EU Thieves Fall out on Third World Markets

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

No 1346 Week commencing 17 June 2005 Weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain 50p IRAQ US IMPERIALISTS READY TO TALK? by our Arab Affairs Correspondent And US defence min- anti-imperialist violence ister Donald Rumsfeld, one that has destroyed any le- IRAQI PARTISANS have broken the back of the of the chief war-mongers gitimacy the US occupation American offensive against the resistance inside in the Bush cabinet, has once claimed. And last the capital, Baghdad, while across the country confirmed that tentative week the resistance dem- talks between the puppet onstrated an authority of wave after wave of ambushes, raids and bombings their own when take a relentless toll on the forces of imperialism. regime and the partisans have taken place. Though Mujahideen units seized The Russian ambassa- American imperialist troops he refused to go into details, control of parts of south- dor held talks last week and wounded 13,000 more. he told the BBC that these western Baghdad for a with maverick Shia leader Last month 67 US soldiers contacts were broad-rang- time to show that they can Muqtada al Sadr. were killed in action, the ing and crucial to establish- take any area whenever The British expedition- fourth highest tally since ing stability. they want. The point was ary force in the south will the invasion in March 2003. rammed home with re- be cut within the next six “This insurgency is not a ploy? peated attacks on Baghdad months to free troops to going to be settled, the ter- International Airport and beef up the American pres- rorists and the terrorism in Whether it’s simply a the assassination of the ence in Afghanistan and a Iraq is not going to be ploy to split the resistance quisling Iraqi general in senior member of the Bush settled, through military or the beginning of the end charge of puppet troops in- administration has con- options or military opera- only time will tell. But it volved in the latest Ameri- firmed that Washington has tions,” US Brigadier Gen- might explain why Britain can exercise in futility. held tentative talks with el- eral Donald Alston told the is talking about pulling out And a senior US diplo- ements within the resis- media in Baghdad last some of its troops and why mat narrowly escaped with tance to end the violence week. “It’s going to be Russia is stepping up its his life on Monday when his in Iraq. settled in the political pro- own contacts with Iraqi convoy was bombed in Four oil-pipelines were cess”. leaders. Baghdad. So much for the British troops are to be much-vaunted “Operation blown up in the northern • The resistance: grinding the occupiers down. and southern oil-fields last not telling redeployed from Iraq to Lightning” that the Ameri- week and doctors warn of Afghanistan to help the imperialist Karzai regime in pation from the sidelines of cans bragged would bring a new crisis in Baghdad as If there is a “political Americans now facing the Kabul. the Shia-dominated puppet the partisans to heel in the water pollution and water process” the Americans brunt of a renewed Taliban Russian ambassador regime. capital. shortages raise fears of epi- are not telling – or not in so offensive. Air Marshal Vladimir Chamov’s meet- The Americans said demics as the country en- many words. American of- Glenn Torpy said on Mon- ing with Muqtada al Sadr they had not asked the Rus- ters the hottest part of its ficials in Baghdad and their day that the British contin- served to elevate the sian to act as a go-be- FUND year. local quislings are now talk- gent in southern Iraq would Kremlin’s role in Iraq as tween, but a US State De- Senior American offic- ing about an amnesty to try decrease in “battalion well as the status of al Sadr, partment official signifi- Our fund this week is ers are openly admitting and get at least some sec- chunks” by the end of the the outspoken Shia leader cantly added that they did £439.80, bringing our that there is now no long tions of the resistance to lay year as more troops and an who led a brief revolt want to bring all Iraqis who June total so far to £940.82 term military solution to the down their arms in return RAF Harrier squadron against the Americans last have renounced violence and leaving £2,059.18 to rebellion that has claimed for a place in the puppet pour into the Afghan moun- year and continues to de- into the “peace process”. raise by the end of the the lives of 1,895 mainly regime. tains to prop up the pro- mand an end of the occu- But it is precisely that month to make our monthly target. We thank our regular north London veteran pen- sioner donor for £27.40, by Daphne Liddle will simply seize the chance our London Scot for £10, to dump more of its another regular pen- THE EUROPEAN Union subsidised farm produce sioner donor from south summit meeting that be- EU thieves fall out on Third World markets. London for £10 and a south gan this Thursday seems Chirac will be very re- west London comrade for headed for deadlock in a luctant to back down; after £150. We also thank a very battle over whether Third World countries open goes to better-off countries.” Blair can no longer argue the French referendum he special Epson comrade for Britain’s budget rebate themselves up completely to He said that the proposal that Britain is hard up com- is feeling under pressure £40 and an anonymous do- should be continued and exploitation by western busi- to continue spending 40 per pared to other EU countries, to make a public display of nor for £200. the Common Agricultural nesses but at the same time cent of the EU budget on the especially those admitted in defending his country’s in- One London comrade Policy that subsidises tamper with market prices by CAP will “sustain high prices May last year. Britain is virtu- terests to try to restore their has put in a lot of work re- farmers throughout the subsidising their own pro- for continental farmers and ally isolated in Europe on this support for the EU. cently getting the New EU but especially France. ducers and skewing the mar- keep out cheaper exports point, with the exception of Britain gets very little Worker into bookshops The agricultural sub- ket in their own favour. from Africa”. support from the German out of the CAP except some where it has not appeared sidy also has a devastat- They also build tariff The charity Oxfam put it opposition leader Angela subsidies for obscenely before with great success. ing effect on the econo- walls around their own trad- more strongly. “The EU and Merkel, whose policies have rich landowners to help been likened to Thatcher’s. This should encourage mies of developing coun- ing areas to deny trade ac- the US are cheating on the them raise game birds to other comrades to seek out tries because it allows cess to producers from the poor,” said Liz Stuart, the au- be shot as sport. They are shops in their own locali- European farmers to Third World. thor of a recent Oxfam report. bargaining tool doing this by claiming that ties that would be prepared dump their produce at very “They are telling the poor it is helping to preserve to sell the paper. This usu- low prices in Third World admitted countries they have to open Nevertheless Blair is natural diversity but the in- ally means committing to markets, putting the indig- their markets in return for threatening to use Britain’s tervention of gamekeepers call at the shop regularly enous farmers out of busi- On Monday Foreign Sec- cuts in farm subsidies but in veto to prevent the EU setting in many ways has an op- a budget unless the rebate posite effect. to bring papers, or arrang- ness. The United States retary Jack Straw admitted reality they are cooking the ing for them to be posted, also subsidises its farm- that the EU spending policies books with devastating con- stays. Many economic ex- The issues at stake are perts believe the rebate, in mostly a case of thieves fall- and then, from time to ers to an even greater ex- unfairly favour rich countries. sequences for the poor.” time, collecting takings, tent, with a similar effect on He described the CAP as Meanwhile Blair is claim- absolute terms, is not such ing out over how to rob their the Third World. being “as wasteful as it is ing that he will defend the re- a big deal but Blair is using it own working classes and minus the usual trade dis- This is all part of the unfair”. bate won in the 1980s by Mrs as a bargaining tool to force the Third World. They also count for the shop and hypocrisy of global capital- He said: “It is a budget Thatcher on the grounds that the EU to cut the CAP. serve to highlight Britain’s passing it on to the centre. ism that preaches the gos- that is unfair to Europe’s Britain was hard up and that This would benefit Third increasing isolation in Eu- In the meantime pel of total free trade – “let poorer countries because far our contributions to the EU World countries if America did rope and the widening divi- please send whatever you the inefficient and unfit go too much of the proposed were out of proportion to what the same. But this is unlikely. sions in the global ruling can to the New Worker bankrupt”. They insist that spending on regions funds we got out of it. It is more likely that the US class. Fund, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ. Page 2 THE NEW WORKER 17 June 2005 email: [email protected] News Desk 020 7223 4050

