Tottenham SWP

Day out in Brighton

2009-09-24T13:28:00.000+01:00

Protest at the Labour Party conference
Time to hammer New Labour's failings home

Just a quick mailout to check that everyone has their tickets to Brighton. If not, you can reply to this mail to sort some out.

Hope to see everyone there on Sunday. No excuses.

Vestas Supporter's Meeting Tonight

2009-07-24T10:55:00.002+01:00

Save Jobs, Save the Planet, Save Vestas

Campaign Against Climate Change public meeting tonight
6pm
ULU, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY

Speakers include:

Chris Baugh - PCS
Seumas Milne - The Guardian
Johnathan Neale - Campaign Against Climate Change
Vestas Worker

Bring friends and colleagues along, as well as anyone you know who's interested in industrial or climate issues.

Rage Against New Labour

2009-07-24T10:48:00.002+01:00

The growing anger against the Labour government’s handling of the recession is building momentum for protests at the Labour Party conference on 27 September.

The PCS civil service workers’ union and the NUT teachers’ union last week became the latest national unions to back the protests. The lecturers’ UCU and journalists’ NUJ unions are already backing protests on the day.

More than two million people are unemployed in Britain – and the number is rising quickly. Almost a million unemployed people are under 25.

This protest can unite all the strands of the workers movement, anti-war, anti-fascist and anti-privatisation campaigns in a huge outpouring of scorn for the failures of the New Labour party. However, in order to be united against the government's neo-liberal agenda, we have to be there! So it's time to contact people in your network, start arguing about why we need to demonstrate our anger with New Labour, and why we need a political alternative.

Tickets on the ‘Big Red Train’ from London to the march are available for £20 waged (£10 concs). Go to » www.righttowork.org.uk

Vestas occupation still going strong

2009-07-23T23:51:00.002+01:00

Around 300 people gathered outside the occupied Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight this evening.

At 6:30 pm this evening the crowd heard the news that the company has applied for a possession order against the occupation. However, the court case is not until next Wednesday, giving extra time to build the campaign further.

The RMT union has come forward to back the occupation and pay the legal bills of the case.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said, “Why is the RMT here? It’s because we won’t walk away from workers whether they are in a union or not.”

Crow compared the Vestas struggle to that of the suffragettes and of Nelson Mandela who had defied the law for their causes. “Who are the real criminals?” he asked. “It’s the crowd that run this place.

The Campaign Against Climate Change has organised a public meeting in solidarity with the Vestas occupation on Friday evening in London, 6pm at the ULU, Malet Street.

Download support materials:

SW leaflet (» www.swp.org.uk/resources/v_leaf200709.pdf)

Collection sheet (» www.swp.org.uk/resources/v_coll200709.pdf)

Poster (» www.swp.org.uk/resources/v_post200709.pdf)

Vestas factory in occupation!

2009-07-20T22:23:00.002+01:00

Workers at Vestas, the wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight threatened with closure by management, have gone into occupation to save their jobs and keep alive the possibility of ecologically sound industry.

We call on everyone to send their solidarity and greetings to the workers there, and to take collections as soon as possible. The more support we give them, the more likely another victory to add to the ones seen at Visteon, Waterford, Lindsey and Prisme. Every successful fight makes the prospect of workers fighting back against the bosses offensive more likely, and helps rejuvenate working class political and economic strength.

If we can stand up and tell them 'We won't pay for your crisis', then we might just be able to stave off the coming attacks, and put forward our vision of a brighter future for ordinary people, instead of the sacrifice and hypocrisy spread by the parties at Westminster.

Sri Lanka and the struggle for Tamil freedom with Matt Foot

2009-07-20T22:17:00.002+01:00

This weeks branch meeting will be on 'Sri Lanka and the struggle for Tamil freedom' with Matt Foot, campaiging lawyer representing the oppressed Tamil people in their struggle for justice.

Thursday 23 July
Kitap Evi bookshop, 410 High Road, Tottenham, N17 9JB
7:30 pm

As always everyone is welcome, and bring along as many people as you can to hear this great speaker give the real story of the roots of the Tamil struggle for liberation, and the vicious government campaign to crush their last vestiges of resistance.

Fight for The Right to Work: A conference to build the resistance

2009-06-12T12:05:00.003+01:00

For too long thousands of jobs have been destroyed without resistance. For too long the issue of unemployment—especially youth unemployment—has been ignored. It is time to organise the fightback.

The occupations and campaigns at Visteon, the occupations at Prisme in Dundee and the occupation at Waterford Crystal have changed the atmosphere inside the working class movement.

We desperately need more resistance.

The economic crisis, internationally and domestically, is leading to soaring unemployment, insecurity and devastation of communities.

UK unemployment is well over 2 million and headed sharply upwards. Young people are particularly badly affected. There are already 820,000 unemployed under the age of 25, and 600,000 people leave school this summer. Many will not find jobs.

The government has found hundreds of billions to bailout banks and financial institutions.

But instead of saving jobs, Gordon Brown is pressing ahead with policies that cut them—from Royal Mail to local government to the civil service to the NHS.

Individual unions and the TUC should be leading the fight against job losses by opposing redundancies, resisting closures and demanding a transformation of government policy.

