SocialistWorker www.socialist.ca $2 no. 576 September 2015

Indigenous sovereignty Page 2-3 Valerie Lannon remem- bers Gustafsen Lake, Eric STOP HARPER Lescarbeau reports on Unist’ot’en resistance, and Janahan Ravikuman writes about Hawaiian *NO TAR SANDS sovereignty Greece Page 4 *NO PIPELINES Panos Garganas reports from Athens about resist- ance to Syriza’s austerity measures *RESPECT FIRST NATIONS Bernie Sanders Page 4 Paolo Bassi examines the hopes and contradictions *CLIMATE of the anti-establishment candidate Haiti JOBS NOW Page 5 Jose Hiriat interviews Haitian socialist David Oxygene about the long struggle against imperialism Stop Harper Page 6-7 Jesse McLaren surveys the Orange Wave and the movements the NDP needs to reflect in order to stop Harper’s agenda Decolonization Page 8 Bradley Hughes inter- views Salish activist Scott Clark about his anticol- onial work Women’s liberation Page 8 Chantal Sundaram discusses the “Bare With Us” movement Black Lives Matter Page 10 Valerie Lannon reports on resistance to anti-Black racism in Toronto Canadian Dis- Facts & figures abilities Act

85 by MELISSA GRAHAM Percentage of tar sands that have to stay in the ground to This election, it’s time for avoid catastrophic climate an Canadian Disabilities change, according to the Act. scientific journalNature From coast-to-coast across Canada, disabled people 18,000 and organization have been Additional jobs created if breaking down barriers. the $1.3 billion the federal Without the support of our government invests in oil federal government, the and gas were instead in- individualized “solutions” vested in renewable energy miss the mark; access to and energy efficiency society and quality of life is not created through tax 135,000 breaks and savings plans. Number of workers who Now is a time to call would see a wage increase if for change. It’s time for $15/hr minimum wage were bold policy that benefits all granted to federal workers disabled people living in Canada. It’s time to call on 400,000 Pipeline resistance & decolonization our MPs and perspective Number of manufacturing MPs for a Barrier-Free job lost under Harper’s by ERIC LESCARBEAU Canada. watch The following is taken With Chevron attempting The LNG industry Resources Department Colonization and from a letter written by $250 million to build the Pacific Trails has not been as high on Manager for the Office of resistance the Barrier Free Canada Amount Mulcair wants to Pipeline, Unist’ot’en chiefs people’s radar as tar sands the Hereditary Chiefs of After Chevron opened an Committee: waste training 2,500 new are asserting title to their pipelines like Enbridge’s the Wet’suwet’en (OW), office 40km from the camp, Canada is one of the cops rather than investing in traditional territory and Northern Gateway or Kinder explains the significance the RCMP began harassing few developed countries jobs and services the right to free, prior and Morgan’s Transmountain, of this in the video “Your camp supporters entering that does not have a informed consent to any- but it should be. LNG in BC Voice, Our Future”: “We and leaving the camp. comprehensive nationally $34 billion one, including work crews, poses almost as big a threat have a word for our territory In an effort to undermine legislated Disabilities Act. Subsidies for Canadian entering their territory. to the climate as the Alberta and it’s ‘Yin Tah.’ But it’s First Nations’ opposition It is imperative to have the energy companies in 2014, Citing supreme court Tar Sands. not just a word. It’s almost to the PTP and sow div- rights of disabled people according to the IMF rulings including the 1997 The tradeoff is sup- a philosophy and it not only isions, Chevron and the legitimized, recognized, and Delgamuukw decision, posed to be the Liberal refers to the territory but the BC Ministry of Aboriginal protected and we believe $36 billion of which the Office of government’s ridiculous territory is comprised of the Relations and Reconciliation that an initiative such as ours Amount the Harper gov- Wet’suwet’en hereditary claims of 100,000 jobs trees, the soil, the insects, (MARR) set up the First can make this a reality. ernment is cutting from chiefs were co-complain- but this has recently been the birds, the fish, the water Nations Limited Partnership healthcare ants, as well as last year’s soundly debunked by the and also human beings; and (FNLP)—spearheaded What’s in it for me? Tsilhqot’in decisions they Canadian Centre for Policy each action affects another by former Ontario NDP Disabled people who are not state: “The Unist’ot’en Alternatives. The report component. Something that premier, Bob Rae, and using currently covered, or who settlement and camp is a “LNG and Employment In happens in the water will af- Indigenous workers to clear- are insufficiently covered by In their own peaceful expression of our BC” shows that “BC’s LNG fect the bugs. The bugs feed cut for the companies. their province or territory; connection to Unist’ot’en sector could be expected to the fish and there is a chain The FNLP’s strategy people who care for their words territory. It is also an expres- support only 2,000 to 3,000 reaction. I think that’s what has been to strong-arm disabled family members; sion of the continuing and construction jobs per plant the ecosystem, the food web local band councils into people who are forced into “It will probably be one of unbroken chain of use and over three years and 200 is. So the health and well signing benefit deals while poverty because their dis- the biggest solar instala- occupation of our territory to 300 permanent workers being of a territory reflects simultaneously shutting out ability has prevented them tions in northern Alberta, by our clan. Flowing from once operational.” the health and well-being of traditional governance bod- from being employed; aging especially in the tar sands. this continuous use and a people.” ies and hereditary chiefs. Canadians, Veterans, and the It’s right in the community, occupation, our traditional Unist’ot’en Heals For three summers since *Make a donation or find extended family and loved so young people can see structures of governance In response to the LNG it was established, hundreds out how to register to join ones of all of the above can that we don’t just have retain complete jurisdiction threat, the Unist’ot’en of supporters from across the camp at: http://unisto- be benefited by a national to generate power and in our territory and further, Camp focuses on restoring the region and beyond have tencamp.com/?p=1149 act. electricity from fossil fuels, dictate the proper use and traditional relationships to travelled to the camp to sup- *To learn more about how Even the individual who is that we can power it from access to our lands and the land, decolonization and port the blockade, receive you can support the camp not affected by disability dir- the sun.” waters.” respect for aboriginal title decolonization training and visit, http://unistotencamp. ectly or indirectly can enjoy —Melina Laboucan- and rights. Standing under assist in building the settle- com knowing that as a caring Massimo, member of the LNG threat the banner “Unist’ot’en ment. The Unist’ot’en have *A “Frontlines Beat country, we are advocating Lubicon Cree First Nation The camp has come under Heals” they enforce a camp inspired and built solidarity Pipelines” fundraiser will for all our people. increasing pressure as the protocol which requires the with thousands of climate be held in Vancouver on “What is desperately BC Liberal government free, prior and informed activists across the region Thursday, September 10 at What is the end goal? lacking in this election desperately tries to seal consent of the Unist’ot’en and the world, and we need the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac A streamlined law that de- campaign is a global Final Investment Decisions people to enter the yinta or to increase this support to Street from 7:00 to 11:00pm. fines civil and human rights vision, a desirable, viable (FIDs) on LNG plants and territory. stop the Liberal’s LNG Visit their FB page to get for all disabled Canadians. and realizable solution pipelines. David DeWit, Natural plans. tickets. We need all the support that will replace the that we can gather and your relentless exploitation of participation is crucial in hydrocarbons.” Remembering Gustafsen Lake this regard. Our initiative —Amir Khadir, Member by VALERIE LANNON has already obtained the of Quebec’s National endorsements of such Assembly