Solidarity & More

Solidarity 531/Workers' Liberty 70 — Automation and the working class. 4th Article, Marx's telescope, by Martin Thomas. Article at: https://workersliberty.org/story/2020-01-14/marxs-telescope See: https://soundcloud.com/workers-liberty/automation-and-the-working-class-1-lead-article https://soundcloud.com/workers-liberty/automation-2-the-future-and-robots-hipster-reformism-and-the-technological-fix https://soundcloud.com/workers-liberty/automation-5-the-great-foundation-stone-of-wealth Full pamphlet at: workersliberty.org/WL70 Browse and subscribe to all audio: workersliberty.org/audio

What is your employer and the government doing about Covid-19 and what can we do to make sure the crucial and informed decisions are taken? Recording from Class struggle environmentalism, a day of workshops and discussions organised by Workers' Liberty. Intro-only version here: soundcloud.com/workers-liberty/covid-19-intro-only Lead off and summation by Martin Thomas, plus contributions from various trade unionists and other activists (slightly redacted on request): 00:00 Martin Thomas, Workers' Liberty/Solidarity editor 21:14 Ruth, Lambeth council worker 26:02 Stuart, mental health worker 31:27 London Underground worker 39:30 Jo, organiser of Labour mutual aid groups in Sheffield 41:50 Mark, school worker 48 summation by Martin Thomas The article mentioned by Martin Thomas at the beginning is here: https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2020-02-12/coronavirus-and-climate-change See more at workersliberty.org, or fb.com/workersliberty, or on twitter at @workersliberty Subscribe to and browse more audio at workersliberty.org/audio

"Class struggle environmentalism", with John Moloney, PCS assistant general secretary (p.c.) and Abel Harvie-Clark, youth climate striker, on where next for the climate strikes. https://soundcloud.com/workers-liberty/bob-carnegie-on-climate-struggles-in-australia was also part of the same session. 00:00 Abel 5:36 John See this follow up article by Abel https://workersliberty.org/story/2020-03-18/year-climate-strikes For future events by Workers' Liberty, see https://workersliberty.org/events

An N-Power worker lead this workshop on this biggest threat to the planet. Reliance on fossil fuels must be stopped, but how do we fight the big powers which own and run these businesses? Are things like cuts to fossil fuel subsidies, or public investment in alternative energy resources enough? Or is working-class democratic control of the energy grid the only way to get effective change?

Bob Carnegie, Queensland socialist activist, describes how anti-coal mine ″Stop Adani” campaign split the Australian labour movement. Why? Where now?

Women's Fightback issue 24, part 2 of 2, pages 9 to 15. Online at: https://www.workersliberty.org/workers-liberty-magazine/latest-issue/publications/womens-fightback/womens-fightback-24-march-2020

Women's Fightback, issue 24, 8 March 2020. Part 1 of 2, pages 1 to 8. Articles include: Strength and audacity we have never before known As early as possible, as late as necessary Catholicism and women's rights RLB, abortion rights and disability On the social construction of gender Babies, brooders and the abolition of gender Sexist bastards Online: https://workersliberty.org/workers-liberty-magazine/latest-issue/publications/womens-fightback/womens-fightback-24-march-2020 All audio: https://workersliberty.org/audio#solidarity

'The mill owners told the workers to bow down to the steam idol or starve', a review of Andreas Malm's 'Fossil Capital: The Rise of Steam Power and the Roots of Global Warming', written for Solidarity June 2016, by Neil Laker. More, a paper version of the booklet, and a contents list, at workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet

This is the audio recording of our forum, on the 12th of July 2019, on Democracy and Revolution in Sudan with Namaa al-Mahdi and Stephen Wood. See this article https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-19/sudan-uprising-regroups Checkout our website for future events, articles, publications, other audio and video, to find out more and get involved: www.workersliberty.org "One cannot know for sure what Russia felt like in 1917 as the tsar was being toppled, or France in 1871 in the heady, idealistic days of the short-lived Paris Commune. But it must have felt something like Khartoum in April 2019." David Pilling, Financial Times Incredible things are happening in Sudan. In early June, the Transitional Military Council, which took power after the downfall of the Sudanese tyrant Bashir after 30 years of brutal oppression, itself turned brutally on the Sudanese rebels who had maintained a sit-in outside their military headquarters in Khartoum. The repression used the notorious paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 180 were killed. Bodies were dumped into the Nile, weighted down by breeze blocks to try and disguise evidence. Many more have been wounded, arrested and detained in public offices guarded by the Janjaweed forces. Women and men have been raped, many are missing. The Sudanese revolution had united those across ethnicities who had been oppressed by the Bashir regime. Prominent amongst them had been new unions formed in most industries and services and brought together in the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA). The struggle of civil resistance continues. In response to the military massacres, there was a 3 day general strike and road blocks have been set up by the rebels to impede the now heavily armed murderous RSF militias. The Sudanese revolution needs our solidarity.