This is a conference to learn from the experience of resistance, encourage more struggles, and bring together trade unionists, the unemployed, school and college leavers.

It’s a chance to increase the pressure on trade union leaders, develop the networks of resistance, and come up with campaigning ideas over the most crucial issue facing workers today.

Make sure you are there, and get your union branch, stewards’ committee, campaign organisation or student union to send delegates.

Download timetable

Open letter: Left must unite to create an alternative

2009-06-12T12:01:00.000+01:00

An open letter to the left from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP)

Labour’s vote collapsed to a historic low in last week’s elections as the right made gains. The Tories under David Cameron are now set to win the next general election.

The British National Party (BNP) secured two seats in the European parliament. Never before have fascists achieved such a success in Britain.

The result has sent a shockwave across the labour and anti-fascist movements, and the left.

The meltdown of the Labour vote and the civil war engulfing the party poses a question – where do we go from here?

The fascists pose a threat to working class organisations, black, Asian and other residents of this country – who BNP führer Nick Griffin dubs “alien” – our civil liberties and much else.

History teaches us that fascism can be fought and stopped, but only if we unite to resist it.

The SWP firmly believes that the first priority is to build even greater unity and resistance to the fascists over the coming months and years.

The BNP believes it has created the momentum for it to achieve a breakthrough. We have to break its momentum.

The success of the anti-Nazi festival in Stoke and the numbers of people who joined in anti-fascist campaigning shows the basis is there for a powerful movement against the Nazis.

The Nazis’ success will encourage those within the BNP urging a “return to the streets”.

This would mean marches targeting multiracial areas and increased racist attacks. We need to be ready to mobilise to stop that occurring.

Griffin predicted a “perfect storm” would secure the BNP’s success. The first part of that storm he identified was the impact of the recession.

The BNP’s policies of scapegoating migrants, black and Asian people will divide working people and make it easier to drive through sackings, and attacks on services and pensions.

Unity is not a luxury. It is a necessity. If we do not stand together we will pay the price for a crisis we did not cause.

The second lesson from the European elections is that we need a united fightback to save jobs and services.

If Cameron is elected he will attempt to drive through policies of austerity at the expense of the vast majority of the British people.

But the Tories’ vote fell last week and they are nervous about pushing through attacks.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne told business leaders, “After three months in power we will be the most unpopular government since the war.”

We need to prepare for battle.

But there is a third and vital issue facing the left and the wider working class. The crisis that has engulfed Westminster benefited the BNP.

The revelations of corruption, which cabinet members were involved in, were too much for many Labour voters, who could not bring themselves to vote for the party.

One answer to the problem is to say that we should swallow everything New Labour has done and back it to keep David Cameron, and the BNP, out.

Yet it would take a miracle for Gordon Brown to be elected back into Downing Street.

The danger is that by simply clinging on we would be pulled down with the wreckage of New Labour.

Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the PCS civil service workers’ union, has asked how, come the general election, can we ask working people to cast a ballot for ministers like Pat McFadden.

McFadden is pushing through the privatisation of the post office.

Serwotka proposes that trade unions should stand candidates.

Those who campaigned against the BNP in the elections know that when they said to people, “Don’t vote Nazi” they were often then asked who people should vote for.

The fact that there is no single, united left alternative to Labour means there was no clear answer available.

The European election results demonstrate that the left of Labour vote was small, fragmented and dispersed.

The Greens did not make significant gains either. The mass of Labour voters simply did not vote. We cannot afford a repeat of that.

The SWP is all too aware of the differences and difficulties involved in constructing such an alternative.

We do not believe we have all the answers or a perfect prescription for a left wing alternative.

But we do believe we have to urgently start a debate and begin planning to come together to offer such an alternative at the next election, with the awareness that Gordon Brown might not survive his full term.

One simple step would be to convene a conference of all those committed to presenting candidates representing working class interests at the next election.

The SWP is prepared to help initiate such a gathering and to commit its forces to such a project.

We look forward to your response.

For more information or to show your support, email: openletter@swp.org.uk

Victory at Linamar

2009-06-12T11:47:00.004+01:00

Comrades, the threatened sacking of Rob Williams, the Unite union convenor at the Linamar plant has been dramatically reversed. Workers at the former Ford/ Visteon factory in Wales had threatened to enter a program of indefinite strike action.

The day before action was due to commence, bosses caved in and re-instated Rob unconditionally. This fantastic example is a clear demonstration of what determined, militant action can acheive with the backing of our union and solidarity networks. All the members who helped out with collections, visits to the factory, and organising solidarity should be commended for their great work.

All-out industrial action is the exception, not the norm, even in this time of heavy recession and massive attacks on workers pay and conditions. Our job is to fan the flames of resistance wherever they appear, and make sure that when workers do fight, they win. Only with a few victories under our belt can we show the rest of the class that standing up for their rights is worth more than lying down.

Stop the Nazis in Herts - Protest Next Tuesday

2009-06-12T11:45:00.000+01:00

Unite against Fascism Mass Lobby

PICKET THE NAZI
KEEP THE NAZIS OUT OF HERTS

The Nazi British National Party (BNP) has won a seat on Hertfordshire County Council.

