Around 3,000 people marched through Manchester to protest against the Labour Party's support for fracking on 21 September. The demo was part of an international day of action on climate change (see page 3).

The demonstration finished with a rally just across the road from Labour conference. Speakers called upon Miliband and the Labour Party to push for a ban on fracking.

Greater Manchester Police kept a relatively low profile - which is in sharp contrast to the aggressive approach towards protesters up at the nearby Barton Moss fracking site.

The youth contingent on the demonstration, alongside Socialist Party members, chanted anti-capitalist slogans. This was despite stewards from the pro-capitalist Green Party objecting to them.

There is overwhelming evidence coming out of the United States to show that fracking poisons water and air for communities close to the drilling.

Over the next year the big oil and gas companies will seek drilling licences all over the country. The workers' movement should put time and resources into combating this growing threat from the fossil fuel industry.

Dylan and Jo Murphy, Huddersfield Socialist Party

London

In London on a day of global climate changes protests, 21.09.14, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

Thousands attended a demonstration in London against climate change on 21 September, in solidarity with events taking place around the world. The global day of action coincided with the United Nations climate change summit in New York, where 400,000 demonstrated.

Socialist Party members took part and argued for the nationalisation of the energy companies and other socialist policies to tackle the climate crisis.

Twenty four people gave their details to find out more about the Socialist Party and 28 copies of the Socialist were sold.

Sarah Wrack, Waltham Forest Socialist Party

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.