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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123Say no more Fit as a parrot veteran peace campaigner Lindis Percy, waving her Marilyn King of company said: “It’s a novel harmed wildlife, including the well-known upside down Cumbernauld in Scotland way of reducing pollution but grunion, a small fish that stars-and-stripes banner Weekly paper of the New Communist Party was worried about the we believe it will work. There spawns in Malibu. while the event organisers health of Nelson, her 13- is nothing to worry about – One beach home-owner stayed indoors, looking up year-old parrot, when it we won’t be asking passen- claims they did it to restore the finer points of trespass started making wheezing gers to leave a sample and we the sandy dunes in front of law. noises, muttering, groaning won’t be carrying a resident their homes that were eroded Percy insisted: “I’m Fares Fair not and calling for help. sheep at the back of the bus.” during last year’s storms. walking the Yorkshire A medical check up The urea-injection system Dales and that is my right”. found nothing wrong with was developed by Tongue tied road pricing the bird. Then she found Darlington-based engine Robo-cot out that Nelson had previ- manufacturer Cummins. A thief burst into a Florida IF BLAIR’S new ID card wasn’t bad enough ously lived in a residential bank waving his gun. He Coventry University the Government is now considering a road pric- care home and was simply Beach bums yelled: “Freeze mother-stick- students have designed a ing scheme that would enable the police to imitating the sounds he ers, this is a fuck-up!” The new high-tech cot for ba- had heard every day. The millionaire residents bank staff were too helpless bies that will play lullabies, monitor everyone who uses a car. “He has a whole reper- A hidden agenda lies behind this proposal that is of Malibu in California, in- with laughter to do anything read bedtime stories, rock toire of coughing,” said cluding many film celebrities and the robber fled red-faced them to sleep and then clearly linked to the identity card and that is to give King, “but his smoker’s like Goldie Hawn, Stephen and empty-handed. monitor their temperature the police and security forces ultimate surveillance cough is the best.” Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman and breathing. powers. and Danny DeVito, have Ambushed The hope it will reduce Alistair Darling, the Transport Minister, has de- Taking the emissions caused uproar by using bull- the incidence of Sudden tailed proposals to replace the current road tax and dozers to remove a large part Former United States Sec- Infant Death Syndrome, fuel duties with a high-tech system that is allegedly The Stagecoach bus of the public beach. retary of State Colin Powell which is often linked to intended to deal with the growing problem of road company is conducting ex- The sand has been piled visited the American satellite babies over heating in bed, congestion. But it can only work if every car is fit- periments to test a proposal into an effective barrier, pre- listening station at Menwith by providing an early warn- ted with an electronic satellite tracking device to that spraying sheep’s urine venting the general public Hill in Yorkshire last week. He ing system for parents if into exhaust fumes will re- from any access to the sea was due to feature in an ex- the baby is in any kind of record every trip made and that is precisely what is duce the emissions of harm- near their palatial homes and pensive photo call on the distress. intended. ful nitrous oxides. keeping their beaches exclu- footplate of the Flying Scots- The mattress can be Anyone who lives in any of our major cities knows The company has fitted sive. man surrounded by around raised and lowered to make that congestion is a growing problem though not so a bus in Winchester with a The California Coastal 2,000 British business leaders. nappy changing easier and much in London, where it has always existed apart tank containing the animal Commission has ordered an But the whole thing had incorporates sensory de- from a comparatively brief period following the de- waste, which is sprayed immediate halt to this unper- to be cancelled after the event velopment toys and a cline of horse power in the early part of the 20th into the exhaust fumes. The mitted “grading”, saying it has was ambushed by 63-year-old bottle warmer/chiller. century. Anyone who uses our motorways knows that the volume of traffic has soared over the past two decades despite the construction of new roads and by-passes over the same period. And increased public awareness of the threat to health and the en- CWU launches fight against mail privatisation vironment has led to more research into eco-friendly forms of transport that London’s congestion charge THE COMMUNICATION will be fully liberalised from scheme favours. Workers’ Union last week, at January next year, and Royal The Darling plan addresses none of these points its annual conference in Mail’s ability to compete has nor does it seek to solve them except through a Blackpool, announced the been hamstrung by a series scheme that would reduce the volume of traffic by launch of a “Remorseless of unfair burdens placed on it simply making it much more expensive to use the fight against privatisation” to by the regulator. keep the Royal Mail in the Postcomm announced car. Though there’s talk of abolishing the existing last week plans to restrict the road fund licence and the colossal tax on fuel, there public sector. Following persistent price of stamps and further is no firm commitment in the plan floated last week. press speculation about regulate Royal Mail. Competi- Even if they were abolished the overall anticipated privatisation, delegates tors are not regulated and can income from road pricing would have to be far passed a motion that: charge what they please. greater to deter motorists. That, after-all, is the de- • Attacks senior Dave added: “It is simply clared objective of a plan that would make our road Royal Mail figures for abus- unacceptable for an un- system the exclusive preserve of the rich and add ing their position as the lead- elected body to make such ir- more costs to goods transported by road — virtu- ers of a publicly owned responsible proposals that ally everything these days – which would send prices organisation for touting put the future of the industry privatisation in doubt. soaring when the extra charges are passed on to “Postcomm’s sugges- the consumer. • Calls on the Govern- • CWU members on the picket line in Reading. ment to abide by its manifesto tions would more than halve The obvious answer is to get more people and commitment not to privatise CWU general secretary screw up Royal Mail. The the profits Royal Mail re- goods onto public transport. Unfortunately that ser- Royal Mail Billy Hayes said: “The Gov- CWU values our link to the cently recorded, increase the vice is no longer “public” but in the hands of grasp- • Commits the union ernment made it quite clear Labour Party and it got us the unsustainable losses it is ing private owners concerned only to squeeze the to reviewing its entire rela- that privatisation is not on the manifesto commitment. But I making on stamped mail and last penny out of people who have no alternative tionship with the Labour Party agenda and they were re- have no illusions about how stifle its ability to compete in but to use their dubious networks. According to the if the Government reneges on elected by the British people. that link will crumble if the a competitive market. Department of Transport statistics for 2003 bus and its pledge If public servants in Royal Government breaks its prom- It is absolutely imperative coach fares were 34 per cent higher and rail fares • Calls for ministers to Mail have trouble with a policy ise.” the Government introduces urgently begin their promised endorsed by the electorate, CWU deputy general sec- the review it promised into 36 per cent higher in real terms than in 1980, when then they should make way retary Dave Ward said it was competition as soon as pos- most of these services were still in public or munici- review of the Postal Services Act of 2000 that has intro- for people who will carry out imperative the Government sible. The users of postal ser- pal ownership. In practice people are forced to use duced grossly unfair compe- that policy. introduced its review of the vices, and the people who their cars because the alternatives are much more tition into the industry and “Today we are making our Postal Services Act and com- have worked so hard to turn expensive and increasingly unreliable. threatens the very future of position very clear – we will petition within the industry as this industry around, deserve In 1981 the newly elected Greater London Coun- Royal Mail. fight any attempt to sell-off or soon as possible. The market a sustainable industry.” cil under the leadership of Ken Livingstone imple- mented the “Fares Fair” scheme that made the capital the environmental model for Europe. Bus and Underground fares were cut by a third and it was paid for by a modest increase in the rates. Follow- Britain’s ‘inhumane’ treatment of terror suspects ing the example of Paris, London was divided into two zones and season tickets replaced by travel cards that covered all public transport in greater THE COUNCIL of Eu- They said that the con- – amounting to house arrest Commissioner for human London. Within a year car use in London had rope condemned ditions under which some – on the alleged terror sus- right, Alvaro Gil-Robes was dropped by ten per cent. London Transport’s rev- Britain’s detention of detainees were held “could pects after their release. also published last week. It enue went up by £48 million. Tube usage went up foreign terror suspects be considered as amount- The terms of these con- attacked Britain’s human by 44 per cent and bus usage by 14 per cent. without trial as “inhu- ing to inhuman and degrad- trol orders are very onerous rights record on terrorism, Tory councils moved to kill the experiment in the mane and degrading ing treatment”. – keeping some of them iso- asylum and anti-social courts and they succeeded in December 1981. The treatment” last year. The detainees were re- lated in their one-room apart- behaviour and control orders But the Government leased in March this year ments, unable to use tele- which “flout the right to pre- Thatcher government brought in more controls in waited until last week after the law lords had ruled phones or computers or go sumption of innocence”. 