Nazi BNP candidate Deirdre "Eva" Gates took the Labour seat of South Oxhey with 29% of the vote, beating Labour by 27 votes. This is the Nazi BNP's one & only Herts County Council seat BUT it is one too many.

Now is the time for anti-fascists & anti-racists everywhere to stand together and proclaim loudly & clearly:
The BNP is not a normal party.
The BNP is a Nazi party. They can be isolated. They must be stopped.

This requires the widest possible support from all sections of society. This means trade unions, faith groups, community activists & all those who reject the politics of hate.

Please be there next Tuesday morning with your families, workmates & friends. Bring your whistles, drums, banners & placards - let's make this protest as loud & as vibrant as possible.

10am, Tuesday 16 June
Council Chamber
County Hall
Pegs Lane
Hertford SG13 8DQ - map here

See the BBC interview with UAF after the protest at BNP leader Griffin's press conference.

Repost: Love Music Hate Racism Festival

2009-06-03T11:11:00.002+01:00

Over 20,000 people attended the LMHR festival last weekend in Stoke, the North London crew were out in force to unite with people from around the country, who are determined the fascist BNP must be stopped.

The atmosphere was electric, with live music from Kelly Rowland, Pete Doherty, Reverend and the Makers, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Kano and Beverley Knight to name but a few. The inspriational event sent a clear message to the BNP throughout the country - you do not speak for us and you never will. There are loads of photos of the event on www.lovemusichateracism.com, and there are a few of our own below.

With only 3 days to go, activity around the country is gearing up. Wednesday is another national day of action and UAF in North London will be covering a number of tube stations on the day, if you want to get involved please contact us asap - anything you can do could make a difference. If you can't make it to a tube station, you can flyer your street, college, workplace, community centre etc - contact us for leaflets in North London or contact UAF direct www.uaf.org.uk

Originally posted on uafnorthlondon.blogspot.com

New video from LMHR

2009-06-03T11:04:00.003+01:00

New video produced by Love Music Hate Racism, about what the British music scene would look like without black, asian, and immigrant influences. Watch it, spread it, and get out campaigning against the BNP.

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! A weekend of action against the fascist BNP‏

2009-04-30T16:42:00.001+01:00

Anti-fascist activists up and down the country will be out campaigning against the Nazi BNP on May Day and throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.

Unite Against Fascism has produced four "action plans" covering Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber and London.

You can download them from the UAF website:

Greater Manchester action plan
http://www.uaf.org.uk/resources/2904UAF_Manchester_plan.pdf

West Midlands action plan
http://www.uaf.org.uk/resources/2904UAF_West_Midlands_plan.pdf

Yorkshire & Humber action plan
http://www.uaf.org.uk/resources/2904UAF_Yorkshire_plan.pdf

London action plan (including tube station leafleting tomorrow morning)
http://www.uaf.org.uk/resources/2904UAF_London_plan.pdf

London united against the fascist BNP

2009-04-29T16:22:00.003+01:00

Public rally, Wednesday 29 April, 7pm

Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

Speakers include: Christine Blower (NUT), Jerry Bartlett (NASUWT), Glyn Ford MEP, Dr Abdul Bari (MCB), Steve Hart (Unite), Martin Smith (LMHR), Weyman Bennett (UAF). Rally called by Unite Against Fascism, sponsored by the National Union of Teachers

The BNP is trying to get its first MEPs elected on Thursday 4 June. And London is one of its targets.

There is a real danger that the BNP could grab enough votes to grab a London MEP at the European elections on Thursday 4 June. They could get in with as little as 8 percent of the vote. London is a multiracial city and the vast majority of Londoners are opposed to the fascist politics of the BNP. We can come together to stop the prospect of a BNP MEP in London. But we need to act now.

Remembering Blair Peach

Blair Peach was a teacher, an NUT member and a committed anti-fascist who campaigned against the National Front in the 1970s. He was on a demonstration in Southall against the NF on 23 April 1979 when he was killed by a blow to the head from a police officer. Thirty years on we still remember him – but we also have to continue his fight by campaigning against the BNP, today’s equivalent of the Nazi NF.

Download PDF flyer

Demonstrate against police violence

2009-04-29T16:19:00.002+01:00

Join the lobby of the MPA meeting this Thursday morning!
Called by United Campaign Against Police Violence

Assemble 9:00am, Thursday 30 April
Outside City Hall
(http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/locationmap.jsp)

Calling all organisations, trade unionists and activists! We will be gathering outside City Hall from 9:00am on Thursday morning to lobby the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority - their first meeting since the events of the G20 demonstrations. Come and join the protest against the Met's violent policing of the demonstrations and their extensive use of batons, dogs and "kettling".

In particular, come and make your voice heard against the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG) which supposedly specialises in public order. Ian Tomlinson collapsed and died after being hit and pushed by a TSG officer who has since been questioned on suspicion of manslaughter. If we're going to get justice and defend our right to protest we need to keep the pressure up on the Met.

How can we stop the fascist BNP?

2009-04-29T16:16:00.001+01:00

A Tottenham SWP Open Meeting
7.30pm, Thursday, 30th of April
Upstairs atKitap Evi Bookhouse, 410 Tottenham High Road, N17 9JB.

Nearest Tube: Seven Sisters; parking in Chestnut Road.
A short talk will be followed by questions and discussion.

