politics

In any revolutionary period we see the masses mobalise into their own organisations. Today in Latin America they're called Bolivarian Circles, in Russia they were called Soviets (literally meaning workers' councils), these same councils sprung up in France, Germany and across Eastern Europe in times of advanced class struggle. In Russia in 1905, the trade unionists understood that only by strengthening solidarity beyond their own interests, would they be able to wage a successful struggle....

George Galloway made a recent speech at a Stop the War Coalition demonstration against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. He said one thing that caught my attention (thanks to Take back the voice): I am here to glorify the resistance, Hezbollah. I am here to glorify the leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is a bourgeois scumbag who should be locked up, with his Israeli opposites. Socialists support the actions of the people in defending themselves from aggressive expansionist regimes....

Heavy shelling around Khiam on Tuesday had forced the four observers into the bomb shelters. At about 1.20pm, officials say, a jet dropped a bomb only 300 metres away. The observers contacted the Unifil headquarters. The observers warned Israel that their aircraft were dropping bombs dangerously close to a UN position. The Israelis said that they would check the situation and make any necessary adjustments. But jets then dropped ten bombs between 100 and 300 metres from the UN position and fired 12 artillery rounds within 150 metres, UN officials said....

Many of my American readers really have little knowledge of the situation with Israel, the territories they're occupying and the recent invasion of Lebanon, they regard all who fight against the illegal Israeli occupation as "terrorists" because it's always presented as Israel defending itself - which is nonsense as Israel is the aggressor which has tens of thousands of troops in foreign countries that it is occupying. Although this video pre-dates the current conflict with Lebanon, a lot of it can be applied and is recommended viewing Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land....

This morning Ted Grant, aged 93, died. I'll borrow some stuff about him from Wikipedia: He formed a new, small tendency in the Labour Party, called the Revolutionary Socialist League which in 1957 was recognised at the official British section of the Fourth International and in 1964 founded the paper Militant. The group at first grew only very slowly, but by 1983, when it was known as the Militant Tendency, it was a significant force in British politics, and Grant was expelled from the Labour Party....

That can be the only demand of the peoples of the Middle East, including the people of Israel. For that don't know Israel has now attacked both Gaza and Lebanon in recent weeks, killing over 300 civilians and setting both countries back decades. Let us keep in mind this are both utterly defenceless countries that would not stand a chance in a full blown conflict with Israel. The bourgeois press in the west have blamed this on militants in both countries capturing Israeli soldiers....

Just watched an excellent video documentary "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" on the coup in Venezuela in 2002 made by a team of Irish journalists who luckily were there throughout the events. You can watch it on Google Video. Although it has had some broadcasts around the world (the BBC for example) it has been subject to a massive campaign of suppression. Violent threats being made towards the Venezuelan Amnesty International branch if the Amnesty International Film Festival in Vancouver for example decided to show it and numerous other attempts to cover it up....

It's started, they were 24 hours off the mark but I guess they've just dug out some crappy soundbites to try and back up their nonsense. Of course I'm talking about anti-socialists. Couple of blogs caught my attention Blogging4Merton: I normally make it a rule never to attack people in the Labour party, but I make an exception when it comes to the John Mc Donnell ludicrous leadership bid when Tony Blair stands down....

It is time to reclaim Labour. John McDonnell, Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs has decided to stand for Labour Party leadership, his statement in full: It is becoming increasingly apparent that Tony Blair will announce his resignation as leader of the Labour party over the next 12 -18 months. Some have argued that instead of an open democratic election for the leader of the party, there should be a smooth transition or virtual coronation of his successor....

It's a difficult argument to make, what difference is killing a whale to killing a cow, fundamentally not a lot. However whales are not domesticated cattle. We artificially keep the number of cattle high for food, their natural numbers would be much lower. We effectively made the modern cow, sheep and other animals today, their whole evolution has been guided by us for thousands of years. Whales are also not mindless fish....