1984 to make sure it never happened again. to publish the report. that their detention out and about. In at least The CPT delivered its “Fares Fair” proved that cutting fares reduces The Council of breached human rights. one case this has made life report to the Government in traffic. The renationalisation of our rail and road Europe’s committee for They also said that deten- so difficult for one of the July 2004 but the Govern- transport companies and the introduction of a new the prevention of terror tion without trial caused suspects – with mental ment did not agree to its fares fair scheme across the country could easily (CPT) visited detainees mental disorders in most of health problems after his publication until after the reduce the problems on our roads and be consider- held without charge or the detainees. ordeal – to obtain essential general election – after the ably cheaper than the billions earmarked for the trial in Belmarsh and But immediately prior medical help that at one law lords deliberations and Darling scheme. Woodhill prisons and in to their release the Govern- stage he asked to be taken after the new legislation Broadmoor high security ment rushed through new back into jail. passed in March – the Pre- hospital in February 2002 legislation allowing it to im- Another separate re- vention of Terrorism Act and March 2004. pose severe control orders port, from the European 2005. 17 June 2005 THE NEW WORKER Page 3 Home News Newsdesk 020 7223 4050 ID cards losing Evening support GMB conference defends classes PUBLIC support for identity cards has dropped sharply vulnerable AA workers face after the costs were revealed according to a new ICM poll, closure which shows that currently from Andy Clarke privatisation of public ser- wish to remain as the GMB. Workers’ Party, Cuba Solidar- only 55 per cent are in favour in Newcastle vices. On Friday congress broke ity, Morning Star, War on compared to 80 per cent, the Brown told the confer- up with the singing of the Red Want, Oxfam, Ethical Threads, GOVERNMENT funding cuts figures quoted by the Govern- ence that he was in full sup- Flag. Amnesty International, Ba- could lead to the closure of ment. DELEGATES at the GMB port of the aims of the GMB. The general feeling is that nana Link, Justice For Work- thousands of adult evening The growing opposition congress in Newcastle last He promised that he would the future of the union is look- ers, No Sweat, Remploy, classes, according to a warn- to the cards is likely to week broke up the conference address people’s problems ing healthy after having over- Scope, Show Racism the Red ing last week from further strengthen the opposition to attend, en masse, a demon- and do his utmost to ensure come the difficulties of the Card, and many more. education colleges. within Parliament, especially stration, numbering over 200 fair play for all. He stated that past, and the union is now There were also many The Association of Col- from the Labour back people, at the Automobile As- Labour would have to address looking forward to building on fringe meetings, including a leges said that over 200,000 benches. Some Labour rebels sociation insurance depot, these issues if they were to that. Hands off Cuba meeting; the adult education training warned that the cards could where management are bul- achieve a fourth term in office. New Communist Party speaker was Luis Marron, of places on all manner of become as unpopular as the lying, victimising and ulti- While the GMB welcomes the comrades were there, with 12 the Cuban Friendship Insti- courses will disappear in Sep- poll tax and the Millennium mately sacking disabled Warwick Agreement they New Workers sold and an- tute. tember with more closures ex- Dome. John McDonnell, who workers, as well as those with have concerns that it may be other 18 handed out or ex- At the Justice for Colum- pected in 2006. Fees for re- chairs the campaign group, long service, to avoid paying diluted. changed. bia meeting the speaker was maining courses will soar. said: “As people become redundancy. A number of campaigning Angel Salas, general secre- The association’s chief more aware of the infringement The GMB says that the disgust groups had a presence at the tary of the Colombian health executive, John Brennan, said on their daily life and costs, AA, which is owned by CVC conference, including Trade workers’ union, ANTHOC. the closures are the result of public sympathy is withering and Primera venture capital- On Tuesday Congress ex- Union Friends of Palestine, Another meeting was staged a three per cent cut in fund- on the vine.” ists, last month targeted its pressed its disgust at com- Palestine Solidarity, Justice by Trade Unionists in the Fir- ing for adult learning an- The poll was commis- disabled staff for dismissal, as ments made by Prince Charles For Columbia, the Socialist ing Line. nounced by the Learning and sioned by the NO2ID cam- part of a 431 job cuts package regarding health and safety Skills Council last week. paign. It found that 43 per in the patrol section. legislation and corporate He said: “This is a very cent that 43 per cent of the GMB senior organiser manslaughter. He seems to serious situation. We ex- public think the scheme is Paul Maloney said: “If GMB think that the legislation is pected a five per cent rise in “bad” or “very bad”. They members vote to strike over unnecessary. Other motions adult provision and we actu- were asked their opinion on the disabled members of staff called for the coal industry to ally got a three per cent cut.” the basis that the card would then the roadside waiting time be renationalised, to prevent He said that around cost £93 in combination with of AA customers will be loss of the remaining coal re- 15,000 courses would be af- a passport that would have to vastly longer, if not infinite, serves. fected and denied that most be renewed every 10 years. as the service is withdrawn.” Delegates expressed con- of them were “leisure-based”. But recent trials have The conference began on cerns over “fat-cat” salaries Brennan said: “These are shown that the biometric tech- Sunday 5th of June with a de- and called for a minimum wage classes that provide real edu- nology involved could push bate about rights at work, for 14 to 15-year-olds. They cation tailored to specific the cost of each card up to working hours, union recog- also condemned the under- needs, often for people who around £300. nition and statutory holidays. representation of the disabled are low-skilled and on low in- People would have to in- On Monday Gordon in the workplace. And they comes who are trying to bet- form the authorities every time Brown addressed congress. agreed to make demands on ter themselves by improving they changed address and He spoke of last year’s the Government to make their chances in the job mar- pay for amendments to the Warwick Agreement between Workers’ Memorial Day a ket.” database. They would also the unions and the Govern- statutory holiday. The college principals have to pay for new cards if ment where the Government On Wednesday concerns say that the people affected the one they had was lost or promised to ensure that the were voiced at the quality of include those with learning damaged. privatisation of public ser- youth training in private com- difficulties and pensioners. Phil Booth from the vices would not lead to a two- panies’— for example long Recently Bill Rammell, NO2ID campaign said: “The tier workforce with a two-tier hours, poor pay, bullying and the Minister for Life-long Government knows from in- pay and conditions structure. lack of proper training. Learning told the press: “Over ternational experience that In return the unions On Thursday the confer- the past three years we have public support for ID cards backed down from aiming to ence debated plans for “Su- increased the cash going into falls drastically as people dis- oust Blair as leader of the per Union” – a proposed the sector by £1 billion and cover more about them, which party in the approaching au- merger with the TGWU and nearly three quarters of col- is why they have been so ea- tumn Labour conference over Amicus. The GMB delegates leges will be getting at least ger to steamroller the legisla- the two main issues of the il- decided they are not inter- 2.5 per cent more than last tion through Parliament. legal invasion of Iraq and the ested in amalgamation and • New Worker sellers on the job. year. Another PCS remains defiant by New Worker vote of confidence but the PCS joined hands with agreement from the Govern- correspondent right wing strengthened its other public sector unions ment on keeping civil service position in three key sections. earlier in the year in response jobs in Britain and to raise the leak closes Not surprisingly these di- to the Government’s attack question of a co-ordinated PUBLIC and Commercial visions were reflected in the on civil service pensions and campaign on the issue with Services (PCS) union mem- debates on the most press- its plans to extend the retire- the TUC. bers gathered in Brighton ing issues facing the mem- ment age. Though there was General secretary Mark Sellafield last week for section and bership – pay, pensions and some criticism from the floor Serwotka spelt it out: “We may annual conference to chart job cuts. But in the end con- at the way the proposed strike have meaningful engage- the way forward in the face ference generally agreed with had been called off just be- ment and a set of redundancy fore the general election, A MASSIVE leak at the cially designed and built. of an all round attack on the cautious but militant way measures in place, but cru- terms and conditions led by forward of the leadership. conference endorsed calls to cially there have been no as- Sellafield nuclear reprocess- The leak began last Au- work with other unions to step ing plant in Cumbria last gust but was not noticed un- the Government, their main The break-up of the civil surances from the govern- employer. service and the partial