectual" the EDL was in Wales.
Writing on his blog later, he said: "The side of the square allocated to the EDL remained almost deserted.
"There were frequent rumours that the fascists were on their way. At one o'clock there were reports of a dozen football hooligans getting tanked up in city centre pubs."
Sunday October 25, 2009
The Morning Star
Newport anti-fascists scored a major victory this weekend when an impressive show of local unity stopped the English Defence League's (EDL) attempt to spread its racist poison in Wales.
The EDL had planned a rally in the city's John Frost Square on Saturday to launch the Welsh Defence League, but a 500-strong counterprotest and a complete lack of local support forced it to cancel.
This followed the fascists' disastrous visit to Swansea last weekend, where they were driven off by a larger counterdemonstration.
"Newport is a multicultural city with an industrial background," explained Ian Titherington of Searchlight Cymru, "and today's fantastic turnout shows that racists are not welcome here."
Campaigners, joined by local politicians and faith groups, occupied the square to celebrate multicultural Newport with live music, including a drum band and an impressive performance from the Cor Cochion Caerdydd (Cardiff Red Choir).
Unite Against Fascism marched through the city centre before joining the rally, which also heard speeches from Welsh Assembly Minister John Griffiths and local Labour MP Paul Flynn.
Mr Titherington, while welcoming support from local politicians, blamed the rise in fascism on the main political parties' failure to address working-class concerns about unemployment, housing and the impact of public-service cuts.
He urged support for the newly formed Newport Communities Against Racism - a broad community-based coalition - arguing: "Such grass-roots organisations are the most potent ways of facing up to and defeating organised fascism. We must get involved at local level."
Communist Party of Britain general secretary Robert Griffiths told the crowd: "Fighting fascism is a great Welsh tradition and our united display of opposition today is a testimony to that."
He attacked government failure to invest fully in working-class communities, where fascists are active, adding: "We must go back to the slogan of 'drowning the fascists in a sea of mass activity'."
Mr Flynn said that such a show of force proved how "weak and ineffectual" the EDL was in Wales.
Writing on his blog later, he said: "The side of the square allocated to the EDL remained almost deserted.
"There were frequent rumours that the fascists were on their way. At one o'clock there were reports of a dozen football hooligans getting tanked up in city centre pubs."
Blairites' plan to stay in power
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday October 15, 2009
The Morning Star
A group of Blairite former ministers published a set of proposals on Thursday which they claimed would keep Labour in power.
The 10-strong group of MPs, including former home secretary Charles Clarke, warned of "another generation of Thatcherite government" unless Labour adopted their "progressive vision" for the future.
But Labour MP John McDonnell lambasted their policies as "bankrupt" and described the group as "the last reactionary twitchings of the corpse that was new Labour."
Among the proposals launched at Westminister on Thursday were calls for stronger anti-terror laws, a well-equipped army ready for future intervention, public spending cuts, continued privatisation in public services and a firm opposition to more council homes.
In his essays, Mr Clarke hinted at resurrecting the defeated idea of a 90-day pre-charge detention for terror suspects and defended identity cards.
He also talked about "hard choices" in public spending and called for "user-charging" in key public services.
On defence, Nick Palmer wrote that Britain should "focus on the types of intervention where we have particular skills."
And Nick Raynsford rejected the need for council housing in favour of "mixed tenure" developments in partnership with the private sector.
Mr McDonnell warned: "This group of estranged Blairites wants to take us back to a set of policies based upon the principles that got us into this mess."
Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffths stressed that the only way Labour can up its chances of winning the next election is if the party "changes direction and adopts genuinely popular left-wing policies for public ownership, investment in productive industry, progressive taxation and end the war in Afghanistan."
Thursday October 15, 2009
The Morning Star
A group of Blairite former ministers published a set of proposals on Thursday which they claimed would keep Labour in power.
The 10-strong group of MPs, including former home secretary Charles Clarke, warned of "another generation of Thatcherite government" unless Labour adopted their "progressive vision" for the future.
But Labour MP John McDonnell lambasted their policies as "bankrupt" and described the group as "the last reactionary twitchings of the corpse that was new Labour."
Among the proposals launched at Westminister on Thursday were calls for stronger anti-terror laws, a well-equipped army ready for future intervention, public spending cuts, continued privatisation in public services and a firm opposition to more council homes.
In his essays, Mr Clarke hinted at resurrecting the defeated idea of a 90-day pre-charge detention for terror suspects and defended identity cards.
He also talked about "hard choices" in public spending and called for "user-charging" in key public services.
On defence, Nick Palmer wrote that Britain should "focus on the types of intervention where we have particular skills."
And Nick Raynsford rejected the need for council housing in favour of "mixed tenure" developments in partnership with the private sector.
Mr McDonnell warned: "This group of estranged Blairites wants to take us back to a set of policies based upon the principles that got us into this mess."
Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffths stressed that the only way Labour can up its chances of winning the next election is if the party "changes direction and adopts genuinely popular left-wing policies for public ownership, investment in productive industry, progressive taxation and end the war in Afghanistan."
Tories aim to hit the poor hardest
Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday October 6, 2009
The Morning Star
Shadow chancellor seeks to outdo Labour's attacks as he sets out public spending cuts.
The Tories and new Labour have fought a callous bidding war to prove who is best at making the poor and the sick pay for the bankers' crisis.
Today, Shadow chancellor George Osborne revealed his Thatcherite agenda in a conference speech focused on public spending cuts, including a one-year freeze on the majority of public-sector workers.
Under his plans, only the one million earning under £18,000 would get a rise.
The Tory proposal goes beyond Chancellor Alistair Darling's call for a salary freeze for the 750,000 highest-paid public servants.
Mr Osborne repeatedly claimed that the whole country was "in this together," but his belt-tightening policies were only aimed at the poor and the vulnerable.
He confirmed plans to raise the state retirement age for men from 65 to 66 in 2016, rather than 2026 as new Labour plans. For women, the pension age will be equalised by 2020.
Left economist Andrew Fisher pointed out that this would disproportionately hit the poorest, who have a life expectancy of 72 compared with 79 for the better off.
Mr Osborne also wants to introduce means-testing to the child tax credit at a lower level in order to claw back money from better-off families.
Another tax to hit the poor was next on the agenda, as he announced plans to raise VAT from the current 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent.
Mr Osborne then promised to raise inheritance tax thresholds to £1 million and declared his opposition to the government's 50p top rate of income tax from 2011.
The endless list of spending cuts will shave a mere £7 billion a year off the record £175bn public deficit caused by the bail-out of the banks. Another £13 billion a year will be saved once the retirement age is raised in 2016.
But the Tax Justice Network pointed out that Britain could save £100 billion a year just by preventing tax dodging in tax havens which are "politically connected to Britain."
The organisation's John Christensen also defended the 50p top rate tax, saying: "The likes of Mr Osborne argue that if we tax the rich, they will threaten to leave the country.
"Let them leave - it means they weren't interested in contributing to the wellbeing of our society in the first place."
Communist Party of Britain leader Rob Griffiths warned that "new Labour is paving the way for an even more right-wing Tory government unless the labour movement, at this late hour, forces the government to change course fundamentally."
UNISON leader Dave Prentis said Mr Osborne's "commitment to the free market underlines the real Tory agenda - it's one that hasn't changed since Thatcher."
Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson added: "This was a speech written on the back of a Bullingdon Club membership card."
Tuesday October 6, 2009
The Morning Star
Shadow chancellor seeks to outdo Labour's attacks as he sets out public spending cuts.
The Tories and new Labour have fought a callous bidding war to prove who is best at making the poor and the sick pay for the bankers' crisis.
Today, Shadow chancellor George Osborne revealed his Thatcherite agenda in a conference speech focused on public spending cuts, including a one-year freeze on the majority of public-sector workers.
Under his plans, only the one million earning under £18,000 would get a rise.
The Tory proposal goes beyond Chancellor Alistair Darling's call for a salary freeze for the 750,000 highest-paid public servants.
Mr Osborne repeatedly claimed that the whole country was "in this together," but his belt-tightening policies were only aimed at the poor and the vulnerable.
He confirmed plans to raise the state retirement age for men from 65 to 66 in 2016, rather than 2026 as new Labour plans. For women, the pension age will be equalised by 2020.
Left economist Andrew Fisher pointed out that this would disproportionately hit the poorest, who have a life expectancy of 72 compared with 79 for the better off.
Mr Osborne also wants to introduce means-testing to the child tax credit at a lower level in order to claw back money from better-off families.
Another tax to hit the poor was next on the agenda, as he announced plans to raise VAT from the current 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent.
Mr Osborne then promised to raise inheritance tax thresholds to £1 million and declared his opposition to the government's 50p top rate of income tax from 2011.
The endless list of spending cuts will shave a mere £7 billion a year off the record £175bn public deficit caused by the bail-out of the banks. Another £13 billion a year will be saved once the retirement age is raised in 2016.
But the Tax Justice Network pointed out that Britain could save £100 billion a year just by preventing tax dodging in tax havens which are "politically connected to Britain."
The organisation's John Christensen also defended the 50p top rate tax, saying: "The likes of Mr Osborne argue that if we tax the rich, they will threaten to leave the country.
"Let them leave - it means they weren't interested in contributing to the wellbeing of our society in the first place."
Communist Party of Britain leader Rob Griffiths warned that "new Labour is paving the way for an even more right-wing Tory government unless the labour movement, at this late hour, forces the government to change course fundamentally."
UNISON leader Dave Prentis said Mr Osborne's "commitment to the free market underlines the real Tory agenda - it's one that hasn't changed since Thatcher."
Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson added: "This was a speech written on the back of a Bullingdon Club membership card."
Darling challenged to listen to the left
Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday September 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Alistair Darling was challenged to listen to the left yesterday and implement a radical economic policy after he talked of "hard choices" on public spending.