for Quebec Twenty years ago, has been going on for 139 the camp. non-indigenous sources, a organizations as the CNIB, solidiare Indigenous Sundancers years,” the RCMP cut off Two Sundancers hit a situation that was not helped March of Dimes, the MS resisted the RCMP’s communications to the camp land mine on September 11, by the NDP government’s Society of Canada, the “At what point do we as largest operation in and set up their own media when they tried to drive out negative characterization Canadian Hearing Society, a society say, OK, that’s Canada’s history, under centre. of the camp to get water. of the situation. This was and Accessible Media Inc. enough, let’s leave stuff in an NDP government. This The RCMP shot at and the same government that Please take a moment to the ground, and we won’t took place at Ts’Peten, The state and the NDP wounded them while they established treaty tables in visit us at http://barrierfree- be bullied by peoplewho or Gustafsen Lake, in Thus began a classic smear attempted to flee, thought 1991, but only enabled a canada.org/contact-us/. As say, ‘Well, we’re gonna lose central BC, in Secwepemec campaign, with police luckily not lethally. handful of “agreements.” well, we are urging you to jobs,’ because I think we territory. characterizing the Ts’Peten Throughout this period, contact your local Member can be really, really innova- In 1989 the Sundancers, Defenders as “terrorists”, Sundancers trickled out of Afterwards of Parliament (MP). tive and creative in terms of under spiritual leader Percy “criminals” and “thugs.” the site, trusting in their “Gustafsen Lake” is part of Follow us on Twitter how we create energy.” Rosette, began holding their This “standoff,” which Indigenous negotiators. The the “red thread” of resist- @barrierfreeca and on —Winnipeg South Centre traditional ceremonies at began August 18, took crisis came to an end on ance by Indigenous peoples Facebook at https://www. NDP candidate Matt Ts’Peten, a site that was place while the NDP was in September 17 when the last and horrendous state repres- facebook.com/barrierfreeca. Henderson surrounded by land used by power in BC. The Attorney Defenders left the site, on sion. The position of the non-indigenous rancher Lyle General Ujjal Dosanj made assurances from the RCMP NDP is consistent with other This is shared from https:// “I’m talking about First James. the shocking statement that there would be no betrayals when the NDP has exposingableism.wordpress. Nations. Can you show a Two spokespersons for “Where’s the other side of arrests. But, consistent with formed government or even com little bit of respect please?” the Sundancers, Wolverine the story? There is only one historic betrayals by the while in opposition, such —Tom Mulcair, using his (aka Jones William Ignace) side of the story. There is no state, the police arrested 18 as when Mulcair called on Socialist Worker speech about First Nations and Splitting the Sky (aka other side.” people, including a sentence Chief Theresa Spence to to silence Indigenous activ- John Hill) asserted the right In other words, the of four years in prison call off her hunger strike, e-mail: [email protected] ists protesting tar sands of the Sundancers to occupy Defenders had no right to James Pitawanakwat. precisely when Idle No web: www.socialist.ca the site until the ceremon- to speak about the site or Wolverine was forced to More was taking off. lphone: 416.972.6391 “One could argue that ies were over, and that the about indigenous rights spend five years in jail Thanks to Idle No More Israel’s intention was site was part of unceded more broadly. And when following his arrest. and other indigenous All correspondence to: Socialist Worker always to ethnically cleanse Shuswap territory. the RCMP alleged they had While there was not sovereignty activity, we are P.O. Box 339, Station E the region — there are The RCMP intervened been shot at (a charge later universal support for seeing the kind of alliances Toronto, ON M6H 4E3 direct quotations proving with 400 officers. AFN shown to be a fabrication, the Defenders from all and mass action needed to Published every four weeks in this to be the case.” Grand Chief Ovide but consistent with the Indigenous people, espe- support indigenous self- Toronto by the International Socialists. Printed in Hamilton at a union shop; —Morgan Wheeldon, NDP Mercredi tried to bring the smear campaign), Dosanj cially among the political determination and respect member of the Canadian Magazine candidate who was forced to Sundancers, or Ts’Peten used this as a pretext to have leadership, the conflict was for indigenous traditions and Publisher’s Association / Canadian Defenders, out of the site. the Department of National admired by most as an as- spirituality. Publications Mail Agreement resign for speaking the truth No. 58554253-99, Post Office about Israel After Rosette issued a Defense send in armoured sertion of indigenous rights. Department, Ottawa / ISSN 0836- media release on August 24, personnel carriers and other Unfortunately, there was 7094 / Return postage guaranteed 1995, to “seek a peaceful equipment including land not much in the way of resolution to a crisis which mines that were set around widespread solidarity from 2 Socialist Worker September 2015 Hawaiian INTERNATIONAL sovereignty by JANAHAN AERON RAVIKUMAR June 26 was the 18th anniversary of the death of Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. Though he’s best known for a medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” he was the voice of Hawaiian sovereignty. Colonization European colonization decimated the Hawaiian population—which numbered a million people before Captain Cook “discovered” it in 1778. In 1893, US marines supported a coup against Queen Lilil’uokalani, and in 1898 the US annexed Hawaii. As well as eliminating self-representation of the indigenous island population, the US and its Christian missionaries banned the teaching of the Hawaiian language. While the US initially used the islands as a sugar plantation and whaling port, it also militarized Hawai’i. Stop Harper: stop war The US Pacific Fleet is based in Pearl Harbour, on the The US led war against ISIS in this as justification for the latest were off and the Turkish generals the war is a disaster needs to be a island of Oahu, and during Iraq and Syria isn’t going well. war. But if the West cared about decided to use he attack to brutally news story in Canada but is largely WWII the US declared According to US defence officials Kurdish self-determination it would suppress the Kurds anew. Although being ignored. marshal law throughout the year-long, multi-billion dollar stop arming Turkey, and stop ISIS carried out the attack, the state At the leaders debate Tom Hawai’i and began using the bombing campaign has resulted labelling Kurdish resistance groups seized the opportunity to round Mulcair rightly challenged the latest island of Karo’olawe as a in a stalemate, with “no meaning- as terrorists. up anyone suspected of being in war on Iraq and Syria, but he did training ground and bombing ful degradation” in the number of When ISIS lay siege to the opposition to the government. so by counter-posing it to UN wars range. More recently ISIS fighters. Kurdish city of Kobane, which What this means for the West is (like the bombing of Libya that Hawai’i has been turned into Of course it hasn’t. ISIS emerged the West used it as justification for that the main NATO partner in the the NDP supported) and even he tourist “paradise”—based from the catastrophic Western Western intervention, Turkey inter- region is now working at cross- defended NATO wars. This reduces on occupied land and war and occupation of Iraq, and vened to close the border to prevent purposes to the other coalition the war to a simple policy decision appropriated culture. Western-backed counter-revolution Kurdish forces from coming to the countries. Yet at a meeting on that can be maneuvred around, against the Arab Spring. Bombing defence of the city. Brussels, most western countries, rather than a threat to oppose. Sovereignty and song Iraq yet again will only make things For the ruling AKP in Turkey, the including Canada, decided to allow In 2003 the NDP similarly began In the 1970s a Hawaiian worse, and encourage extremist Kurds represent a greater threat to the Turks broad leeway in fighting by opposing the war if it was not sovereignty movement groups to emerge. Now imperial their power than ISIS does. That is the Kurds. under UN mandate, but