JUNE 11: CONFERENCE
AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR ON TERROR 10 YEARS ON
CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE, LONDON WC1R 4RL
Tickets £5. To book call 020 7801 2768
Speakers include: Tony Benn, George Galloway, Tariq Ali, Lindsey
German, David Swanson. More details:
Osama bin laden has been killed but the "war on terror" goes on.
For all President Obama's rhetoric about a diplomatic solution,
there are more than double the number of US troops in Afghanistan
than there were when he was elected and he has expanded the war
into Pakistan. Obama's generals are pressing him to extend the
2014 deadline for withdrawing US troops.
More Afghan civilians are being killed than at any time since the
invasion 10 years ago. Another British soldier was killed last
weekend, bringing the total to 366, close to twice the number
killed in Iraq. American soldiers are dying at the highest rate
since 2001, with eight killed yesterday alone.
No wonder a former British ambassador to Afghanistan says the
military strategy is "profoundly wrong" (SEE http://bit.ly/k31vYX
), while even the US House of Representatives came close this
week to passing a bill requiring Obama to submit a plan for
withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile the Arab spring has threatened western influence in the
Middle East. The bombing of Libya is an attempt by the west to
re-establish its control. Despite all the talk of
humanitarianism, it is clearly a war for regime change which
marks a new phase in the "war on terror". (SEE JOHN PILGER:
http://bit.ly/k9YocW )
Stop the War's conference on 11 June brings together some of the
leading activists and experts on the "war on terror" to analyse
the way the war is developing and debate the next steps for the
anti-war movement.
Forums at the conference will include:
* Afghanistan and Pakistan;
* The Arab Revolutions ,:
* Imperialism in the 21st Century;
* Women and War;
* Cultural Resistance to War;
* Iraq: The Aftermath.
Speakers include writer Tariq Ali, veteran campaigner and Stop
the War President Tony Benn, writer Pankaj Mishra, US peace
Campaigner and writer David Swanson, Joan Humphries from Military
Families Against the War, George Galloway, journalist Mehdi
Hassan, Lindsey German, poet Sanasino, artists David Gentleman
and Peter Kennard, and many more.
The conference is open to all. Entrance is £5. To book your
place, register now: Tel 020 7801 2768
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Real Democracy- Spanish style
Alternatively support the Spanish camp in Brighton'Spanish people living in London will be trying to emulate the protests from back home outside their London embassy this Saturday from 10am, though the notion of any political event starting promptly at 10 an a Saturday morning does have a slightly dreamy quality.
Here are the demands of their movement.
1. Elimination of politicians’ privileges:
- Strict control of absenteeism of elected people in their positions. Specific sanctions when they avoid doing their job.
- Suppression of their tax privileges; that elected representatives’ salaries be equal to the average Spaniard’s, plus offering them the necessary bonuses due to their specific functions.
- Suppression of immunity associated to having a government position; that corruption crimes do not prescribe.
- That all people holding public positions make a public statement of their wealth.
- Reduction of free designation positions.
2. Against unemployment:
- Create more jobs, thus promoting a reduction in the working hours and until structural unemployment does not exist, in other words, until unemployment rates are under 5%.
- Retirement age at 65, with no possibility of increasing that age, until youth unemployment is solved.
- Offering bonuses to those business that have less than 10% of temporary employees.
- Employment security: that collective firing and laid-offs be impossible, as well as those due to objective cause, as long as businesses have benefits; fiscalization of big businesses to ensure that positions that could be stable are not covered with temporary workers.
- Re-establish the 426€ subsidy for all long term unemployed people.
3. Right to a home:
- Expropriation of homes built on stock but which have not been sold by the state, so that they are included in the market as part of the plan of protected rent.
- Offering economic help to young people and those who do not have the appropriate resources so that they can rent.
- That datio in payment be allowed in order to cancel mortgages on homes.
4. Good quality public services:
- Suppress useless expenses in the public administration; to establish an independent control of expenses and budgets.
- Hiring sanitary personnel to end waiting lists.
- Hiring more teachers to guarantee the student/classroom ratio and support groups.
- Reduction of tuition costs at the university.
- Public financing of research to guarantee its independence.
- Cheap public transportation; it must also be of good quality and ecologically sustainable: re-establishment of the trains that are being replaced by the AVE (high speed) with their original prices; make season tickets cheaper; restrict private vehicles in the center of the cities; build bike lanes.
- Social resources: that the Dependency Law be applied, creating networks of local care-givers, as well as local mediation and guardianship services.
5. Control of banks:
- Prohibition of any type of rescuing to banks: those entities which have difficulty must either file for bankruptcy or become nationalized, thus constituting a public bank under social control.
- Raise bank taxes in a way directly proportional to the social expense created by a crisis which has occurred due to a bad management.
- That the banks return to the Treasury all public capital.
- The prohibition for Spanish banks to invest their money in any tax heaven.
- Regulation of sanctions to speculative movements and bank malpractice.
6. TAXES:
- Raise taxes to the rich and banks.
- Suppression of SICAV (similar to US open-ended mutual fund).