What kind of left does Labour need? with Seema Syeda See this article https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-12/labour-after-peterborough Seema Syeda's book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creeping-Fascism-What-How-Fight/dp/0995535264 Our summer camp at workersliberty.org/camp

What does Weber, heralded as one of the "founders of socilogy", have to teach contemporary Marxists? Activist and academic Dan Davison-Vecchione gave a talk, follwed by discussion, at Ideas for Freedom 2019. Our summer camp: workersliberty.org/camp See also this article: https://newpol.org/issue_post/marx-and-weber-critics-capitalism/

In 1956 Hungarian workers launched a revolutionary uprising against Stalinism that saw them form workers' councils. Soviet tanks crushed the revolution. Could things have been different, and what do the events of 1956 tell us about what Stalinism represented? an Ideas for Freedom 2019 session with John Cunningham Reading list on the revolution: https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2019-07-22/reading-list-1956-hungarian-revolution See https://workersliberty.org/story/2009/04/29/hungary-1956-solasworkers-republic-editorial-november-1966

The Chinese state is currently engaged in the brutal repression and mass incarceration of the Uyghur people, a Muslim ethnic minority mainly concentrated in the Xinjiang province. This session, which includes a film showing, discusses that repression and what can be done to resist it. With Aziz Ilsa Elkun (Uyghur activist) See https://workersliberty.org/story/2018-09-11/brutal-crackdown-chinas-uyghurs

What are the connections between the Brexit project and historic and contemporary British imperialism? Academics and activists Dr Cath Fletcher (University of Swansea, Workers' Liberty) and Prof. Danny Dorling (University of Oxford, author of "Rule Britannia: Brexit and the End of Empire) discuss the issues. Our pamphlets can be found https://workersliberty.org/pamphlets, and the pamphlet referenced, https://workersliberty.org/remainrebel https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-12/brexit-and-tory-schisms

Labour and antisemitism, at Ideas for Freedom 2019. Originally organised as a debate with Ken Livingstone, Martin Thomas presented the case against the form of "absolute anti-Zionism", which Workers' Liberty argues bleeds over into antisemitism; it is represented by Livingstone and is dominant on much of the left, and sees Zionism as an all-powerful conspiracy. Time was given in the session to anyone who wished to present the opposing view from the floor. Our pamphlets can be found at workersliberty.org/pamphlets, and the pamphlet referenced at https://workersliberty.org/as-pamphlet See also https://workersliberty.org/story/2017-07-26/livingstone-and-anti-zionist-left

Arguing for Autistic Rights: the backlash against neurodiversity and how to overcome it: Judy Singer, author of 'Neurodiversity: the birth of an idea'; Janine Booth, author of 'Autism Equality in the Workplace'; and Fergus Murray, co-founder of Autistic Mutual Aid Society, Edinburgh. For a video, see https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-27/arguing-autistic-rights-backlash-against-neurodiversity-and-how-overcome-it For the books, see https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autism-Equality-Workplace-Challenging-Discrimination/dp/1849056781 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/NeuroDiversity-Birth-Idea-Judy-Singer/dp/064815470X See https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-12/making-space-diversity and https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-05-22/two-and-half-cheers-neurodiversity

In the early 1900s, working-class activists built an organisation aimed at developing an independent working-class education, in order to prepare the labour movement for power. What can we learn from it today? Colin Waugh (Independent Working-Class Education Network) See here https://workersliberty.org/node/14617

What can the breakup of Yugoslavia teach us about nationalism, Stalinism, and inter-communal conflict? Academic and writer Sarah Correia (London School of Economics) will give a talk, followed by discussion. See https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-05/break-yugoslavia

