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Britain under the "Con-Dems"


Mike Kay caught up with Daniel Randall, an activist with the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty based in London for his thoughts on the political situation since the formation of the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition government dubbed the “Con-Dems”
Dan R
MK: What was your initial reaction to the election result?
DR: I was surprised by a number of things. For one thing, I thought that there was a serious danger of the British National Party taking control of Barking & Dagenham council. Instead they got annihilated in that area.
How did that happen?
There was a group called Barking, Dagenham and Havering Together that I’ve been involved with. It is quite broad and open, mostly run by local trade unionists. The local Labour Party had about 50 people out canvassing. They ran a popular campaign to save the local Accident & Emergency Department, which was totally disingenuous as [Local Labour MP] Margret Hodge had voted for the cuts!
Now that the Tories are in power nationally and Labour locally, it’s essential that the campaign keeps going.
Also quite surprising was the high turnout, bucking the trend of recent elections. Continue reading “Britain under the "Con-Dems"”
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In solidarity with the Greek people's resistance against austerity

Joint statement from Asia-Pacific
May 13, 2010
[If your organisation would like to sign on, please email international@socialist-alliance.org.]

We, left and progressive organisations from the Asia-Pacific region, express our solidarity with the resistance of the Greek people against the harsh austerity being imposed upon them by the governments of the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The proposed “rescue package” for the Greek economy by the IMF-EU has triggered a huge struggle that will have worldwide ramifications for working people. Continue reading “In solidarity with the Greek people's resistance against austerity”

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Support the struggle for democracy and social justice in Nepal

The following joint statement of solidarity has been signed by a number of left and progressive organisations in the Asia-Pacific region. If your organisation would like to sign on, please email international@socialist-alliance.org
On May Day, international workers’ day, a huge demonstration of between 500,000-1 million people took place in Kathmandu. Called by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), people came from all over Nepal to make their voices heard. It was the largest demonstration since the fall of the centuries-old monarchy and was the culmination of a growing series of mass demonstrations and strikes aimed at restoring civilian supremacy and democracy. Continue reading “Support the struggle for democracy and social justice in Nepal”

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May 1st International Workers Day

Thousands of people marched in Auckland on May Day against mining national parks.
There were also strikes and pickets outside JB Hi Fi stores in Auckland and Wellington as part of Unite union’s $15 minimum wage campaign.
The tradition May Day march in Auckland took place later in the day. The march has been held in Auckland every year since the 1970s.

May Day march Wellington 2010

JB Hi Fi workers strike May 1 Wellington

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"Free, free Kobad Ghandy"

Demonstration outside Indian embassy WellingtonFree Kobad demo WellingtonDemonstrators gathered at the Indian High Commission in Wellington to protest against Operation Green Hunt and the detention of Kobad Ghandy.
Kobad is a Maoist political leader, imprisoned since October 2009. His arrest is part of the Indian state’s attempt to crush all opposition.
Operation Green Hunt is a counter-insurgency strategy where tens of thousands of armed forces are trying to wipe out the Maoist movement that has support though a third of India. Read more here.
The protesters rallied outside the Indian embassy then marched to parliament. Chanting “free, free Kobad Ghandy”, and “stop the war on the poor” they handed out leaflets to the public and marched on into the city centre speaking about the lack of genuine democracy in India and the growing state repression.

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No Peace for Zionist Embassy

PFLP Solidarity Campaign Press Release:
For immediate release, Wednesday 28th April 2010

Protest outside the Israeli embassy in Wellington

The Campaign of Solidarity with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine stands in solidarity with the struggling masses in Palestine, and wishes to make its intentions known that we will actively oppose the newly established Zionist embassy in Wellington. As long as Zionism is politically active and furthering its colonialist ambitions in Palestine any Israeli state institution or embassy here will be targeted for protest action. Continue reading “No Peace for Zionist Embassy”

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Israeli embassy protest Wellington

Today people protested outside the newly opened Israeli embassy in Wellington. The demonstration was organised by NIEW (No Israeli Embassy in Wellington)Outside the Israeli embassy Wellington.
Members of the Workers Party carried a PFLP banner, and called for the release of Ah’mad Sa’adat the Palestinian resistance leader who has a jail sentence of 30 years.