the anti-war emerged alongside the powers are broadening the regional one reason why they are latecomers Now the West is again supporting movement pushed the party to anti-war, American Indian crisis by including Turkey, oppres- to the anti-ISIS party. Turkey’s war on Kurdistan, because agree to “No war on Iraq, with or Movement and other sor of the Kurds. Turkey offered access to the Incirlik without the UN.” liberation movements. Turkey Air Base to launch attacks against In the midst of the economic Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Kurdistan But now Turkey has formally ISIS. The base makes western crisis this is even more urgent. Not was the most popular voice Most NATO countries have joined the imperial coalition against bombing runs even easier. only is the war killing countless of this revival. Born on historically ignored the oppression ISIS, and is using that war as an This development adds another numbers of people abroad, but it’s May 20, 1959, three months of the Kurds, or cynically used excuse to attack the Kurds. contradictory force to the already diverting resources from jobs and before Hawaii became a their oppression as justification for The Turkish elections in messy situation in the region. services at home. full state of the US, he imperial intervention. June saw the Kurdish People’s Minister of War Jason Kenney played his ukulele for In the 1980s the West armed Democratic party (HDP) receive Canada admitted the bombing of Iraq and family, friends, and on stage Saddam Hussein with chemical 13 per cent of the vote and 80 seats The Canadian government is now Syria will cost more than half a in the bar that his parents weapons to gas the Kurds. Then in in Parliament. It was this share of arming Kurdish groups that it labels billion dollars. Think of what those worked at and managed. His 2003 the West used that crime as an the vote that stopped the Turkish terrorists, while simultaneously resources could do for healthcare, talents grew and eventually excuse to invade Iraq, claiming to president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan supporting Turkish attacks on those education, climate jobs, housing, or his family moved to the help the Kurds while continuing to from forming a majority and imple- same groups. other urgent needs. island of Mākaha. There, arm the Turkish state against them. menting broad changes that would The Conservatives in Canada Rather than opposing the war Israel Kamakawiwoʻole One of the few effective ground have given him even more power. don’t really care however. They are because it’s not under the banner of and his brother, Skippy, forces against ISIS are Kurdish At that point the Turkish state more interested in using the war NATO or the UN, the NDP should formed The Mākaha Sons groups. They have been able to decided to delay peace negotiations against ISIS for domestic purposes. oppose the war on principle and of Ni‘ihau group in 1976, push back against ISIS in Syria with the HDP which had been If they can instill enough fear campaign to divert military spend- with musicians John Koko, and Iraq, and the West have trained ongoing since 2012. After the then they may be able to recapture ing to fight the austerity agenda. Jerome Koko, and Louis sections of these forces and used attack on Suruc in July the gloves power in the election. The fact that “Moon” Kauakahi. It was through this group that their popularity and influence spread. Both with his group and with his solo career that Iran’s nuclear deal began in 1990, he used music as a platform to promote by NIAZ SALIMI Hawaiian independence. His sovereignty work After 12 years of standoff, Iran, a clear position; but it may stem deal with Iran offers Jerusalem was exhibited through his the United States and other Hardliners from the fact that when sanctions an opening to join “a new Middle music by the incorporation members of the P5+1 struck While many Iranians, along with lift his organization will lose Eastern order,” presents another of traditional Hawaiian a historical deal on July 14 to the international community, are billions of dollars of annual revenue provocative view: “Israel now melodies with reggae replace hostility with diplomacy celebrating the victory of reason from smuggling goods into the has even more impetus to make and jazz, and the direct and eliminate the possibility of and peace, it is not surprising that Iranian markets. common cause with Sunni Arab message of Hawaiian another devastating war. Netanyahu’s grim vision has some The US Republican presidential countries like Egypt, Jordan and sovereignty in the music On the same day, Israeli Prime support amongst the hardliners—be candidates like Lindsey Graham, Gulf sheikhdoms that are nervous itself. Kamakawiwoʻole Minister Benjamin Netanyahu it in Iran or the United States. The Donald Trump and Scott Walker over the West’s overtures towards became an icon and symbol told the press that the nuclear deal most recent example is the reaction are also attacking Obama’s nuclear their common nemesis, Iran” he of the Hawaiian sovereignty signed with Iran is “a stunning of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, deal, proving that they have learned said. movement and was one of historic mistake.” Netanyahu keeps who denounced a UN Security nothing from George W Bush’s Almost two weeks after the the influential individuals of reminding the world about the Council resolution that endorsed catastrophic foreign policy. The agreement, the joy and optimism its resurgence in the 1990s. threat Iran poses to Israel and basic- last week’s nuclear deal. Top war-hawks are now in a race to continues to be the general mode Twenty years later, the ally everyone else. During his first revolutionary Guards commander prove who can offer the least of Iranians around the world. They movement for Hawaiian speech to the congress, in 1996, Mohammad Ali Jafari was quoted understanding of this delicate are not celebrating the agreement as self-determination continues. he called Iran “the most dangerous as saying “some parts of the situation and the most aggressive the achievement of the regime, but As part of the global spread regime in the region,” and warned resolution draft are not acceptable solution to it. A race front-runner, rather as a ray of hope, no matter of Idle No More, Hawaiians about its ambition to obtain nuclear for us since they have clearly Scott Walker, has gone so far to how small. Many also believe that rallied on January 16, 2013— weapons. Twenty years later, he crossed the Islamic Republic’s red declare that he is “prepared to the new era will improve the Iran’s the 120th anniversary of the continues the same rhetoric and lines, especially in regards to our launch war with Iran on his first day shady human rights record. Time coup—to protect Hawaiian insists on military response, which military capabilities.” Commander as president.” will tell if they are right in their rights and the land on which is described as “adventurous delu- Jafari’s comments may sound as Shabtai Shavit, former Mossad assessments. they are based. sions” by former Prime Minister being in line with the Supreme chief, who in an interview with US The music of Israel Ehud Olmert, who also opposes Leader’s previous position, since radio broadcaster Aaron Klein on Kamakawiwoʻole remains an Netanyahu’s views. after the agreement he has not taken July 19 suggested that the nuclear inspiration to this ongoing movement. September 2015 Socialist Worker 3 IDEAS FOR STRUGGLE Faline Bobier INTERNATIONAL Movements and elections As we head into this federal election campaign there are some instructive lessons for activists and those on the left who want to see a radical change from the last 10 years of Stephen Harper and the Tories, in the trajectory of Syriza’s left-wing government in Greece. The Harper government has shown itself over the last ten years to be the enemy of women, Indigenous communities, union members, environmentalists, immigrants and refugees, veterans, seniors—in fact, the vast majority of the population. Recent revelations about the PMO’s office (and most likely Harper himself) being well aware of the $90,000 payoff to disgraced ex-Senator and Tory hack Mike Duffy are the icing on the cake of Tory corruption and venality. With the unexpected victory of the NDP in Alberta and the fact that federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair is leading in recent polls, this election could see an NDP government in power federally for the first time