For more critical perspectives on Malm by speaker who gave this talk see here https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2021-04-13/how-class-struggle-shaped-fossil-fuel and here https://www.workersliberty.org/story/2022-03-27/argument-over-malm-much-ado-about-nothing And more critique and debate here https://www.workersliberty.org/malm-debate This session introduces Andreas Malm's book on fossil fuels, and discusses how it could help activists develop an anti-capitalist, working-class environmentalism. With Mike Zubrowski See Workers' Liberty's pamphlets at http://workersliberty.org/pamphlets, including our 2018 pamphlet "For workers' climate action" https://workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet For a book review by another workers' liberty activist, see http://workersliberty.org/story/2017-07-26/fossil-fuels-and-rise-capitalism The book can be bought, in paper and/or ebook form, at https://www.versobooks.com/books/2002-fossil-capital For information about our summer camp, see workersliberty.org/camp

Deliveroo workers have organises a series of strikes against the food delivery company, demanding living wages and better conditions. This session discusses their struggle in the context of ongoing workers' fight backs in the "gig economy". With Tyrone Falls (Chair, Bristol Couriers' Network - IWGB) and Zack Murrell-Dowson (Chair, IWGB National Deliveroo Committee) Many articles have been written on this struggle, see http://workersliberty.org/iwgb For information about our summer camp, see workersliberty.org/camp

The future of the left in Israel, session at Ideas For Freedom 2019. The 2019 elections returned disastrous results for the left. Against a backdrop of rising nationalism, with Israel's right-wing government apparently intent on permanent annexation of Palestinian Territories, three speakers will discuss the prospects for building a Jewish-Arab left that can fight back against occupation, racism, and capitalism. With Eric Lee (Labour Start, p.c.), Maya Ilany (Yachad, p.c.), Tom Harris (Workers' Liberty). See Workers' Liberty's pamphlets at http://workersliberty.org/pamphlets, including our pamphlet "Two nations, two states: socialists and Israel/Palestine" https://workersliberty.org/story/2010/08/21/israel-palestine-two-nations-two-states Check out this article workersliberty.org/story/2019-06-12/left-israel For information about our summer camp, see workersliberty.org/camp

With protests against LGBT+ education continuing in Birmingham, this session discusses how school workers, LGBT+ campaigners, and others can build alliances to fight for LGBT+ education in schools, and against bigotry. With Khakan Qureshi (Birmingham South Asians LGBT) and Duncan Morrison (National Education Union) See https://workersliberty.org/story/2019-04-17/speaking-out-lgbt-inclusive-education For information about our summer camp, see workersliberty.org/camp

\With the climate crisis becoming acute, discussions are developing about how governments should response. What kind of "Green New Deal" do we need to stop climate catastrophe, and how can workers' organisations fight for it? With Luke Neal (Workers' Liberty) and Abel Harvie-Clarke (UK School Climate Network, school climate striker) See Workers' Liberty's pamphlets at http://workersliberty.org/pamphlets, including our 2018 pamphlet "For workers' climate action" https://workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet See also http://workersliberty.org/story/2019-05-01/socialist-green-new-deal-take-over-big-eleven The book can be bought, in paper and/or ebook form, at https://www.versobooks.com/books/2002-fossil-capital For information about our summer camp, see workersliberty.org/camp

Are "identity politics" and class politics in conflict? Do struggles against particular oppressions threaten working-class unity? Are concepts like "intersectionality" useful? These questions, and more, were discussed, in this Session at Ideas for Freedom 2019. With Ralph Leonard (writer and activist), Christie Neary (Workers' Liberty) See http://workersliberty.org/story/2017-07-26/whats-wrong-identity-politics, and also the chapter in our pamphlet https://workersliberty.org/why-soc-fem

'The Legacy of Rosa Luxemburg: Luxemburg and Luxemburgism'. A discussion at Ideas for Freeom 2019, led by Justine Canady and Martin Thomas. 100 years since her execution at the hands of proto-fascist paramilitaries enabled by the Social Democratic government, Rosa Luxemburg's legacy continues to be contested terrain for socialists. This session reviewed that legacy by looking at some of Luxemburg's key ideas. See our pamphlets at workersliberty.org/pamphlets, and in particular our pamphlet on the German Revolution, collected writings of Luxemburg https://workersliberty.org/rosa-luxemburg-selected See http://workersliberty.org/story/2019-01-25/rosa-luxemburg-and-imperialism

