Voices of protest at New Labour

Check out this video for good interviews with people on their way to demonstrate at Labour Conference in Brighton on Sunday.

As Clare, one of the activists, says, "They [the government] try to appease both the right and the left, not least because they do things that the majority of people don't want: attacking Iraq and Afghanistan, bailing out the bankers, wasting our money, cutting funding to education, and basically not running the country in the way that benefits the majority of people."

Videos of speeches from the rally include Stop the War convenor Lindsey German HERE, and left wing Labour MP John McDonnell HERE.

BNP 'youth' on BBC

I'm pleased to say I didn't hear two BNP members being interviewed on Radio 1 today. The BBC station's Newsbeat programme did something worse than just play annoying music while the news is being read (previously the main reason for condemning it). It allowed a platform for two "young BNP members" to "explain" their beliefs. With no opposing or alternative voices, the BNP activists apparently received only the mildest questioning from the reporter. The word 'racism' - which I'd have thought a fairly crucial element in any reporting of the BNP - didn't even get a mention.

There's a strong response from Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism:

"The BBC seems to be bending over backwards to help normalise the BNP's agenda.

"We were told that inviting these Nazis onto the airwaves would help 'expose' them. But here we see what really happens – the BBC gives them the space to spout their hateful views, and doesn't even dare call them racist.

"Meanwhile black musicians and artists working with our sister campaign Love Music Hate Racism have told us that the BBC censors them if they make anti-BNP comments in interviews. It seems like it's one rule for racists, but another one black and Asian people as far as the BBC is concerned."

This controversy comes at a time when the BBC is already under fire for allowing fascists a platform. BNP leader, and North West MEP, Nick Griffin is due to appear on flagship BBC 1 programme Question Time, filmed in London, on Thursday 22 October. Unite Against Fascism has called a demonstration outside the BBC in London, and there'll be protests at BBC centres elsewhere.

For anyone else in the North East, the Facebook event for Newcastle's protest is HERE.

The montage above is courtesy of Counter Fire.

Mutineers at work: photos and videos

Excellent collection of photos from Thursday night's Mutiny event HERE.

Video of the 'Cashocracy' session HERE.

Video of the 'Music and the Market' session HERE.

For more on the Mutiny events see http://jointhemutiny.wordpress.com

Brighton demo: rage against New Labour

Around 2000 people protested in Brighton yesterday, as delegates gathered to begin this year's Labour Party Conference. This video was filmed by Ady Cousins, who runs the Counter Fire website.

Mobilising for peace

The annual Mela, described on local BBC radio earlier as 'the biggest multicultural event in the North East calendar', took place this weekend. I helped with Stop the War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign stalls both yesterday and today. I was reminded yet again of how unpopular the occupation of Afghanistan is with the British public - and of its potential, so long after the earliest protests in autumn 2001, to mobilise people in protest.

We leafleted for both the upcoming public meeting in Newcastle and the national demonstration which follows on 24 October. I'm really looking forward to the meeting - we've got Mohammed Asif coming down from Glasgow and Chris Nineham representing the national Stop the War Coalition. Mohammed Asif spoke here earlier in the year and we wanted to get him back. He was born and brought up in Afghanistan and is now a journalist and President of Scottish Afghan Society. He left his home country at the time of the Taliban, whom he strongly opposed, but has also been an implacable critic of NATO's war and occupation.

Public meeting hosted by Tyneside Stop the War
Afghanistan: why we should bring the troops homeTuesday 6 October, 7pm
Royal Station Hotel, next to Central Station, Newcastle

Click HERE for Facebook event.

National demonstration called by Stop the War, CND and BMI
End the occupation of Afghanistan - bring the troops home
Assemble noon at Hyde Park - march to Trafalgar Square for rally

Click HERE for info on website.
Click HERE for Facebook event.

The future of the public meeting?

On Thursday night 70-80 people turned up to the first Mutiny event in east London, organised by a loose group of revolutionary socialists, anti-capitalists and anti-war activists. Titled 'Money on Trial', it used a creative mix of approaches to examine some big political issues like the environment, financial markets and commercialisation of culture.

The initiative is partly an attempt to fuse political discussion and cultural expression, dragging the left-wing political meeting kicking and screaming into the 21st century with inventive methods, hopefully reaching out to some people alienated by the Left's routines. On the basis of its first outing, this seems to be working.