In a speech on government proposals to "reprioritise" spending, Mr Darling declared that he "won't flinch from difficult decisions" before hinting at plans for more cuts and privatisation of public services.
But he stopped short of announcing what services were likely to be cut to address the public finance deficit, which has swelled in the past year due to the government's multibillion-pound bail-out of the banking sector.
Health unions are concerned that the NHS might be targeted after a leaked report last week revealed that ministers had been advised by private management consultants to "save" £20 billion by axing 137,000 health workers.
In his keynote lecture to the Chambers of Commerce at Cardiff City Stadium last night, the Chancellor said: "The global economic background means that spending will be tighter everywhere.
"This means more efficiency, continuing to reform, cutting costs, public and private sectors working together."
But left campaigners and unions argued that, rather than targeting essential public services, Mr Darling should plug the deficit by introducing progressive taxation, close down tax havens under British jurisdiction, scrap the multibillion-pound Trident nuclear programme and stop wasting young lives and public money on illegal wars.
The People's Charter - launched earlier this year in response to the economic crisis - also calls on the government to take control of the banking system and create new jobs through investment in productive industry, council house building and green technology.
Labour MP John McDonnell said: "Just like the great charters of the 19th century, the People's Charter is just a common sense distillation of what most people are increasingly calling for to tackle this crisis.
"If corporations and rich people who made fortunes out of us during the boom are not paying their fair share, then reform the tax system and close down the tax havens.
"If people need homes, then put councils and building workers to work to build them, buy up the empty ones and stop the repossessions.
"And don't tell us the money can't be found to do this because we now know from the bank bail-outs that, if needed, the resources can be found."
RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who is a signatory to the charter, challenged Mr Darling to consider the economic alternative put forward by the left.
"We now have a situation where both main political parties have got a consensus based around attacking public services through a severe programme of cuts," he said.
"But there is a very real socialist alternative which is mapped out in the charter based on redistribution of wealth and the protection and development of public services.
"It is a scandal that once again it is essential public services that are taking the hit rather than the spivs and speculators who engineered the economic crisis."
SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hoise MP had a "simple suggestion for Alistair Darling to cut his spending - abandon the unnecessary and unaffordable white elephant projects like Trident and ID cards."
And Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths said: "The reality is that both new Labour and the Tories intend to make deep cuts in our public services unless we organise to stop them. Mr Darling must now listen to the left."
Mr Griffiths added that a modest 1 per cent wealth tax on the super-rich would raise at least £20 billion, while the TUC has calculated that closing down tax havens could save the Treasury at least £4 billion a year.
Trident replacement is estimated to cost the public £100 billion over its lifetime and nearly £5 billion goes to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan each year.
Tuesday September 8, 2009
The Morning Star
Alistair Darling was challenged to listen to the left yesterday and implement a radical economic policy after he talked of "hard choices" on public spending.
In a speech on government proposals to "reprioritise" spending, Mr Darling declared that he "won't flinch from difficult decisions" before hinting at plans for more cuts and privatisation of public services.
But he stopped short of announcing what services were likely to be cut to address the public finance deficit, which has swelled in the past year due to the government's multibillion-pound bail-out of the banking sector.
Health unions are concerned that the NHS might be targeted after a leaked report last week revealed that ministers had been advised by private management consultants to "save" £20 billion by axing 137,000 health workers.
In his keynote lecture to the Chambers of Commerce at Cardiff City Stadium last night, the Chancellor said: "The global economic background means that spending will be tighter everywhere.
"This means more efficiency, continuing to reform, cutting costs, public and private sectors working together."
But left campaigners and unions argued that, rather than targeting essential public services, Mr Darling should plug the deficit by introducing progressive taxation, close down tax havens under British jurisdiction, scrap the multibillion-pound Trident nuclear programme and stop wasting young lives and public money on illegal wars.
The People's Charter - launched earlier this year in response to the economic crisis - also calls on the government to take control of the banking system and create new jobs through investment in productive industry, council house building and green technology.
Labour MP John McDonnell said: "Just like the great charters of the 19th century, the People's Charter is just a common sense distillation of what most people are increasingly calling for to tackle this crisis.
"If corporations and rich people who made fortunes out of us during the boom are not paying their fair share, then reform the tax system and close down the tax havens.
"If people need homes, then put councils and building workers to work to build them, buy up the empty ones and stop the repossessions.
"And don't tell us the money can't be found to do this because we now know from the bank bail-outs that, if needed, the resources can be found."
RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who is a signatory to the charter, challenged Mr Darling to consider the economic alternative put forward by the left.
"We now have a situation where both main political parties have got a consensus based around attacking public services through a severe programme of cuts," he said.
"But there is a very real socialist alternative which is mapped out in the charter based on redistribution of wealth and the protection and development of public services.
"It is a scandal that once again it is essential public services that are taking the hit rather than the spivs and speculators who engineered the economic crisis."
SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hoise MP had a "simple suggestion for Alistair Darling to cut his spending - abandon the unnecessary and unaffordable white elephant projects like Trident and ID cards."
And Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths said: "The reality is that both new Labour and the Tories intend to make deep cuts in our public services unless we organise to stop them. Mr Darling must now listen to the left."
Mr Griffiths added that a modest 1 per cent wealth tax on the super-rich would raise at least £20 billion, while the TUC has calculated that closing down tax havens could save the Treasury at least £4 billion a year.
Trident replacement is estimated to cost the public £100 billion over its lifetime and nearly £5 billion goes to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan each year.
Government told to follow lead of US
Louise Nousratpour
Friday September 4, 2009
The Morning Star
Campaigners have urged the government to suspend economic and diplomatic relations with Honduras's coup regime following a US decision to cut all non-humanitarian aid to the country.
The US has also stopped issuing visas to Honduras's de facto officials. The decision is part of international efforts to ramp up pressure on the coup government to restore democracy.
Campaigners welcomed the British government's plans to "explore with the EU the possibility of restrictions on travel for individuals associated with the regime," but urged ministers to speed up the process.
The Foreign Office made the comment after the Morning Star contacted officials regarding Honduras's de facto finance minister Gabriella Nunez's claim that she attended last month's G20 prefatory meetings in London on an invitation issued by "James Gordon Brown of Britain."
Desperate to legitimise her illegal government, Ms Nunez told the Honduran press after arriving back from London: "One of the achievements of the meeting was the recognition that the president of the Central Bank of Honduras, Edwin Araque, and myself received as the authorities responsible for economic policies in Honduras."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman strongly denied the allegations of "recognition" as "not true" and reiterated Britain's opposition to the coup regime.
However, she did confirm that Ms Nunez and Mr Araque had indeed attended a G20-related meeting in London on August 17.
The spokeswoman stressed: "Ministers had no contact with the Honduran delegation during the conference."
John McDonnell MP, who backed Jeremy Corbyn MP's early day motion condeming Honduras's coup, said: "Representatives of the regime should be barred from visiting our country and if they manage to gain entry they should be arrested for the crime they have committed against Honduran democracy."
Labour MP Colin Burgon, who is a signatory to the EDM, said that the Foreign Office's statement had "exposed Ms Nunez's claims of recognition to be lies."
Campaigners and MPs now want the government to impose an immediate visa ban on officials and supporters of Roberto Micheletti's regime.
Mr Burgon said: "I welcome the fact that the British government and EU is exploring the possibility of restrictions on travel for individuals associated with the coup regime.
"These should be acted on immediately."
Calvin Tucker, who reported for the Morning Star from Honduras during the coup, added: "The British government should back up its strong condemnation of the coup by insisting that all international insitututions immediately cease funding this illegal regime."
Friday September 4, 2009
The Morning Star
Campaigners have urged the government to suspend economic and diplomatic relations with Honduras's coup regime following a US decision to cut all non-humanitarian aid to the country.
The US has also stopped issuing visas to Honduras's de facto officials. The decision is part of international efforts to ramp up pressure on the coup government to restore democracy.
Campaigners welcomed the British government's plans to "explore with the EU the possibility of restrictions on travel for individuals associated with the regime," but urged ministers to speed up the process.
The Foreign Office made the comment after the Morning Star contacted officials regarding Honduras's de facto finance minister Gabriella Nunez's claim that she attended last month's G20 prefatory meetings in London on an invitation issued by "James Gordon Brown of Britain."
Desperate to legitimise her illegal government, Ms Nunez told the Honduran press after arriving back from London: "One of the achievements of the meeting was the recognition that the president of the Central Bank of Honduras, Edwin Araque, and myself received as the authorities responsible for economic policies in Honduras."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman strongly denied the allegations of "recognition" as "not true" and reiterated Britain's opposition to the coup regime.
However, she did confirm that Ms Nunez and Mr Araque had indeed attended a G20-related meeting in London on August 17.
The spokeswoman stressed: "Ministers had no contact with the Honduran delegation during the conference."
John McDonnell MP, who backed Jeremy Corbyn MP's early day motion condeming Honduras's coup, said: "Representatives of the regime should be barred from visiting our country and if they manage to gain entry they should be arrested for the crime they have committed against Honduran democracy."
Labour MP Colin Burgon, who is a signatory to the EDM, said that the Foreign Office's statement had "exposed Ms Nunez's claims of recognition to be lies."
Campaigners and MPs now want the government to impose an immediate visa ban on officials and supporters of Roberto Micheletti's regime.
Mr Burgon said: "I welcome the fact that the British government and EU is exploring the possibility of restrictions on travel for individuals associated with the coup regime.
"These should be acted on immediately."
Calvin Tucker, who reported for the Morning Star from Honduras during the coup, added: "The British government should back up its strong condemnation of the coup by insisting that all international insitututions immediately cease funding this illegal regime."