up the pensions campaign ment that there will be no month has forced the closure til 18 April when enough acid and seek a negotiated settle- of the plant for several had gone missing to fill half PCS is an almag- privatisation of some of its compulsory redundancies. amation, whose final form services that began when the ment that would give staff a Be under no illusion we will months and will lead to a £300 an Olympic-size swimming Tories returned to power in choice and when they retired. million loss of revenue ac- took shape in 1998, consist- continue to stand up for civil pool. ing of four major civil service 1979 has continued under and public servants and the cording estimates released The plant was supposed unions whose divisions and Labour. This has led to a slash jobs services they deliver. Using last week. to make £2.5 billion over the traditions are mirrored in the considerable decline in real everything in our armoury and In May 83 cubic metres next five years towards the highly factional politics of the terms in average wages for The Government’s plans if necessary industrial action of nitric acid, containing 22 costs of nuclear industry union today. Eight major fac- most civil servants, particu- to slash some 100,000 jobs both on a national and de- tonnes of dissolved uranium clean ups but can make noth- tions operate within PCS – six larly at the lowest grades who across the civil service was partmental level we will con- and plutonium from irradiated ing while it is closed. within the dominant “Democ- do the bulk of the work. It has condemned out of hand by tinue to campaign against fuel leaked from a broken pipe Meanwhile the Govern- racy” bloc on the NEC and two also led to significant differ- the executive and delegates such savage job cuts and for into the internal workings of ment last week published, right-wing rivals in opposition. ences in pay amongst work- from the floor. Thousands of decent publicly run public the plant. under the Freedom of Infor- Left Unity, largely com- ers doing essentially the jobs had already gone services”. The dangerous liquid is mation Act, a list of 537 sites posed of supporters of the same type of work in differ- through a freeze on recruit- now being pumped out in that were reckoned to be suit- old Trotskyist Militant ten- ent departments and agen- ment and outsourcing work Labour MP John small batches into storage able for the storage of up to dency, now represented by cies. overseas to the detriment of McDonnell, the chair of the tanks. This process will take 250,000 cubic metres of the two successor move- Over the past few years the public, whose services PCS Parliamentary Group, another couple of weeks be- nuclear waste for 100,000 ments in Scotland and the the union has campaigned to were being downgraded and addressed national confer- fore the task of repairing or years. rest of Britain, lead the De- restore national pay bargain- to the rest of the work-force ence and gave a fringe meet- replacing the broken pipe can The list was compiled in mocracy bloc in alliance with ing and conference en- who were expected to cover ing on behalf of the Labour begin. the 1980s by Government ge- two other leftist factions and dorsed the submission of two the deficiencies. Conference Representation Committee This will have to be done ologists and other specialists. a centre-left social demo- national pay claims, warning agreed to step up the cam- and another fringe meeting by robots because the area is It includes national parks, ex- cratic bloc that broke with the that it would not fight shy of paign to defend members’ was packed to hear maver- so heavily contaminated with isting nuclear power stations, right-wing three years ago. industrial action if “substan- jobs against compulsory re- ick Respect MP, George Gal- radiation and the robots to do military bases, off-shore sites This year’s national elec- tial progress” was not dundancy and relocation and loway, denounce the war in the job have had to be spe- and remote Scottish islands. tions gave the left another achieved in negotiations. it called on the NEC to seek Iraq. Page 4 THE NEW WORKER 17 June 2005 Features

As ‘peak oil day’ looms and the capitalists get desperate get ready for... Power struggles

by Caroline Colebrook But the US wars on Iraq and chance that Saudi Arabia actu- the illegal invasion have disrupted ally peaked production in 1981. supplies from that country so We have no reliable data. Our WORLD CAPITALISM is get- much, thanks to Iraqi resistance data collection system for oil is ting desperate as scientists sabotage, that the US is now pay- rubbish. I suspect that if we had, are predicting “peak oil ing a much higher price for that we would find that we are over- oil – including the blood of its own producing in most of our major day” – the day when avail- troops. fields and that we should be throt- able oil supplies reach their Last summer the price of oil tling back. We may have passed maximum and thereafter go hit $50 a barrel, causing shock that point.” into steady decline. It is waves in money markets around He told the meeting that it is the world. The US responded by inevitable that the price of oil will likely to come within the putting enormous pressure on all soar above $100 a barrel as sup- next few decades. This is the Opec (oil producing) countries plies fail to meet demand. “De- prompting western oil bar- of the world to increase their pro- mand is pulling away from sup- ons into a desperate duction and bring down the price ply,” he said. “And we have to – and they were already produc- ask whether we have the re- scramble to seize and con- ing almost as fast as they could. sources that we think we do. It trol remaining oil supplies Saudi Arabia managed to step up could be catastrophic if we do not as speculators say it will not its production a little – bringing anticipate when peak oil comes.” be long before it costs the price of oil down a little but The International Energy more than $100 a barrel. hastening the day when its own Agency, which collates data oil runs out. from oil-producing countries, pre- Meanwhile govern- Meanwhile oil demand is ris- dicts that peak oil will arrive ments are considering what ing so much that there is a bottle sometime between 2013 and they are going to do when neck in supply because the 2037. the oil runs out. This in- world’s tankers and the world’s Chris Skrebowski of the En- refineries do not have enough ergy Institute in London esti- cludes a possible revival of capacity to get it to the consum- mates that oil depletion of con- nuclear energy, which is ers quickly enough. The G8 con- ventional reserves is currently cheap and does not pro- ference next month will consider running at about five per cent a duce greenhouse gasses. giving tax incentives to large oil year. He said: “Norway, Venezu- companies to increase the capac- ela, the UK and Indonesia and However private enter- ity of their refineries so that the prise is reluctant to take on world’s oil can be used up even the costs and the risks of faster. building new nuclear power • Wind farms – a necessary eye-sore? The global price of oil is still stations. ridiculously cheap when com- Now the Soviet Union is no start to fail, oil consumption in the pared to other commodities. In Nobody, it seems, is con- more, the imperialist powers, led West is still growing. It is the Britain, even with heavy fuel sidering reviving the coal by the United States, have policy of the US to keep oil prices taxes, a litre of petrol still costs a industry. Even though the courted the former Soviet repub- as low as possible and never mind little less than a litre of bottled tomorrow. price of coal is soaring on lics of the region, playing their water sold in a pub or restaurant. usual game of bribing, fostering This has brought the US into It is a lot less than a litre of beer. international markets, ethnic hostilities and subverting conflict with countries that want US policies are forcing the world Britain’s few remaining governments to secure the prize to conserve their oil, to sell it in to squander its limited oil stocks. deep mines are being of the oil. smaller amounts. Such policies Matthew Simmons, one of closed because of the eco- The route of the pipeline was put up the price of oil and cause the world’s leading energy ana- panic in western stock markets. lysts and an adviser to President nomic blunders of the in- carefully chosen, avoiding Rus- sian territory but still goes through This was one of the main rea- Bush has called for an indepen- dustries’ private owners in many areas of political unrest, in sons for US hostility to Iraq be- dent assessment of global oil re- recent years. a corridor just 50 yards wide. fore the first Gulf War – Saddam serves. • Pointing out the hellish Nothing was allowed to stand in had been trying to conserve Iraqi He recently told a confer- possibilities of the nuclear option. its way – not primary forests, oil stocks so they did not run out ence of oil industry analysts: WEDNESDAY 25th May this endangered species, local labour in a few decades. “This is a new era. There is a big year marked the formal open- protection laws nor democracy ing of the Baku-Tbilisi- protesters. And by bringing the Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, terminal of the pipeline to the running from Baku in Mediterranean, the western oil Azerbaijan, through Georgia tankers will not have to go to the Mediterranean coast of through the bottleneck of the Turkey, where it emerges to Bosporus deliver oil from the rich This is described as the most Caspian oilfields to western significant pipeline ever built. It oil companies at the port of is certainly a cause of great hos- Ceyhan, close to a United tility between the Bush govern- States military base. ment and Putin’s Russia – the Since 1917 the western im- historical chief customer of Baku perialist oil companies have oil. Civil strife has broken out in sought to regain control over the many of the former Soviet repub- Baku oil