The next Mutiny event is at the Resistance Gallery, Bethnal Green, on 26 November.

Click HERE for more on Thursday's event.

Freedom and democracy: American values

Protests are taking place in Pittsburgh, aimed at the G20 leaders who are meeting there. This video exposes the aggressive police actions towards demonstrators.

There'll be protests in Scotland this November when G20 finance ministers (Alistair Darling and his equivalents), together with the governors of central banks in the major economies, gather to discuss the global economic crisis. The three unifying themes of the protests and counter-summit are set to be recession, war and climate change, with Saturday 7 November expected to be the major focus for activists.

I'll post more details of the St Andrews G20 events when I have them.

UPDATE: Excellent coverage HERE.

This is what a victory looks like

Picture by Guy Smallman

For Socialist Worker's report of the victorious strike at Tower Hamlets College click HERE.

A promising result in North Tyneside's council by-election

Result in council by-election - Preston ward in North Tyneside

Conservative - 1141 (elected)
Labour 503
Public Service not Private Profit 174
Liberal Democrats 152
Green 73

Peter Burnett, standing on a 'Public Service not Private Profit' ticket, picked up 8.5% of the vote here. In such a rock solid safe Tory seat that's a very impressive result for a left-of-Labour candidate, especially as it was the first time the left has stood for election in the area. There was little time to campaign, so no opportunity to build an electoral base, and only a small number of activists were actively involved.

This electoral challenge grew out of two things: the Keep Metro Public campaign and the current eforts to develop co-operation and unity on the Tyneside left. It is an extremely good omen for anyone wanting to see further electoral work by the left in Tyneside. There will shortly be discussions about where to stand candidates in next spring's local elections (and the general election likely to co-incide with them).

Next Thursday's 'Uniting the Left' meeting will hear about Peter Burnett's campaign and start planning future initiatives. One of the lessons is surely that electoral projects are helped enormously by a close connection with existing campaigns or movements. The campaign in North Tyneside has both lifted the profile of a vital anti-privatisation campaign and raised a banner for broader left-wing political challenges at the ballot box.

Mutiny tomorrow...

The first in a provisional series of three 'Mutiny' events takes place in east London tomorrow. Titled 'Money on Trial', it will use talks, discussion, film and exhibitions to explore issues such as music in a capitalist society, how to stop climate change destroying the planet, and the expenses crisis and democracy. It looks like being a far more creative and dynamic approach to political discussion than we are accustomed to on the British Left.

There's more about it HERE and also HERE.

A wave of protest for action on climate change

The Campaign against Climate Change is promoting the NATIONAL CLIMATE MARCH, taking place on Saturday 5th December. It could well be this country's biggest demo about climate change so far.

Campaign groups are calling 'for urgent climate action and climate justice' - the demo, in London, is significantly timed for the Saturday before the critically important Copenhagen Climate Talks.

There are three major events being advertised for the day. Firstly, the Climate Emergency Bike Ride, assembling at 10.00 am at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, finishing at the Climate Emergency Rally. This is the second key event and is at noon at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park. The rally will demand a declaration of a Climate Emergency plus 10% cuts and a million green jobs by end 2010. It will also specicially call for: banning of domestic flights, a 55 mph speed limit and scrapping of the roads programme, and an end to agrofuel use.

The final, and most important, event is known as The Wave, the intention being for thousands to descend on Parliament and surround it. The lead-up march leaves Grosvenor Square at 1.15 pm to surround Parliament at 3.00 pm.

No platform for BNP

I agree entirely with the case for 'no platform' put recently at Lenin's Tomb. The opposing arguments - for allowing fascists space to espouse their views in the media - remain very weak and unconvincing. Such opportunities for airtime or press coverage automatically confer a degree of legitimacy, making the BNP seem more mainstream and respectable than any fascist organisation deserves.

Copmromising on 'no platform' in the media can lead, even if not intended, to compromises in other areas, such as the Nazis' access to platforms in trade unions, student unions etc. If it's seen as reasonable for them to appear on TV and radio, why not in any other arena? It is therefore essential that anti-racists maintain a principled stand and campaign to prevent BNP access to the airwaves.