- Recovery of the Patrimony Tax.
- Real and effective control of fiscal fraud as well as the escape of capital to tax heaven.
- International promotion of the adoption of a tax to international transactions (Tobin)
7. Citizens’ liberties and participative democracy:
- No Internet control. Abolition of the Ley Sinde.
- Protection of information freedom and research journalism.
- Obligatory referendum to important issues that modify citizens’ living conditions.
- Obligatory referendum before introducing any measures dictated by the European Union.
- Change in the Electoral Law in order to guarantee a real representative system, proportional so that it does not discriminate any political force or social will, and in which blank vote and null vote also be represented.
- Independence of the Judiciary power: Reform in the Fiscal Ministry to guarantee its independence; rejection of the appointment done by the Executive power of members of the Constitutional Court or of the General Council of the Judiciary power.
- Reform of the figure of Fiscal Ministry to guarantee its independence.
8. Reduction of military expenses.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Solidarity with Southampton Council workers
Threats of pay cuts, redundancies and cuts to services are being resisted by the council workers and they deserve our full support . They are taking action on behalf of all of us against these austerity measures. The bankers caused the crisis not trade unionists, service users or the local communities that the trade unions serve.
Whilst the gap between the rich and poor increases, with further attacks on public services being carried out, others are saying enough is enough and fighting back. The NHS, Welfare State and local public services are essential to all of us.
Southampton Council workers are this week taking a militant and principled stand against cuts and privatisation that deserves to be emulated everywhere and supported as much as possible.Please rush messages of support and solidarity (like the example below, whether from your union branch or as an individual) to the Unite union convenor there:
Mark Wood markwood366@btinternet.com
Mark Wood markwood366@btinternet.com
Solidarity forever!
Worthing Solidarity Network
Mark,
I've been asked to send a message of solidarity to your members from the UNITE UK Combine Committee in Fujitsu.
Congratulations on standing up against the cuts to public services. Those like you who work in them and who directly face just in jobs, terms and conditions, those like us who work in the private sector but supply the public sector, and everyone who wants decent public services needs to stand together against the cuts. Your local strike, like those which have already taken place in Tower Hamlets, Camden and Doncaster, is an important step on the road to the sort of coordinated action needed to defeat the cuts. You are playing a brave and vital role in building up the movement.
We wish you every success in your campaign, and if there is anything we can do to be of practical assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.
Solidarity!
Ian Allinson
Chair, UNITE Fujitsu UK Combine Committee
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Green Party administration asked to reconsider the decision on Travellers in Brighton.
It appears that the controversial decision regarding the position of Travellers by Brighton and Hove Council has hit some sensitive points. The Green Party has had a consistent and progressive position in opposing racism, sexism and homophobia. Many of their members have played a positive role in the anti-racist movement over many decades. It therefore came as a shock to many when we learned that they were planning to move 25 famillies off land last week.
Romanies have in the past, and continue to face, daily racist attacks from the State and organised racist gangs across various parts of East Europe. In the past they were also victims of the Nazis. For this reason, it was hoped that a radical group, such as the Greens, would take a more sensitive approach towards them.
Since the announcement was first made we have been informed that an alternative site is being investigated but the land is to be used both as a natural site and for building on. Could alternative land be used for the building? We are further informed that any postponement will incurr costs to the council, which if goes ahead could affect front line services.
It is also reported that Caroline Lucas MP suggested that the move should not go ahead until an alternative is found for the famillies. Many would agree with her on this.
For this reason we hope that the Green Party administration would reconsider its policy decision and consult fully with the representatives of the Romani groups in the UK before taking any further action. A suitable site providing stability for the famillies and their children needs to be established to prevent this happening again.The needs of Travellers also represents an important front line service that needs to be fully protected.
Romanies have in the past, and continue to face, daily racist attacks from the State and organised racist gangs across various parts of East Europe. In the past they were also victims of the Nazis. For this reason, it was hoped that a radical group, such as the Greens, would take a more sensitive approach towards them.
Since the announcement was first made we have been informed that an alternative site is being investigated but the land is to be used both as a natural site and for building on. Could alternative land be used for the building? We are further informed that any postponement will incurr costs to the council, which if goes ahead could affect front line services.
It is also reported that Caroline Lucas MP suggested that the move should not go ahead until an alternative is found for the famillies. Many would agree with her on this.
For this reason we hope that the Green Party administration would reconsider its policy decision and consult fully with the representatives of the Romani groups in the UK before taking any further action. A suitable site providing stability for the famillies and their children needs to be established to prevent this happening again.The needs of Travellers also represents an important front line service that needs to be fully protected.
ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER CUT: CUTS TO BENEFIT FOR SINGLE 25-34 YEAR OLDS
CUTS TO BENEFIT FOR SINGLE 25-34 YEAR OLDS
We are pleased to reprint this appeal from: The Angry Claimant- Benefit cuts for single people. Another example of callous policies by a callous government who put profits first and second with people coming last.