This Spring, the fascist BNP, exploiting economic discontent and benefiting from proportional representation in huge multi-member constituencies, threaten to win seats in the European elections.

This would be a disaster for trade unionists, democrats and the left. But vigorous campaigning, clearly labelling the BNP as fascist, can ensure their electoral defeat. This meeting looks at the nature of fascism, at why the fascists are on the rise today, and at the 'united front' strategy necessary to beat the fascists back.

Stop the Massacre of Tamils in Sri Lanka

2009-04-22T17:04:00.003+01:00

Public Meeting

Friday 1 May
6pm, Room 3b, ULU, Malet Street
London (nearest tube Euston)

The following speakers have agreed to speak - Esme Choonara (Socialist Worker journalist), Matt Foot (Human Rights Lawyer) and a representative from the British Tamil student society.

Please advertise this meeting as widely as possible, contact Tamil groups and activists and invite them to attend.

Branch Meeting: The Police - A few bad apples, or rotten to the core?

2009-04-22T11:44:00.002+01:00

The Police: A Few Bad Apples, or Rotten to the Core?

A Tottenham SWP Branch Meeting, with Jo Lang

Kitap Evi bookshop, Tottenham High Road, 7.30pm Thursday 23rd of April
Nearest Tube: Seven Sisters

In the light of recent uproar around the treatment of demonstrators by the Metropolitan Police, now is the time to assess how we relate to the police, and to the law of the country in general. Come to the meeting to discuss not only what the police do, but what their function is, and how socialists should react to brutal police actions.

As protesters at the G20 found out recently, it's one law for them, and another for us. Who are they really protecting?

Love Music Hate Racism Open Mic Night - May 15th

2009-04-17T10:28:00.004+01:00

UAF North London is holding the first of our live music events in Palmers Green. The open mic night is taking place on 15th May at 8 pm in the The Fox.

The gig is one element of our campaign to raise awareness in the local community about the rising threat posed by the BNP, with a particluar focus on the upcoming European elections.

Please come along and support this worthy cause, oh the people already confirmed to play are awesome and the pub is cool and sells cheap booze, so no excuse really?

For further information, or if you would like to get invovled in our campaign please contact us:

uafnorthlondon@gmail.com or call 07794690091

Meeting: "Resisting the Recession: the Visteon struggle so far"

2009-04-16T13:50:00.003+01:00

"Resisting the Recession: the Visteon struggle so far"

Tottenham and Wood Green SWP meeting with Charlie Kimber

Time/date: 7:30pm this Thursday 16th April
Venue: Upstairs in the

Kit@p Evi bookhouse
410 High Road
Tottenham
N17 9JB
Nearest tube Seven Sisters

Everyone welcome, please make every effort to attend this important where we will discuss the politics of the Visteon struggle so far and the SWP intervention within it.

Apologies to anyone who receives this post twice.

Call to action: Visteon

2009-04-02T22:14:00.003+01:00

Urgent message to all comrades in North London

The Tottenham branch of the SWP is organising a demonstration of support and solidarity with the occupying workers of the Visteon car plant in Enfield. All comrades are urged to be outside the factory, near Ponder's End, no later than 7pm on Friday.

Union bosses will be meeting with Ford bosses to negotiate a deal, but we need to send the message that we are with the workers in their brave fight for justice. Bailiffs have already attempted to remove them on several occasions, which has led to barricades being erected on the entrances to the main plant room.

Solidarity has been universal so far, but we need more. More collecting, more campaigning, and more physical presence at the site. Keep going comrades, this could be the one to light off the bonfire.

Comrades can catch the train to Ponders End from Tottenham Hale station, which runs every half an hour. There will be some car transport available at the station.

The Poverty of Philosophy

2009-03-20T16:32:00.001Z

The Poverty of Philosophy The Poverty of Philosophy tripman

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Published Research Academic Work karl marx Philosophy

French workers capture boss

2009-03-13T15:57:00.004Z

The chief executive of Sony in France was held overnight by striking workers at the company's factory in Pontoux-sur-l'Adrour in south-west France.

The plant's 311 workers are to be laid off as part of the electronics giant's plans to save Y100bn. The company has so far refused to cover the relocation costs of workers.

Representatives of the CGT union claimed that preventing the men from leaving was the only way to get management to listen to them. "We hope that this time our voices will be heard," says union representative Patrick Achaguer.

The bosses were only allowed to leave the site when the French government stepped in to force management to return to the negotiating table.

And this is not the only expression of the growing desperation and power of workers. Last month two bosses from Michelin, the tyre manufacturer were held for two days by workers trying to stop a factory closure.

British trade unions could learn a great deal from French tactics.

Message to Obama and Brown: Yes We Can

2009-03-12T14:14:00.002Z

A national tour of Stop the War public meetings, titled YES WE CAN - with speakers ranging from Tony Benn to the film director Ken Loach - comes to Haringey on Thursday 19 March, when the speakers will include Guardian journalist Seumas Milne, human rights lawyer Louis Christian and Lindsey German, national convenor of Stop the War. (Full details below).

These meetings are part of the build up to a national anti-war demonstration which will take place on April 1, when the leaders of the G20 countries meet in London, which will also be Barack Obama’s first visit to this country.