fields that they had be- lics in the region as ethnic differ- gun to develop for the Csar of ences are exploited as fronts for Russia. And the oil workers of battles between oil-greedy the region played a leading role vested interests in the Russian revolution, secur- The US has invested an aw- ing the oil for the people of the ful lot of money to construct this Russian Federation, and then the pipeline following the events of Soviet Union. During the Second 11th September 2001 because it World War, the Baku oilfields had became increasingly anxious acted like a magnet to the invad- about relying on oil from the Per- ing Nazis, desperate to seize the sian Gulf. oil necessary to power their But the Caspian oil will meet dreams of the Third Reich. But only one per cent of the world’s the Red Army stopped them and needs. Although oil supplies turned them round at Stalingrad. throughout the world will soon • Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk. 17 June 2005 THE NEW WORKER Page 5 Features 020 7223 4052 many others are all declining pro- was thrown in alongside explo- threat of climate change is duction. I expect Denmark, Ma- sive chemicals in a toxic and greater than any danger from ter- laysia, China, Mexico and Brunei volatile mix that threatened to rorism and he has attacked the to peak within three years. I es- explode and coat the area with Bush government for failing to timate that we have, at best, 32 radioactive waste. sign the Kyoto treaty. months before the crisis hits.” Waste was leaking from the He is also a strong advocate Skrebowski warned that pro- pits on to the nearby beach which of developing renewable energy duction from the British sector of was seriously contaminated with sources such as wind, wave and the North Sea would halve within radioactivity. At Sellafield in solar power. He believes that a 10 years. He said: “We have a Northumbria, the power station combination of these and fusion congenital bias to optimism … 12 closed down and turned into a power will allow Britain to cut fields in the North Sea are see- nuclear reprocessing plant, had back on carbon dioxide emissions ing rising production, but they are also spread radioactive contami- enough to comply with our com- mostly small. Overall production nation over the surrounding area mitments under the Kyoto treaty. peaked in 1999. It fell 10 per cent and into the Irish Sea. Pigeons The Government has already last year and 8.5 per cent the year and seagulls in the area were admitted that it will miss, by a before that.” spreading radioactive droppings wide margin, its target of cutting Opec countries are thought everywhere. carbon dioxide emission by 20 per to have been exaggerating their Dismantling and decommis- cent by 2010. reserves for around two decades. sioning such power stations was David King said the energy The common perception that the to be a very long, very slow, very • Green Peace protesting at Sellafield (above) and at moving nuclear gap was a key issue. “Examin- Middle East is overflowing with expensive and very hazardous job. waste through the Irish Sea (below). ing the situation now, because oil reserves was shown to be This was when the Tory gov- there’s this projected gap in misleading last summer. ernment, followed by Labour, nuclear energy on the grid, the Iran is now investing in was trying to privatise everything, whole question is whether this nuclear power for its domestic nailed down or not. But private gap can be filled quickly enough energy consumption in order to enterprise did not want to know with renewables. keep its oil mainly for the export about taking on that sort of work. “But if it can’t, then I would market – indicating that its oil The private sector did take on the imagine that one further genera- reserves are becoming more lim- few more lucrative working tion of nuclear power stations ited. power stations. But the expen- would be all that would be re- Colin Campbell, the chief sive white elephants, including the quired.” geologist of the oil company ageing Magnox plants, are now It is clear now that the Gov- Amoco and former vice-presi- run by the state-owned company ernment has for some time been dent of Fina said that oil will not British Nuclear Fuel Limited drawing up secret plans for a actually run out for many years (BNFL). Recently the ownership new generation of nuclear power but predicted that it will start to of Sellafield was transferred to stations, though nothing was said decline very soon. the newly-set up Nuclear De- in the Labour manifesto at the “The information govern- commissioning Authority but May election. Former BBC chief ments give is grossly unreliable,” BNFL still runs it, under contract. Lord Birt is leading a team in the he said. “Oil companies report But the Government, now Strategy Unit, which will produce less than they discover for prag- aware that this country faces a a report on climate change and matic reasons. But Opec coun- yawning energy gap as oil and how to solve the energy gap. tries have over-estimated what gas supplies diminish, is consid- One insider reported: “They ering reviving the nuclear indus- some extraordinarily onerous reports, is one of only four com- they think their reserves are… fixed-price contracts for nuclear panies in the world that has pro- are carefully framing questions to “The real issue is not the ac- try. Nuclear energy currently pro- get the answers they want. The vides 20 per cent of our energy clean-ups in the US when it duced a credible design for a new tual date of peak production – bought into Westinghouse of the generation of nuclear power sta- answer to both questions could which I believe is next year – but needs. The Government also ar- be nuclear power.” gues that nuclear power does not US. Jointly the two became the tions – the AP1000. It is hoping what happens during the decline biggest nuclear reprocessing op- to sell a lot of these to China and The Cabinet is said to be di- of production. I think we are in give rise to greenhouse gas emis- vided. Environment Secretary sions and so will not pollute the erators in the world and lead the India and would be happy to do for an extended period of re- way in nuclear clean-up exper- business with Britain through Margaret Beckett and former stricted economic activity. I do environment. Of course this Trade and Industry Secretary again is not taking into account tise. BNFL. The Government is keen not think that we will adjust very to sell BNFL to the private sec- Patricia Hewitt are said to have smoothly,” he said. the problems of safe waste dis- deep reservations about a return posal, possible radioactive leaks ‘This planet can no tor as quickly as it can so the Some speculators are look- terms would probably be good for to nuclear power and that the ing at alternative sources, such and the danger of an explosion. longer afford this lunatic nuclear lobby was pressing Blair Such explosions are unlikely but Westinghouse. as oil-rich rocks in the US and system. It is not nuclear On the other hand the Gov- to move Patricia Hewitt from that Canada’s tar sands. These catastrophic if they do happen. post in the post-election Cabinet Rebuilding a new generation energy that needs to be ernment may opt to go for a rival sources have to be mined and the French system that would pro- reshuffle. It seems they suc- energy used up in extracted the of nuclear power stations will be revived but socialism.’ ceeded and Alan Johnson now expensive and Government capi- duce a lot more jobs in Europe. oil from them makes them uneco- Once again, the commercial in- fills the post. nomical. tal spending is limited. The Gov- The only way the Government Meanwhile the oil barons in ernment has tried to interest pri- can entice private enterprise to terests of the US and Europe are Even if oil was not about to at odds. the US are still trying to deny that run out, the world would have to vate enterprise but the costs and take on BNFL is to promise that there is any danger of global risks involved mean that big busi- it – and the taxpayer – will ac- The Government’s chief sci- start to limit what it uses because entific adviser, Sir David King is warming. Last week it came to of the threat of global warming. ness is staying away. cept the liability of dealing with light that Philip Cooney, a former Private investors do not want the waste, leaving power stations a strong advocate of a revival of The same goes for other fossil nuclear power and the develop- oil industry lobbyist, edited the fuels like gas and coal. to buy BNFL because it has such free to make money from power Bush administration’s official huge decommissioning liabilities. generation. ment of fusion power. Last year As North Sea gas reserves he told the Government that the policy papers on climate change run out, Britain will become de- The company has also acquired Westinghouse, according to to minimise the link between pendent on imported gas to gen- greenhouse gas emissions and erate electricity. This will leave global warming. Britain vulnerable to rocketing Documents released by a fuel prices and the Government watchdog group, the Government is now looking to other possible Accountability Project, show that sources of energy, including Cooney, a law graduate with no nuclear fuel. scientific training, watered down A few years ago the Govern- government scientific papers and ment was set on winding down literature on climate change . the British nuclear power indus- The energy crisis now fac- try. It had promised almost un- ing the human race has been cre- limited cheap energy when the ated by the unrestrained greed of power stations were first built. capitalism. But the costs of safe disposal of Those who have tried to con- nuclear waste had not been taken serve energy supplies have been into account. And after the disas- brushed aside by the oil barons ters at Windscale (now or crushed by the US military. Sellafield) in 1958, Three Mile The political implications of “peak Island in the United States and oil day”, when it does arrive, are 1979 and Chernobyl in the Soviet formidable. The capitalists will Union in 1986, the predominant become even more frenzied in view was that nuclear power was their panic to grab whatever re- just too dangerous. mains and make a fortune out of The winding down process inflated prices for a diminishing produced some shocks. Waste asset. dumps were discovered at the defunct Dounreay plant in the This planet can no longer af- north of Scotland full of all sorts ford this lunatic system. It is not of rubbish thrown into deep pits nuclear energy that needs to be any old how. Radioactive rubbish • Taff Merthyr, one of the many collieries that changed the valleys of Wales. revived but socialism. Page 6 THE NEW WORKER 17 June 2005 Home News

