Isai Marijerla, Socialist Party treasurer
The marvellous financial appeal at Socialism 2025 raised £61,895.50, doubling the target of £30,000. It was an appeal that reflected the positive optimism in socialist ideas, and that armed with those ideas, we can change the world. Thank you for all those that have donated towards the appeal and to those that redeemed your pledge. £46,688.75 has already been paid in. A reminder to please pay in your pledge by the end of the year.
Globally, working-class and young people are looking for an alternative. In New York, a self-proclaimed socialist got elected as a Mayor, defeating Donald Trump and the billionaires who campaigned against him. A month before his election, nearly seven million people were out protesting against Trump, the largest single-day protest in US history.
In Italy, we saw a 24-hour general strike against the war in Gaza, and against attacks on pay and pension reform. It involved two million people in 100 cities.
In France, a nationwide mass strike of one million workers against the government budget.
In other parts of the world, a generation of young people are on the streets, demanding an end to corruption, but ultimately demanding a better life. This generation has been brought up in a period of economic crisis, with capitalism unable to provide a way forward.
War and conflicts are a daily feature for too many people in the world.
Capitalism means war, poverty and exploitation. The task of getting rid of it has never been more urgent. ‘Socialism’ and ‘Socialist’ are terms that we are hearing in mainstream. All the donations we receive will be used to fund and promote socialist ideas and argue for what is to be done.