in Canadian history. This is an outcome much to be desired and there are many people in ridings across the country who will work tirelessly during this election campaign to try to make this dream a reality. Any socialist worth the name should be on the side of those working and hoping for an NDP victory, since the NDP is the only party not wholly owned by and representing the interests of big business and capital. Greece: resistance continues Greece But if we look to recent events in Greece and the trajectory by PANOS GARGANAS of the left-wing ruling party Syriza, there are lessons to learn for activists in Canada. Just recently Greek MPs The glaring contradiction in nothing happens in Greece. This year Socialist Workers Party in Greece, (including a majority of Syriza members) voted to accept Greece’s government is producing there was a shutdown of the railways argue that they should break with a “bailout” from Greece’s international creditors with a political crisis. Left wing party by workers fighting privatisation. And Syriza—and follow the logic of conditions that will only further hurt and impoverish Greek Syriza was elected on an anti- there was a strike against sackings at this towards anti-capitalist left front workers and the poor. It is the third “memorandum” of austerity programme and now it is one of the main private TV channels Antarsya. austerity to be imposed on Greece since the financial crisis. implementing the worst austerity that appears to have won at least a Even if Tsipras succeeds in splitting As Ambrose Evans-Pritchard wrote in The Daily measures yet. partial victory. The fact that left wing away some MPs he is expected to Telegraph after the memorandum was accepted: “The To win a majority in parliament MPs inside Syriza voted against the go for a new election. But that’s no cruel capitulation forced upon Greece after 31 hours on it is relying on the votes of the deal reinforces this mood. easy way out. A new election will be the diplomatic rack offers no conceivable way out the right wing and centre parties that confirmation of the political crisis. It country’s perpetual crisis. The terms are harsher by a full supported a yes to austerity in last Pressure will mean the government collapsing order of magnitude than those rejected by Greek voters in a month’s referendum. But the yes vote It’s a virtuous circle. People’s anger within eight months of the election as landslide referendum a week ago, and therefore can never was a minority. This situation isn’t puts pressure on MPs to vote against a result of going against the majority command democratic assent.” sustainable. Prime minister Alexis the deal, and when they do it makes who voted no to austerity. And it This comes only a few weeks after Syriza leader and Tsipras cannot go on governing like people more confident they can fight will produce a shift to the left. If the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras exhorted Greeks to reject this. But he is between a rock and a back. Not all the 44 rebel MPs are Left Platform does split it could give exactly the sort of austerity terms that the new deal he hard place. in the organised Left Platform, and visible form to this. will impose demands of Greece and its people. He is now MPs voted last week to sign the Tsipras is manoeuvring to try and But if it compromises inside Syriza leading the attack not only on Greek workers and their third “memorandum of understanding” divide them. both Antarsya and the Communist families but on the left within his own party. with Greece’s creditors. They Government officials have said there Party expect to see their votes go up. This contradiction comes from a flawed political confirmed support for the austerity will be a vote of confidence—a way of And if Tsipras manoeuvres his way strategy: Tsipras and Syriza’s hope from the beginning measures they voted for last month putting pressure on rebel MPs to see out of calling an election, he will run was to negotiate better terms for Greece within the as part of an agreement for a new how far they will go. And Tsipras has into a strike wave. There’s no way he framework of the Eurozone and the euro. Panagiotis loan from the European Stability promised a special congress of Syriza. can cut pensions, for example, without Sotiris of Antarysa (a grouping of the anti-capitalist left in Mechanism. The government hopes This is being used as an argument facing a strike. Greece) explains it this way: “The euro is a whole set of to receive the first instalment by against a split by the Left Platform. The first major demonstration will institutional political and monetary arrangements that in Thursday of this week. It will go A group including 17 MPs from all be on the first Saturday of September, a certain way sort of creates like an iron cage of austerity straight to the European Central Bank sides of the vote has called for unity, when the prime minister always opens from which it is impossible to escape if you accept its to pay for the last loan. and if the Left Platform walks out the Thessalonica fair, and the unions terms.” Every future instalment will depend before the congress it could lose some call a protest. This year it will be Some members of the Left Platform inside Syriza have on a green light from inspectors waverers. To create an independent Tsipras that faces the demonstration, been vocal in their criticisms of Tsipras and this latest deal. checking up on the government’s group, Left Platform members will and it will be dominated by left wing But what is needed now is more than a focus on Tsipras finances to make sure it is pushing need to get themselves in order opposition to the bailout. and his betrayal. It is not a question of this leader or that ahead with austerity. In particular this politically. What basis would they split inside the party, but of reaching outside Syriza to the broad is to speed up privatisations, creating on? Panos Garganas is editor of Workers layers of Greek workers, students and the poor who voted a fund to oversee the selloff of Most are opposed to the euro but Solidarity, Socialist Worker’s sister ‘No’ to austerity and to other sections of the anti-capitalist everything the public sector can sell. they need to decide whether that also newspaper in Greece. This is shared left. But the mood for a fightback is there. means a break with the European from Socialist Worker (UK) It is fundamentally the years of strikes and struggle on Usually August is a month where Union, for example. We in SEK, the the ground in Greece that made it possible for Syriza and Tsipras to come to power in the first place and it is only in the strengthening of those struggles now that there can be any hope of rejecting the politics of austerity and misery for the vast majority in Greek society. The Bernie Sanders campaign Orange wave by PAOLO BASSI Likewise here in Canada the NDP’s current popularity is a Amidst widespread anger against those disillusioned with mainstream Refusing to build an alternative to result, not of better leadership, but of the wave of struggle inequality, racism and a climate politics. If he can pack stadiums on the Democrats means acting as their and activism that began importantly with Idle No More. crisis, the self-described “socialist” a call for political revolution and left flank, and becoming a safety valve People are frustrated and angry with 10 years of Tory rule Bernie Sanders is running for taxing the rich, why is Mulcair still for working class discontent—which which have trod on democracy, the environment, workers’ President of the US. supporting the tar sands expansion and has a long history. In the 1984 rights, women’s rights, immigrant rights and much more. Sanders appears as a radical and timid about taxing the rich? and 1988 primaries Jesse Jackson But really fighting to defend those rights and to gain lost his language is in tune with the hopes inspired millions and caused a panic ground will not be achieved simply by electing Mulcair of millions across America. Sanders Democrat spoilers within the Democrats and the wider and other NDP MPs. It’s clear even in the first weeks of the wants a living wage, childcare, But Sanders risks spoiling the ballots establishment, and when he lost the campaign that Mulcair’s strategy of carefully controlling universal single-payer healthcare, of all those his campaign is inspiring. primary his campaign disappeared into candidates who will be allowed to run for the party is about guaranteed sick and vacation Despite his radical