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LETTERS 1234567890123456789012345678 the developers wanted MoD admits racism 1234567890123456789012345678 “out” of the project and by 1234567890123456789012345678 123456789012345678901234567Diary 8 giving the council this 1234567890123456789012345678 Dear comrades ultimatum without fulfilling on prisoner the guarantees, the council- I thought you should be FRIDAY 17 June Rodney. 1.30-4pm, the lors would vote it out. Pod, Peckham Library, aware of the decision of Perhaps they reckoned of war payments Nkrumah’s legacy - Dr Brighton and Hove City Yakubu Saaka. 6pm, Peckham Sq, Peckham without the mentality of the Anatolian Peoples’ Cultural High St, London SE15. Council to give the go- Labour members. ahead for a 320 million THE MINISTRY of Defence Elias says the ordeal she Centre, 89 Stoke Newington SATURDAY 9 July The fact remains that admitted in 2001 that race Rd, London N16. 07984 War Tax Resistance Day. redevelopment over the next without the extraordinary endured as a prisoner still 10 years to replace the King was a deciding factor in haunts her. It began with her 405307. 11am-4pm, Priory Rooms behaviour of the Liberal FRIDAY 17 June & 18 June Meeting & Conference Alfred sports complex on Democrat councillor it could awarding payment to British family being pulled from their the seafront. citizens who were held in beds in the middle of the night Wild geese - !st of May Centre, Friends House, not have gone through. Japanese prisoner of war band. Banner Theatre 40 Bull St, Birmingham This was pushed For the records the and imprisoned for four years. through by Ken Bodfish, the camps during the Second production. Chat’s Place 42 B4. voting was Labour in favour, “I’ve been British all my [email protected] chairman of the policy and World War. life,” she said, “and feel aban- Brooksby’s Walk, Hackney, Conservatives against, one This came to light as London E9. £8/£4. 020 SATURDAY 9 July resources committee’s Green for and one against doned by the Government. It 8533 0227. Campaign for Press & casting vote. He is also head Diana Ellis, aged 81 who was is because of racism they are with the chairman giving the born in Hong Kong, took her TUESDAY 21 June Broadcsting Freedom of the council. casting vote for. denying us compensation.” Picket against Israeli AGM. NUJ HQ, 308 Gray’s This could not have fight for compensation to the Her solicitor said: “It As a final comment, the High Courts last week after apartheid. All day, Bonnyton Inn Rd, London WC. happened if the Liberal scheme was a hybrid of an seems the MoD were apply- Golf Club, Eaglesham, FRIDAY 15 July-17 July Democrat councillor Paul the MoD turned down her ing, by their own admission, original attempt to claim for a £10,000 payment Scotland. SPSC. Tolpuddle martryrs Elgood had decided not to modernise the existing sport a criterion to deny compen- FRIDAY 24 June Festival. Tolpuddle, vote and also refuse to name because she had “no blood sation that was racially dis- complex, which was com- link” to Britain and was not Reem Kelani in concert. Dorset. 0117 947 0521. a deputy in his place. pleted at the outbreak of the criminatory. It was there in QEH Theatre,Jacobs Well SATURDAY 16 July The extraordinary born here. black and white. Second World War. Ellis had an Iraqi mother Rd, Bristol. PSC. box office Post election spurious reason he gave The end result is the “They are abandoning 0117 930 3082. conference. Labour was that he had campaigned and an Indian father. She and people who were persecuted removal of the indoor bowls her family were interned in SATURDAY 25 June Representation publicly against the devel- centre and a swimming pool for being British. They were Labour CND conference & Committee. 10-4pm, opment so he could not vote halved in size. 1941 when the Japanese in- interned in camps by the Japa- AGM. 10.30am conference, Congress House. £25/£5. against it. vaded Hong Kong and she nese as enemy aliens for be- AGM 4pm. SOAS SATURDAY 16 July The newly elected was held for four years in hor- Before the mind Labour MP for Hove, Celia ing British.” RoomG51, Thornhaugh St, International Brigade boggles, let’s step back and rific conditions. London WC1. £8/£4. Memorial Trust annual Barlow, who was bused in The MoD had won an think, what was the real from Chichester for the SATURDAY 25 June commemoration. reason he did not vote on a election, had stated that earlier court battle on the is- State of London debate. Speaker John Pilger. 1pm, major issue such as this, a Hove would have a “world sue and had argued that its GLA. 10-5pm, Queen Jubilee Gdns, London monstrous development, scheme did not discriminate. New Elizabeth Conference SE1. class sports centre” out of But in a memo Alan which will blight the lives of this development. Centre, SW1. Book by 20th SATURDAY 16 July many residents? Mayers, a senior MoD offi- Worker June on 020 7983 4302. RISE (formerly Respect) It must be the ultimate in cial, wrote: “It is true to deny The councillors had sick jokes. TUESDAY 27 June festival, 12 noon-8.30pm. only two-and-a-half days’ we are being racist but we are Supporters’ Changes in the world Burgess Park, London notice of the meeting Best wishes in fact including race as a de- economy - Alan Freeman & SE5. against the statutory ciding factor as part of our eli- Groups… David Leal. 7,30pm, the THURSDAY 21 July from a former NCP gibility criteria.” minimum five days but it member in Hove. Bakehouse, Bennett Park, The general election - Blackheath. Lewis & speaker Kate Purcell. was allowed on a technical- New Worker supporters ity. Greenwich CND. Camden TC. 7pm, The developers Karris, groups exist to support WEDNESDAY 29 June Transport House, 128 with Dutch financial backers the weekly newspaper Picket the Iraqi Petroleum Theobald’s Rd, London Ing, had said the scheme of the New Communist Conference. 10.30am, The WC1. would remain viable if the IN MEMORIAM Party of Britain by work- Hilton, Paddington. Stop the number of units (flats) was ing to increase sales, War Coalition. FRIDAY 29 July - 31 July increased to 750. The organise fund-raising THURSDAY 30 June-1 July National Hazards TUC Lesbian, Gay, Bi and conference - building original planning brief was events and hold regular Transgender conference. workplace organisation. for 400 and has steadily Cora Rosenbloom discussion meetings. increased over the last two Congress House. University of Leeds, years. NWSG news will appear SATURDAY 9 July leeds. £80 (non- None of the council’s The Central Committee of the New Communist Party in the New Worker or in Tribute to Dr Walter residential). original requirement has is saddened to learn of the death of the NCP Internal Bulle- been met – by their own Cora Rosenbloom, a founder member of the party tin. admission. and a life-long communist, staunch Stalinist There are now fewer and activist, on the 9th of June 2005. Now individual regular affordable homes, insuffi- Cora was born on 30th May 1915 in Brady Street supporters in Britain and cient parking, inadequate in Stepney, the ninth of nine children in a overseas who want to road access, the overshad- hard-up east end family. show greater support owing by new tall buildings. Other problems include the She spent her life fighting for socialism, peace and for our newspaper but inability to meet justice. In recent years she made considerable are members of other sustainability targets and contributions to the Vietnamese Friendship Forest parties or no party at all crucially no transport links appeal, to plant new trees in an area of Vietnam can join the New Worker planned with the centre of deforested and devastated by United States chemical Supporters Group. the city. warfare. She was still collecting items to sell on The council has fundraising stalls for the New Worker when she died. Individual membership effectively given the is set at £5.00 ( 8 Euros developers a carte-blanche Cora’s funeral will be on Tuesday 21st June at or $10) for all or part of go-ahead, hoping that all the above problems can be Kingston Crematorium, Bonner Hill Road, the calendar year and sorted out later. Kingston at 12.20pm. every member will re- There is a school of ceive a New Worker thought among keen We salute the life of a great comrade. Supporters Group followers of this saga that (NWSG) card and a cop- ies of the Internal Bulle- tin for the year. Regular New Worker subscrib- ers outside Britain, and this includes northern Ireland, can join and pay in sterling, euros or dol- Weekly paper of the New Communist Party lars. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 6 weeks: £4; 3 months: £8; On the Web... 6 months: £15; annual: £30 New Worker National – www.newworker.org Name...... NCP Central – Address...... www.geocities.com/ncpcentral ...... London District NCP– Post code...... http://londoncommunists.blogspot.com/ Phone...... Brighton NCP – http://brightoncommunists.blogspot.com/ Send cheque/P.O.’s to: NCP-PCS – NW Subs, PO Box 73, London SW11 2PQ www.geocities.ncppcs/pcs1.html 17 June 2005 THE NEW WORKER Page 7 020 7223 4052 Nuclear bomb veterans still fighting