While Obama’s decision to start withdrawing troops from Iraq and the closure of the Guatanamo concentration camp distances him from his predecessor, he has disappointed many who didn’t expect his slogan “change you can believe in” to mean continuing most of George Bush’s war policies.

50,000 US troops will remain in Iraq for at least another two years, the war in Afghanistan is to be escalated and Israel’s barbaric and illegal treatment of Palestinians will still receive unqualified support.

Gordon Brown, like Tony Blair before him, is committed to the same slavish support for all aspects of American foreign policy. While Britain sinks into its worst economic crisis for at least 70 years, the government - having already wasted 13 billion pounds in the past seven years on illegal and unnecessary wars - will still this year double the expenditure for its attacks on Afghanistan.

It is a scandal that so much money is being spent on these conflicts rather than on housing, schools and hospitals. Similarly, in the view of Haringey Trades Union Council - joint organisers with Stop the War of Haringey’s meeting on Thursday - the same purpose could be served by the hundreds of billions the government is spending to bail out the bankers who were a prime cause of the economic mess we’re in.

These are all themes which will be discussed at next Thursday’s YES WE CAN public meeting. Please publicise the meeting as widely as you can.

YES WE CAN PUBLIC MEETING
THURSDAY 19 MARCH 7.30 PM
Called by Stop the War Coalition and Haringey Trades Union Council

FREE PALESTINE - END THE WAR ON TERROR - JOBS FOR ALL - BAIL OUT PEOPLE, NOT BANKERS
Speakers:
SEUMAS MILNE – The Guardian
LOUISE CHRISTIAN – Human rights lawyer
LINDSEY GERMAN – National Convenor, Stop the War
RAY MORRELL – Unite trade unionist
PALESTINIAN SPEAKER – To be confirmed

WEST INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE
CLARENDON ROAD, LONDON N8 (Off Hornsey Park Rd, nearest tube Turnpike Lane)

Yes We Can Shut Down the G20

2009-03-06T16:10:00.002Z

YES WE CAN NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION

WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: ASSEMBLE 2.0 PM

US EMBASSY, GROSVENOR SQUARE, W1A 1AE

The anti war movement will be marching from the US embassy on Wednesday 1 April, the day Barack Obama and the other world leaders arrive in London for the G20 Summit.

The march will be in support of Gaza and against the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and for the abolition of nuclear weapons. It will assemble at 2 pm at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London.

Our message will be: YES WE CAN end the siege of Gaza and free Palestine, get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, abolish all nukes, create jobs not bombs and stop arming Israel.

We are calling for the biggest possible mobilisation for this national demonstration. We are asking all local Stop the War groups to book transport for the day.

We will also be protesting at the G20 summit at the Excel Centre in East London on Thursday 2 April at 11 am

For flyers, posters and other publicity phone the Stop the War Coalition office on 0207278 6694 or e-mail at office@stopwar.org.uk

This weeks meeting: Do we need a new women's movement?

2009-03-03T13:05:00.002Z

This weeks branch meeting will be:

Do We Need a New Women's Movement?

with Judith Orr

7.30pm, Kitap Evi Bookshop, Tottenham High Street
Nearest Tube Seven Sisters

Many mainstream commentators believe that women have acheived formal equality with men, and that now the corridors of power are open to an elite, there is no longer a need for a movement of the kind which grew throughout the 60s and 70s.

These days calls for women's equality are more likely to be directed against the enemies of Western society. George Bush, that great feminist liberator who came to power promising to take away the right of women across America to control their own fertility, used the treatment of women as one of the foundations for his disastrous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Come to the meeting to discuss whether the women's movement is still relevant in our times, and how feminists can respond to the hijacking of the idea of liberation by warmongers.

Repost: Students under Occupation feat interview with Mordechai Vanunu 2003

2009-02-26T09:57:00.000Z

Originally posted on Leninism 2.0

Tonight's Branch Meeting: 40 years since Stonewall, are gays and lesbians equal now?

2009-02-26T09:45:00.005Z

Branch Meeting for 26th of February
7.30pm at Kitap Evi Bookshop, Tottenham High Road, N17 9JB

40 years since Stonewall: Are gays and lesbians equal now?

With Colin Wilson

Tonights meeting will be on the acheivements of the LGBT liberation movement that began so spectacularly with the Stonewall riots of 1969, and where the fight for gay rights stands today.

A radical appraisal of the politics of gay liberation is necessary to answer questions about how we organise to fight oppression across the working class.

Where did the movement succeed, and where did it not go far enough? What have been the political consequences for gay people, and the class as a whole in the 40 years since.

Democracy Commission Meeting

2009-02-25T14:06:00.002Z

Hello comrades,

A meeting has been scheduled for Monday the 9th of March for a report back from the Democracy Commission, set up at this year's Party Conference. This is your opportunity to find out what the members of the Commission consider their role to be, and to put questions and issues forward for their consideration.

The original message is attached:

MONDAY 9th MARCH
Kitap Evi Bookhouse,410 High Road, Tottenham, at 7.30pm

This is your opportunity to look at and strengthen all aspects of the party's democracy. Pat Stack and Alex Callinicos will be speaking and there will be plenty of time for discussion and questions.

