Weekly Update #34

Hello everyone,
Welcome to your totes efficient weekly update. This is your socialist political week in Derby!

Branch Meeting

This week our meeting is on the relationship between art and protest, with our meeting Art and Protest.

Our speaker is an expert on art and will give a presentation covering protest in art from the death of Marat to today. So if you like art, protest and lively debate, why not come down?

Thursday July 3rd 7 pm, West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road.

Marxism 2014

Two weeks to go!

 

Marxism is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. Thousands of socialists from the UK and around the world will be attending a range of meetings and events covering all aspects of left politics.

Get your tickets here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/booking.htm

Timetable available here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/timetable

Branch Secretary's pick of the week

My pick from the timetable this week is newly announced this week!

Sami Ramadani will join Judith Orr to speak on

“Crisis in Iraq: the bitter fruits of Bush and Blair’s war”.

Sami Ramadani is an Iraqi-born lecturer in sociology and writes on Iraq and Middle East current affairs. He was a political exile from Saddam's regime but campaigned against US-led sanctions and the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Judith Orr is the editor of Socialist Worker.

This meeting will take place at Marxism on Sat 12^th July at 2pm.

10th July: Build the Fightback

On 10th July there could be up to 1.5 million workers on strike - the biggest since the November 30th public sector strike in 2011.

Unison, GMB, the PCS and NUT are committed to joint action on the day. Unite will almost certainly be out too.

To make the strike as effective as possible we need to be visible, and doing everything we can to make sure the public understand why we are taking action and the threats we all face to our services! Push for your union to demonstrate on the day!

Unison and the NUT will be holding a demonstration in the Market Place on Wednesday at 11.00. Be there!

Weekly Update #33

Hello everyone,
Welcome to your slightly more timely weekly update. This is your socialist political week in Derby!

Branch Meeting

This week our guest speaker will be introducing the politics of the party, with the politics of the SWP.

So if you've seen us in town, signed a petition, maybe bought a copy of Socialist Worker, and want to know more about who we are, what we stand for and how we work, why not come down to the West End Community Centre this Thursday?

Thursday June 26th 7 pm, West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road.

Marxism 2014

Our branch meeting this week is especially topical as Marxism 2014 is nearly upon us!

Marxism is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. Thousands of socialists from the UK and around the world will be attending a range of meetings and events covering all aspects of left politics.

Get your tickets here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/booking.htm

Timetable available here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/timetable

Branch Secretary's pick of the week

My pick from the timetable this week is Why did the world go to war in 1914?, which Michael Bradley will be giving in the GC, Saturday 11.45 am - 1 pm.

This year being the centenary of the outbreak of WWI and it being almost exactly 100 years since the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, why did the workers' organisations which had all pledged not to take part in an imperialist conflict collapse and allow 4 years of the most brutal war that the world had ever seen - and what are the lessons for today?

People's Assembly National Demonstration

The demonstration was a great success, with some Derby protesters having to share Chesterfield's coach as the Derby one was full! For a more full update and photos (plus Top 10 Placards and Placardeers) see our blog post at http://derbyswp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/peoples-assembly-national-demonstration.html

Defend the Right to Resist / Hands Off Our Unions

There will be a public meeting on 25th June about the attacks workers are facing as they organise to fight back against austerity.

The event is co-hosted by People's Assembly and the Derby Area Trades Union Council (DATUC), and speakers will include the Secretary of DATUC, Moz Greenshields, and Assistant General Secretary of Unite, Steve Turner.

Obviously we want this meeting to be as big a success as possible, so if you can attend do, and let people know about it!

10th July: Build the Fightback

On 10th July there could be up to 1.5 million workers on strike - the biggest since the November 30th public sector strike in 2011.

If your union is currently balloting over strike action - PCS, Unison, Unite or GMB, make sure you cast your vote and send a resounding message of support for action over the attacks on our public services!

The NUT is committed to action on the 10th July - make sure you are out on pickets and demonstrations on the day.

To make the strike as effective as possible we need to be visible, and doing everything we can to make sure the public understand why we are taking action and the threats we all face to our services! Push for your union to demonstrate on the day!

The FBU was out again on strike action yesterday. Their determination to stand up to this government is fantastic and fire fighters deserve our full support.

People's Assembly National Demonstration

The People's Assembly is a national coalition of people opposed to austerity. It includes many trades unions and political groups as well as people unaffiliated to any organisation.

The SWP has taken an active part in helping to build the People's Assembly and it was great to see between 15 and 20,000 people filling central London for yesterday's demonstration.

The weather was on our side and the atmosphere buoyant and noisy as we marched from the BBC to Parliament, pausing only to boo deafeningly outside Downing St. There were a range of great speakers including Francesca Martinez who had taken off her comedy hat especially for the occasion.

Members of local People's Assembly groups should certainly feel energised by such a lively event!

One particularly brilliant feature of yesterday was the trades union presence. There were large contingents from the FBU, RMT, PCS, Unison, Unite, and the NUT - all unions that are either already taking action or will soon be taking united action against austerity measures. Workers are the ones with the real clout to bring down this government, because of the vital role we play in the economy: no workers, no wealth, no services. It was good to see the People's Assembly recognising this by giving the unions such prominence in the demonstration.

Best Placards
Some of our comrades are seasoned demonstrators, and those readers who are no stranger to marches will know that one of the best things about a good demonstration are the placards people make for the occasion. Here's our hip-and-with-it-Buzzfeed-style roundup of the Branch Secretary's Top 10 Placards and Placardeers!

