The campaign for Socialism 2005 begins now

The campaign for Socialism 2005 has begun. Although the event is not taking place until November 12 and 13 all Socialist Party branches are being asked to begin building for it now.

Hannah Sell

Previous Socialism events have featured excellent political discussions, incisive debates and a wide range of national and international speakers. Those who attend invariably comment on how much they've enjoyed the event and learned from it.

However, the Socialist Party has never succeeded in mobilising the numbers we are capable of to Socialism. This year we intend to change that, and to treble last year's attendance of 400. We are asking Socialist Party members to put the date in their diaries and to book their tickets now and to approach fellow trade unionists and activists to do the same.

Centre point

The centre point of the weekend will be Saturday evening's Rally for Socialism. Speakers will include Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the PCS and Joe Higgins, Socialist Party MP in Ireland, recently in prison for defying an unjust law.

As in previous years there will be free accommodation with Socialist Party members. However, in addition, for those who want to make sure they have their own room and a bed - there will be cheap hostel accommodation available. There will also be a high-quality, professionally staffed creche.

Throughout the weekend there will be a wider variety of seminars, discussions and debates, just a few of which are listed below:

Socialism in the 21st century

Can the working class change the world? Marx argued that the working class had the key role to play in changing society. Is that true in today's globalised world?

How could a planned economy work today?

Britain

Will the unions lead a fight back?

Time for a new workers' party

Will we ever see a revolution in Britain?

Latin America

Venezuela - can Chavez continue to defy imperialism?

Cuba - is it socialist?

Socialist Anniversaries

1905 - One hundred years since the first Russian Revolution

E=mc2 - How socialist physicist Einstein changed the world

1945 - when Britain's workers and soldiers demanded a 'land fit for heroes'

The Middle East

The history of workers' struggle in the Middle East

Iraq - how can imperialism be defeated?

Can imperialism bring democracy to the Middle East?

Our environment

Nuclear power - clean energy or lethal danger?

Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?

Are we being poisoned? - why profits are jeopardising food safety