Extradition of honour killing suspect hailed
Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday June 30, 2009
The Morning Star
British-based Kurdish women's campaigners have welcomed a ruling by the High Court in Iraqi Kurdistan to extradite a man accused of raping and "honour" killing Banaz Mahmod.
Jude Shaykh Latif, chairing the Criminal Court in Suleymania, ruled last Friday that Mohammed Saleh Ali would be extradited to Britain to face trial for the killing of the 20-year-old Kurdish woman in Birmingham in 2006.
Mr Ali is now being held in a prison in Lewisham, south London, awaiting trial.
The Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) have hailed the decision as "a victory for justice."
In a statement, the group said: "We hope this decision forms part of a new trend towards the recognition of women's rights in the region and the elimination of all forms of violence against them.
"We believe that without the grass-roots support - both in Britain and in Iraqi Kurdistan - for our Justice for Banaz campaign, the extradition would not have taken place."
Ms Mahmod was killed by members of her family after falling in love with a man her parents did not approve of. In June 2007, her father Mahmod Mahmod and uncle Ari Mahmod were convicted of her murder.
But the other two alleged culprits fled Britain to hide in Iraqi Kurdistan. While Mr Ali is to stand trial in Britain, Omar Hosain Agha has walked free.
"We will not rest until Omar Hosain Agha is also extradited and faces justice," IKWRO director Diana Nammi pledged.
Ms Nammi added that, while the Metropolitan Police had "learned its lesson" in taking "honour" crimes more seriously, the group was "unsatisfied" with how the force and the Independent Police Complaints Commission had handled the case.
Tuesday June 30, 2009
The Morning Star
British-based Kurdish women's campaigners have welcomed a ruling by the High Court in Iraqi Kurdistan to extradite a man accused of raping and "honour" killing Banaz Mahmod.
Jude Shaykh Latif, chairing the Criminal Court in Suleymania, ruled last Friday that Mohammed Saleh Ali would be extradited to Britain to face trial for the killing of the 20-year-old Kurdish woman in Birmingham in 2006.
Mr Ali is now being held in a prison in Lewisham, south London, awaiting trial.
The Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) have hailed the decision as "a victory for justice."
In a statement, the group said: "We hope this decision forms part of a new trend towards the recognition of women's rights in the region and the elimination of all forms of violence against them.
"We believe that without the grass-roots support - both in Britain and in Iraqi Kurdistan - for our Justice for Banaz campaign, the extradition would not have taken place."
Ms Mahmod was killed by members of her family after falling in love with a man her parents did not approve of. In June 2007, her father Mahmod Mahmod and uncle Ari Mahmod were convicted of her murder.
But the other two alleged culprits fled Britain to hide in Iraqi Kurdistan. While Mr Ali is to stand trial in Britain, Omar Hosain Agha has walked free.
"We will not rest until Omar Hosain Agha is also extradited and faces justice," IKWRO director Diana Nammi pledged.
Ms Nammi added that, while the Metropolitan Police had "learned its lesson" in taking "honour" crimes more seriously, the group was "unsatisfied" with how the force and the Independent Police Complaints Commission had handled the case.
'We must mobilise for race equality'
Louise Nousratpour in Scarborough
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
TRADE unionists vowed on Sunday to mobilise in the fight for racial equality in Parliament and the labour movement.
Delegates at the TUC black workers' conference heard calls to organise at the grass roots and the ballot box in response to the glaring shortage of ethnic-minority MPs.
Prospect delegate Satnam Ner pointed out that, of the 659 MPs, only 15 are from ethnic minorities, just two of whom are women.
"According to research, it will take 75 years before we have adequate representation - we cannot wait that long," he told the conference in Scarborough.
"With so many talented and articulate black activists, we must mobilise around a political and practical programme to tackle the issue."
Unite delegate Kingsley Abrams called for parliamentary shortlists to include black candidates.
And Khi Rafe of UNISON urged people to take inspiration from US President Barack Obama.
Removing her shirt to reveal an Obama T-shirt, Ms Rafe said: "This is the first ever black president of the most powerful country in the world.
"He went out into the communities and got in contact with people - black and white, men and women, young and old. That is what we must do."
Guest speaker Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote told delegates on Saturday: "We must not let the legacy of mental slavery hold us back and aim for the top.
"You are the front-line warriors of justice," he said to cheers.
"Find out how many black members you have got and organise them. If you register every black person to vote, we will hold the key to Downing Street."
A separate motion on Friday highlighted the gross under-representation of ethnic-minority members at the top of trade unions.
Some delegates suggested that the movement may unwittingly be suffering from institutional racism.
Moving the motion, CWU delegate Ian Taylor complained that no-one knew the scale of the problem as no research had been carried out.
"Many black people feel that union representation is not matched by the level of membership," he said, calling for a study to address the issue.
UNISON delegate Sharon Foster agreed that the TUC must examine how paid senior officers are recruited "to find whether institutional racism exists in the movement."
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
TRADE unionists vowed on Sunday to mobilise in the fight for racial equality in Parliament and the labour movement.
Delegates at the TUC black workers' conference heard calls to organise at the grass roots and the ballot box in response to the glaring shortage of ethnic-minority MPs.
Prospect delegate Satnam Ner pointed out that, of the 659 MPs, only 15 are from ethnic minorities, just two of whom are women.
"According to research, it will take 75 years before we have adequate representation - we cannot wait that long," he told the conference in Scarborough.
"With so many talented and articulate black activists, we must mobilise around a political and practical programme to tackle the issue."
Unite delegate Kingsley Abrams called for parliamentary shortlists to include black candidates.
And Khi Rafe of UNISON urged people to take inspiration from US President Barack Obama.
Removing her shirt to reveal an Obama T-shirt, Ms Rafe said: "This is the first ever black president of the most powerful country in the world.
"He went out into the communities and got in contact with people - black and white, men and women, young and old. That is what we must do."
Guest speaker Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote told delegates on Saturday: "We must not let the legacy of mental slavery hold us back and aim for the top.
"You are the front-line warriors of justice," he said to cheers.
"Find out how many black members you have got and organise them. If you register every black person to vote, we will hold the key to Downing Street."
A separate motion on Friday highlighted the gross under-representation of ethnic-minority members at the top of trade unions.
Some delegates suggested that the movement may unwittingly be suffering from institutional racism.
Moving the motion, CWU delegate Ian Taylor complained that no-one knew the scale of the problem as no research had been carried out.
"Many black people feel that union representation is not matched by the level of membership," he said, calling for a study to address the issue.
UNISON delegate Sharon Foster agreed that the TUC must examine how paid senior officers are recruited "to find whether institutional racism exists in the movement."
Ministers told: Stand up for our rights
Louise Nousratpour in Scarborough
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
DELEGATES at the TUC black workers' conference have urged the government to stand firm against big business in defence of racial equality.
In the run-up to Monday's publication of the Single Equality Bill, they stressed the importance of strong equality laws in tackling institutional racism.
Ten years on from the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, there has been "little or no progress" on the government's agenda to tackle institutional racism, the conference in Scarborough heard on Saturday.
Speakers vowed to resist any attempt by the government to water down the Bill under pressure from big business trying to use the recession as an excuse to undermine much-needed equality measures.
Prospect delegate Satnam Ner said: "Let us not miss this opportunity and make sure we have a law that stands behind us."
Unions cautiously welcomed the news that, by 2013, private firms could be forced by law to carry out pay audits in a bid to tackle inequality. But business organisations bitterly opposed the measures.
The trade union movement has long called for the public-sector equality duty to be extended to the private sector, which makes up two-thirds of the labour market.
"We cannot allow our brothers and sisters working in the private sector suffer inequality," said Unite delegate Nazir Dar.
She called for measures to ensure that public-sector outsourcing requires equality to be part of the tendering process.
"The Bill must cover all sectors - public, private and voluntary," Ms Dar demanded.
Mr Ner deemed it "unacceptable" that there are no statutory rights for equality representatives, who he stressed play a vital role in ensuring that the law is enforced in the workplace.
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
DELEGATES at the TUC black workers' conference have urged the government to stand firm against big business in defence of racial equality.
In the run-up to Monday's publication of the Single Equality Bill, they stressed the importance of strong equality laws in tackling institutional racism.
Ten years on from the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, there has been "little or no progress" on the government's agenda to tackle institutional racism, the conference in Scarborough heard on Saturday.
Speakers vowed to resist any attempt by the government to water down the Bill under pressure from big business trying to use the recession as an excuse to undermine much-needed equality measures.
Prospect delegate Satnam Ner said: "Let us not miss this opportunity and make sure we have a law that stands behind us."
Unions cautiously welcomed the news that, by 2013, private firms could be forced by law to carry out pay audits in a bid to tackle inequality. But business organisations bitterly opposed the measures.
The trade union movement has long called for the public-sector equality duty to be extended to the private sector, which makes up two-thirds of the labour market.
"We cannot allow our brothers and sisters working in the private sector suffer inequality," said Unite delegate Nazir Dar.
She called for measures to ensure that public-sector outsourcing requires equality to be part of the tendering process.
"The Bill must cover all sectors - public, private and voluntary," Ms Dar demanded.
Mr Ner deemed it "unacceptable" that there are no statutory rights for equality representatives, who he stressed play a vital role in ensuring that the law is enforced in the workplace.
Black workers call for fight against new crackdown on immigrants
Louise Nousratpour in Scarborough
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
BLACK workers have called for a national campaign to expose the failings of the government's "discriminatory" new points-based immigration laws.
The harsh new system, introduced last year, puts financial and skills-based restrictions on migrant workers and international students coming from outside the European Union.
"Migrant workers are already exploited by unscrupulous employers - now they must suffer legalised discrimination by this government," CWU delegate Colin Bell told the TUC black workers' conference on Saturday.