IN OCTOBER 1952 Hugh veterans, suffers from a long mas Island – a centre of the Highton was a stoker aboard list of illnesses. In his case this test – over 50 years after the HMS Tracker off the north- includes bronchitis, asthma, tests. This includes radioac- west coast of Australia. On the emphysema, angina, osteoar- tive dials and clock faces still morning of 3rd October, his thritis, hiatus hernia and di- in the stored vehicles that officers ordered him to leave verticulitis. were left behind. The fluores- his stoking duties and to pa- Peter Fletcher was near cent figures and words in the rade on deck. the same test site in 1952, dials are still emitting radio- He reports: “All I had on aboard HMS Zeebrugge. He activity after all this time. The was a pair of shorts, sandals did not close his eyes. This is veterans argue that, if the ve- and a hat. No shirt. We were what he saw: “The sky lit up hicles are still dangerous, no told to turn our backs and like double daylight. Then we wonder they are ill! then I put my hands over them. were told to turn round and The British Nuclear Test Like this.” He demonstrated we saw the black cloud. Then Veterans’ Association is con- by putting the backs of his the sound of the explosion. It tinuing to put pressure on the clenched fists firmly into his wasn’t just a bang; it seemed Ministry of Defence through eye sockets. to echo and echo. Then we the courts but the MoD is “We knew it was going to were hit by this hot wind. dragging its heels. be and explosion,” he contin- Now, despite having to Recently BNTVA execu- ued. “We were never told it spend 16 hours a day on oxy- tive committee members met was an atom bomb though it gen because of his diseased Lord Jack Ashley at the had come through the grape lungs, he is currently the House of Lords. He told them vine. president of the British that the first thing is to keep “They started the count- Nuclear Test Veterans’ Asso- on fighting. down and there was this flash ciation, which has been cam- “You have a just cause. I could see right through my paigning now for decades for Take your fight again to your hands, the bones in them, it recognition that their ill- individual MPs,” he said. was like an X-ray of my hands, nesses were caused by the “Make some noise!” even though my eyes were tests and for war disablement Following that advice the shut. Then there was more like pensions. association is stepping up its a roar, a rumble and then a In 1990 Bob Clay, the then Labour was elected in 1997 men who were present at the campaign, especially to put bang. MP for Sunderland, proposed because most of those sup- atmospheric nuclear tests are pressure on MPs. They “And then we turned an amendment to the Social porting Bob Clay’s amend- ill. However I am bound to re- would welcome all possible round and opened our eyes Security Bill then passing ment were Labour MPs. Tony peat that there is no evidence support. and just after there was this through the House of Com- Blair was among them. Thirty of excessive illness or mortal- hot wind and you could feel it mons. This would have given eight of them are now govern- ity amongst all the veterans like grit hitting your body. The the nuclear test veterans a ment ministers. Peter Fletcher as a group that could be linked For more information con- ship rocked slightly. And that war disablement pension. It was made an MBE. to exposure to radiation as a tact the campaign magazine was it.” was supported by 218 MPs But when Blair was asked result of their participation in • Above: Britain’s first editor, the Reverend John That was Britain’s first but defeated by the Tory gov- last year if he would give the the tests.” nuclear explosion. Inset: Its Walden, 11 Hemmings Close, atomic test. Hugh Highton is ernment, which continued to test veterans the compensa- Yet recently a multi-mil- image on a medal given to Norwich, NR5 9EH – phone now 69 years old and, like ignore calls for compensation. tion he had voted for in 1990, lion pound contract was some nuclear vets – were 01603 746 062 – email hundreds of other nuclear test Hopes were raised when he replied: “Some ex-service- awarded to clean up Christ- any given posthumously? [email protected] Grenada: setting the record straight dent on 7 February 1974 with tion and the reasons behind Many of the surviving a constitution set out in an their economic policy: members of the PRG, members REVIEW Order in Council, which ap- “The state sector alone,” of the RMC also many mem- pointed a Governor General to he said, “cannot develop the bers of the NJM together with by Renée Sams represent the Queen. economy, given the very low many trade unionists were ar- Sir Paul’s greatest fear was level of technology available, rested and imprisoned by the The Grenada Revolution by that Grenada had been taken the limited human resources, US invaders. Some of the Richard Hart (Caribbean over by communists and in his the lack of capital, the lack of leaders, among them Bernard Labour Solidarity/Socialist book he patronisingly writes marketing expertise, the lack and Phyllis Coard, Hudson History Society, £3) that Grenada would have be- of promotional capacity. So Austin and others were taken come a ‘totalitarian’ regime like we must stimulate the private to an American warship. ON 13 MARCH 1979 the Cuba or the eastern European sector generally, but also of Seventeen of them (who people of Grenada over threw states and the Grenadans course in agriculture, and in became known as the Grenada the hated dictatorial Gairy would have become the “un- particular among the small and 17) were held in appalling regime, set up a Peoples’ witting recipients of the first medium farmers. conditions as a report by Am- Revolutionary Government revolutionary socialist regime Sir Paul also refers to the nesty International records: and enthusiastically began to in the English speaking “worsening economy” under “subjected to cruel, inhuman work out a better kind of so- world”. the PRG and declares that and degrading treatment, in “Government revenues violation international laws ciety for themselves. • Maurice Bishop. But the mighty US could ‘Richard Hart has dwindled helplessly in the and standards…they were not tolerate the idea of any written an outstanding face of a deteriorating weak links with the masses we a meeting with David Mont- held in wooden crates fully exposed to the sun and with- country so near, even such a account of all the economy which was squeezed became bureaucratic and too gomery, High Commissioner small island of 133 square by the anti-capitalist policies formalistic in our of Barbados and some other out facilities for personal hy- miles with a population of problems the Grenada of the Bishop regime…” and approach…There is a deep Caribbean diplomats he was giene.” only 100,000, breaking free of 17 faced in court with in January 1983 he is saying crisis in the party and the asked if he would put that in After this ordeal aboard imperialist control and becom- no real concrete “the economic failure of the revolution.” writing but in his own book the US warship they were ing independent. They sent evidence against any of revolution is clearly evident”. Hart uses extensive ex- he says that on this question taken to Richmond Hill Prison in St Georges where several in their armed forces and bru- them and twenty-three Yet the World Bank, as tracts from the minutes of the he “temporised”. Richard Hart comments, an NJM CC that reveal the atti- The Grenadan army of them were tortured and tally crushed the revolution- years later they are still aries. institution most unlikely to be tudes and problems of the fought bravely against the forced to sign ”confessions” Recently, Sir Paul Scoon, in prison. They are now well disposed towards social- organisation that led to the overwhelming firepower of which had been written by the Governor General of Grenada trying to raise funds to ist policies, made a favourable bizarre events that ended in the invading American forces Barbadian police interroga- from 1973 until he retired in take their case to the report on Grenada and how the shooting of Bishop and with considerable loss of life tors. Richard Hart has written 1992, wrote a book on the Privy Council.’ the PRG was managing the several other comrades. That but inevitably US forces oc- Grenada Revolution. island’s financial affairs. tragedy was followed by a cupied the island where they an outstanding account of all In this book, however, are Although, under the new military takeover by General remained for about a year. the problems the Grenada 17 He proceeds to dismiss faced in court with no real not only many inaccuracies any positive actions of the revolutionary regime the eco- Austin who quickly estab- Sir Paul, however, was but downright lies about the nomic situation did improve, lished a Revolutionary Mili- well looked after and he concrete evidence against Peoples’ Revolutionary Gov- any of them and twenty-three Revolution and the Peoples’ ernment (PRG) and mourns in Richard Hart’s opinion the tary Council (RMC) with the records that soon after the in- Revolutionary Government revolutionary leaders “had aim of trying to save the revo- vasion a party of special years later they are still in how the Grenadans ‘take prison. They are now trying (PRG) and Richard Hart, who pride in their own property created popular expectations lution. troops took him and his wife worked for the PRG, felt im- which could not possibly be But the US was already by helicopter to an American to raise funds to take their however small…and the impo- case to the Privy Council. pelled to set the record sition of radical socialism fulfilled over a short period of preparing to intervene, al- warship. While he was a straight. would always be risky.’ time” and the people were be- though Prime Minister guest of the Americans he Drawing on his diaries in coming disillusioned. Thatcher had already spoken signed backdated letters to The Socialist History But on the contrary the Society can be contacted which he kept a day-to-day PRG was making every effort In the minutes of the New to President Reagan advising President Reagan, Tom record of events and archive Jewel Movement Central against a military invasion. Adams, Edward Seaga and at: to develop a mixed economy 50 Elmfield Road, documents, Hart gives a de- and actually encouraged pri- Committee meeting of Sep- Sir Paul Scoon, who had no Eugenia Charles and after a tailed account of the revolu- tember 1982 Maurice Bishop authority from the Queen was few days they were flown Balham, vate investment even from London SW17 8AL tion in this small Caribbean other countries. In an inter- reported: “ The CC has made preparing to offer his “fullest back to Grenada and installed island. a number of mistakes over the support” to the Americans. in the Governor General’s resi- where the booklet can be view in July, 1981 Maurice ordered for £3 post free. Grenada became indepen- Bishop explained the situa- past 18 months; because of It is not surprising that at dence. Page 8 17 June 2005