We are urging all comrades to bring their ideas to the meeting. Please find attached two documents you might find useful.

If you would like to submit a document, please e-mail it to dc@swp.org.uk.
If you have any questions, please call me on 0207 819 1170.

In solidarity,
Berit Kuennecke

Report from UAF conference

2009-02-24T13:01:00.003Z

The Unite Against Fascism National Conference took place last week in the TUC conference centre.

Speakers included: Ken Livingstone, Glyn Ford MEP, Edie Freidman JCORE, Dr Abdul Bari MCB, Billy Hayes CWU, John McClure - Reverend and the makers, Weyman Bennett UAF, Sabby Dhalu UAF & NAAR, and Martin Smith - Love Music Hate Racism.

The conference began with an overview of how we can fight the fascist BNP, the main auditorium was packed with an eclectic mix people, differing in race, gender, age, sexuality, religion etc. The opening speakers discussed the relationship between recession and the rise of fascism.

Workshops were organised into smaller seminar rooms, with the following themes; Racism and rebutting myths, Music against Racism and Fascism, organised by LMHR and Campaigning against the BNP in the European Elections.

The workshop I attended focused on a strategy for combating the fascist BNP in the forthcoming European elections. The discussion proved insightful and inspiring, some very dedicated people and from trade unions and community organisations detailed how they were fighting back - I was impressed by their knowledge and determination.

The final meeting saw hundreds of people cram into the main auditorium once more. We heard from Ken Livingstone, Peter Hain MP, Wes Streeting (NUS President), Mark Serwotka (General Secretary PCS) and Martin Smith (LMHR).

The speakers made historical comparisons with the fight we face today, with Peter Hain MP and Martin Smith both involved in the precursor to UAF, the Anti Nazi League. They spoke passionately about the work of the UAF and how important that it is to organise and defeat the fascists once again.

Organise locally and nationally and encourage people to vote, the overarching strategy of the UAF is just that, get people to vote. This could mean setting up stalls, selling newspapers, knocking on doors to ensure people are registered to vote and are going to do so. The fascist BNP do not have wide support and with high voter turnout, they will not gain positions of electoral office.

All speakers advocated that the fight should be led from the left and discounted the idea of a 'centre led' fight against the BNP as nonsense. The idea of encouraging people to tactically vote was also dismissed; we simply have to get people to vote for anyone but the fascist BNP.

We are many, they are few. A sentiment that emerged from the conference which, will run through the European election offensive and beyond.

What next?

Regional conferences in the South West, Stoke, Yorkshire and Humberside and the Midlands

National Days of Action – 4/5 April, 2/3 May, 30/31 May. Involving leafleting and campaigning in our city centres against the BNP

http://www.uaf.org.uk/

I encourage comrades reading this to get involved with building UAF in north London to stop the fascists from organising.

Contact UAFNorthLondon@gmail.com for more details on how to get involved.

Repost: Two more universities in occupation

2009-02-24T12:58:00.002Z

Two more occupations comrades, to add to the list (its getting too long for me to remember).

University of The Arts blog

Plymouth Blog

Plymouth University and BAE Systems

BAE Systems have sold equipment to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and - more specifically - 236 F-16 Fighters to the Israeli state. In February 2007 it was announced that BAE contracts in 6 countries were under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office for "suspected international corruption."

Originally posted on Solomon's Mindfield

Video of 100,000 marchers in Ireland

2009-02-23T16:54:00.002Z

Video reporting on the struggle against the Irish governments' proposed pensions levy.

Originally posted on Socialist Aoteroa

Upcoming Stop the War events: Taking the show on the road

2009-02-23T16:34:00.006Z

PROTEST AT THE G20 IN LONDON.
Demonstrate Wednesday April 1st Central London.
Protest at the summit Thursday April 2nd.

The leaders of the world's big powers will meet at the G20 summit in London on April 2. It is Barack Obama's first visit to Britain. It is our chance to demand a change from Bush's war policies. The Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called two protests at the G20; a march and rally in central London on the afternoon of April 1st, and a protest to the conference itself on April 2nd. In the afternoon of April 1st we will be marching through Central London while Barack Obama speaks to Parliament. On Thursday morning we will be protesting to the summit itself at the Excel Centre in East London.

Our message will be 'Yes We Can'. Yes we can end the siege of Gaza and free Palestine, get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, make jobs not bombs, abolish nukes, stop arming Israel.

NO TO NATO, STRASBOURG 1-5 April

The international anti war movement has called a series of protests at the NATO summit in Strasbourg in France. There will be a massive international demonstration on Saturday 4th. Among other things the demo will be demanding all foreign troops out of Afghanistan. There will be blockades of the conference on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th and a counter summit that ends on Sunday 5th. Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali will be among the speakers. Stop the War is organising a British contingent leaving on the morning of Friday 3rd April.

To book your seat on a Stop the War coach go
here.

Stop Press: NATO tries to halt Strasbourg demonstration

NATO and the French authorities are threatening to ban the international 'No to NATO, No to War' demonstration in Strasbourg on Saturday 4 April. NATO's 60th anniversary meeting will be held inside a Red Zone that encompasses the whole of the city centre. Even Strasbourg residents will need a special pass to come and go in their own city. Now the authorities are threatening to excludethe international peace demonstration from the city. The international coalition calling the demonstration are organising a wave of protest at this attack on the right to demonstrate.

Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/nato/petition.html

Write to the President of France at http://www.elysee.fr/ecrire/

CAIRO CONFERENCE March 27/28/29, Cairo

For seven years the Cairo Conference has been a vital meeting place for those fighting against war and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and beyond. It brings together activists from the Middle East and the international anti-war movements. Participants include trade unionists, activists from the national liberation movements, and representatives from all the radical parties.

Direct flights are available with BA for under £300 & there is a wide range of inexpensive accommodation in Cairo.

For more information please phone Stop the War, or e-mail cairoconference@stopwar.org.uk

Sign the petition: South African and Australian Dock Workers Boycotting Israeli Cargo

2009-02-19T10:17:00.003Z

Comrades,

Workers from the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban, and Western Australian dock worker members of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), are refusing to handle Israeli cargo.

This is a brave and principled response to the Israeli massacre in Gaza, and I would urge you to sign the petition, and get others to do so as well.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called on "other workers and unions to follow suit and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until Palestine is free.”

This is an issue that we should all raise in our union branches, and another area to push for a concerted working class response to imperial aggression.

Please sign the petition at: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/LaborforPalestine

Repost: This is Israel

2009-02-19T09:59:00.002Z

Originally posted on Lenins Tomb:

This is a video of IDF soldiers, having invaded a Palestinian village in the West Bank, attacking local residents and internationals:

As the Angry Arab usually says of events like this, "this is Zionism".

Today's Branch Meeting

2009-02-19T09:47:00.002Z

Hello comrades,

Tonight's branch meeting will be with Elaine Graham-Leigh, on "The Slump of the 1930s and the Crisis today", and will be held as usual at Kitap Evi bookshop on Tottenham High Road at 7.30 pm.

The task of socialists in an economic crisis is not just to organise fightbacks to lessen the effects of vicious attacks on pay and conditions, but also to explain why these recurent crashes are a feature of the capitalist system. One way that we can do this, and help to build resistance to the system as a whole, is to keep the memory of past struggles alive.

While most mainstream commentators may dismiss the 30s as a period of massive setbacks and disintegtration, we remember the great social movements that grew up out of the experience of the economic downturn.

Come to the meeting, and discuss whether the lessons of the past still hold true today, and what we can do to apply them.

Building for protests at the G20

2009-02-06T10:58:00.005Z

The membership of the G-20 comprises:

the finance ministers and central bank governors of the G7, 12 other key countries, and the European Union Presidency
the European Central Bank
the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
the Chairman of the IMF
the President of the World Bank
the Chairman of the Development Committee

These are the people that decide the fate of billions of workers around the world, and they are almost without exception the same people that are responsible for the current crisis.

We know what their response to the crisis will be: more attacks on workers, more assaults on public spending and public services and pouring yet more public money into the coffers of the capitalists who got us here.

It is more important than ever that we build a mass protest movement on the level of the 1999 Seattle protests, to fight for the rights of workers and ordinary people. We are the ones with power in this society, and we can make them pay for the damage that they have done, and intend to do. The only way to do this is to appeal to radical organisations, trade unions and workers both nationally and internationally to come together in a constructive way.

I believe that now is the time to begin thinking about this issue, and coming up with creative ways to engage with people, and move the debate forward.

London wide 'Unity Against the Crisis' meeting this Tuesday‏

2009-02-05T15:59:00.003Z

This Tuesday there is an important meeting in central London:

We Need Unity Against the Crisis
Tuesday 10th February at 6.30pm
Friends meeting House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1(opp Euston Station)

In the wake of the debate around the wild cat strikes and the slogan'British jobs for British workers' Mark Serwotka (PCS General Secretary), Jean Yves Lesage (a French printer and member of CGT), a shop steward from the Waterford Glass occupation and Ray Morrell (Editor of the Amicus Unity Gazette and NSSN steering committee)(pc) will be speaking at a meeting on Tuesday in London.

It is very important to stress that this is not just a meeting for trade unionists. The debates and issues go to the heart of the response by the working class to the crisis.

This should be an exciting event and we need to build it as widely aspossible with trade unionists and campaigners, as well as in workplaces, colleges, schools and your local area. Attached is a flyer to advertise the meeting and a broadly-based statement which people can sign, to be used on Saturday sales, industrial sales, and in your workplaces and colleges.

The statement can also be signed online at www.petitiononline.com/jobs0209/

Lobby David Lammy

2009-02-05T09:31:00.004Z

A lobby of David Lammy, the local member of parliament has been organised by Haringey Justice for Palestinians for Friday the 6th of February. The details are listed below:

Emergency Public Meeting: Why 'British Jobs for British Workers' is no solution to the economic crisis

2009-02-05T09:20:00.003Z

Millions of working people across Britain are fearful and angry at the mounting economic crisis. Manufacturing industry is now shedding jobs at a rate of 30,000 a month. Now this fear and anger has exploded into unofficial strike action with thousands of workers in oil refineries and power plants walking out.