Delegates warned that the measures victimised overseas workers, kept out the poor with financial barriers and forced lecturers to be immigration snoops.
Under the new rules, international students must have proof of large reserves in their bank accounts to be granted entry into Britain and workers are expected to spy on their migrant colleagues.
University and College Union delegate Gargi Bhattcharyya warned of increased pressure on lecturers to spy on their international students.
"They are turning us into snooping agents of the state and legitimising soft racism," she said, asking the labour movement to press for the measures to be scrapped immediately.
UNISON delegate Sushil Munakhya pointed out that, by law, overseas students must register for ID cards at their colleges.
He accused ministers of trying to "sneak in the introduction of ID cards through the back door."
Sunday April 26, 2009
The Morning Star
BLACK workers have called for a national campaign to expose the failings of the government's "discriminatory" new points-based immigration laws.
The harsh new system, introduced last year, puts financial and skills-based restrictions on migrant workers and international students coming from outside the European Union.
"Migrant workers are already exploited by unscrupulous employers - now they must suffer legalised discrimination by this government," CWU delegate Colin Bell told the TUC black workers' conference on Saturday.
Delegates warned that the measures victimised overseas workers, kept out the poor with financial barriers and forced lecturers to be immigration snoops.
Under the new rules, international students must have proof of large reserves in their bank accounts to be granted entry into Britain and workers are expected to spy on their migrant colleagues.
University and College Union delegate Gargi Bhattcharyya warned of increased pressure on lecturers to spy on their international students.
"They are turning us into snooping agents of the state and legitimising soft racism," she said, asking the labour movement to press for the measures to be scrapped immediately.
UNISON delegate Sushil Munakhya pointed out that, by law, overseas students must register for ID cards at their colleges.
He accused ministers of trying to "sneak in the introduction of ID cards through the back door."
Black workers vow to beat racism
Louise Nousratpour in Scarborough
Friday April 24, 2009
The Morning Star
DELEGATES at the TUC black workers conference in Scarborough were on Thursday called to organise against rising racism and fascism in the face of the worst economic crisis since the second world war.
Opening the three-day event, conference chairman Leslie Manasseh and guest speaker TUC president Shelia Bearcroft warned that black workers were disproportionately hit by the recession - both in terms of job losses and racial abuse at work and in society.
Those sections of the economy where Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers are over-represented - finance, retail, hospitality, etc - are worst hit by the crisis and consequent job losses, conference heard.
Mr Manasseh pointed to TUC findings last year that unemployment in black communities is still double that in white communities.
Black workers were also being denied promotion and access to training, he said, while suffering disproportionately from workplace bullying and unequal pay.
"In times of recession, black workers will not only be the first ones to lose their jobs, but workplace promotion will fall even lower and racism will flourish as the far-right will use the opportunity to scapegoat black communities," Mr Manasseh warned.
He stressed: "Now is the time to urge colleagues not just to pay their subs but get involved actively.
"Now is the time to make clear what we practically want to change, to organise ourselves and play an equal and leading role in our unions."
Ms Bearcroft, a former factory worker and shop steward, drew attention to far-right group BNP attempts to gain seats at the European Parliamentary elections in June and urged conference to make "special effort" to stop the fascists.
"If we can mobilise all union members and their families and friends to vote on June 4, the BNP will not stand a chance," she said.
"If the BNP wins seats in Europe," she warned, "it will have repercussions far beyond Britain as racist groups across Europe are seeking to create a far-right block in the European Parliament to advance their politics of hate."
Ms Bearcroft ended her address with a few apt words from her father, who was a miner in south Wales: "On this earth there is only one race - the human race."
Racism and the impact of the recession on black and ethnic minority workers are the two major issues being discussed in a series of motions over the weekend.
Friday April 24, 2009
The Morning Star
DELEGATES at the TUC black workers conference in Scarborough were on Thursday called to organise against rising racism and fascism in the face of the worst economic crisis since the second world war.
Opening the three-day event, conference chairman Leslie Manasseh and guest speaker TUC president Shelia Bearcroft warned that black workers were disproportionately hit by the recession - both in terms of job losses and racial abuse at work and in society.
Those sections of the economy where Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers are over-represented - finance, retail, hospitality, etc - are worst hit by the crisis and consequent job losses, conference heard.
Mr Manasseh pointed to TUC findings last year that unemployment in black communities is still double that in white communities.
Black workers were also being denied promotion and access to training, he said, while suffering disproportionately from workplace bullying and unequal pay.
"In times of recession, black workers will not only be the first ones to lose their jobs, but workplace promotion will fall even lower and racism will flourish as the far-right will use the opportunity to scapegoat black communities," Mr Manasseh warned.
He stressed: "Now is the time to urge colleagues not just to pay their subs but get involved actively.
"Now is the time to make clear what we practically want to change, to organise ourselves and play an equal and leading role in our unions."
Ms Bearcroft, a former factory worker and shop steward, drew attention to far-right group BNP attempts to gain seats at the European Parliamentary elections in June and urged conference to make "special effort" to stop the fascists.
"If we can mobilise all union members and their families and friends to vote on June 4, the BNP will not stand a chance," she said.
"If the BNP wins seats in Europe," she warned, "it will have repercussions far beyond Britain as racist groups across Europe are seeking to create a far-right block in the European Parliament to advance their politics of hate."
Ms Bearcroft ended her address with a few apt words from her father, who was a miner in south Wales: "On this earth there is only one race - the human race."
Racism and the impact of the recession on black and ethnic minority workers are the two major issues being discussed in a series of motions over the weekend.
Unionisation to combat abuse?
Louise Nousratpour
Sunday March 15, 2009
The Morning Star
THE liveliest debate by far at this year's TUC women's conference was on prostitution.
Should the sex industry be decriminalised and "sex workers" unionised like staff in any other sector or should we recognise that prostitution constitutes violence against women and act accordingly?
The debate in Scarborough on Thursday polarised delegates, with a number of unions abstaining from voting on the two opposing motions on how best to reform prostitution laws.
In the end, those who argued that decriminalisation would legitimise the abuse that is inherent in prostitution and turn pimps into "a newly respectable class of sex businessmen" won the day.
Moving the motion against decriminalisation, University and College Union delegate Mary Davis made clear that "this is not a moral issue, but a women's rights issue."
She argued that to label prostitution as "work" would legitimise "the commodification of sex and the objectification of women's bodies. Decriminalisation would condone violence and abuse without addressing the underlying problems of poverty and organised crime.
"We must expose the social causes of prostitution and fight for higher wages and improved benefits to ensure no-one is desperate enough to turn to the sex industry."
The motion, titled the commodification of sex, called for Britain to adopt the approach pioneered by Sweden, which criminalises men who buy sex and decriminalises prostitutes and offers them social support to leave the industry.
Official figures show that prostitution numbers have dropped from 2,500 before the 1999 legislation to around 1,000 today.
Also, the number of people trafficked in Sweden is now between 400 to 600 a year, compared to 4,000 in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.
In Britain, some 85 per cent of an estimated 80,000 prostitutes are thought to be victims of trafficking.
But CWU delegate Tricia Clarke, who moved the motion on decriminalisation, rejected the Swedish model on the basis that it would drive prostitution underground and put women's safety at risk.
She urged conference to support the GMB union's campaign to unionise the sex industry as the best way to protect women.
"In a socialist society, where poverty and inequality are eliminated, women will not look to prostitution. But in the meantime, we must fight for sex workers' trade union rights and ensure that they can report sexual violence without fear of imprisonment or a criminal record," she added.
However, Unite delegate Tricia Lawton questioned the argument that unionisation would protect prostitutes from violence and abuse.
"How can unions protect women prostitutes from sexual abuse when it is part and parcel of their work?" she asked, adding: "Prostitutes need human rights, not union rights."
She also refuted the notion that decriminalisation was about respecting a woman's right to "choose" and would empower prostitutes.
"The industry is run by men for men and the pimps who make huge profits from this exploitation are the only ones truly in control," she said.
Sunday March 15, 2009
The Morning Star
THE liveliest debate by far at this year's TUC women's conference was on prostitution.
Should the sex industry be decriminalised and "sex workers" unionised like staff in any other sector or should we recognise that prostitution constitutes violence against women and act accordingly?
The debate in Scarborough on Thursday polarised delegates, with a number of unions abstaining from voting on the two opposing motions on how best to reform prostitution laws.
In the end, those who argued that decriminalisation would legitimise the abuse that is inherent in prostitution and turn pimps into "a newly respectable class of sex businessmen" won the day.
Moving the motion against decriminalisation, University and College Union delegate Mary Davis made clear that "this is not a moral issue, but a women's rights issue."
She argued that to label prostitution as "work" would legitimise "the commodification of sex and the objectification of women's bodies. Decriminalisation would condone violence and abuse without addressing the underlying problems of poverty and organised crime.
"We must expose the social causes of prostitution and fight for higher wages and improved benefits to ensure no-one is desperate enough to turn to the sex industry."
The motion, titled the commodification of sex, called for Britain to adopt the approach pioneered by Sweden, which criminalises men who buy sex and decriminalises prostitutes and offers them social support to leave the industry.
Official figures show that prostitution numbers have dropped from 2,500 before the 1999 legislation to around 1,000 today.
Also, the number of people trafficked in Sweden is now between 400 to 600 a year, compared to 4,000 in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.
In Britain, some 85 per cent of an estimated 80,000 prostitutes are thought to be victims of trafficking.
But CWU delegate Tricia Clarke, who moved the motion on decriminalisation, rejected the Swedish model on the basis that it would drive prostitution underground and put women's safety at risk.
She urged conference to support the GMB union's campaign to unionise the sex industry as the best way to protect women.