There should be no exceptions to this. Occasionally there will be a situation that seems tricky - what if anti-racist representatives are invited to take part in, say, a discussion segment in Newsnight alongside a BNP spokesperson? But accepting an invitation like that means implicitly accepting the BNP's 'right' to express its vile opinions and stir up hatred in the media, however strenuously you may condemn them. It immediately makes it seem respectable to debate or discuss with fascists.

We should therefore be re-doubling efforts to prevent the BNP getting the oxygen of publicity they so desperately crave. This means combining viewers' and listeners' protests - which should be co-ordinated and promoted as much as possible - with the potential of media workers to organise against those allowing the Nazis a platform. Whether it is pickets of studios, mass complaints through email, or campaigns by broadcasting unions, activities to marginalise the BNP's presence and push them out of the limelight are vital.

24 October: "Get a massive student contingent and block the roads"

A cracking speech here about why the anti-war movement remains priority number one for politically conscious students. James Haywood, a member of the national executive of the National Union Students (not, it should be stressed, a typical NUS exec member!)outlines what students can do about Afghanistan and Palestine.

George Galloway's speech from the student Stop the War conference is HERE.

14 November: protest at NATO meeting in Edinburgh

I've mentioned this previously, but now it is offically confirmed: Stop the War Scotland is coordinating a demonstration in Edinburgh, assembling at midday on Saturday 14th November to co-incide with NATO defence ministers meeting in the city. Protestors will call for troops out of Afghanistan and the scrapping of Trident (which forms part of the NATO nuclear arsenal). The demo is already backed by the Scottish Afghan Society, Scottish CND, British CND and UK Stop the War.

Thanks to the organisers for forwarding these details:

Assemble 11am East Market Street, marching to the NATO conference at the EICC and then ending with a short rally in Princes Street Gardens.

East Market Street is just behind Waverley Station - buses will be able to park in Kings Stables Road next to the Gardens or it's a short walk back to Waverley station or the bus station.

If you can help with organisation, the next 3 meetings of the organising group are: Wednesday 7thth October, Thursday 15th October, Wednesday 21st October. These are all at 7.30pm at the Friends Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh.

The next meeting of the umbrella group that is organising for the NATO demo, an alternative summit and the G20 finance meeting in St Andrews on the previous weekend (7-8 November) is 7.30-9pm at the STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow on Thursday 24th September.

If you would like artwork or hard copy of publicity materials you can email scotlandstopwar@hotmail.co.uk. They also have model letters to ask for support from unions and other organisations.

Students meet for Stop the War conference

There were over 30 university occupations by students from January to March of this year, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza. Student activists assembled in London on Saturday, for a conference organised by the Stop the War Coalition, to plan how to take things forward this autumn. Palestine remains important, judging from the speeches recorded here by Ady Cousins (who runs the Counter Fire website), but Afghanistan and Islamophobia are also prominent for anti-war students. The national demonstration on 24 October - demanding an end to the occupation of Afghanistan - is particularly important.

Click HERE for British-Iraqi rapper Lowkey

Click HERE for Lindsey German, convenor of Stop the War

Click HERE for historian and writer Ilan Pappe

The misery continues, but with a different face

Michael Moore on very good form, in advance of his new feature documentary being released in the US. It's cheekily titled 'Capitalism: a Love Story' and examines the economic crisis and its fallout.

Leftish rhetoric: out of fashion with Lib Dems

It seems Nick Clegg is seriously thinking of dropping his party's opposition to tuition fees. The Lib Dems have previously gained from having the popular policy of wanting student fees scrapped. This was especially true in the 2005 general election.

At the time the party tacked left - well, relatively speaking - and was widely perceived as being to the left of the Labour government (not, admittedly, a huge achievement). The Lib Dems took votes from some traditional Labour supporters disillusioned with the Blairite regime, though plenty others either stayed at home or reluctantly backed Labour.

Probably the two biggest issues in their favour were Iraq and student fees. However cautiously, the party had opposed the drive to war in Iraq and leader Charles Kennedy spoke in Hyde Park on 15 February 2003. Here in Tyneside we witnessed one of the biggest swings of the 2005 election: a huge shift from Labour to Lib Dems in Newcastle Central. Jim Cousins MP held his seat - it's traditionally as rock solid Labour as you get, so even a massive swing wasn't enough - but the very high concentration of students living in the constituency helped ensure the fees-bashing, anti-war Lib Dems made headlines.

