Egypt is going through historical moments… Its people is courageously struggling to defend the right to live a decent life… the right to dignity, freedom and social justice… to decent opportunities and just pay… to a democratic society for all, offering every single citizen a share in its wealth and GNP… a society that does not allow few to buy private jets whereas the rest of the population cannot even afford public transportation… a society that refuses to pay the top of the pyramid salaries higher thousand of time than minimum wage.
Independent trade unionism asserts itself
15 April 2011, byIn the framework of the revolutionary process that Egypt has experienced since January 2011, workers and the trade union movement have played a big role. The demand for a trade unionism that defends the interests of the workers has been expressed even more strongly.
An internationalist transitional program towards an anti-capitalist Europe
14 April 2011, byThe crisis laid bare the historical divergences within Europe, and led to a European crisis and a new stage in the global crisis. The existing policies in Europe has three fundamental flaws: First, they assume that the problem is a lack of fiscal discipline and repeats the old faith in strengthening the surveillance of budget deficits; it does not question the reasons behind the deficits; it ignores all the structural problems regarding divergence in productivity, and imbalances in current accounts due to the “beggar my neighbour” policies of Germany. Second, they are based on the argument that Europe has a sovereign debt crisis, which ignores the fact that public debt would not have increased at the current rates if it were not for the financial crisis, which was prevented by unprecedented bank rescue packages; which in turn increased the budget deficits along with loss in tax revenues and increased social spending because of the crisis. Third, they deny the underlying reason behind the current crisis, which was increased inequality in the distribution of income and wealth –a fundamental feature of neoliberal capitalism.
Women’s rights are now on the table
14 April 2011, byInterview with Leila Hammarneh, Projects Director, Arab Women Organization, Jordan, member of the Coalition Equality without reservation. Interview conducted by Shawna Carroll of the International Federation on Human Rights, published on March 7.
Women will not allow their rights to be ignored during the transition
13 April 2011, byThis interview with Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation of Human Rights was carried out by Égalité on March 7, 2011. She was first asked: "How did Tunisian women participate in the revolution."
A left strategy for Europe
13 April 2011, byMichel Husson’s article, A European strategy for the left was published by International Viewpoint on January 2011. In the article Husson argues that “the radical left must not get locked into the impossible choice and start the risky adventure of leaving the euro and a utopian idea of currency harmonisation.” In this response Costas Lapavitsas argues that the euro is irreformable and advances an alternative strategy. A fuller version of this article will appear in Socialist Register,
2012, The Crisis and the Left, in a forum discussion with Elmar
Altvater and Michel Husson.
Women lead fight for land rights in Okara
12 April 2011, byOver 2000 peasant women participated in this massive convention attend by over 10,000. It was one of the largest gatherings of the peasants this year in Pakistan. The tenants of Okara are fighting for land rights since 2000. General Musharaf tried to kick them out but failed miserably because of the fierce resistance put up by these tenants. Women took the lead at the time.
An ongoing revolution
12 April 2011, byInterview with Jalel Ben Brik Zoghlami, a lawyer and one of the leaders of the Ligue de la Gauche Ouvrière (LGO – Workers’ Left League). He was formerly a leader of the-Organisation Communiste Révolutionnaire (OCR, Revolutionary Communist Organisation, Tunisian section of the Fourth International). He was interviewed by Jan Malewski on February 19, 2011, before the fall of the Ghannouchi government.
A malevolent campaign by the Government of Punjab against trade unions
12 April 2011, byOn April 4, most of the Newspapers in Punjab have printed a front page advertisement of the Health department of Government of Punjab. It showed a picture of an elderly women waiting to be treated and wrote, “Do you want to observe the oath of servicing the agonizing humanity or Trade Unionism”.
This is our land, declare 20,000 peasants
11 April 2011, byAnjaman Mozareen Punjab will organize a massive peasant convention on 6th April at Kulyana Military Estate Okara in Punjab on the occasion of the second death anniversary of three peasant leaders killed by the gangsters of the Military Farms administration on 6th April 2009.
Amir Ali, Mohammed Abbas and Abdul Rahim were killed on 6th April 2009. Thousands of peasants and women will join this convention to demand land rights. The main demand is the right of land that we are tilling since 100 year.