rhetoric, Sanders is the party. In 2004 Howard Dean paid trying to appeal to some mythical “middle” in order to gain leave, free university education, a not running as an Independent but for lip service to the anti-war movement power. progressive income tax to indirectly the Democratic Party—the twin party and pulled it into supporting the So, potential NDP candidates who have made statements redistribute wealth and laws to stop of American capitalism. Democrats, whose candidate John supporting the Palestinian struggle or who voice open corporate tax evasion. Sanders is In 2008 Obama beat Clinton, riding Kerry tried to be more pro-war than opposition to pipelines or the tar sands, are prevented from one of the few politicians who have on the wave of the anti-war movement Bush. running or strongly criticized by the party leadership. even mentioned the “free trade” and the beginnings of the anger over Resistance movements don’t have This is a wrong strategy. Those looking to the NDP for Transatlantic Trade and Investment the economic crisis. Despite his to pour themselves into corporate hope in this election include the same people who have Partnership. historical achievement (which Sanders parties but can give rise to alternatives. demonstrated against the destruction of the environment That these demands have a wide lacks) as Black president, Obama In 2013 the socialist Kshama Sawant and on Indigenous land from Palestine to Turtle Island, audience shows the mood for change. has been the figurehead for the same defeated an incumbent Democrat to who opposed Bill C-51 and austerity. They do not want His candidacy opens an exciting old corporate policies—surveillance, become a Seattle City councilor, by more of the same, or a slightly watered-down version of window for the next 12 months, which torture, drones, warfare, racism, and campaigning during and after the more of the same. The NDP leadership needs to show at could make the start of the Presidential climate crisis. It’s movements against election to raise the minimum wage to least as much courage as the people who are working to campaign a real debate on the issues these—Occupy, Black Lives Matter, $15/hr. elect them. facing the 99% and the need for real Fight for $15—that have created an Even if Sanders refuses, the But more importantly, activists cannot see electing the alternatives. audience for Sanders, but he wants to intervention of movement activists NDP as the end game. Any of the changes we hope to It should also be a lesson for the direct these right back into the same in the next year could create a poll of see will only come from the strength of our movements NDP that campaigning to the left can corporate party, promising to support attraction to build a real anti-capitalist pushing for that change from below. mobilize broad numbers, including all Clinton if she wins the nomination. alternative. 4 Socialist Worker September 2015 Haiti’s long struggle

Socialist Worker’s Jose Hiriart spoke with Haitian socialist David Oxygène about his country’s centuries-long fight against colonialism and capitalism

David Oxygène is a progressive militant in MOLEGHAF (the movement for freedom, equality, and fraternity for every Haitian citizen) and one of the leaders of KOD (Dessalines Coordination) a new political party that has been created to support the masses in the class struggle.

Let’s start by addressing the obvious question: Why is Haiti so poor? We need to take a look at the cause of the hunger, the origin of the suffering—it’s the big imperialist countries, like France, Canada, and the United States. They are applying something called neoliberal politics. They and their multinational companies steal all our wealth. They are stealing all that we have under the soil. This neoliberal plan consists of several things like dispossessing the peasants from their land. We are no longer able to produce food. The imperialists import their leftovers here, like saying, “you have to depend on us, you have to consume; buy our products only, not produce.” So a lot of people come from the countryside to the city. If the land) the colonists then started to How has the struggle evolved? What about Martelly, the current children of a country can’t eat, go bring people from Africa with the What needs to be done to change president? to school, and develop; then that only objective of putting them in things today? We can say Martelly was put country is condemned to misery. slavery. They were from different The solution is communism. in power by the international Another aspect of the tribes and couldn’t communicate We have to change the state and community to protect their neoliberal plan is turning amongst themselves because they get popular democracy, not the interests. I do not agree with his public institutions into private spoke different languages. They democracy of the bourgeoisie we politics because in Haiti there institutions. There where about suffered all kinds of exploitation have now. It’s very hard. To go is a struggle of classes, there’s ten thousand mothers and fathers but they managed to organize from capitalism to communism a class that is fighting against working in public institutions themselves; they evolved during we need first to send people to another class and I am part of whom they have fired; they ruin the exploitation. school; to create a consciousness one of the classes. I am part of these people. The neoliberal plan, Eventually, in late August 1791 and educate all the minds of the the dominated class. I’m fighting what has it created? It creates the Congress of Bois Caiman individuals that want a revolution. against the other class, which a hegemony of capitalism; the took place. The slaves became Also, we need to have a very dominates me, which dominates capitalist, don’t forget, makes his conscious of their own situation strong social movement and a the peasants, the slaves, poor wealth from the exploitation. and the uprising began. They press of our own. men and women of the popular Today Haiti is in a difficult united to revolt against their neighborhoods. situation, economically, oppressor. So, you think that the revolution politically, socially, culturally, In those days it was all about needs to be peaceful? How long has the UN occupation because we are abandoning our the relationship between the The bourgeois always talks been going on? And how do they culture to adopt a foreign culture. master and the slaves. Slaves in about the peaceful revolution. justify it? You can notice it, we are adopting one part and masters in the other; The revolution is the revolution, The MINUSTAH (UN the culture of the United States; he is the one who took me from without adjectives. The only stabilizing mission for Haiti) we have abandoned the voodoo, Africa, he has the right to me, he adjective you could put before came after the 2004 Coup with we have abandoned our habits, is my master, he is my chief, he the word is “strong,” the strong the objective of containing the our customs, we have abandoned is the one who has power over revolution. Here we are looking masses. In one day they shot a lot of things to adapt to the will me. By fighting and mobilizing towards the revolution, in any 22,000 bullets just in Cité Soleil, of a foreign country. against the greatest armies of the way it comes. the biggest slum of the country. Now, we are poor and in a time—England, Spain, and, in Today we see that legally difficult situation especially after particularly, France—we won our What is it like to be a communist MINUSTAH´s presence in the the earthquake. It is as if we were “We became the first Black independence on January 1, 1804. in Haiti? country can’t be justified by the paying for something. What are During one of the decisive When you are a socialist you UN’s own internal rules. Haiti is we paying for? We are paying for Republic in the World: a battles against the French, our will have to fight for real. You not at war, there is no genocide being close to the United States. founding father, Dessalines—who will be sent to jail. I’ve spent going on, Haiti is not a threat to We are paying for the big fight model of liberty. Haiti, a little was a great general—said, a lot of time in prison. About other countries. That was also we have been leading against “whoever wants to be the slave eight times I’ve been sent to true in 2004. What justifies the imperialism. We are paying for country on a little parcel of of the Frenchmen, it’s true that jail, sometimes for three, four presence of MINUSTAH in the defeating the army of Napoleon. we are surrounded, get out from months and others for five, seven country? Everyone can see that We are paying for the behavior land defeated the biggest the fort to join them and whoever days, without trial. Why do they the soldiers of the UN are here to of Charlemagne Peralte, Batravil, wants to die as a free man come send me to jail? Because I am protect the interests and wealth of Pierre Sully and Acahos in armies of the time. We taught and stand beside me.” This still defending the cause of the poor. international community. 