Dates for Activists

Hello comrades!

It's been a busy time, with trade union activity, anti racism work and our own branch meetings.

Here is a bit of a round up of what we've been doing, and what's coming up

April

A number of us were delegates to NUT national conference, where there was much anger about the changes being made to education, especially the chronic and systematic underfunding of schools. Teachers made the decision to take a stand against funding cuts, selective education and the regime of testing in primary schools.

20th April meeting saw us discussing the crisis in capitalism with Joseph Choonara. He talked about his findings from his recent book, and we discussed the way global capitalism is regularly in crisis, how it shifts around money (and debt) to prop up the system, and how we can help to mobilise the working class to gain in confidence and fight back.

27th April- Branch Meeting

To give us the opportunity to discuss our thoughts about the General Election, and what we want to be doing during the campaign.

Join us on Thursday 27th April at 7 pm, at the West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road, Derby.

Tuesday 25th April -  SOS NHS local organising meeting

An opportunity to share ideas and see how you can get involved in the campaign. Town Centre venue, 6pm. Please contact us for more info.

May

Tuesday 2nd May - Stand up to Racism 

How do we keep racism out of the general election?

Come along and share your ideas - get involved in this important campaign. How can we follow the example set in Birmingham, of standing up to the far right, and what can we do to oppose the racism that we might expect to see in the election campaign?

For details of time and venue, please contact us.

Saturday 27th May - The Silk Mill Turn Out

Derby's annual celebration of worker fight back and trade unionism.

July
Festival of Marxism
Don't forget to get your tickets for this excellent event, bringing together activists from around the country and internationally with some great speakers on a ranged of issues, activism and political theory.
Visit the website www.marxismfestival.org.uk for more details.
 If you'd like to go but might struggle to pay, please let us know - we can help with the cost.

Our meeting venue, for SWP Branch Meetings: West End Community Centre, Derby



You can find us on Facebook, or contact us on branchsec@derbyswp.org.uk

Dates For The Big Red Diary

Hello comrades!

2016 isn't yet over, but lots is going to be happening in 2017 for everyone who opposes oppression and exploitation and wants to drive back the right in and out of parliament!

There are going to be plenty more events going on, but here are some you'll want to be sure you don't miss!

January

3rd - Action For Rail have called a national day of action, as on the 1st January new rises in rail fares will be announced. This comes against a backdrop of strikes as the RMT act to defend the safety of the railways in Liverpool and the South East.

12th - SWP Meeting: Prospects for Socialist in 2017, including report back from national conference. This is likely to be a members-only meeting, please email branchsec@derbyswp.org.uk for more information.

26th - SWP Meeting:

How can we beat Trump?

After the solidarity protest against the inauguration of Trump on 20th January in London, this meeting is essential to help us navigate an increasingly polarised capitalist world.

Join us on Thursday 26th January at 7 pm, at the West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road, Derby.

February

4th - Stand Up To Racism Trades Union Conference
It's vitally important that active trades unionists are also active anti-racists as our rulers attempt to whip up hatred between groups of workers. Get yourself down to the national Stand Up To Racism Trades Union Conference at Hamilton House in London!

March

4th - Save Our NHS National Demonstration, London
18th - National Stand Up To Racism demonstration - celebrate UN Anti-Racism Day!

End of year social

Our final meeting of the year is a social - come down, grab a samosa, enjoy some comedy and talk a bit of politics!

Derby Stand Up To Racism Fundraiser this Friday

The Stand Up To Racism campaign in Derby has been active throughout the year. Now one of its members has organised a fundraising event for this Friday, which is fantastic.

If you support Stand Up To Racism and like Grease, this could be the fundraiser you have been looking for!

Can Capitalism Save The Planet? Meeting TOMORROW!

Hello everyone,

This is just a brief reminder that tomorrow night we have our monthly branch meeting. We will be discussing the chilling question:
 

Can capitalism save the planet?

Last week it was announced that CO2 levels in the atmosphere had reached their highest ever, putting us well on the way to 2 degree warming and which will take thousands of years to reduce. At the same time it was announced that renewable energy had shown a huge increase over the last year, with capacity now overtaking coal for the the first time. So is capitalism averting the disaster it has created? Can it?

Our guest speaker will be Martin Empson, treasurer of the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group, and author of Land and Labour, Marxism and Ecology and most recently this excellent article in International Socialism: Food, Agriculture and Climate Change.

Thursday 3rd November
7 pm

West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

Update #95

In this update:

• Branch meeting - climate change: can capitalism save the planet?
• Unite the Resistance national conference
• Report from Stand Up To Racism national conference

Branch Meeting

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This month, our guest speaker  Martin Empson will introduce the topic: climate change: can capitalism save the planet?

We have another exciting guest speaker this month! Martin Empson is a prominent activist in the environmental movement and is the author of Land and Labour and Marxism, Ecology and Human History. He is also treasurer of the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group.

Climate change is being caused by capitalism - can the system find a way to stop it? The stakes are high, time is short and effective action is urgently needed. Join us for what is sure to be an informative and lively public meeting and debate!

Thursday 3rd November

7 pm

West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

United Front work

As well as being a party of revolutionaries, we recognise that it is vital to work alongside others in areas where we share common ground. As well as solidarity with striking workers such as the teachers, junior doctors and teaching assistants, the SWP has a proud tradition of broad united front work within organisations such as the Anti-Nazi League, the Stop the War Coalition, the People's Assembly and many more.

Unite the Resistance national conference

Unite the Resistance is a national organisation of trades unionists who want to be part of a serious fightback against austerity.

Its annual conferences have been an amazing place to be, with trades unionists sharing their experiences of successful action against employers, trades union leaders giving their perspectives on the state of the struggle and political leaders such as shadow chancellor John McDonnell. It's a really lively event with a huge range of discussions and debates going on and some really inspiring stories.

This year is no different and the impressive line-up includes:

If you want to see a serious fightback to austerity that can win, Unite The Resistance is a good place to start! For more information email branchsec@derbyswp.org.uk

Stand Up to Racism national conference

Jeremy Corbyn MP and Diane Abbott MP addresses plenary session of SUTR conference

The conference on 8th October was a huge success, with 1600 anti-racist delegates from a huge range of organisations and none attending on the day. In the wake of a spike in racist attacks following the Brexit vote, it was a great event that anti-racists should use to help build the Stand Up To Racism campaign in communities across the country.

Derby Stand Up To Racism group has some big ideas to help build on the broad, inclusive conference and make sure that racism cannot gain ground in Derby. For more information check out the Derby Stand Up To Racism Facebook page or email derbysutr@gmail.com


 Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Update #94

In this update:

• Branch meeting - the state and socialism, joint with Nottingham branch
• Stand Up To Racism national conference

Branch Meeting

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This month, a joint meeting with Nottingham SWP branch. Our guest speaker will introduce the topic. 

What do we mean by the state? Can it be made to work in our interests? With the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn, who is a lifelong socialist, to leadership of the Labour Party these questions are of immediate importance to the left!

Thursday 6th October

7 pm

West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

Stand Up to Racism national conference

Saturday 8th October, central London - there is a fantastic line-up of speakers and it will be really big and a great help to the Derby organisation in building for the future. There is a delegation going down from Derby. If you are interested in joining them, please contact us at branchsec@derbyswp.org.uk for more details.

 Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!