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Bolivian crisis ALVARO CUNHAL 1913–2005 continues amid calls Portuguese stands at a crossroads not In 1937 and in 1940, he knowing which way to turn, was arrested, the second time for new Communist Party searching for values, the path being brutally tortured by the loses the man but which Alvaro Cunhal showed fascist authorities of Dr An- elections us makes more sense. tonio de Oliveira Salazar, go- not the dream Alvaro Cunhal represents ing underground to an ideal in which the State pro- reorganise the party in 1940/ BOLIVIA’S supreme court by Timothy Bancroft- vides free and high quality 41 and becoming Member of chief, Eduardo Rodríguez, Hinchey services in the areas of edu- the Secretariat of the Portu- took office as president and cation and health, free and guese Communist Party be- vowed to hold early elections, ALVARO CUNHAL died at guaranteed housing, a soci- tween 1942 and 1949, when he hoping to end an uprising by dawn on 13th June at 91 years ety with all the capacities to was jailed again, spending 11 masses of poor people de- of age, having spent three provide social mobility, decent years in prison and again suf- manding a share of the quarters of a century fight- wages, decent pensions, de- fering horrendous acts of tor- country’s natural gas riches. Rodríguez was sworn in ing for human rights, for cent values, safe streets and ture. But they never broke his th freedom, for democracy and a constant upgrading of the will or determination and he as the 84th president on 9 against fascist and reaction- cultural and professional level remained faithful to his com- June at an emergency session ary forces. His legacy is vis- of the people – the commu- rades and to his ideals to the of Congress, convened in the ible today because his dreams nist ideal for which he fought end. legal and judicial capital of continue to live amongst us. so hard. In 1960, he escaped from Sucre. Protests continued His ideals are more and more Peniche prison and went throughout Bolivia, where for relevant and his word more revolutionary abroad, liaising with political the past several weeks, tens the truth today than ever be- figures from other countries, of thousands of farmers, work- fore. He was born in Coimbra keeping the PCP alive in Por- ers and indigenous people Today’s world is a vindi- in 1913 but it was in Lisbon, tugal, being elected general have demanded the cation and justification of the secretary in 1961. nationalisation of the gas and at the Faculty of Law, that • Alvaro Cunhal. ideals of everything which Alvaro Cunhal began his Back in Portugal for the oil industry and a more equi- Alvaro Cunhal represents and revolutionary activity. A Revolution of 25th April 1974, In 1992, in a process of both in the political and liter- table distribution of the his beliefs continue to be rel- member of the Portuguese he was Minister without Port- renovation of the party’s ary areas. He was, and will al- country’s wealth. evant and pertinent. At a time Communist Party (PCP) from folio in the first four govern- structures, Alvaro Cunhal ways continue to be, an ex- The Bolivian Congress when public services are col- 1931, he was elected member ments, being elected to the passed the post of General ample of dedication, political was forced to cancel a crisis lapsing in the capitalist-mon- of the Student Senate in 1934 Constituent Assembly in Secretary to Carlos Carvalhas coherence, courage, wisdom, session that morning, citing etarist world, at a time when and one year later, General 1975. He was elected Member (the post is now held by honesty, respect for human- security problems as demon- powerful forces launch mur- Secretary of the Federation of of Parliament (Republican Jeronimo de Sousa) and was ity, human values and love for strators and troops clashed in derous attacks across the Young Communists, partici- Assembly) in 1976, 1979, 1980, elected President of the Na- his people. If only the politi- Sucre and a miners’ union globe as they try to grab its pating in the Fourth World 1983, 1985 and 1987 and he tional Council of the PCP. cal class of today were to take leader was shot dead in a small resources by the throat, at a Congress of Communist was also a member of the Alvaro Cunhal leaves a a leaf from his book, we would town nearby. Meeting later in time when western society Youth in Moscow. Council of State. vast range of publications, be living in paradise. the day, Congress unani- Pravda.ru mously accepted the resigna- tion of the previous president, Carlos Mesa, who had bowed to protesters’ demands even as he warned that the country was on the edge of civil war. China wants UN reforms ‘back on track’ At the same time, Bolivia’s armed forces warned they could take action to halt the unrest, which had led the na- AMID heated debates divide the world body. emphasis on multi- tunities to join the Secu- poverty alleviation, which tional airline to cancel all do- about United Nations re- People’s China, one of lateralism and developing rity Council on a rotating are faced by the whole mestic flights. International forms, China has made it the five permanent members countries’ needs. basis. But the Chinese po- world.” flights had to land in the east- clear that while fully sup- of the UN Security Council The paper came a few sition is in favour of all the In March, UN Secretary- ern city of Santa Cruz, be- porting the process, it issued a position paper last days after China’s UN Am- regional groups, first of all, General Kofi Annan told UN cause La Paz, the administra- sternly opposes any “im- week detailing its stance on bassador Wang Guangya reaching agreement on re- member states that he tive capital, had been over- mature” plans that could UN reforms calling for more told media that China ob- form proposals concerning wanted a decision on the whelmed by protesters. Additionally, air traffic jects to putting the G-4 their respective regions. UN Security Council expan- controllers working at 32 air- resolution to a vote. “In East Asia, Japan sion before the September ports announced they were failed to win trust from summit. Opponents of the going on an indefinite strike. draft resolution neighbouring countries ow- G-4, known as the “Uniting In his inauguration ing to its attitude towards for Consensus”, favour ex- speech shortly after midnight, Germany, Japan, Brazil history. So if Japan wants panding the Security Coun- the new interim president and India, known as the to play a bigger role in the cil from 15 to 25 members, promised early general elec- Group of Four (G-4), circu- UN, consensus should be but oppose creating any tions. While he did not set a date for the polls, the consti- lated a draft resolution re- first reached in the region,” new permanent members. tution stipulates that under cently proposing to give the said Chen Xiangyang, an current circumstances new four countries permanent expert with China Institute veto power elections must be held within seats on the Security Coun- of Contemporary Interna- six months. cil along with two African tional Relations. The current UN Security Immediately after the new countries. The G-4 is also Meanwhile, Chinese Council has five permanent president’s speech, Evo Mo- asking other UN member scholars said the G-4’s pro- members with veto power rales, the influential head of the Movement Toward So- states to become co-spon- posal and their aspiration of — the United States, Rus- cialism (MAS) and a leader of sors of the draft and has in- becoming permanent mem- sia, People’s China, Britain coca leaf farmers, urged the dicated they will put it to a bers of the UN panel have and France— and 10 non- new interim president to prom- vote by the UN General As- narrowed down the topic of permanent members ise to nationalise the oil and sembly in June. UN reforms. elected for two-year terms. gas industry and to convene “China is worried by and “Uniting for Consensus” a constitutional assembly. firmly opposes such ac- small part bloc, which includes Paki- A miners’ union official tions,” China’s Foreign Min- stan, Algeria, Argentina, announced on a Quechua- language radio station that istry spokesman Liu “The Security Council Canada and Italy, circu- Coro Mayta, a 52-year-old Jianchao told the media in reform, by any means, is lated a working paper on leader of the union, was shot Beijing. China supports in- merely a small part of the 27th May calling for an in- through the heart as he and creased representation of UN reforms,” said Chen. He crease of 10 non-perma- scores of other miners developing countries, which said the proposed reforms nent seats on the body. The marched on an army check- account for more than two- aim at improving UN’s au- two camps have held talks point in the small town of thirds of the UN members. thority and efficiency. “They for several times, but no Yotala, just outside Sucre. Another protester was China holds that coun- not only include UN Secu- agreement has been hospitalised with a gunshot tries, small and medium- rity Council expansion, but reached. wound. sized ones in particular, also involve the issues of

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