1915. We are paying for ousting makes me happy to this day, They beat me. There are a lot of the great dictator Jean Claude a lesson of liberty, we taught because all the mass of slaves MOLEGHAF militants who have Finally, what can people from Duvalier in 1986. It’s as if the were bound from one ideological been sent to jail for the fight we other countries do to help big countries don’t want Haiti to a lesson of revolution, we rope, one behavior. They said, are leading, but we do not lose MOLEGHAF? stand tall before all the nations of we all want to die for liberty, hope. We keep going forward to When we say we are fighting the underworld. We have to fight taught a lesson of dignity, of not even one went out to the help the poor. against the international hard against those countries. Frenchmen. And us, as socialists, we don’t community, we mean those unity.” We became the first Black have any complexes. We have who are doing the work of the Haiti has a history of defeating Republic in the World: a model no problem talking to a foreigner bourgeoisie and the imperialists empires, could you tell us a little of liberty. Haiti, a little country here. You came in contact with countries. We need international bit about that? on a little parcel of land defeated me and now you are here. My solidarity to change things in You have to remember how the biggest armies of the time. father was a bricklayer and my Haiti. If any other organization Haiti became independent. Was We taught a lesson of liberty, we mother used to sell some stuff on from another country wants to it easy? Our independence came taught a lesson of revolution, the market. I am very poor. I was get in touch with MOLEGHAF from a great fight led by our we taught a lesson of dignity, of born in this neighborhood. And to help us in solidarity they can ancestors. And where did our unity. We took our independence you are here. I have no problem send us an email to moleghaf17@ ancestors come from? After the by fighting—not by kissing, not with that. I am a true communist. yahoo.fr. colonists exterminated the Tainos by making love, not by asking for And I don’t have any complexes. (the native inhabitants of this forgiveness. Everyone around here knows me.

September 2015 Socialist Worker 5 How do we beat Harper?

Ten thousand march in Toronto on July 5 Linda McQuaig is right: leave the oil in the soil “Oil has become the elephant in the room,” Linda change and done its best to sabotage the international Kyoto As the report by Blue-Green Canada makes clear, the McQuaig wrote in It’s the Crude, Dude: Greed, Gas, War accord aimed at dealing with the problem, was not about to $1.3 billion in subsidies to the oil and gas industry could and the American Way. Turns out it’s the Canadian way change horses in its ‘war on terror.’ Its defense strategy would instead create 18,000 more jobs in renewable energy and as well. As Toronto Centre NDP candidate, McQuaig remain fixated on shadowy men in long-flowing robes, not on energy efficiency. From the UK to South Africa, there are stated a simple fact on CBC’s Power and Politics: “a lot ones wearing business suits and bearing large checks made campaigns for a million climate jobs, to solve the economic of people recognize that a lot of the oilsands oil may have out to the Republican Party.” Harper is continuing the Bush and climate crises, and now these demands have spread to to stay in the ground if we’re going to meet our climate legacy—stoking Islamophobia to justify wars abroad and Canada. For $4.65 billion (less than half what Harper recently change targets.” attacks on civil liberties at home, while fueling the climate gave to the military), we could create 92,000 jobs in wind, As punishment for speaking the truth, McQuaig is now crisis. solar, geothermal and tidal power. For $25 billion (less than the target of corporate power. Calgary Conservative MP half what Harper gave in corporate tax cuts) we could create Michelle Rempel immediately jumped on the remark, Anti-Alberta? a high-speed rail network could create 100,000 jobs and accusing McQuaig of having an “ideological aversion” to tar It is not “anti-Alberta” to question the tar sands; the tar sands reduce our dependence on oil. And $1 billion on a home and sands and opposing workers in the energy sector. Alberta themselves are anti- Alberta, undermining the traditional building retrofit program (the amount Harper spent attacking Opposition Leader Brian Jean labeled McQuaig’s remarks territories and the communities in what is called Alberta. As civil liberties at the G20 protest) could leverage $50 billion to “anti-Alberta posturing” and called on Premier Rachel McQuaig wrote a decade ago, “Getting the oil out of the tar is create a million jobs that would reduce carbon emissions. Notley to “actively repudiate this crazy idea in the strongest a horrendous task; it involves a massive, high-tech operation The Orange Wave terms possible.” Presiding over his second recession, Harper that causes serious environmental damage…By any logic, Damage control warned that it’s the NDP who would “wreck this economy.” then, most of that tar sands oil should be left in the ground.” In order to control the damage done to the planet and its The corporate media are calling McQuaig’s remarks a “flap” Harper has tried to undermine this logic by making people people we need to leave the oil in the soil, respect First Harper has a clear strategy to win: use a long campaign purged socialism from its constitution and elected an ex- while creating a million climate jobs. These demands would that the NDP need to exert “damage control” to repair. God in Alberta so dependent on the tar sands that they put the Nations and create a million climate jobs. Unfortunately to outspend the other parties, mobilize the Tory base Liberal, Mulcair, as its leader—who was silent on the strike put both Harper and Trudeau on the defensive and mobilize forbid a journalist and candidate raise in the mildest terms a profits of Big Oil ahead of their own lives. When the price climate justice was largely absent from the first leaders while fear-mongering about alternatives, and depend but promised to run the NDP provincially against the left not only the NDP’s base but also the millions who are too basic scientific fact concerning the most pressing issue of our of oil fell, the only solution the Conservatives offered was debate, which instead displayed unanimity on tar sands on historically low voter turnout and support from the alternative Quebec solidaire. As Idle No More emerged across disillusioned with social democracy to bother to vote. generation, in the hopes that an election could affect change. to slash public services to balance the budget, but Notley’s expansion—with only minor differences on which pipelines corporate media. the country and Chief Theresa Spence challenged Harper, But the NDP has focused its initial ads exclusively on election was a rejection of this blackmail. The Conservatives should transport it, or where it should be refined. Both the To defeat Harper, and to reverse his legacy, the NDP Mulcair refused to meet with her and instead called on her to Harper’s “corruption and mismanagement,” not his policies, Ideology vs science are trying to undo the provincial election and win the federal Green Party and the NDP have advocated more domestic will need to mobilize on real alternatives to the Tories and end her strike. while making overtures to the Liberals around a coali- McQuaig wrote It’s the Crude, Dude in the wake of the Iraq election—attacking Notley at the start of the campaign and refining, while Mulcair supports west-east pipelines and calls Liberals, connected with the movements that have challenged As Mulcair explained in 2013, “In Nova Scotia, tion—throwing them a lifeline when they are sinking, and War, to bring awareness to the dangers of climate change now demanding she attack McQuaig. for “objective reviews”—as if the