They are right to want to fight this recession. But the central slogan of the current wave of strike action, “British jobs for British workers”, targets the wrong people and points in a dangerous direction. But “foreign workers” are not to blame for mounting unemployment, rampant subcontracting or worsening pay and conditions on construction sites.

The blame for these things lies squarely with the bosses – of whatever nationality – aided and abetted by neoliberal politicians such as trade secretary Lord Mandelson, the high priest of the free market.

It is our responsibility to argue against right-wing ideas in the strike movement, and put forward the case for solidarity with workers regardless of their nationality. There will be a meeting of the Tottenham branch, to discuss the impact of the current strikes and our response to them at Kitap Evi bookshop, Tottenham High Road, on Thursday the 5th at 7.30pm. All comrades are encouraged to attend.

http://www.swp.org.uk/resources/general030209.pdf

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17051

King's College Protest

2009-01-30T12:08:00.004Z

Students at Kings have won most of their demands from the University authorities. However, they are refusing to consider withdrawing the honorary doctorate from President of Israel Shimon Peres.

The students refuse to accept this, and have called a demonstration today against this decision. The protest will meet at 1.30pm, outside main entrance to the Strand campus.

Please publicise this as highly as possible, and come to the demonstration to show support. This is an essential step in withdrawing support and investment from the state of Israel.

Visit the KCL occupation site: http://kcloccupation.blogspot.com/2009/01/join-our-march-to-revoke-shimon-peress.html

Contact the occupation at kcloccupation@gmail.com

Please send messages of support for King's occupation to Principal Rick Trainor at principal@kcl.ac.uk

University Occupations Rolling Along

2009-01-28T09:43:00.002Z

Just a short update:

Two more universities have gone into occupation, Queen Mary's and Bradford.

Visit their blogs http://www.queenmaryoccupation.blogspot.com/ and http://publish.indymedia.org.uk%2Fen%2F2009%2F01%2F420448.html and send your support and solidarity.

This is a fantastic time for us to get out to the univesities in occupation, and start putting the case for our understanding of the current crises. I recommend getting in touch with the occupations currently underway, and figuring out how we can push that forward.

Tony Benn on the DEC Appeal

2009-01-27T23:21:00.002Z

Donate to the appeal.

2009-01-27T14:17:00.000Z

Leaflet for Thursday - London wide Gaza meeting

2009-01-27T14:15:00.000Z

London Wide Gaza Meeting on Thursday

2009-01-27T13:43:00.004Z

Dear comrade

You are invited to come along to a London wide SWP public meeting on Gaza, Palestine and Revolution in the Middle East this Thursday.

The thousands on the streets every week since the assault on Gaza has shown the anger that has been ignited by Israel's actions and a deep sense of solidarity with the Palestinians. Last Saturday saw thousands protest at the BBC in London over their shameful decision not to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee advert for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Students have been occupying colleges all over the country and BBC studios have also been
occupied in Glasgow and London.

Many of those who have been protesting, doing collections, attending vigils and occupying colleges are asking what's next and what sort of struggles are needed for the Palestinians to have real freedom?

We have sold thousands of Socialist Workers and many people have joined the SWP in the last few weeks. This public meeting is a brilliant opportunity to bring all of those people together to talk about what's next and what socialists say about the potential for real change in the Middle East.

PUBLIC MEETING
Gaza, Palestine and revolution in the Middle East Speakers Alex Callinicos: author of New Mandarins of American Power Simon Assaf: Socialist Worker journalist recently returned from Beirut Anne Alexander: co-author of The Nakba, why Israel's birth was Palestine's catastrophe.

Thursday 29 January
7pm
Small Hall, Friends Meeting House
Opposite Euston Station

All welcome, please forward!

If you can help build this meeting, have some free time tomorrow to leaflet (Wednesday), please call Dan on 07870 689866.

Hope you can make it

Attached is an updated leaflet for the meeting and a collection sheet formedical aid for Gaza.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/YBN_SRgS5YbZR8RHujRVC0PdcFLK-W8hLm52QSBEveSTHMRybiE_YTXaotvbfm22Y_nIB6S_9mEasdY89N_BMQ/MedAidPal_CollectSheet.pdf

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/YBN_STmoq3XZR8RHgshBZivqC4eRGFXEzDr3phhCaTFczwj_JE5P9l-3H4cQJHLlT5Ckbc6-HLnuoKWyHwUnnw/Gaza_London_SW_mtg_B.pdf

Israel Boycott in Enfield

2009-01-27T13:20:00.003Z

Come along to the protest on Saturday the 31st, outside Morrison's in Palmers Green.

We'll be informing people about the ongoing boycott of Israel, and getting them to check where their produce comes from. Come down and help us out if you're in the area.

Any suggestions for exciting actions welcome.

Footage of Gaza protest at BBC London

2009-01-27T12:37:00.003Z

Well, I'll go first!

Here's footage of the SOAS Stop the War occupation that happened at the BBC London last night in an attempt to get them to screen the Gaza appeal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7850407.stm

The moment of creation

2009-01-27T10:17:00.000Z

Well, it's up.

This blog is intended for members in North London, to post upcoming meetings and events, interesting news stories, and requests for help in campaign work. Feel free to post what you like here.

I'll try and keep this site updated with events in Tottenham, and some other suggestions for members to get involved.

Over to you, comrades.