"In a socialist society, where poverty and inequality are eliminated, women will not look to prostitution. But in the meantime, we must fight for sex workers' trade union rights and ensure that they can report sexual violence without fear of imprisonment or a criminal record," she added.
However, Unite delegate Tricia Lawton questioned the argument that unionisation would protect prostitutes from violence and abuse.
"How can unions protect women prostitutes from sexual abuse when it is part and parcel of their work?" she asked, adding: "Prostitutes need human rights, not union rights."
She also refuted the notion that decriminalisation was about respecting a woman's right to "choose" and would empower prostitutes.
"The industry is run by men for men and the pimps who make huge profits from this exploitation are the only ones truly in control," she said.
Activist highlights Gaza's devastation
Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
GAZAN human rights activist Mona El-Farra gave a heartbreaking account of the plight of her compatriots at a TUC women's conference meeting on Friday.
She reduced the audience to tears and even loud whimpering as she related stories about how she had witnessed mothers looking on in despair as their wounded child bled to death in their arms because the ambulance never arrived.
"I am a doctor and know that the Israeli military deliberately targets ambulances and hospitals, while checkpoints stop medical aid getting to those who need it," she said.
The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of 1,440 people, including 430 children, with thousands more wounded, orphaned, homeless and psychologically damaged.
Ms El-Farra said that figures obtained before the attacks showed that 65 per cent of Gazan children are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.
"Unemployment is 60 per cent and 38 per cent of Palestinian women of childbearing age suffer from malnutrition disorders," she highlighted.
"This is not about Israel's security. This amounts to a war crime."
Ms El-Farra welcomed the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza as a "great initiative," but stressed that political solidarity was the most important tool of empowering Palestinians to fight for independence.
"Palestinians, especially women and children, may be victims but they refuse to be victimised," she proudly declared.
"Women in particular are organising in the community and fight the occupation while still managing to keep a smile on their face. Those I talk to say they want peace but not without justice."
Lawyer and co-ordinator for International Solidarity with Thompsons Solicitors Karen Mitchell pointed to a raft of international laws that have repeatedly been breached by Israel.
She concluded: "Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be brought to justice."
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
GAZAN human rights activist Mona El-Farra gave a heartbreaking account of the plight of her compatriots at a TUC women's conference meeting on Friday.
She reduced the audience to tears and even loud whimpering as she related stories about how she had witnessed mothers looking on in despair as their wounded child bled to death in their arms because the ambulance never arrived.
"I am a doctor and know that the Israeli military deliberately targets ambulances and hospitals, while checkpoints stop medical aid getting to those who need it," she said.
The recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of 1,440 people, including 430 children, with thousands more wounded, orphaned, homeless and psychologically damaged.
Ms El-Farra said that figures obtained before the attacks showed that 65 per cent of Gazan children are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.
"Unemployment is 60 per cent and 38 per cent of Palestinian women of childbearing age suffer from malnutrition disorders," she highlighted.
"This is not about Israel's security. This amounts to a war crime."
Ms El-Farra welcomed the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza as a "great initiative," but stressed that political solidarity was the most important tool of empowering Palestinians to fight for independence.
"Palestinians, especially women and children, may be victims but they refuse to be victimised," she proudly declared.
"Women in particular are organising in the community and fight the occupation while still managing to keep a smile on their face. Those I talk to say they want peace but not without justice."
Lawyer and co-ordinator for International Solidarity with Thompsons Solicitors Karen Mitchell pointed to a raft of international laws that have repeatedly been breached by Israel.
She concluded: "Israel is guilty of war crimes and must be brought to justice."
Iraqi women's plight is far from over
Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
IRAQI Women's League guest speaker Shatha Besarani rejected the occupation forces' claim that her country was on the road to democracy.
Ms Besarani told the TUC women's conference in Scarborough on Friday that the Iraq puppet regime was engaged in a "hostile" war against the trade union movement, vandalising its premises, freezing its bank accounts and physically assaulting union leaders.
Arguing that "no true democracy can exist without a free labour movement," she reported that the Iraqi Teachers Union - a well-organised union which has secured significant pay increases in recent years through strike action - had been forced to hand over the keys to its headquarters along with membership and other records.
"This brutal pattern, however, was established by Paul Bremer - the US overlord responsible for setting up the Occupation Authority in 2003," she declared.
"He threw out most of Saddam's legal codes but kept the 1987 law that makes it illegal for public-sector workers to organise in a union."
Ms Besarani said that the situation for women was no better.
She pointed to a recent report by humanitarian charity Oxfam, which warned that the situation has worsened for women since the 2003 US-led invasion.
Last month, Iraq's minister for women resigned in protest at the lack of resources and accused the government of not making women's needs a priority.
"All Iraqis have suffered, but women face the additional danger of being sidelined in a male-dominated society - only 17 per cent of the workforce are women, compared to 83 per cent men," she noted.
"Iraqi women are trapped in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation and gender-specific violence. Oxfam described their plight as a 'silent emergency'."
Despite the ongoing war and occupation, which has ravaged the country, killed over one million and made millions more refugees, Ms Besarani was optimistic about the future.
"The results of the last election in January indicated a rejection of religious sectarianism in favour of national unity," she told delegates.
Ms Besarani stressed the importance of international solidarity to help Iraqi women and trade unionists in their struggle for "free trade unions and an independent Iraq."
She urged delegates to continue to give political and practical support to Iraqi people, including writing letters of protest to the Maliki government and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to highlight the issues.
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
IRAQI Women's League guest speaker Shatha Besarani rejected the occupation forces' claim that her country was on the road to democracy.
Ms Besarani told the TUC women's conference in Scarborough on Friday that the Iraq puppet regime was engaged in a "hostile" war against the trade union movement, vandalising its premises, freezing its bank accounts and physically assaulting union leaders.
Arguing that "no true democracy can exist without a free labour movement," she reported that the Iraqi Teachers Union - a well-organised union which has secured significant pay increases in recent years through strike action - had been forced to hand over the keys to its headquarters along with membership and other records.
"This brutal pattern, however, was established by Paul Bremer - the US overlord responsible for setting up the Occupation Authority in 2003," she declared.
"He threw out most of Saddam's legal codes but kept the 1987 law that makes it illegal for public-sector workers to organise in a union."
Ms Besarani said that the situation for women was no better.
She pointed to a recent report by humanitarian charity Oxfam, which warned that the situation has worsened for women since the 2003 US-led invasion.
Last month, Iraq's minister for women resigned in protest at the lack of resources and accused the government of not making women's needs a priority.
"All Iraqis have suffered, but women face the additional danger of being sidelined in a male-dominated society - only 17 per cent of the workforce are women, compared to 83 per cent men," she noted.
"Iraqi women are trapped in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation and gender-specific violence. Oxfam described their plight as a 'silent emergency'."
Despite the ongoing war and occupation, which has ravaged the country, killed over one million and made millions more refugees, Ms Besarani was optimistic about the future.
"The results of the last election in January indicated a rejection of religious sectarianism in favour of national unity," she told delegates.
Ms Besarani stressed the importance of international solidarity to help Iraqi women and trade unionists in their struggle for "free trade unions and an independent Iraq."
She urged delegates to continue to give political and practical support to Iraqi people, including writing letters of protest to the Maliki government and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to highlight the issues.
Barber praises success of union campaigning
Louise Nousratpour
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber blamed "a few male bankers" for the current economic crisis on Friday, urging the government not to make ordinary women pay for their "recklessness" by shelving equality rights.
Addressing the final day of TUC women's conference in Scarborough, Mr Barber praised women trade unionists for their hard-won victories over the past year.
"The Single Equality Bill, while not perfect, is a great step forward and the creation of a network of equality reps and the safeguarding of Britain's abortion rights are all achievements you should be proud of," he insisted.
"But so much remains to be done as the global crisis intensifies and the recession threatens to become depression.
Mr Barber told the government not to give into the business lobby in delaying stronger maternity and equality rights contained in the Equality Bill.
He argued for a "new deal" for women, saying: "If we can find £1.3 trillion to bail out the banks, surely we can spend a fraction of that on providing world-class childcare for all and introduce mandatory pay audits to stamp out pay inequalities."
"The terrible inequalities that have been allowed to flourish in Britain have meant that women will be hit the hardest by the recession. It is not right that eight in 10 of the lowest-paid jobs are occupied by women, while nine in 10 highest-paid positions are occupied by men.
"And it's not right that three-quarters of part-timers are women, where the pay gap is a colossal 63 per cent."
Mr Barber stressed the importance of mobilising the movement to pressure the G20 leaders to put working people first when they gather in London next month to discuss the global crisis.
And he reported that the TUC has signed a memorandum of understanding with human rights group Amnesty to "launch a more effective and co-ordinated campaign in our pursuit for labour and human rights.
"So my message is this - don't forget what together we can achieve and don't forget that union campaigning has saved countless women from slavery, forced labour and prostitution around the world.
"We have made a difference and we will keep on making a difference."
Friday March 13, 2009
The Morning Star
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber blamed "a few male bankers" for the current economic crisis on Friday, urging the government not to make ordinary women pay for their "recklessness" by shelving equality rights.
Addressing the final day of TUC women's conference in Scarborough, Mr Barber praised women trade unionists for their hard-won victories over the past year.
"The Single Equality Bill, while not perfect, is a great step forward and the creation of a network of equality reps and the safeguarding of Britain's abortion rights are all achievements you should be proud of," he insisted.
"But so much remains to be done as the global crisis intensifies and the recession threatens to become depression.
Mr Barber told the government not to give into the business lobby in delaying stronger maternity and equality rights contained in the Equality Bill.
He argued for a "new deal" for women, saying: "If we can find £1.3 trillion to bail out the banks, surely we can spend a fraction of that on providing world-class childcare for all and introduce mandatory pay audits to stamp out pay inequalities."
