Socialism 2005

Our big weekend of discussion and debate!

EACH WEEK in the socialist we will be highlighting different sessions and courses from the agenda of Socialism 2005 - a weekend of discussion and debate taking place on 12/13 November, 2005. For full details go to www.socialism2005.net.

Our environment - how can we save the planet?

OUTSIDE OF the White House and its hired liars there is widespread acceptance that global warming exists and is accelerating. Sea levels are rising, species are dying out, and extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity. Two sessions at Socialism 2005 will discuss how to stop the degradation of our environment.

The first: Do you have to be red to be green? taking place on Saturday 12 November from 3pm - 5 pm is a debate between Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member for the Green Party, and Judy Beishon, from the Socialist Party Executive Committee.

The second: A socialist energy policy taking place on Sunday 13 November from 1pm - 3 pm introduced by Pete Dickinson, author of Planning Green Growth, and a lecturer in environmental management, will look at alternative energy sources to oil.

Worldwide capitalist governments, including New Labour, are looking at expanding nuclear energy as the way forward. Pete will argue that the nightmare of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 19 years ago demonstrated irrevocably that nuclear fission is unsafe. He will look at alternatives including water, wind, and solar power and will argue that only on the basis of a democratically planned socialist economy will it be possible to fully harness these and other techniques.

NHS PLC - the fight to put people before profit

HEALTH MINISTER Patricia Hewitt told Labour Party conference that profit in the NHS 'isn't a dirty word'. But for people using the NHS it's a very dirty word indeed. Privatisation of hospital cleaning services has led to a halving in the number of cleaners and the doubling of deaths from the deadly super-bug MRSA.

But Ms Hewitt's government is moving to privatise the rest of the NHS at break-neck speed. This forum will discuss how to organise a successful struggle to save our hospitals and to rebuild the NHS as a public service. Speakers will include Dr John Lister, (KONHSP), Information Director, London Health Emergency and Lewisham Socialist Party Councillor Chris Flood.

New sessions and speakers at Socialism 2005

Nathan Aldrich, an organiser of the US campaign 'Military Families Speak Out', whose brothers are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, will address the Rally for Socialism.

Twenty years ago Neil Kinnock, then leader of the Labour Party, used his conference speech to launch an onslaught on the Labour council in Liverpool because it had dared stand up to the Tories and fight for the people of the city (see page 4). Tony Mulhearn, one of the leaders of that heroic struggle, will explain what happened and what lessons there are for today.

Other extra sessions will include a Defend Public Housing session and an eyewitness report of the struggles of the working class and poor in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Join us today!