increasingly dire climate Harper these past four years. Manitoba—and coming soon in BC—New Democratic reinforcing the myth that there’s a substantial difference and the way the oil industry influences politics. Quoting a But what we need to actively repudiate in the strongest science and the lived experience of Indigenous communities governments are setting the standard for good public between the corporate Tories and the corporate Liberals. The 2003 report from the Pentagon—hardly a bastion of left-wing possible terms is not a debate on the tar sands but the tar is not objective. Orange wave administration.” Applied at the provincial level, the focus focus on being better managers of a system in crisis, without ideology—she wrote: “There’s been a tendency to regard sands themselves. As Melina Laboucan-Massimo from the As the upcoming Toxic Tour in Aamjiwnaang First Nation Harper has wrecked havoc on the planet and its people for on ruling over resisting was disastrous. The NDP was voted offering real alternatives, is what cost NDP recent elections global warming as a problem that will set in gradually, giving Lubicon Cree First Nation said at the March for Jobs, Justice makes clear, domestic refining and alternate pipelines are no almost a decade, but he hasn’t done it alone. The first half of out of office in Nova Scotia after only one term—which they across the country—and is a reflection of what an NDP vic- the world a chance to adapt and even possibly take advantage and the Climate: “What I have seen is immense changes to solution: “In Aamjiwnaang everything is polluted air, soil, his rule was only possible due to an informal coalition with used to raise tuition and attack paramedic’s right to strike. tory would look like. The historic election in Alberta, which of what could be longer growing seasons. ‘This view of the land, to the air, to the climate, to the water, to the people, water, and people. Some of the land Industry has now made the Liberals, and when Harper won his majority in 2011 it Offering no climate job alternative to pipelines and fracking, the NDP hope to replicate at the federal level, shows both the climate change may be a dangerous act of self-deception, and to the animals. Where I come from, until my generation their empire on is stolen land or ongoing projects that have merely concentrated the corporate vote. But the real story of the NDP failed to defeat the hated Liberals in BC and failed inspiration of an NDP victory based on hope for an alterna- as increasingly we are [already] facing weather-related my family was able to live sustainably off the land. And it little to no consent. This is a prime land for industry because last election was the historic rise in the vote for the only party to pick up a seat in New Brunswick. The same centrism by tive and the immediate contradictions this raises—as Rachel disasters,’ the report states. ‘Rather than decades or even becomes harder and harder to do that. People and animals it is used to refine and export. The colonial fight against associated with the labour movement, the NDP—based on Olivia Chow allowed John Tory to pose as an alternative to Notley has promised to continue expanding the tar sands, and centuries of gradual warming, recent evidence suggests the are sick and dying. And now across the tar sands we are industry has left indigenous communities like Aamjiwnaang accumulated anger against Harper, disillusionment with the Rob Ford in the Toronto mayoral election, while a downright Mulcair has supported pipelines and police while silencing possibility that a more dire climate scenario may actually be surrounded by operations across Northern Alberta. We have in a constant daily struggle.” This daily struggle by Liberals and the Bloc Québecois, and inspiration from the right-wing campaign by the Ontario NDP allowed the candidates who support Palestine. unfolding.’” also seen immense oil spills like the one that happened near Indigenous communities most affected by the climate crisis Arab Spring. Liberals to outflank the NDP to the left. In the meantime the A decade later, Harper finally has the Iraq War he always my family, just a few miles away. It was one of the biggest oil is leading a rising climate justice movement. In April, 25,000 Movements outside Parliament had pushed the NDP to federal Liberals have resurrected themselves, burying their Ballot box and the streets wanted and climate change is even more of a clear and spills in Alberta’s history in 2011… What we need now today, marched in Quebec City to Act on Climate and in July, 10,000 oppose the Iraq War in 2003 and the Afghanistan war in record and posing as an alternative to Harper. Trudeau hoped Harper relies on historically low voter-turnout, which are a present danger—from wildfires on the west coast to record is Canada needs to accelerate the transition from destructive marched in Toronto for Jobs, Justice and the Climate. 2006—which in turn provided a wider audience for the to replicate the Ontario election at the federal level, through legitimate reaction to the experience of social democracy. To temperatures in the Middle East. But the corporate-backed climate polluting sources like the tar sands and build a green, The corporate parties and the corporate press are calling movements and greater support for the NDP. The NDP “strategic voting” that transfers votes from the NDP to the sustain the NDP through a long campaign and to mobilize Conservatives and Liberals have an ideological aversion to just economy that many of our communities so desperately on the NDP to repudiate the slightest comment that echoes filibuster against attacks on postal workers showed the Liberals—who would continue Harper’s policies. people at the polls the party will need to articulate a clear science, which calls for limiting climate change to 2 degrees want and need now…Even in the heart of the tar sands we these movements. The same development happened in the potential for using Parliament as a megaphone for the alternative to Harper’s agenda of austerity, war and climate to avoid catastrophic change. “Nearly all politicians across the can build a different kind of economy, with clean energy BC provincial election, where NDP comments against the movements. But despite the pressure of movements, the main Orange wave rises again? chaos. Panicked by this possibility, the corporate press world would like to develop all domestic sources of oil and and green jobs, without compromising our families and our Kinder-Morgan pipeline were said to be the cause of their trajectory for the NDP (and every social democratic party It’s thanks to movements outside Parliament that the Orange are calling on Mulcair to “tame his party’s fervent base.” gas and coal that they have and also search for new resources. communities.” defeat. But after the election, opposition to Kinder Morgan around the world) has been towards the centre—including Wave is rising again. The explosion of protests across the But Harper never falls into that trap; he knows that to win What this analysis shows is that those two positions are exploded—showing the NDP’s electoral loss was not because supporting the Liberal military budget in 2005, proposing a country against Bill C-51 exposed Trudeau’s complicity elections you need to mobilize your base, and the campaigns inconsistent. Every country can’t exploit all of their domestic Jobs of its timid opposition but because they didn’t go far enough coalition with the Liberals based on dropping opposition to with Harper and pushed the NDP to oppose the attack on of Jeremy Corbyn in the UK and Bernie Sanders in the US reserves and keep to two degrees,” explained Christophe Harper has been silent while the economic crisis destroyed in outlining bold alternatives. If the NDP leadership see war and corporate tax cuts in 2008, and voting for war on civil liberties. Likewise, while the NDP refused to support show the left is just as capable of that strategy. McGlade of the University College London. His report in the 400,000 manufacturing jobs, and stood by while the drop statements against tar sands as more damaging than the tar Libya in 2011. the campaign to raise the minimum wage last year, the Meanwhile, developments in Greece show that even journal Nature this year showed that 85% of tar sands have to in oil prices led to thousands of further layoffs in the oil sands themselves, they will sever themselves from the climate growing Fight for $15 has won over the NDP federally. The an electoral victory on a left platform