WW archive > Issue 537 - 15 July 2004
Letters
SPGB; Michael Moore; Draft programme; Laughable; Laughable; Inspirational; North Birmingham; LRC and Respect; Paint it red; Abortion; EPSR; Obsession; Green relevance; Hijab; Manchester picket; No wall; Aslef debacle
Marxism 2004: White working class
Leading SWP members Chris Bambery and Charlie Kimber stressed the need to fight for the "white working class", reports Anne McShane, while Cerys Dowling is embarrassed about Chris Bambery's hysteric chants of "Let's hear it for the SWP!"
Summer Offensive: See us home
Ian Mahoney urges all members and friends of the party to donate urgently to achieve this year's Summer Offensive target - £30,000
Marxism 2004: Iraq: imperialism and the politics of resistance
Peter Manson reports on a very one-sided meeting, in which leading SWP member Alex Callinicos expressed his support for "the resistance", "whatever its political form, whatever its banner"
Political fightback needed
Peter Manson warns that Gordon Brown's spending review presents a real threat to workers in Britain
Marxism 2004: SWP in trouble
It is unlikely that the SWP's central committee will be very happy with Marxism 2004. Registrations and overall attendance was down significantly - by about 50% - to around 2,500. Our team reports on some of the key sessions
New Labour dented
Alan Stevens reports on the GMB's financial snub to the Labour government
A Marxist party without deformations
At the CPGB's Marxism 2004 fringe, Hillel Ticktin, editor of Critique, argued that material conditions have opened up wide opportunities for the left and new organisational possibilities
Livingstone pulls the strings
London's mayor has personally invited sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi to speak at the European Social Forum, reports Tina Becker, and he continues to make other demands
Fight for a red planet
Eddie Ford takes issue with deep ecology, biocentrism, Giain consciousness and eco-theology
Powerful but flawed
Steve Cooke reviews Michael Moore's film 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and finds him wanting in one crucial aspect: Moore criticises Bush very well, but has got no programme for a political alternative
Marxism 2004: Private matters, state affairs
Two meetings dealt with the question of 'socialists and religion'. While SWP comrades were at pains to show the Bolsheviks' positive attitude towards the Muslim communities in 1917, the comrades' confusion about the principle of secularism was all too apparent, report Sean Powell and Tina Becker
Marxism 2004: Change on SSP
SWP comrades were surprisingly critical of the nationalism of the Scottish Socialist Party - are they toying with the idea of extending Respect further north?, asks Ted Fraser
Marxism 2004: Fringe success
Ted Fraser reports on the CPGB's four fringe meetings during this year's Marxism
Not fit to govern
Writing in a personal capacity, Dave Craig of the Revolutionary Democratic Group argues that Respect is a barrier to the formation of a republican socialist party
Reclaiming Labour dominates debate
Steve Cooke reports from this year's Durham Miners Gala, which took place on July 10
European Social Forum: Down the plughole?
Phil Hamilton wonders how the website of the European Social Forum could have ended up costing a rumoured £40,000