"The terrible inequalities that have been allowed to flourish in Britain have meant that women will be hit the hardest by the recession. It is not right that eight in 10 of the lowest-paid jobs are occupied by women, while nine in 10 highest-paid positions are occupied by men.
"And it's not right that three-quarters of part-timers are women, where the pay gap is a colossal 63 per cent."
Mr Barber stressed the importance of mobilising the movement to pressure the G20 leaders to put working people first when they gather in London next month to discuss the global crisis.
And he reported that the TUC has signed a memorandum of understanding with human rights group Amnesty to "launch a more effective and co-ordinated campaign in our pursuit for labour and human rights.
"So my message is this - don't forget what together we can achieve and don't forget that union campaigning has saved countless women from slavery, forced labour and prostitution around the world.
"We have made a difference and we will keep on making a difference."
Delegates demand more family-friendly laws
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
WOMEN trade unionists called on Thursday for the strengthening of family-friendly laws as the most effective way of ending gender inequality in the workplace.
Delegates at the TUC women's conference in Scarborough highlighted the "shameful" discrimination meted out to single mothers and pregnant women on maternity leave and urged the government to act to protect women in the workplace.
"Even before the recession, reports showed that 30,000 women a year were losing their job because they were pregnant or on maternity leave," ATL delegate Julia Neal said, adding: "With the right support, these women would not have lost their jobs."
She warned that the recession would make the situation worse as employers look for excuses to sack people.
Through the unpopular Welfare Reform Bill, the government wants to force single mothers and other vulnerable people in society back to work by threatening to cut their benefits.
Delegates argued that ministers should instead strengthen family-friendly rights to ensure that those who are already in work do not lose their jobs due to lack of access to flexible working.
Community delegate Siobhon Ahmed attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's plans to tear into the Single Equality Bill, due before Parliament this spring.
As well as attempts to halt proposals to extend maternity leave, Mr Mandelson has announced that plans to extend flexible working rights to parents of all children under 16 have been put on hold due to the economic crisis.
"He seems to be more worried about protecting those who caused the crisis," she stormed.
"Now is the time to help working people and unions do more to put family-friendly policies at the heart of the bargaining agenda."
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
WOMEN trade unionists called on Thursday for the strengthening of family-friendly laws as the most effective way of ending gender inequality in the workplace.
Delegates at the TUC women's conference in Scarborough highlighted the "shameful" discrimination meted out to single mothers and pregnant women on maternity leave and urged the government to act to protect women in the workplace.
"Even before the recession, reports showed that 30,000 women a year were losing their job because they were pregnant or on maternity leave," ATL delegate Julia Neal said, adding: "With the right support, these women would not have lost their jobs."
She warned that the recession would make the situation worse as employers look for excuses to sack people.
Through the unpopular Welfare Reform Bill, the government wants to force single mothers and other vulnerable people in society back to work by threatening to cut their benefits.
Delegates argued that ministers should instead strengthen family-friendly rights to ensure that those who are already in work do not lose their jobs due to lack of access to flexible working.
Community delegate Siobhon Ahmed attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's plans to tear into the Single Equality Bill, due before Parliament this spring.
As well as attempts to halt proposals to extend maternity leave, Mr Mandelson has announced that plans to extend flexible working rights to parents of all children under 16 have been put on hold due to the economic crisis.
"He seems to be more worried about protecting those who caused the crisis," she stormed.
"Now is the time to help working people and unions do more to put family-friendly policies at the heart of the bargaining agenda."
Cuban women 'not worried about the recession'
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
CUBAN activist Carolina Amador Perez told a Morning Star meeting in Scarborough that Cuban women were not worried about losing their rights in the recession because the socialist government puts human beings first.
While governments in countries such as Britain are threatening to curtail equality rights and do little to protect jobs, women in Cuba are enjoying a high level of political and economic participation and their rights are enshrined in the country's constitution.
The last general election saw women take 43 per cent of the National Assembly seats, compared to just 18 per cent in the British Parliament, delegates heard.
Cuban women also play a vital role in the country's economic sphere as they dominate some of the most important sectors in Cuba such as education, biotechnology and tourism, Ms Perez noted.
She was speaking on behalf of the Federation of Cuban Women, which represents 85 per cent of Cuba's female population over the age of 14.
"Even after the collapse of the socialist bloc, which resulted in the worst crisis in our country, women did not lose their rights because we put human beings first," she stressed.
TUC women's committee member Mary Davis said that the achievements of Cuban women should be "an inspiration to all of us and we must learn from their success."
She added: "In the long term, I would like to see Britain follow the example of Cuba and overthrow the capitalist system, but in the short term we need to unite around a programme to challenge the recession and create a fairer society."
The meeting was supported by Unite and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
CUBAN activist Carolina Amador Perez told a Morning Star meeting in Scarborough that Cuban women were not worried about losing their rights in the recession because the socialist government puts human beings first.
While governments in countries such as Britain are threatening to curtail equality rights and do little to protect jobs, women in Cuba are enjoying a high level of political and economic participation and their rights are enshrined in the country's constitution.
The last general election saw women take 43 per cent of the National Assembly seats, compared to just 18 per cent in the British Parliament, delegates heard.
Cuban women also play a vital role in the country's economic sphere as they dominate some of the most important sectors in Cuba such as education, biotechnology and tourism, Ms Perez noted.
She was speaking on behalf of the Federation of Cuban Women, which represents 85 per cent of Cuba's female population over the age of 14.
"Even after the collapse of the socialist bloc, which resulted in the worst crisis in our country, women did not lose their rights because we put human beings first," she stressed.
TUC women's committee member Mary Davis said that the achievements of Cuban women should be "an inspiration to all of us and we must learn from their success."
She added: "In the long term, I would like to see Britain follow the example of Cuba and overthrow the capitalist system, but in the short term we need to unite around a programme to challenge the recession and create a fairer society."
The meeting was supported by Unite and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.
Meet millennium goals, urge women
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
TUC WOMEN'S conference expressed solidarity with sisters around the world on Thursday.
And it urged global leaders to use this year's G20 summit in London to meet the Millennium Development Goals of ending poverty and inequality.
In a series of motions on the global recession, speakers challenged the assumption that the consequences of the crisis are gender neutral, when history shows that the most vulnerable groups are women, children and elder citizens.
They highlighted how women internationally still make up the majority of the poor, especially in the developing world where they also face high levels of maternal death and are forced to send their children to work.
Unite delegate Monika Taylor welcomed a recent study by the International TUC highlighting the gender aspect of the crisis.
"We need a support system for women and the most vulnerable in society to stop the downward spiral impact that the recession is having on them globally," she urged.
Conference was urged to join the demonstration in London on March 28 - before the April 2 G20 summit on the global financial crisis - to press world leaders to implement strategies that will help the downtrodden.
TSSA delegate Pauline McArdle called for a "properly financed action plan to meet the fifth millennium goal to cut global maternal deaths by 75 per cent."
More than 530,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year because of a lack of medical care and sanitations, conference heard.
Prospect delegate Catherine Donaldson highlighted the horrific plight of Mayan child labour in Guatemala and urged the TUC to forge links with unions in that country.
"Four out of five Guatemalans live in poverty and three out of five in extreme poverty. Over 28 per cent of children between the ages of seven and 14 are compelled to work, an increase of over 300,000 in five years," she noted.
Supporting the motion, FDA delegate Sarah Guerra highlighted the millennium pledge of achieving universal primary education and ending child labour.
Another motion highlighted women's situation in Iraq and the violence they experience specifically because of their gender.
"There has been a 70 per cent increase in religious murders during the past year, with 47 recorded so-called honour killings," UCU delegate Veronica Killen told conference.
She urged the TUC to continue to support the Iraqi Women's League's campaign to end this "spiralling violence."
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
TUC WOMEN'S conference expressed solidarity with sisters around the world on Thursday.
And it urged global leaders to use this year's G20 summit in London to meet the Millennium Development Goals of ending poverty and inequality.
In a series of motions on the global recession, speakers challenged the assumption that the consequences of the crisis are gender neutral, when history shows that the most vulnerable groups are women, children and elder citizens.
They highlighted how women internationally still make up the majority of the poor, especially in the developing world where they also face high levels of maternal death and are forced to send their children to work.
Unite delegate Monika Taylor welcomed a recent study by the International TUC highlighting the gender aspect of the crisis.
"We need a support system for women and the most vulnerable in society to stop the downward spiral impact that the recession is having on them globally," she urged.
Conference was urged to join the demonstration in London on March 28 - before the April 2 G20 summit on the global financial crisis - to press world leaders to implement strategies that will help the downtrodden.
TSSA delegate Pauline McArdle called for a "properly financed action plan to meet the fifth millennium goal to cut global maternal deaths by 75 per cent."
More than 530,000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year because of a lack of medical care and sanitations, conference heard.
Prospect delegate Catherine Donaldson highlighted the horrific plight of Mayan child labour in Guatemala and urged the TUC to forge links with unions in that country.
"Four out of five Guatemalans live in poverty and three out of five in extreme poverty. Over 28 per cent of children between the ages of seven and 14 are compelled to work, an increase of over 300,000 in five years," she noted.
Supporting the motion, FDA delegate Sarah Guerra highlighted the millennium pledge of achieving universal primary education and ending child labour.
Another motion highlighted women's situation in Iraq and the violence they experience specifically because of their gender.
"There has been a 70 per cent increase in religious murders during the past year, with 47 recorded so-called honour killings," UCU delegate Veronica Killen told conference.
She urged the TUC to continue to support the Iraqi Women's League's campaign to end this "spiralling violence."
'We will be the biggest losers'
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
BRITAIN is heading for a depression arguably worse than that experienced in the 1930s and working-class women are its biggest losers, speakers at a TUC women' conference meeting warned on Wednesday.