In the last couple of years, however, we've seen the party nationally changing its approach. It has adopted more right-wing positions on a series of issues and curtailed the left-ish rhetoric. New Liberal Democrats largely buy into the notion that rising support for the Tories illustrates at least a slight move rightwards in the poltical culture - a shifting of the centre of gravity, so that positioning themselves to the left of Labour is seen as less useful. Clegg and his associates are, in any case, committed neoliberals.

There will be a number of places where their rightward trajectory opens up space to the left of Labour and Lib Dems alike. Newcastle Central is an interesting case. Cousins is standing down and the selection process for Labour candidate is drawing to a close. The Lib Dems may no longer be able to pose as an alternative - this is certainly true if the fees policy is dropped. Together with the party's support for war in Afghanistan, this makes it impossible for them to tap the sympathies of many -students and others - who voted Lib Dem in 2005.

If Labour opts for a rightwinger, the field will be open for some kind of independent socialist challenge in a largely working class Labour heatland seat which has thousands of students. This is certainly one of a range of options local socialists and campaigners will be discussing, as part of the on-going process of increasing the left's co-operation, unity and influence.

Palestine: film, discussion, poetry and music

This is an extract from 'The Road to Gaza', made by UK activists Stewart Halforty and Patrick Ward. In Newcastle we'll be showing more of their documentary as part of a film and discussion evening organised by Tyneside Palestine Solidarity Campaign. We'll also be showing Timeline: Palestine, made by John Rees (Stop the War national officer) for the Islam Channel.

Thursday 12 November, 7pm
Side Cinema, The Side, Newcastle
£3 waged / £2 unwaged

Tyneside PSC is also organising a fundraising social which we're calling 'Poetry for Palestine', with an excellent line-up of poets plus Palestinian poetry and some folk music.

Wednesday 9 December, 7.30pm for 8pm start
The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle
£5 waged / £2.50 unwaged

Tickets for these events will go on sale nearer the time - I'll post updates when available.

Striving for unity

60 people gathered in July to launch a new attempt at co-ordinating the efforts of socialists and movement activists in Tyneside. At the start of this month a follow-up planning meeting, under the banner 'Uniting the Left', attracted 45 people and began, tentatively, to plot a course for future co-operation. The committee, which emerged out of that meeting, met for the first time last week. It has now called a 3rd left unity open meeting in Newcastle.

The details are:
St John's Church Hall,Grainger Street, Newcastle
Thursday 1 October - 7pm

You can read more about the background HERE.

A major breakthrough: TUC backs Israel boycotts

The best news of the week has been the TUC's decision to support a motion targeting Israel for boycotts. The TUC represents unions comprising 6.5 million working people. While a conference motion doesn't automatically translate into grassroots action across the unions, it takes us in the right direction - and encourages all of us who want to promote solidarity with Palestine in our unions.

Hugh Lanning, chair of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, explained the background to the press: ‘This motion is the culmination of a wave of motions passed at union conferences this year, following outrage at Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, and reflects the massive growth in support for Palestinian rights. We will be working with the TUC to develop a mass campaign to boycott Israeli goods, especially agricultural products that have been produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.’

At our local PSC meeting on Monday (I'm chair of the Tyneside group), we agreed to leaflet shoppers at Tesco in Gateshead with Boycott Israeli Goods flyers. We're also urging the store to review its policy on stocking Israeli goods. We'll be at the store, in Gateshead town centre, tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am.

It was also good to learn, in the meeting, that one of our activists will be giving a talk about her recent visit to the West Bank at a Unison branch meeting next month. Hopefully this is an opportunity that other union branches will take advantage of, especially following the TUC breakthrough. The unions have the social and political weight to make a massive difference to the movement for Palestinian freedom in this country.

A couple of our members in Tyneside are also taking part in a PSC weekend school, at the start of October, to discuss practical strategies for increasing the impact of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). It is vital we look at which actions and tactics can create the maximum effect, both in raising political awareness and having a direct economic impact.

Defending Muslim communities

Islamophobia has become a major political problem in Britain, not just for Muslims but for all of us. It is integral to the whole ideology propping up the so-called 'war on terror' and underpins the persistent attacks on civil liberties. Like all forms of racism, it is deployed to divide the working class against itself, thus weakening united resistance on all fronts. Combatting the problem is therefore an urgent priority for all anti-war campaigners, anti-racists and socialists.

