alanjjohnstone
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
New threats from Trump
I cannot help but make comparisons with the media’s coverage of America’s aid to Venezuela and the attempts to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, when it intercepted flotillas of aid ships (for full disclosure, I know one participant personally as she was a co-worker. She was on two of the attempts and who was arrested twice, three times if you include a West Bank arrest for monitoring Israeli anti-protest tactics), killing a number of the volunteers and also turning away a truck convoy by George Galloway at its land-border. While the US offers aid to Venezuela it is in a process of cutting aid to Gaza for political reasons.
It appears when the USA does it, then it is justified peaceful humanitarianism but when others do, it is a PR scheme by war-mongers.
“… One possible idea which is being explored is to hold an annual residential weekend school alternating between the US and Canada, somewhat along the lines of the SPGB’s summer school..”
I hope this is where the Party can make a positive contribution and offer supportive financial assistance to subsidize this school, not just with the accommodation and meal costs but equally important also towards the travel expenses to get there.
Apologies, Robbo, if at times my posts come across as teaching my granny how to suck eggs. I am sure your report will be both comprehensive and motivating and include many aspects that I have not considered.
But I think what Marcos was getting at is that any re-launched, re-branded WSPUS cannot be a clone of the SPGB. There are just too many differences in the environment where the WSPUS operates.
It will need its distinct analyses of working class politics, racial, language, immigration and sex and gender identities and self-images. To transcend these differentiations, personally, I think we require to develop and build upon the core issues that face everyone rather than appeal to any “league-ranking” in exploitation. Find that common factor that unites us all – and from where i am sitting it is class. Even highly paid air traffic controllers have now discovered just how vulnerable they are economically. But I will leave that to a regenerated WSPUS to work things out for themselves.
What I we have to be careful of is imposing a party structure and an approach that is not relevant nor applicable to American politics. For a start, a branch-based structure is simply not applicable outside cities when travel to meetings can be several hours. Also IMHO, that means a look at how we express our socialist ideas in the Declaration of Principles. Your experience with World in Common and its online journal Common Voice may help in a more effective alternative summary of our object and principles, more suited for a contemporary American audience rather than an Edwardian English working class. (too heretical a proposition?)
Isn’t it worrisome that it is the right wing that is successfully exposing the bias of the media and in particular the BBC. Just like Trump has done, Tommy Robinsons of the world are drawing attention to the fakery of the media in setting the political agenda and limiting the perspective of it.
He attracted 4000 and that is not a bad number of protesters, compared with less than 1000 counter-demonstrators
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-47335414
In regards to internet isolation, I think one tool that needs to be emphasized is actually this very forum to involve and engage members and sympathisers in discussion and debate but also as a medium for drawing attention to news items to stimulate talking points that can be linked to on various US progressive websites. It features many American focused topics such as the 2020 presidential election, the US intervention in Venezuela, as well as general themes of interest universally.
Another much underrated tool is our blog, SOYMB, which carries many international items and in particular a preponderance of American articles and events. If its blog stats are to be trusted the vast majority of visitors are already from the USA. With more input from US comrades this audience can be cultivated more.
I have suggested a constitutionally unified World Socialist Party, incorporating all the companion parties, Marcos, using the sophisticated by readily available tools of the internet and computers to administer it.
However, I acknowledge from the feedback on the forum that there is no demand for such a party as yet.
Therefore I limited my suggestion to a bilateral agreement between the SPC and the WSPUS, as a more practical proposition.
Are you intending to investigate and perhaps form closer links with the SPC. Robbo? Will you contact the SPC for their feedback and suggestions?
Since neither party is likely at the moment to engage in electoral process, I think there could be a case made for a merger if members of both parties are willing.
If not that then very closer links as both share common problems, a vast country and a geographic sparse membership. (Although SPC does have an active Toronto branch which is less than a couple of hours drive from Buffalo on the USA border)
Logistically and logically it makes some sense for them to operate as one organization at this time until they develop and grow.
There is a historical precedent for a unified SPC/WSPUS party. The short-lived Socialist Party of North America, 1911 – 1914
There was also the joint publication of the Western Socialist for many years.
Another example would be the WSP (Ireland) operating in constitutionally two separate countries and having dual memberships with the SPGB.
Just a thought if you have not already included the possibility in your plans
The Trump administration has issued a rule that bars federally funded family planning programs from referring women for abortions. The move could strip millions of federal dollars from Planned Parenthood and divert it toward faith-based care providers.
Planned Parenthood, which provides a range of reproductive health services including abortions, said the new rule amounts to a “gag rule” because it forces doctors to withhold medical information from patients.
“Imagine if the Trump administration prevented doctors from talking to our patients with diabetes about insulin,” said Leana Wen, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. “It would never happen. Reproductive healthcare should be no different.”I recall a pamphlet by someone (Mick Parkin?) who had studied the radical CNT unions of Spain and although that all had the recall provision in their constitutions he found no evidence that it had actually been evoked.
Another dire report on food producion
“The world’s capacity to produce food is being undermined by humanity’s failure to protect biodiversity, according to the first UN study of the plants, animals and micro-organisms that help to put meals on our plates…Over the last two decades, approximately 20% of the earth’s vegetated surface has become less productive, said the report.It noted a “debilitating” loss of soil biodiversity, forests, grasslands, coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and genetic diversity in crop and livestock species. In the oceans, a third of fishing areas are being overharvested…Agriculture was often to blame, he said, due to land-use changes and unsustainable management practices, such as over-exploitation of the soil and a reliance on pesticides, herbicides and other agro-chemicals.
Most countries said the main driver for biodiversity loss was land conversion, as forests were cut down for farm fields, and meadows covered in concrete for cities, factories and roads. Other causes include overexploitation of water supplies, pollution, over-harvesting, the spread of invasive species and climate change.
The trend is towards uniformity. Although the world is producing more food than in the past, it is relying on ever-expanding monocultures….”Nor has she endorsed any other Democrat presidential candidate but since Sanders is the only one who shares her “democratic socialist” credentials it is a blow to his campaign.
It was not her directly but a spokes-person from her office which shows her personal reluctance to take sides.
Still early yet
Also a war for water about to break out?
India’s infrastructure minister, Nitin Gadkari, announced that his country had “decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan.”
Water usage rights in the region are covered by the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which gives India control over the eastern Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers; and Pakistan control of the western Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
https://www.dw.com/en/india-to-cut-water-to-pakistan-as-kashmir-conflict-escalates/a-47622188
