Workers' Liberty

First posted 16 November. Student Movement overview (LCR website translation): 37 Universities wholly or partially on strike, with pickets: Paris I (Tolbiac), Sorbonne Paris IV, Paris III, Paris VIII Saint-Denis, Paris X Nanterre, Paris XIII Villetaneuse, Rouen, Tours...

The Tories are trying to bring back a toned down version of National Service. The original version, under which all young men had to do two years military service, was abolished in 1963.

By Sofie Buckland, National Union of Students executive (pc)

Two wee anecdotes:

1. A couple of people I know who live in the Clapton Pond area have recently been the unfortunate victims of crime. One has had his car stolen for the second time in the last year. The other was forced to hand over his motorbike at knifepoint.

Welcome to life working on the railway. Goodbye social life!

Working in a station surrounded by buzzing nightlife means the life you are missing out on stares you in the face: a constant reminder that while you are working, others are having fun. Your free time rarely coincides with others', so you are less able to use your time off effectively.

By a SYN executive member

At last year's Labour Representation Committee conference, a small group of young people met to discuss setting up an LRC youth organisation. Out of this came the Socialist Youth Network, which, after a number of planning meetings, held its first conference at University of London Union on 13 January.

Two news stories grabbed my attention today. Firstly, that applications for university places are down 3.6%. And secondly, that Army recruitment has risen by 9%.

To say it shortly !

1)The attack by French Prime Minister De Villepin on the CPE (First Job Contract) is not only an attack on the youth, it is completed by the CNE (New Job Contract for all workers in the companies under 20 wage-workers ). When De Villepin issued the CNE last summer, the top officials of trade unions said nothing or nothing loud and didn’t nothing to mobilise.

The wealthy’s way of giving birth —

courtesy of the NHS

Described by NHS bosses as, “an income generating” idea, the Jentle midwifery scheme — where women are guaranteed one-to-one regular care … for the price of £4,000 — is a step towards a two tier NHS pre-natal service.

The Edukators are Jan (Daniel Bruhl) and Peter (Stipe Erceg), anti-capitalists with their own ideas for how to build for socialist revolution. With the handy skill of being able to disarm an alarm, they break in to rich people’s houses, go in, and rearrange the furniture. They leave them with the unnerving message “Your days of plenty are numbered”. Directed by Hans Weingartner, his second feature since 2001’s The White Noise, he explains in an interview that, this generation no longer “know how to fight against the system”. His offering to this conundrum has received him nomination for the Golden Palm at The Cannes Film Festival.

Peter Tatchell is a human rights activist who is a member of the Green Party and the gay rights group OutRage! He is particularly well-known for his criticism of homophobic reggae artists and the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe, who he has twice tried to Citizen's Arrest.

The Green Party has really increased its profile in recent years, particularly among Britain's youth. This has led to a progression in the number of Greens and environmentalists at all sorts of demos, and they've managed to make their anti-war sentiment well known. Beyond this, their stances on issues such as gay and lesbian rights, top-up fees and multinationals have meant that they've been able to attract a number of young people, disaffected by the mainstream parties, looking for a group which can voice their anger at the problems in our society.

In the Queen’s Speech, the grey-haired racist billionaire announced, on behalf of Blair’s government, that the society constructed in Labour’s third term would be based on “respect.” No, not the dodgy communalist lash-up that managed to get some self-obsessed demagogue elected in East London (see elsewhere on this website), but that fluffy universal value that everyone from Ali G to Tony himself are advocates and exponents of.

By Pat Murphy

Less than one month back in power, and New Labour has it sights on a fresh enemy. Popular opinion, so distrustful of politicians and leaders, is being encouraged to work out its frustration and discontent on a new public enemy number one. The latest anti-social scapegoat is…..young people.

By Nicky (16)

Yo, what’s up, peeps?

Or should I use correct grammar?

Say “Hello, how are you?”

To tell you the truth, I couldn’t give a damn.

And I’m sick and tired of not being listened to.

Josh Robinson reviews “Bullet Boy”

“Bullet Boy” traces the path of Ricky Gordon (rapper Ashley Walters of So Solid Crew) from the day of his release from a young offenders’ institution back into daily life in his Hackney council estate.

From 'Hackney Solidarity' April 2005 issue, for Aspland & Marcon estates

• School gates closed?

• Rents up again
• Pensioners cheated
• Recycling cash
• Re-open our youth club