Islamophobia has become the cutting edge of contemporary racism in British society, assuming 'respectability' in the media and political mainstream. The fascists have exploited this broader climate, making racist propaganda against Muslims the cornerstone of their efforts to attract wider support. Building broad-based opposition to Islamophobia is essential to rolling back the progress made by the BNP, as well as helping nurture a strong anti-racist culture more generally.

In the wake of the recent Birmingham and Harrow protests against the English Defence League, it is also evident that the more thuggish and violent elements of the far right are determined to terrorise Muslim communities. It was impressive, however, to witness the militant and determined reistance of those communities, with solidarity from non-Muslims, in response to EDL intimidation.

More such protests will be necessary, to isolate the fascist thugs from the wider layers of potential support for organisations such as the BNP. It is also essential that we build broad-based and large-scale solidarity with Muslim communities more generally. Anti-fascist networks, like Unite Against Fascism, have a role to play, as does the anti-war movement. Opposing the racist backlash against Muslims is a central element in resisting the ideological offensive that accompanies the imperialist occupations of others' lands. It's time to turn the tide on the racists and warmongers.

Mutiny: Money on Trial

An intriguing new radical political project begins in London next week, with the inaugural 'Mutiny' event. There are already plans for further events this November and in February 2010 - hopefully next Thursday's launch event will get things off to a roaring start. Here's what the website says about what to expect...

'Mutiny presents Money on Trial on Thursday, September 24. Karl Marx described money as the “universal pimp”. But the grumpy German philosopher is dead and the Queen’s head is still on the £10 note. Having no money is depressing. Money means food. Money means paying the rent. Money means getting a round in. But even those with stacks of cash spend their whole lives desperately trying to make more. Money perverts everything it touches. So do we need money? Is it a fact of life the same way as water, gravity or syphilis. Can we run the world without it?

Money on Trial is an evening of engaged debate and entertainment. There will be three main themes: Has money destroyed the music business; can the money markets deliver on climate change and can the government be trusted with our money? Doors open at 6pm with music and the performances start at 7pm so get there early.

A taste of what can be expected: a showing of the brilliant Greenpeace film A Time Comes about the occupation of Kingsnorth directed by Nick Broomfield; the latest Vestas film from Reel News and a cameo performance from Victory, a hip hop star from the People’s Army collective. The best part, however, is the audience. I mean, what do we know about anything? We need you to join the Mutiny.'

Click HERE for the website.

Afghanistan: the weakest link in their system

The supposed 'good war' is increasingly being rejected by the American public. A new CNN poll reveals domestic support for the US-led occupation of Afghanistan at an all-time low. Only 39% declared support, with 58% opposed to the NATO mission. Support is particularly low among Democrats supporters - only 23% support a key policy of a Democratic President.

It is astonishing to consider the gulf that has opened up, in this area, between Barack Obama and many of those who voted and campaigned for him. Even the Obama stamp of approval makes no difference: the great majority of his supporters reject war and occupation, in Afghanistan ('good war' in Obama's view) as well as in Iraq ('bad war' for Obama).

The US anti-war movement is, unsurprisingly, now reviving. Organisations and networks that have previously avoided opposing Obama are now gearing up for demonstrations. The honeymoon is ending sooner than many anticipated. Many are realising that - whoever is in the White House - there's a great deal of continuity in the imperialist system. And that system is finding Afghanistan to be very fragile indeed, in military terms but also politically.

In this country, too, there's growing activism against the occupation. The landmark event will be the 24 October national demonstration, which we in Tyneside are now building - just as Stop the War groups throughout the country are doing. We have a public meeting in Newcastle on 6 October - I'll be posting details in the next few days.

Middlesbrough posties walk out

Middlesbrough's postal workers took unofficial strike action today, walking out in defiance of management's attempts to crush union strength. The militant action was prompted by bosses drafting in scores of managers to 'supervise' workers.

Read more HERE.

There's been action already by postal workers, in a number of parts of the country, in response to threats of redundancies or attacks on working conditions. There's also a political dimension to the dispute, as many in the Communication Workers Union (CWU) ask why the union should fund the Labour Party, when a Labour government supports attacks on its members.

Hell's Pizza: 'ironic' racism is no joke

Video of the protest outside Hell Pizza in Quay Street, Auckland, after their use of a racist advertising campaign. Omar and Joe from New Zealand group Socialist Aotearoa explain why it's no joke.

