The Socialist 28 October 2009

Support Postal Workers

Support postal workers

Support post workers, this is no time to equivocate

Postal strike reports: Defending the service

BBC Question Time panel - Workers' voice denied against BNP

BBC Griffin protest: Jobs and homes, not racism!

Far right shut out of Newport by mass protest

Socialism 2009 forum - can we build a party for working class people?

Huddersfield march for jobs

Young musicians support YFJ

Cardiff Socialist Student elected

Afghanistan: anti-war demo

Tamil Solidarity fights for boat refugees

Darling you're talking rubbish!

Energy giant 'fanciful to the point of paranoia'

80th anniversary of the Wall Street Crash: Capitalist failure - then and now

Strikes sweep across Yorkshire

Leeds bin strike: 92% vote to reject council's 'final' offer

Battle for jobs in Land Registry

Ex Ford/Visteon pensioners protest in Swansea

Leicester uni cuts protest

Call centres - public services on the cheap

Newport Rising 1839

Daily Mail homophobia

Film review - Capitalism: a love story

Conspirator: Lenin in Exile

Previous issues, etc

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Afghanistan: anti-war demo

Anti-war demonstration October 2009, photo Rob Emery (Click to enlarge)

SEVERAL THOUSAND anti-war protesters marched from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, London, on 24 October to protest against the eight-year long military occupation of Afghanistan by Nato forces.

The demo was led by a serving British soldier - lance corporal Joe Glenton - who is facing a court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan.

Anti-war demonstration October 2009, photo Rob Emery (Click to enlarge)

The protest coincided with the publication of a Channel4/Yougov opinion poll which showed that 84% believe British troops are losing the war, with 48% believing victory is impossible - up 12% on two years ago. 62% wanted British troops brought home immediately or within the next year or so.

Anti-war demonstration October 2009, photo Rob Emery (Click to enlarge)

While the platform speakers at the rally in Trafalgar Square criticised the continuing presence of western forces in Afghanistan, the question of through what social forces and under what conditions such a change in government policy could be achieved was left vague.

Socialist Party members in discussions argued that building a mass movement of workers and youth, linked to struggles on other social issues in Britain, is necessary to end the UK's military intervention. It is also necessary for a mass, democratic movement of workers and peasants in Afghanistan to challenge imperialism, the warlords and the reactionary Taliban.