At the moment the government limits housing benefit for most single people living in the private sector to the local housing allowance for a room in a shared house. The justification for this was originally that it was reasonable for young people to share. It now intends to extend limit to single under 35s from this from January 2012.
Over 55 thousand claimants will be affected and the average loss will be £43 according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
By law the government has to refer changes (apart from those resulting from recent acts of Parliament) to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) an independent committee. This will issue and pubilicise advice to the government about the proposed changes. The government can and often does ignore the SSAC's advice, but a powerful objection from the SSAC is a good way of getting publicity. The SSAC has also been successful in getting changes of detail made to legislation.
Housing association and supported housing tenants will not be directly affected by this change, as local housing allowance does not apply to them. But anyone who is generally concerned with the housing of single people, or who moves single people on into private rented housing, should be extremely concerned about this change.
The SSAC is inviting your submissions on the proposals. You can find details at http://www.ssac.org.uk/, or from the Secretary to the Committee, Gill Saunders (0207 962 8345). Representations should be sent to the Committee at N E Spur, Level 3, Adelphi Building 1-11 John Adam Street , London WC2N 6HT or by email to ssac@dwp.gsi.gov.uk, or via the consultation response facility on the website, to arrive no later than 17 June 2011.
In your response you might want to focus on the difficulties people in this age group already have in finding accommodation. You might also want to focus on the effect on people who are working in low paid jobs, particularly where they have had to move to get work. This measure hardly seems to tie in with the government's aim to create a mobile workforce.
I also suggest that you consider press releasing your response to local media. It is important that people understand what is going on and what effect it will have.
HELP AND ADVICE
Regrettably the angry claimant doesn’t have the resources to give advice about individual cases. But you can get advice here:
Lewes Citizens Advice, 3 North Court , Lewes East SussexBN7 2AR phone 01273 473082 web www.lewesadvice.org.uk
Newhaven Advice Hub, Summerhayes Centre, Newhaven, 01273 612360
Age UK
For a list of advice centres in Brighton see http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/downloads/bhcc/socialjustice/Where_To_Get_Advice.pdf
Always phone before visiting if you can to check opening hours and if they can help you.
Private solicitors may be able to offer advice under the legal advice scheme, but the government plans to close this.
If you have a disability or illness the organisation set up to cater for the condition may offer help with benefits.
There are a number of written guides to benefits. The Disability Rights Handbook is good if you have a disability. The Child Poverty Action Group sells a wide range of guides.
WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?
I’ve been involved in social security for over 40 years and I’ve been constantly amazed at how little people know about it. We are nearly all claimants, contributing to the national insurance system and claiming child benefit, retirement pension and other benefits. But most people understand very little about what they are paying for, how much they are paying, and what they are paying for.
This was brought home to me when I was engaging in debate with a an experienced Lewes district councillor, who didn’t appear to know that the council was about to be made completely responsible for devising a new system of council tax benefits, with 10% less money than the government currently spends on the benefit!
It seems to me that there is a real danger of the government getting away with its cuts in benefit because people do not understand what is going on and how it will affect our neck of the woods. So I’ve started this newsletter. It doesn’t aim to give benefits advice. There are lots of sources of that. (See below). It does try to explain what the system is and how the government’s changes will affect Lewes and Brighton . Its aim is to improve knowledge, so you are welcome to forward it on to other people and to use the material in the newsletter, providing that you give me a credit and run any changes past me
Monday, May 23, 2011
Solidarity to the striking council workers of Southampton!
Solidarity to the 4,300 striking council workers in Southampton Unite and Unison public sector branches who began industrial action today with refuse workers walking out, on strike to oppose being summarily dismissed and re-employed on worse pay, terms and conditions brutally imposed upon them as the council attempts to implement savage cuts. Click here for a Unite news report on the dispute...
Dear brothers and sisters of Southampton Unite and Unison public sector branches,
All affiliated trade union members united under the banner of Brighton, Hove and District Trades Union Council offer our firm and dutiful solidarity and strength to you in your battle against employers Southampton City Council, as you embark upon the course of industrial action today.
This unnecessary attack upon your wages, rights and conditions reflects the regressive and unjust politics of this rotten Con-Dem government, which mistakenly attempts to destroy and rip apart the very fabric of communities and values our trade union predecessors fought so hard to achieve.
Stand firm in your fight. The eyes of the trade union movement are upon you to wish you every success of victory. Workers in other cities are facing the same threats to devalue our employment contracts, our pay, pensions, welfare and public services. Collectively in action, brought together in struggle, we are the biggest obstacle to these cuts across the country and beyond, as the very people who provide them and rely on them.
As you stand in the footsteps of all brave and enlightened workers who in the past have sacrificed so much in the struggle for progress, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you on your picket lines, meetings and rallies today, to collectively defend these achievements.
The just alternatives to these cuts are widely known and possible - if we unite to break these chains dragging us towards the misery of poverty that capitalism seeks to enslave us in they become achievable.
May we all stand together as a mighty oak against the coming gale, and let us demonstrate the truth that unity brings so that we may flourish and grow together in peace.
In solidarity,
Brighton, Hove and District Trades Union Council
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