The use of racist and sexist imagery and stereotypes, with 'irony' and 'humour' offered as justification, is a major problem in this country too. I'm impressed by this protest as a welcome counterblast to marketing's shameless attempts to exploit casual prejudice for commercial gain.

One other thing: I believe this chain has a couple of outlets in London, if any London activists want to organise something...

Photos: Harrow unites against fascist English Defence League

Jess Hurd's excellent photos from yesterday's glorious community uprising against the fascist EDL in Harrow are HERE.

You can see Guy Smallman's equally good photos of the protest HERE.

EDL's racist thugs now want to attack the Al-Quds Day demo in London tomorrow (Sunday). Anti-fascists are meeting in Trafalgar Square at 11.30am to show solidarity.

The remarkable turnout in Harrow shows why those on the left who say "we shouldn't chase after the EDL" are wrong. If large numbers of local people, whose community is under attack, can rise up and isolate these thugs, it is the duty of anti-fascists to offer them support and solidarity. We can't allow the fascists to take to the streets. This is the reality behind the BNP's phoney respectability: hatred, division and violence. The courageous and determined protestors in Harrow, mainly young and Muslim, show how it's done.

EDL thugs stopped in Harrow

A protest dominated by young Muslims stopped the fascist English Defence League targeting a new mosque for their race hate. An estimated 1000 people mobilised against the Nazis and racist hooligans, who were seeking to stir hatred of Muslim communities.

The militancy and determination of the Muslim protestors is inspiring. In recent years we've seen political participation by Muslims like never before, through mass involvement in the anti-war movement. The movement's united demonstrations have fed the confidence among young Muslims that enables them to defy the EDL thugs.

This confidence was shaken by the July 2005 London bombings and the media and political backlash that followed. But the Gaza protests earlier this year decisively swept away that caution and fear, putting a renewed sense of political assertiveness in their place. This can be seen in mobilisations against fascists and will be displayed - in greater numbers - in protests against the war in Afghanistan this autumn.

For an excellent report, from Lenin's Tomb, click HERE.

Solidarity with Vestas: day of action

As part of a National Day of Action - Thursday 17 September - in support of Vestas Workers...
Protest March and Rally
Assemble Civic Centre, Newcastle, at 4.30pm, and march to Department of Energy offices at Gallowgate

The day of action is supported locally by RMT, Unite (Tyneside Engineering), Workers Climate Action North East, Campaign against Climate Change and Tyneside Socialist Forum. Speakers include a National Grid striker and representatives of the PCS and RMT unions. Supporters are asked to wear red or green. Banners and placards are welcome.

Camapigners will be leafleting Newcastle Civic Centre on Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 at 8am, and also leafleting Haymarket Metro on Wednesday 16 at 4.45pm. There'll be banner and placard making outside Northumbria University's students union on Tuesday 15, from noon til 2pm.

Keep Metro Public: left wing candidate makes a stand

Peter Burnett explains in this short video why he's standing in a council by-election in North Tyneside, raising the profile of the campaign to stop privatising of our local Metro transport system. As I mentioned in a post yesterday, the breakthrough 'Uniting the Left' meeting last week agreed to support Peter's campaign.

Peter is a longstanding trade union activist, anti-privatisation campaigner and the treasurer of Tyneside Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Small-scale campaigns like his offer the hope of developing electoral co-operation on the left in concrete, grassroots ways.

There's a very good report of Keep Metro Public's high-profile campaigning HERE.

We will demonstrate until the troops come home

Monday's meeting of our local Stop the War group determined to build a good turnout from Tyneside for the national demonstration. We agreed to book a coach for the 24 October protest - organised by Stop the War with CND and the British Muslim Initiative - and publicise it widely.

We'll particularly be looking to local union branches for support. In May a relatively small central London demo for Gaza drew £500 in union donations for a coach from Newcastle, so there's likely to be good backing for what promises to be a much bigger event calling for an end to the occupation of Afghanistan.

We also confirmed the plans for a protest when Peter Mandelson visits to deliver a public lecture hosted by local MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband:
Bring the troops home - Jobs not Bombs
Friday 23 October, assemble 6pm (lecture is at 7pm)
Harton School, South Shields

Following these demonstrations will be the big Edinburgh protest on 14 November, when NATO defence ministers assemble in the city. We're encouraging everyone to head to Edinburgh to demand the masters of war end the bloodshed in Afghanistan. Details will be posted soon.

