Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/490/2490
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 June 2007
Black and Asian group
Socialist ideas to unite all workers
The Socialist Party Black and Asian group in London met recently to discuss the work of the group and the difficulties facing black and Asian communities in Britain today.
Senan, Socialist Party Black and Asian group
Median pay for men of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin is £6.25 an hour compared to £7 for black men and £9.31 for white men. While 25% of white children in Britain are growing up in poverty, 49% of black children and 63% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi children are doing the same.
Britain under New Labour has seen an even bigger transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich than under the Tories, which affects black and Asian communities disproportionately.
The black and Asian socialist group aims to discuss the particular problems faced by black and Asian workers and help the party as a whole to develop a political programme to take up these issues, as part of the struggle to unite workers from every background.
Topics debated included how to raise socialist ideas within different communities and how socialists should respond to Margaret Hodge's divisive comments on housing (see "Defend and expand public housing" in the socialist issue 489).
The meeting also spoke about the Save Sadiq Abakar campaign. Sadiq, a Socialist Party member originally from Darfur, is facing deportation. Sadiq fled Darfur in 1999 after he and his brother had been jailed for protesting against the government.
His brother was killed in prison and has father was murdered. His asylum case has been denied in Britain and he faces persecution if sent back to Darfur.
Sadiq, who introduced the discussion, pointed out that the UK government are still trying to maintain their economic interest in Sudan despite ongoing genocide and civil war taking place in Darfur. There are petitions, leaflets, and a 12 minute documentary CD available for the campaign.
Please contact Rob MacDonald on lambethsocialistparty@hotmail.com if you are able to help this campaign.
There are many upcoming events that the group plans to take part in, including the Rise festival on 15 July, the 5 August Latin American festival, the London Mela on 12 August and the Notting Hill carnival during the last weekend of August.
We also plan to produce a booklet about the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 26 June, with the main discussion on 'Africa in revolt'. While we particularly encourage black and Asian Socialist Party members to attend, meetings are open to all members interested in the issues being discussed.
For more information about future meetings please contact senann@hotmail.com.
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In The Socialist 7 June 2007:
PFI - a licence to print money
Petition on NHS: Stop cuts and privatisations (word)
War and terrorism
Fight Brown's agenda of war, cuts & privatisation
Socialist Party workplace news
Coventry says 'keep our Post Office open'
CWU delegates attack link with Labour
Come to the Shop Stewards' Network conference
National Shop Stewards Network Founding conference
Ritzy - low-paid workers strike again
G8 Summit protests
80,000 demonstrate against the G8 summit
What we think
Socialist Party feature
Young people: a bright future... or different shades of grey
International socialist news and analysis
Bolivia: Release Adam Ziemkowski
South Africa: Public sector workers in mass fightback
The Arab-Israel 1967 war: repression and bloodshed continues
Socialist Party news and analysis
Don't trust the Trust schools - organise!
Tony Blair "brings church into school"
Weekly bin collections AND recycling schemes
Black and Asian group: Socialist ideas to unite all workers
Take part in the 22-28 June Fighting Fund week of action
The fat cat and the 'cleaning lady'
Workplace news and analysis
Remploy management squander opportunities
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