Solidarity and secularism

Submitted by Anon on 16 April, 2004 - 8:37

This is the seventeenth year Ideas for Freedom has taken place. The event is a forum for free and open socialist debate and discussion. Ideas for Freedom is an opportunity for socialists and activists to take stock of the political situation, debate differences, and to meet like-minded people.

This year we will highlight solidarity with the emerging new Iraqi workers' movement, and the political ferment in the British trade union movement opened up by New Labour's expulsion of the RMT and the moves for a new Labour Representation Committee.

Alex Gordon (RMT) and Billy Hayes (CWU) in a forum on working-class political representation and the way forward for trade unionists.

Abdullah Muhsin from the Iraqi trade union federation IFTU will discuss the prospects for the emerging Iraqi trade union movement. Alan Johnson will speak on the "pro-tyrant left". Clive Bradley on "What next for Iraq?"

Also David Merhav from Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the responses of the Israeli left. A session on the situation in Kosova will include a contribution from Liz Leicester, recently returned from the area.

There will be a discussion about socialists and the Muslim communities in Britain. Yves Coleman will introduce a discussion about the banning of the veil in French state schools.

In Britain "faith" schools are booming: we'll discuss how the left can campaign for secular principles. Sessions will run on Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haitian revolution; the crisis in Haiti, and the fall of the Aristide regime. Paul Hampton will debate Free Trade and Fair Trade. A workshop will examine the ideas of Toni Negri.

12.00 - 9.00 Saturday 3 July
11.00 - 4.30 Sunday 4 July

At Highgate Newtown Community Centre, 25 Bertram Street, London N19 (Archway or Tufnell Park Tube).

There is a creche and cheap food. Accommodation is available.
Tickets are available at the event, but are cheaper before the end of May. Two-day weekend tickets are £18 (waged)/£10 (low waged, students)/ £6 (unwaged). One day tickets are £9 (waged)/£5 (low waged, students)/ £3 (unwaged).

You can book online for the Workers' Liberty summer school at http://www.workersliberty.org/whatson

The political folk-singer, Robb Johnson

will be performing at Ideas for Freedom - at 7 pm on 3 July. Tickets to hear Robb can be bought separately for £3.

"Creator of some of the most potent songs of the last decade" - Roots

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