A weekend of socialist discussion and debate

Hosted by the Socialist Party - All welcome

Saturday 26 October, 3pm - 9pm Sunday 27 October, 10am - 4pm

Opening Rally

Saturday 26 October 3-6 pm

Workers fight back - Spain, Italy, France, Britain... Build the struggle for a 24-hour public-sector strike.

Speakers:

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers' Union

Janice Godrich, president of the Public and Commercial Services union

Dave Nellist, leader of the Socialist Party group on Coventry city council (pictured above)

Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party

Closing Rally

Sunday 27 October 3-4.30 pm

Where next for the anti-war movement?

After the biggest anti-war demonstration in Britain ever- what next? 

Building for the 31 October day of protest and beyond.

Speakers:

George Galloway MP (picture above)

Zena Awad, International Socialist Resistance (picture below)

Hannah Sell, Socialist Party Campaigns Organiser (picture above)

Course 1: Stop Bush and Blair's war on Iraq.

Session A: The history of Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

Bush and Blair claim to be morally outraged by Saddam Hussein's treatment of the Iraqi people. The real recent history of Iraq reveals a very different story.

Speaker: Lynn Walsh, editor of Socialism Today, the Socialist Party's monthly magazine

Session B: Lessons of the Vietnam war.

Is it possible to build a movement powerful enough to stop a war? How can we do it? What lessons can we learn for today from the campaign against the Vietnam war?

Speaker: Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party (picture above).

Session C: Israel/Palestine.

While Bush weeps crocodile tears for the people of Iraq the US is ignoring the horrendous plight of the Palestinians. This session looks at recent development in the region and discusses how the Palestinians could win genuine national liberation. Speaker: Judy Beishon, International Executive Committee of the Committee for a Workers' International .

Background reading:

Iraq Since 1958 by Frank et al. £14.99

The Iron Wall by Shlaim. £11.99

Rogue State by Blum. £9.99

Course 2: Building the trade unions

Session A: Perspectives for trade union and workplace struggles.

Fire-fighters, London Underground workers, local authority workers, train drivers - the number of workers in Britain fighting to improve their pay and conditions is growing day by day. Will this trend continue and can these struggles succeed? Speaker Bill Mullins Socialist Party National Industrial Organiser (picture above).

Session B: How to be a socialist shop steward.

Speaker: Mike Forster Kirklees UNISON, personal capacity.

Session C: Return to the 1970s?

The media keep comparing the current wave of industrial militancy to the mighty battles of the 1970s. What really happened and how can we learn from it 30 years on?

Speaker: Simon Donovan Socialist Party National Committee and Waltham Forest UNISON, personal capacity.

Background reading:

Resisting Capitalism - the case for a new workers' party. £1.50

The Great Gold Rush, how to fight the privatisation bonanza. £1.50.

Teamsters Rebellion by Dobbs. £10.95

Course 3: Socialism

Session A: Would socialism achieve liberation for women?

Speaker Clare James, secretary of International Socialist Resistance.

Session B: Could Socialism prevent the destruction of the environment?

Speaker Pete Dickinson, author of Planning Green Growth - a socialist contribution to the debate on environmental sustainability (see CWI website).

Session C: Malcolm X said that you can't have capitalism without racism. Is that true? Could socialism end racism?

Speaker: Hugo Pierre, convenor of Black and Asian Socialists (pictured above right).

Background reading:

Socialism in the 21st Century, by Hannah Sell. £5

Fighting for Women's Rights and Socialism. £2.50

The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X. £1

Global Warning: Socialism and the Environment. £6.95

Course 4: World in turmoil

Session A: Latin America - an attempted coup in Venezuela, four Presidents overthrown in Argentina, economic crisis - what future for Latin America?

Speaker: Tony Saunois secretary of the Committee for a Workers' International.

Session B: Africa.

With 20 million starving in Southern Africa - can capitalism develop the continent?

Speaker: Kevin Simpson.

Session C: World economic crisis.

As the USA's stock markets continue to tumble, this session looks at the underlying reasons for the current economic crisis and the prospects for the future.

Speaker: Robin Clapp, secretary of the South West region of the Socialist Party.

Background reading:

Global Turmoil: Capitalist Crisis, a Socialist Alternative. The book of the Seventh World Congress of the CWI, £2.

Indonesia, an Unfinished Revolution. £1.50

Under Siege, Global Capitalism and the Socialist Alternative. £1.50

Course 5: The lives of great revolutionaries

Session A: Che Guevara.

Thirty five years ago the Cuban revolutionary Che Guevera was murdered in the Bolivian jungle by his CIA interrogators. Today Che is still an icon of anti-capitalism. This session looks at his life.

Speaker: Naomi Byron, national secretary of Youth Against Racism in Europe.

Session B: Rosa Luxemburg.

In 1918, in the wake of the Russian revolution, a revolutionary wave swept Germany. Rosa was at its head. Tragically, she was murdered in 1919 by counter-revolutionary thugs. Today in Germany she remains a national heroine, but what did she stand for?