Charter for Women secretary Sharon Allen told the fringe meeting in Scarborough that there has never been a more pressing time for women to mobilise around demands for their rights as business-friendly ministers and bosses look to tear into equality laws to maximise profits.
The charter, launched in March 2003, sets out a list of demands including closing the gender pay gap, providing affordable childcare provisions, fighting racism and resisting the so-called feminisation of poverty.
"Support for the charter is going from strength to strength, with new unions and organisations affiliating to the campaign," Ms Allen beamed, urging delegates to make sure their unions are involved.
A recent TUC study found that women are losing full-time jobs at twice the rate of men, with employers using the recession to target single mothers, pregnant women and the disabled for redundancies.
Women are disproportionately suffering from the crisis because of the gender pay gap and because their unpaid caring responsibilities leave them stuck in low-paid and part-time jobs, where the pay gap is a staggering 40 per cent.
Ms Allen warned of a rise in violence against women as the recession bites and attacked the government for "clawing back funding from women's refuge centres and rendering them incapable of providing the support victims need."
TUC women's committee member Mary Davis warned that Britain was in a depression that could potentially be worse than that of the 1930s.
"Between 1929 and 1931, there was some restructuring of British industry as it moved into light industry which employed many women. But I don't think that opportunity exists now, as the manufacturing base has been destroyed," she argued.
"This is not a banking crisis alone, but a crisis of no industry. It is about an unfettered global market that zooms across the world and goes where rates of exploitation are at the highest.
"The financial deregulation, which began with the Tories and continued under new Labour, coincided with the destruction of our public sector as huge sways of services were privatised."
Ms Davis dismissed as "nonsense" the analysis offered by mainstream economic experts who use bourgeois terms to explain the capitalist crisis, arguing that to understand the nature of the crisis we must revisit Karl Marx's Das Kapital.
As the floor opened for discussion, delegates welcomed Ms Davis's Marxist analysis and made suggestions to improve the charter.
CWU delegate Tricia Clarke expressed disappointment at conference decision on Wednesday to reject a bold motion calling for support for the People's Charter that included demands for the nationalisation of the banking system and companies that threaten huge job cuts.
The motion fell on grounds that its demands were "unrealistic" and "too aspirational."
Ms Clarke said that the charter must emphasis the fight against privatisation.
NUJ delegate Lena Calvert said that the charter should also advocate international solidarity, especially with women in the developing world where the effects of the global crisis are more extreme.
"As more people fall into extreme poverty, reactionary traditions and religious fundamentalism will take roots, with devastating implication for women's rights," she warned.
Thursday March 12, 2009
The Morning Star
BRITAIN is heading for a depression arguably worse than that experienced in the 1930s and working-class women are its biggest losers, speakers at a TUC women' conference meeting warned on Wednesday.
Charter for Women secretary Sharon Allen told the fringe meeting in Scarborough that there has never been a more pressing time for women to mobilise around demands for their rights as business-friendly ministers and bosses look to tear into equality laws to maximise profits.
The charter, launched in March 2003, sets out a list of demands including closing the gender pay gap, providing affordable childcare provisions, fighting racism and resisting the so-called feminisation of poverty.
"Support for the charter is going from strength to strength, with new unions and organisations affiliating to the campaign," Ms Allen beamed, urging delegates to make sure their unions are involved.
A recent TUC study found that women are losing full-time jobs at twice the rate of men, with employers using the recession to target single mothers, pregnant women and the disabled for redundancies.
Women are disproportionately suffering from the crisis because of the gender pay gap and because their unpaid caring responsibilities leave them stuck in low-paid and part-time jobs, where the pay gap is a staggering 40 per cent.
Ms Allen warned of a rise in violence against women as the recession bites and attacked the government for "clawing back funding from women's refuge centres and rendering them incapable of providing the support victims need."
TUC women's committee member Mary Davis warned that Britain was in a depression that could potentially be worse than that of the 1930s.
"Between 1929 and 1931, there was some restructuring of British industry as it moved into light industry which employed many women. But I don't think that opportunity exists now, as the manufacturing base has been destroyed," she argued.
"This is not a banking crisis alone, but a crisis of no industry. It is about an unfettered global market that zooms across the world and goes where rates of exploitation are at the highest.
"The financial deregulation, which began with the Tories and continued under new Labour, coincided with the destruction of our public sector as huge sways of services were privatised."
Ms Davis dismissed as "nonsense" the analysis offered by mainstream economic experts who use bourgeois terms to explain the capitalist crisis, arguing that to understand the nature of the crisis we must revisit Karl Marx's Das Kapital.
As the floor opened for discussion, delegates welcomed Ms Davis's Marxist analysis and made suggestions to improve the charter.
CWU delegate Tricia Clarke expressed disappointment at conference decision on Wednesday to reject a bold motion calling for support for the People's Charter that included demands for the nationalisation of the banking system and companies that threaten huge job cuts.
The motion fell on grounds that its demands were "unrealistic" and "too aspirational."
Ms Clarke said that the charter must emphasis the fight against privatisation.
NUJ delegate Lena Calvert said that the charter should also advocate international solidarity, especially with women in the developing world where the effects of the global crisis are more extreme.
"As more people fall into extreme poverty, reactionary traditions and religious fundamentalism will take roots, with devastating implication for women's rights," she warned.
Women vow to fight gender pay inequality
Louise Nousratpour
Wednesday March 11, 2009
The Morning Star
WOMEN trade unionists attacked the government's continued failure to stamp out widening gender pay inequality on Wednesday, pressing the case for mandatory pay audits and collective representation.
Delegates at the 79th TUC women's conference in Scarborough dismissed the voluntary approach to equal pay audits in the private sector and parts of the public sector as "useless," pointing out that the gender pay gap had widened in the last year.
They were particularly scathing about the exemption of private firms that bid for public-sector contracts, especially when the public procurement is worth £160 billion a year.
"Where public money is being spent, it is right and proper that the companies benefiting from that money are, at the very least, required to meet the same high standards in equality as the public sector," UNISON delegate Sue Highton said, adding that the exemption of public-sector organisations such as Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail were "even more bizarre" and demanded that mandatory equal pay audits be extended to all sectors.
PCS delegate Pat Campbell said that, as they stand, the equal pay laws "just aren't working. We have the fourth largest gender pay gap in the EU. And in the civil service, the gap is above the UK average - up to 28 per cent in some areas."
She called for the right for unions to bring representative action, noting that employment tribunals are grinding to a halt as tens of thousands of individual women are fighting for equal pay through the courts.
There are 46,000 equal pay cases pending in Scotland and 130,000 in England, with each case taking anything between eight and 12 years to complete, conference heard.
"We want mandatory audits and equality laws that work. We don't want to spend our lives in court to negotiate equal pay," she added.
Delegates attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's attempt to scrap measures in the Bill, including enhanced maternity leave and measures to ensure that government contracts were awarded to companies with good records, to protect bosses' interest in the current economic climate.
Diana Holland of Unite stressed that the Single Equality Bill should be strengthened, not watered down.
She said: "We need to be strong and fight against" the minister's attempt to gut the Bill.
Wednesday March 11, 2009
The Morning Star
WOMEN trade unionists attacked the government's continued failure to stamp out widening gender pay inequality on Wednesday, pressing the case for mandatory pay audits and collective representation.
Delegates at the 79th TUC women's conference in Scarborough dismissed the voluntary approach to equal pay audits in the private sector and parts of the public sector as "useless," pointing out that the gender pay gap had widened in the last year.
They were particularly scathing about the exemption of private firms that bid for public-sector contracts, especially when the public procurement is worth £160 billion a year.
"Where public money is being spent, it is right and proper that the companies benefiting from that money are, at the very least, required to meet the same high standards in equality as the public sector," UNISON delegate Sue Highton said, adding that the exemption of public-sector organisations such as Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail were "even more bizarre" and demanded that mandatory equal pay audits be extended to all sectors.
PCS delegate Pat Campbell said that, as they stand, the equal pay laws "just aren't working. We have the fourth largest gender pay gap in the EU. And in the civil service, the gap is above the UK average - up to 28 per cent in some areas."
She called for the right for unions to bring representative action, noting that employment tribunals are grinding to a halt as tens of thousands of individual women are fighting for equal pay through the courts.
There are 46,000 equal pay cases pending in Scotland and 130,000 in England, with each case taking anything between eight and 12 years to complete, conference heard.
"We want mandatory audits and equality laws that work. We don't want to spend our lives in court to negotiate equal pay," she added.
Delegates attacked Business Secretary Peter Mandelson's attempt to scrap measures in the Bill, including enhanced maternity leave and measures to ensure that government contracts were awarded to companies with good records, to protect bosses' interest in the current economic climate.
Diana Holland of Unite stressed that the Single Equality Bill should be strengthened, not watered down.
She said: "We need to be strong and fight against" the minister's attempt to gut the Bill.
Police clear seized Gaza aid vehicles
Louise Nousratpour
Tuesday February 17, 2009
The Morning Star
THE three vehicles seized on their way to join a Gaza aid convoy were free to continue their journey on Tuesday after being released by anti-terrorism officers.
The two vans and an ambulance had been travelling to London to link up with the convoy when nine men were arrested in an intelligence-led investigation on the M65 motorway in Lancashire.
Six of the men were released without charge following Friday's operation while detectives have until tomorrow to question the remaining three men in custody.
A spokeswoman for Viva Palestina, the umbrella group organising the convoy, accused police of engaging in a "smear campaign."
She insisted: "The arrests were unjustifiable because the men have done nothing wrong.
"The police knew that the media could not ignore the convoy and the arrests was an attempt to divert attention from the good deed by trying to portray those involved as Galloway's terrorist group."
Palestine Solidarity Campaign general secretary Betty Hunter questioned police claims that the arrests were part of an ongoing "intelligence-led" investigation.
