Solidarity 3/22, 23 January 2003

Time to challenge the testing culture

Submitted on 3 February, 2003 - 00:25

The NUT National Executive has agreed to canvass its members for a boycott of some SAT tests. Teachers must now renew their campaigning against the testing culture.

No to teaching on the cheap!

Submitted on 3 February, 2003 - 00:24

By Pat Murphy, Leeds NUT
On 15 January all the unions representing workers in schools, except the National Union of Teachers (NUT), signed up to an agreement which could radically change the structure of the school workforce. If implemented it will deal with the chronic teacher shortage caused by Government education policies - by employing people other than teachers to teach.

Firefighters need your solidarity!

Submitted on 1 February, 2003 - 09:27

By Chris Reynolds

plus Solidarity round-up

"The Government and employers' offer isn't in any way acceptable. It boils down to their wish list for the last 15 years, cuts, closures, downgrading the pension and so on for 4%. That isn't something we can negotiate on. Our action will continue till we get a decent wage increase without strings. In south east London our stations are solid."

Frontline poetry: The Internationale

Submitted on 28 January, 2003 - 07:43

The famous socialist battle cry was heard during the Tiannamenn Square protests of 1989. Such words can help form a link from the authentic socialism of the past to a renewed socialism of the future.

Arise ye workers from your slumbers
Arise ye prisoners of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
And at last ends the age of cant.
Away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise

An inspiration for a new generation

Submitted on 28 January, 2003 - 07:43

Veteran Chinese Trotskyist Wang Fan-hsi dies by Din Wong

also Alexander Buchman

On 16 January the funeral of the veteran Chinese Trotskyist Wang Fan-hsi took place. He was ninety five. As well as friends and family there were representatives and comrades from many of the revolutionary groups in Britain.

The Writing On The Wall: Crimes And Misdemeanours

Submitted on 28 January, 2003 - 07:42

Iraq attack “self defence”?
... the causes of crime
the other favourite scapegoat

Paedophiles: How to combine freedom and protection

Submitted on 27 January, 2003 - 12:54

The arrest of several high-profile celebrities on charges of downloading child pornography, and rumours of moves against even more highly placed individuals (MPs and civil servants), has put the spotlight on issues of adult-child sex, pornography and paedophilia. What should socialists think about it all?

See also: Weekly Worker: A Little Light on the W W Group ("CPGB")
Song of the Weekly Worker:
I'm so small! But I'm poisonous too;
What I say is at best but half-true:
I spread gossip thin,
So they'll think I'm well in;
But I'm useful, torn up in the loo!
*(And see appendix by the Marxist-Limerick Tendency)