Speaker: Christine Thomas, Associate Editor of The Socialist.

Session C: Leon Trotsky.

Trotsky was the chairman of the first ever soviet - committee of workers' representatives - in the first Russian revolution. In 1917 he was the organiser of the October Russian revolution, the greatest single event in human history. He then created and led the Red Army which defeated the twenty-one armies of imperialism sent to crush the revolution.

But most of all, Leon Trotsky was one of the greatest theoreticians of the workers' movement.

Speaker: Paul Hunt, International Socialist Resistance.

Background reading:

Cuba, socialism and democracy, by Peter Taaffe, £4.99.

Che Guevara: Symbol of Struggle. £2.50.

My Life, Leon Trotsky. £17.45

Rosa Luxemburg by Paul Frolich. £12.99

Course 6: Strategies to overthrow capitalism

Session A: Marxism versus Anarchism - the debate in 2002.

Speaker: Hannah Sell, National Campaigns Organiser of the Socialist Party.

Session B: Does the Russian Revolution of 1917 have any lessons for socialists today?

Speaker: Ken Smith, Socialist Party representative on the Stop the War Coalition steering committee.

Background reading:

A History of the CWI/CIO. £1.50

Smash the IMF and World Bank, a Socialist Alternative to Global Capitalism. £1.

For a Socialist Europe: Against the Bosses' EU (three languages). £1.

History of the Russian Revolution by Leon Trotsky £19.99

The Rise of Militant by Peter Taaffe £9.99

Half a million demonstrated on the streets of Barcelona and thirteen million have taken General Strike action in Italy. Millions demonstrated in France against the far-right. The anti-capitalist movement is gaining strength worldwide.

No wonder – capitalism is increasingly a system of economic crises, war and political turmoil. In Malawi,  the sixth poorest country on the planet, 20 million Africans are  facing starvation. Argentina, once a wealthy country, is suffering a catastrophic financial collapse.

The Middle East is a tinder box just waiting for a spark to ignite it. The Palestinians are facing repeated and brutal onslaught and occupation from Sharon and his cohorts. India and Pakistan are again teetering towards war. And in Europe, anger at the capitalist politicians has led millions to look for left and socialist alternatives. At the same time, in France and Holland, the danger of the growth of far-right, racist parties has also been highlighted.

Socialism 2002 will debate left viewpoints on all of these issues. Crucially we will be discussing the need for a socialist alternative to the nightmare of capitalism, and what form such an alternative should take.

Cost

Waged £15 for weekend (£8 for one day)

Unwaged £7.50 for weekend (£4 for one day)

Socialism 2002

SOCIALISM 2002 is a weekend of discussion and debate, hosted by the Socialist Party, about how best we can fight back against capitalism. 

By Hannah Sell

Crucially we will also be discussing the need for a socialist alternative to the nightmare of capitalism and what form such an alternative should take.

Every reader of The Socialist should make a point of attending Socialism 2002. If you haven't booked your place yet then fill in the form below today.

However, Socialism 2002 is not only for current readers of The Socialist and members of the Socialist Party.

It is the best possible event for people new to socialist ideas to attend if they want to find out more. Make a point of inviting fellow trade unionists and anti-capitalists, friends, relatives and acquaintances to come along. On Socialist Party stalls invite everyone who stops to attend.

If you need more leaflets just give the office a ring on 020 8988 8767.

If you would like to be regularly updated with details of the agenda and speakers at Socialism 2002 just email us at socialism@socialistparty.org.uk

Photo credits: Paul Mattsson 020 8988 8777

Entrance price: Waged £15 for weekend (£8 for one day)

Unwaged £7.50 for weekend (£4 for one day)

Tickets can be bought on the day

Where:

University of London Union (ULU), Malet street, London, WC1, United Kingdom

(Near Goodge Street and Euston Square Underground stations.)

Essential Information

Creche

There will be full creche facilities but places must be booked by 9 October.  Please email us details of children (i.e. age and other important information such as foods they cannot eat etc.)

Food

There will be some food on sale in the ULU snack bar.

Accommodation

If you can stay with friends or relatives please do so. Otherwise we can arrange for you to stay with our members in the London area. Please let us know by 15 October whether you need accommodation for Saturday night. Please bring a sleeping bag.

Special Needs

The venue is accessible but please contact us if you think there is something we may have overlooked.

Transport

ULU is near Goodge Street and Euston Square Underground stations.

Refunds

Refunds are given at the discretion of the Socialist Party Executive Committee, (after a seven day cooling off period from the day of purchase, during which the buyer has the right to cancel and a full refund.)

Contact

In case of problems contact our head office by email or phone (++44) (0)20 8988 8777, or write to the address below.

Other payment methods

Within the UK only you can pay by cheque or postal order by post to:

Socialism 2002

PO Box 24697

London

E11 1YD