She said: "I would be very surprised if terrorists decided to use a very high profile aid convoy to Gaza.
"The initiative to take 100 vehicles to Palestine is to be applauded and I hope the police will not use this to further prevent Palestinians from receiving aid."
Police continued to search a number of homes in the Burnley area, where some of the arrested men are understood to be from.
Local Labour councillor Wajid Khan said that Muslims in the area were concerned that the operation was aimed at preventing aid reaching Gaza.
"If this was because the aid was going to Gaza, then it would have a very devastating consequence for community spirit," he added.
Organisers doubted that whether the six men released will be able to catch up with the convoy, which leaves Spain today for Morocco.
The convoy carrying medicine, clothing and shoeboxes of toys set off from London on Saturday and is expected to reach Gaza in early March.
Speaking from the convoy in the suburbs of Madrid, organiser Kevin Ovenden said: "We have received tremendous support along the way."
Asked if he was concerned about Israel's attempt to stop them entering Gaza, he said: "No-one is going to turn this convoy around. We will deliver the aid."
Student occupation ends in 'huge victory'
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday February 5, 2009
Morning Star
SCOTTISH students who occupied their university in solidarity with Palestine ended their protest in victory on Thursday after the authorities conceded most of their demands.
Some 60 students at Strathclyde University in Glasgow hailed the outcome of the 24-hour occupation as a "huge victory" for the Scottish wing of an ongoing national campaign against universities' links to Israel.
After a meeting with student representatives, the university's vice-chancellor agreed to stop purchasing water coolers from Israeli-owned company Eden Springs.
"This has sparked an unprecedented move by other Scottish universities to consider terminating their contract with Eden Springs," student union activist Miriam Rose beamed.
The authorities also agreed to fund up to three scholarships for Palestinian students as well as publicising the Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza appeal on the university website.
The BBC and Sky News sparked widespread protests last month when they refused to air the humanitarian aid appeal.
"Unfortunately, the university did not move on our demand for an end to investment in arms companies," Ms Rose said, but she vowed to continue to press for a resolution on the matter.
"We will be linking with students from other universities across Britain to push this vital demand through."
More than 150 students at the University of Manchester, who began their occupation on Wednesday, are still holding fort as their demands have so far been rejected by vice-chancellor Alan Gilbert.
Following a 500-strong meeting on Wednesday, the students proposed a set of demands, including a boycott of Israeli goods on campus, a day of fundraising with proceeds to the Gaza appeal and an end to research into manufacturing arms.
On Thursday, they organised a day of alternative lectures on subjects such as racism and resistance in Britain, the Israel boycott campaign, media and war and university investment in the arms trade.
Katan Alder of the Palestine Action group, which organised the event, said: "We are channelling students' anger over the Gaza crisis into progressive political activity and direct action.
"We take inspiration from the resistance movement in Palestine and will not end our occupation until all our demands are met."
Students at other universities across Britain have taken similar actions over the last three weeks and have been successful in their demands.
Students protest against links with Israel
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday January 22, 2009
The Morning Star
STUDENTS at Oxford University joined the wave of occupations on campuses across Britain on Thursday demanding that the institutions sever their links with arms companies that supply weapons to Israel.
They joined students from the School of Oriental and African Studies, King's College London, Warwick, Essex, Birmingham, Sussex and Newcastle to demonstrate their disgust at British universities' support for Israel's war and occupation in Palestine.
Activists are calling on university authorities to issue a formal statement condemning Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza, which have left more than 1,000 people dead, including 300 children.
They also want the institutions to sever all links with arms companies such as BAE Systems, MBDA, GE Aviation and QinetiQ, provide fully funded scholarships for Palestinian students and establish links with educational institutions in Gaza.
Warwick University student Chris Rossdale said: "It is wrong that our university profits from the destruction in Gaza. Students pay a substantial amount towards our education and we expect a say in where that money goes."
National Union of Students executive member Rob Owen condemned his union's "neutral" stance on the Gaza issue as a "disgrace."
He said: "By refusing to take sides, the union has effectively taken a zionist position and has become more and more disconnected with its rank-and-file members. The leadership has even written a letter to the Stop the War Coalition, complaining that the recent demonstrations in support of Gaza were 'anti-semitic'."
Mr Owen vowed to continue to fight the "right-wing" tendencies within the NUS and urged other trade unions to support the university occupations.
Stewart Halfort of the Stop the War Coalition, which is involved in the students' occupations, hailed the event as "the rebirth of the student movement."
He pointed out that there had not been university occupations on this scale since the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s.
London School of Economics (LSE) students ended their seven-day occupation of a lecture theatre with a declaration of victory on Thursday after winning all of their demands.
LSE director Howard Davies will now make a public statement about the Israeli bombing of academic institutions, organisers revealed.
The LSE has also agreed to provide scholarships for students who have been affected by the Israeli occupation and to facilitate a charity collection for Medical Aid for Palestine.
King's College London students, who enter their fifth day of action today, want the authorities to revoke the honorary doctorate that was bestowed on Israeli President Shimon Peres last year.
Thursday January 22, 2009
The Morning Star
STUDENTS at Oxford University joined the wave of occupations on campuses across Britain on Thursday demanding that the institutions sever their links with arms companies that supply weapons to Israel.
They joined students from the School of Oriental and African Studies, King's College London, Warwick, Essex, Birmingham, Sussex and Newcastle to demonstrate their disgust at British universities' support for Israel's war and occupation in Palestine.
Activists are calling on university authorities to issue a formal statement condemning Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza, which have left more than 1,000 people dead, including 300 children.
They also want the institutions to sever all links with arms companies such as BAE Systems, MBDA, GE Aviation and QinetiQ, provide fully funded scholarships for Palestinian students and establish links with educational institutions in Gaza.
Warwick University student Chris Rossdale said: "It is wrong that our university profits from the destruction in Gaza. Students pay a substantial amount towards our education and we expect a say in where that money goes."
National Union of Students executive member Rob Owen condemned his union's "neutral" stance on the Gaza issue as a "disgrace."
He said: "By refusing to take sides, the union has effectively taken a zionist position and has become more and more disconnected with its rank-and-file members. The leadership has even written a letter to the Stop the War Coalition, complaining that the recent demonstrations in support of Gaza were 'anti-semitic'."
Mr Owen vowed to continue to fight the "right-wing" tendencies within the NUS and urged other trade unions to support the university occupations.
Stewart Halfort of the Stop the War Coalition, which is involved in the students' occupations, hailed the event as "the rebirth of the student movement."
He pointed out that there had not been university occupations on this scale since the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s.
London School of Economics (LSE) students ended their seven-day occupation of a lecture theatre with a declaration of victory on Thursday after winning all of their demands.
LSE director Howard Davies will now make a public statement about the Israeli bombing of academic institutions, organisers revealed.
The LSE has also agreed to provide scholarships for students who have been affected by the Israeli occupation and to facilitate a charity collection for Medical Aid for Palestine.
King's College London students, who enter their fifth day of action today, want the authorities to revoke the honorary doctorate that was bestowed on Israeli President Shimon Peres last year.
Cracking down on peaceful protest
LOUISE NOUSRATPOUR reports on the police violence at the Free Gaza demonstration in London.
The Morning Star
Sunday January 11, 2009
THE ever-loyal mainstream media once again blamed "violent" protesters for the police brutality outside the Israeli embassy on Saturday, insisting that officers were "forced" to act.
But those of us who were at the scene know that the media's account of events is, at best, shamelessly biased.
As we approached the heavily guarded Israeli embassy, emotions ran high and the chanting got louder: "Gaza, Gaza, Don't You Cry, We Will Never Let You Die" and "Free, Free Palestine."
Some protesters hurled shoes at the gates and burnt an Israeli flag. We also heard a loud bang that was later identified as firecrackers being thrown inside the gates leading up to the embassy.
As the crowd began to swell, stewards urged demonstrators to march forward. Rather than opening up space, the police lined up behind the crowd control barriers and tightened the squeeze.
Suddenly, we felt a violent push and people started shouting: "Stop pushing, stop pushing."
At first, we thought it was protesters trying to squeeze through, but soon it became clear that the riot police had moved in, forcing a wedge through the crowd.
"Stop pushing, you pigs," someone shouted. "There are children in the crowd."
But that fell on deaf ears. My friends and I tried to move to the side to find a way out, unaware that the police had not removed the barriers that separated the street from the pavement.
Suddenly, we found ourselves trapped between the crowd and the barriers. A steward tried to help people climb over and a desperate mother lifted her little boy, hoping someone would fetch him.
With chillingly vacant eyes and batons drawn, the police stood by idly watching people slowly trip over the fence and get crushed in the stampede.
As the fence went down, my leg got trapped and it took me a few anxious minutes to pull loose and escape with minor injuries.
Panic rippled through the crowd as riot police, backed by dozens of mounted officers and helicopters, charged the protesters, batoning anyone in their way.
As I hobbled away from the scene to take shelter in one of the nearby doorways, I came across two 16-year-old girls who had been beaten up by the police. One of them was so badly shaken and hurt that she could neither walk nor talk.
We also heard others saying that they had seen bloody faces and people being dragged along the ground.
The sense of solidarity with the Palestinians grew stronger as people began to draw parallels between our entrapment and what the Gazans were going through every day - though on a much larger and more terrifying scale.
We began to truly imagine how it must feel to be fenced in and attacked from all sides with nowhere to run and only sticks and stones as defence weapons, a true David and Goliath battle.
Solidarity also grew among the crowd, with the uninjured helping those people who had been hurt and carrying them to safety. We must now continue to demonstrate our disgust at Israel's massacre and let the Gazans know that the people of the world are on their side, despite the apparent failure of the so-called international community to save them.
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