No. 10 - Not a home-made placard, but brilliantly held, I'm sure you'll agree.

No. 9 - Heartfelt and stylish, this had no trouble catching the eye.

No. 8 - Fresh from his appearance at the NUT national conference at Easter, Derby favourite Gove the Childcatcher.

No. 7 - Pithy and topical, with extra kudos for explicit anti-racism. Only mildly marked down for spelling.

No. 6 - Reminding the ruling class of how the exploiter / exploitee relationship really works, with a nice ransom-note motif.

No. 5 - Yes.

No. 4 - Wordy but heartfelt, and in this socialist's heart there's always room for wordy but heartfelt.

No. 3 - I felt this one, rather uniquely, had resonances both of Goya's 'black paintings' period, and Janet and Allen Ahlberg's Funnybones. That has to be a winning combination, surely.

No. 2 - But, on the other hand, I've never been able to resist something from the Profanisaurus end of the political spectrum.

And finally, the coveted Number One slot. Topical and relevant, particularly as Birmingham is only just down the road. The outrageously opportunistic and racist actions by Michael Gove (easily my least favourite Tory) show no regard for either the truth or the impact on communities of high-profile attacks and slurs on them. But of course Gove is also extremist in his policies, which attempt to utterly destroy any chance of good-quality comprehensive education for all students. Here's my pick for Best Placard and Placardeer of the day!

Weekly Update #32

Hi everyone, this week's SWP update is a little later than usual, apologies.

Branch Meeting

This subject of this week's branch meeting is the radical political movements that arose during the English Civil War - the Diggers and the Levellers: Britain's radical tradition.

Come down for a lively discussion and to get involved in the fightback!

This Thursday, 7 pm, West End Community Centre.

Marxism 2014

This year's Marxism festival is fast approaching - have you got your tickets yet?

Marxism is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. Thousands of socialists from the UK and around the world will be attending a range of meetings and events covering all aspects of left politics.

Branch Secretary's pick of the week
My pick from the timetable this week is How can trades unions resist the Tories, which Liz Lawrence, Ronnie Draper and others  will be giving in the Elivn Hall, Saturday 2.00-3.15 pm. With the prospect of mass strikes from several of the country's largest unions the week before the meeting this should be pretty lively!


People's Assembly National Demonstration

On June 21st there will be a large national demonstration called by the People's Assembly, a broad anti-austerity organisation which the SWP wholeheartedly supports.

Obviously we need this to be as large and as loud as possible, so if you can go, do!

The first coach is now mostly full but a second coach is being organised. Contact Moz for more details.

There will be coaches from Derby for the demonstration going at 9 am from Full Street. To get tickets contact Moz Greenshields at mozgreenshields@tiscali.co.uk or 07889274723 via People's Assembly, or if you are a member of Unite, David Condliffe David.Condliffe@unitetheunion.org or 07791 113 806.

Defend the Right to Resist / Hands Off Our Unions!

There will be a public meeting on 25th June about the attacks workers are facing as they organise to fight back against austerity.

The event is co-hosted by People's Assembly and the Derby Area Trades Union Council (DATUC), and speakers will include the Secretary of DATUC, Moz Greenshields, and Assistant General Secretary of Unite, Steve Turner.

Obviously we want this meeting to be as big a success as possible, so if you can attend do, and let people know about it (see attached flyer)!

Weekly Update #31

Hi everyone,
Welcome to your brief guide to the political week from the Derby branch of the Socialist Workers' Party!

Branch Meeting

This subject of this week's branch meeting is the state of the EU and its increasing polarisation between left and right - Can the EU survive?

Come down for a lively discussion and to get involved in a range of activities!

This Thursday, 7 pm, West End Community Centre

Marxism 2014

This year's Marxism festival is fast approaching - have you got your tickets yet?

Marxism is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. Thousands of socialists from the UK and around the world will be attending a range of meetings and events covering all aspects of left politics.

Book tickets here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/booking.htm

Download timetable here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/timetable

Branch Secretary's pick of the week
My pick from the timetable this week is Immigration: The Myths They Use to Divide Us, which Sarah Creagh will be giving in the Clarke Room, Friday 3.45-5 pm. After the last elections showed the cumulative effects of immigrant-bashing by the press and elements of the ruling class, this meeting should be lively!

If you've never been to Marxism before, here's last year's opening session and rally:

People's Assembly National Demonstration

On June 21st there will be a large national demonstration called by the People's Assembly, a broad anti-austerity organisation which the SWP wholeheartedly supports.

Obviously we need this to be as large and as loud as possible, so if you can go, do!

There will be coaches from Derby for the demonstration going at 9 am from Full Street. To get tickets contact Moz Greenshields at mozgreenshields@tiscali.co.uk or 07889274723 via People's Assembly, or if you are a member of Unite, David Condliffe David.Condliffe@unitetheunion.org or 07791 113 806.

Defend the Right to Resist / Hands Off Our Unions!

There will be a public meeting on 25th June about the attacks workers are facing as they organise to fight back against austerity.

The event is co-hosted by People's Assembly and the Derby Area Trades Union Council (DATUC), and speakers will include the Secretary of DATUC, Moz Greenshields, and Assistant General Secretary of Unite, Steve Turner.

Obviously we want this meeting to be as big a success as possible, so if you can attend do, and let people know about it (see attached flyer)!