Bringing it all together

Initiatives designed to foster greater unity on the left, in particular geared towards possible electoral alliances, are developing in a number of local areas. In the longer term it's possible a national electoral project might develop out of these. Such grassroots dynamism is certainly preferable to passively waiting for national figures, e.g. union bureaucrats, to cobble together something behind closed doors.

I participated in last week's 'Uniting the Left' meeting in Newcastle. Attended by 45 people, it must be the best-attended planning/organising meeting for political activists in Tyneside since January, when the same number gathered to plan action in response to the assualt on Gaza. Such a turnout is in itself a remarkable achievement, such is the history of bitterness, division and mutual incomprehension on the left in Tyneside.

The meeting divided into smaller groups for part of the time to discuss political priorities - like climate change, privatisation and trade unions - which allowed a much higher level of active participation than might be expected. Key political and practical ideas for each area were identified and shared - and we at least made a start on pulling the various strands together. It was reassuring to discover there was so much common ground in what people stand for, regardless of past animosities.

Crucially, a committee emerged from the meeting which can take organisation and co-ordination forward (its first meeting is tomorrow). The meeting agreed to build support for an independent socialist candidate, Peter Burnett (who I work with in Tyneside Palestine Solidarity Campaign), standing in opposition to privatisation of the Metro system in a council by-election on 24 September. It was also agreed to campaign against the BNP in a council by-election taking place in South Shields tomorrow.

Read a good report of the meeting, published on the website of the North East Shop Stewards Network HERE.

Timeline: Obama and US power

John Rees, author of 'Imperialism and Resistance', has written and presented this short documentary film for the Islam Channel, as part of the excellent 'Timeline' series.

Read the text of the film HERE.

Political bombshell: Eric Joyce resigns over Afghanistan disaster

Photo by Guy Smallman

"I do not think the public will accept for much longer that our losses can be justified by simply referring to the risk of greater terrorism on our streets."
- Eric Joyce

Eric Joyce, Labour MP and a ministerial aide to the Defence Secretary, has resigned from his role because he opposes current policy on Afghanistan. This takes the growing political crisis around Afghanistan - which I wrote about just a few days ago - to the centre of policy-making circles. It forces Gordon Brown on to the back foot, forced to jutify the disastrous occupation even to the previously loyal.

Joyce is himself a former soldier, spending 21 years in the Army and reaching the rank of major. He's been an aide to four ministers and was a firm supporter of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His resignation co-incides with two more deaths of UK soldiers, taking the total to 212 British troops killed in Afghanistan.

Read Eric Joyce's resignation letter HERE.

The Stop the War Coalition will be stepping up activities to tap into the widespread public concern and anger about Afghanistan. Local groups, including our Tyneside group, will be going all out to build a big turnout on 24 October for the national demonstration.

Now is the time to seize the initiative and build a bigger, broader movement that can bring the troops home from an unwinnable and pointless war that has wiped out thousands of lives.

Hidden history: film of Muslim soldiers in World War One

An interesting slice of history in this video: the role of Indian soldiers, many of them Muslims, in WW1. In general the role of people from British colonies in fighting Britain's wars has been marginalised at best, erased at worst. This extract from a documentary is therefore a useful corrective.

bloggy bloggy bloggy

Total Politics has published the results of a poll to establish the 100 most popular 'left of centre' blogs. Controversy has erupted at the omission of Luna17 from the list. OK, maybe it hasn't, but I'm consoling myself with the thought that I'd perhaps rather not be in the company of Alastair Campbell and Harry's Place. Let's just say that 'left of centre' is defined rather broadly.

I've been through the long list and compiled a very short list of just five personal favourites. These are all - in my humble opinion - well worth checking out, as well as being at the more left-wing end of the spectrum covered by this poll. I've included their Total Politics ranking in brackets.

A Very Public Sociologist (12)
Third Estate (14)
Penny Red (27)
HarpyMarx (37)
Lenin's Tomb (42)

Sticking with the subject of blogging, I'll just mention that I've now completed my summer project of collating a special archive blog dedicated to Tony Cliff, revolutionary socialist and founder member of the Socialist Workers Party. You can dive in HERE.