'Zetkin, Luxemburg and the German Social Democratic Women's Movement'. Discussion at Ideas for Freedom, led by Kelly Rogers and Kieran Miles, based on Lambeth AWL's socialist feminist reading group. See chapter by Janine Booth in workersliberty.org/why-soc-fem

Richard Wilkinson introduces his latest book "The Inner Level: How More Equal Societies Reduce Stress, Restore Sanity and Improve Everyone's Wellbeing" , co-written with Kate Pickett, & discuss the relationships between inequality and physical and mental health, at Ideas for Freedom 2019. Check out this review by Todd Hamer workersliberty.org/node/33768 Note: the graph referred to at 3.17 can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=15STbLvU5EtU6BjRHdGxgkKF6Y_6ODZSQ

'The Tiananmen Square uprising: when Chinese workers and students fought for freedom'. A discussion at Ideas for Freedom 2019, led by Dr. Camila Bassi (Sheffield Hallam University, Workers' Liberty) 30 years ago, an uprising of workers and students faced the military might of the Chinese state. What were the demands of the uprising, and why was it crushed so brutally? What are the lessons for those fighting for democracy against authoritarian regimes today? Note: the text referred to but not read out at 39.50 can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GDW0FlRzQVvIcUEvsZ6W3lJFUIHRxp0M The novel referred to is Ma Jian's "Beijing Coma", the autobiographical account is "Almost a Revolution: The Story of a Chinese Student's Journey from Boyhood to Leadership in Tiananmen Square" by Shen Tong, and one of the other historians referred to is Rana Mitter Check out this article workersliberty.org/story/2019-03-30/road-tienanmen-square-workers-and-students-chinafreedom

Climate change and socialist politics, document passed by Workers' Liberty conference, October 2008. More, a paper version of the WCA booklet, and a contents list, at https://workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet

William Morris: ecology and the shift to socialism, part 6 of our series on the politics of the late 19th century socialist William Morris, February 2009, by Paul Hampton More, a paper version of the booklet, and a contents list, at https://workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet

Urgent and radical action on climate change, motion submitted to Labour Party conference, 2018. More, a paper version of the booklet, and a contents list, at https://workersliberty.org/climate-pamphlet

Order Prevails in Berlin by Rosa Luxemburg, 14 January 1919

House of Cards by Rosa Luxemburg, 13 January 1919

What are the Leaders Doing? by Rosa Luxemburg, 7 January 1919

Our Programme and the Political Situation by Rosa Luxemburg, 31 December 1918

The Elections to the National Assembly by Rosa Luxemburg, 23 December 1918

What does the Spartacus League want? by Rosa Luxemburg, 14 December 1918.

The Socialisation of Society by Rosa Luxemburg, 4 December 1918

The Acheron in Motion by Rosa Luxemburg, 27 November 1918

A Call to the Workers of the World by Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, Franz Mehring and Clara Zetkin, 25 November 1918

The National Assembly by Rosa Luxemburg, 20 November 1918

A duty of honour by Rosa Luxemburg, 20 November 1918

The Beginning by Rosa Luxemburg, 18 November 1918

Introduction by Paul Vernadsky

0.00 - Cover 1.23 - Introduction 6.15 - What do we mean by 'the working class' and 'socialism'? 8.13 - Chapter 1: Defend and extend free movement 28.13 - Chapter 2: The Irish border question 31.37 - Chapter 3: Fighting nationalism: the working class has no country 45.43 - Chapter 4: Globalisation & integration 1.01.52 - Chapter 5: Remain is not enough 1.08.48 - Chapter 6: A manifesto for Europe 1.29.32 - Chapter 7: We Can Win a Socialist Europe: Remain and Rebel! 1.53.07 - Take up the fight

0.00 - Cover 0.11 - Women Fighting Stalinism 6.40 - Edith Lanchester and 'free love' 10.20 - Introducing Social Reproduction Theory 29.32 - Transphobia and Materialism 33.44 - Become Not Women 35.37 - Women and the Alt-Right 42.00 - The socialist roots of International Women's Day

In the centenary year of the murder of revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg, listen to this introduction to her famous work 'The Mass Strike, the Political Party and the Trade Unions', published in 1906, taken from the AWL London forum on 18 January 2019.

In the centenary year of the murder of revolutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg, listen to this introduction to her life and works, taken from the AWL London forum on 18 January 2019.