isn’t an antidote be left in the ground. industry. But now the Conservatives are attacking McQuaig justice movement and provide no alternative at the ballot box. Movements rise but Orange wave receeds promise to rip up Bill C-51 and deliver childcare and a higher to austerity or a substitute for resistance movements. “This would seem, by any meaningful standard, to be a and the NDP for being anti-worker. Instead they should defend McQuaig for helping spark a As a result, since 2011 we have seen a rolling wave of minimum wage for federal workers is a good start, but the Regardless of the composition of Parliament we need stronger problem worthy of serious attention at the very highest levels. What the climate justice movement has made clear is real debate this election, spend the next two months repudiate resistance movements across the country, but a receeding of NDP will need to go further to provide a real alternative to movements beyond the election, but can use the election as But, oddly, it’s a problem that is largely unacknowledged in that the choice between the environment and jobs is “fear- in the strongest terms the Conservatives’ and Liberals’ the Orange Wave. As the Occupy movement exploded around mobilize people at the polls and undo Harper’s legacy—like a tactic towards that—pushing the NDP to echo movement official quarters,” McQuaig wrote a decade ago about US mongering at its worst,” in the words of Jerry Dias, president ideologically-driven wrecking of the climate, and be a the world against the 1%, the Ontario election had its lowest scrapping Bill C-45 and respecting First Nations, saving demands during and after the election. After 10,000 marched politicians refusing to face reality about oil politics. The of Unifor. As the union representing thousands of workers in megaphone for the climate justice movement that is trying to voter turnout—with an NDP centrist campaign that failed door-to-door mail delivery and restoring Harper’s massive for jobs, justice and the climate, we need to inject these same applies to Canadian politicians: “Our wanton over- the oil and gas industry, Unifor is a signatory of the Solidarity control the damage and promote alternatives. to mobilize the 99% around an alternative. As hundreds of cuts to healthcare, stopping the bombing of Iraq and Syria and politics into the election campaign—exposing the Tories and consumption of oil might be about to create a whole new kind Accord against the Northern Gateway pipeline and was a Air Canada workers were on wildcat strike and hundreds of reversing billions in military spending, restoring corporate Liberals, pushing the NDP to reflect the movements, and of terror in our lives. Yet the Bush administration, which had major participant in the recent March for Jobs, Justice and the This is shared from rabble.ca thousands of Quebec students were in the streets, the NDP taxes while ending oil subsidies, and opposing tar sands building resistance outside Parliament beyond the election. consistently ignored and downplayed the threat of climate Climate.

6 Socialist Worker September 2015 September 2015 Socialist Worker 7 INTERVIEW

ELECTIONS Debate winner: tar sands

It’s the media’s duty after a leadership debate to declare a winner, and here at Socialist Worker we take our duties seriously. After much review of the Maclean’s Leaders Debate, we can confidently write that the winner was the oil industry. Harper of course defended all of the proposed tar sand pipeline projects and the “review process” that was rigged to give them approval. What was depressing to watch was the Green party and NDP leaders explaining the need to build better pipelines and more domestic refining.

“Objective process” Trudeau’s opposition to Harper is that he “cannot get our exports to market because there is no public trust anymore. People don’t trust this government to actually look out for our long term interests.” Trudeau is criticizing Harper for the success of the climate justice movement in delaying every major pipeline project, and is trying to convince Bay Street- -including Big Oil and the other corporate power that fund the Tories and the Liberals--that he can do a better job of undermining the movement and ramming through pipelines. Unfortunately Mulcair made the same argument, that his criticism of the Tories wasn’t in their support of the tar sands pipeline projects, but how they went about it. “Getting our resources to market is critical. But Mr. Harper has gotten the balance wrong, he’s gutted our environmental legislation and he knows that’s hurting jobs in our resource sector, Working against colonialism in Vancouver it’s hurting our economy and frankly it’s hurting Canada’s international reputation.“ He went to explain that if we had Bradley Hughes talked to Scott Clark, Scott points out that the “health of Scott told me about another success an “objective” review process we could get people who a Salish activist in Vancouver, who is a community impacts the health of of this strategy. A developer was oppose environmentally destructive projects to approve the Executive Director of Aboriginal individuals. We have to look at the planning on building an apartment them. Life In Vancouver Enhancement – social, economic, and environmental building across the street from Mulcair removed any last credibility he might have gained ALIVE about his work. variables that harm or help vulnerable the Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre. for opposing the Enbridge pipeline project when he said, “It’s about assimilating non- peoples.” Activists from ALIVE and the “Opposing these pipelines in advance is just as wrong as Aboriginal people into the Aboriginal A place-based approach looks community centre organized a town supporting them in advance because in both cases what world view,” is how Scott Clark at “what is here, what assets, what hall meeting with the developer and you need is an objective study.” He must believe that an described his approach to activism and services, and develops a strategic got 150 people out to it. Through “objective” study would disregard the opposition of First reconciliation. approach. We identify what the needs the discussion, they got the plans Nations’ and their rights to control their lands. He must ALIVE uses “a place-based strategy are and go after them.” “If we can do changed from single room occupancy also believe that an “objective” study would disregard the . . . to create avenues for Aboriginal that in Canada’s most impoverished units to family units. They also got decades of climate science that shows we need to leave the citizens to have meaningful impacts urban area, we can do this nation an agreement to employ 150 people oil in the soil. in their communities and to negotiate wide.” from the neighbourhood, to have the their role in the urban ‘place’ on their I asked Scott how this place-based developer purchase local goods and Domestic refining vs climate jobs own terms.” strategy for building community and services, and employ local artists. This The Green Party is not opposed to tar sands, and instead community services was related to the way some of the money stays in the calls for more domestic refining. Similarly, Mulcair opposes Place-based strategy work of earlier activists like the Black neighbourhood. the Northern Gateway and Keystone XL pipelines because Scott explained to me that a place- Panthers. “It’s exactly like that. It goes On the subject of reconciliation they export unprocessed bitumen, but called the proposed based strategy is the opposite of what back to the Black Panthers, to Saul Scott believes that “people feel so Energy East pipeline a “win-win-win,” for the economy, the traditional NGO’s are doing. The Alinsky, to Marx. It’s based on the isolated and powerless. They don’t environment and jobs. But Energy East would devastate the traditional NGO’s work on building social, environmental and economic know how to begin to engage in their climate, continue pouring resoures in the least efficient job up a program for their intended interconnectedness of healthy and communities…I look at reconciliation creator (the oil industry) and continue basing the economy “clients” (a term Scott detests) unhealthy communities.” as a big concept, we all can do on the destruction of the planet. without involving those people. Once Midway through our interview at something in a coffee shop, in the Regardless of the destination of tar sands or where its the funding is gone, the program a coffee shop on Commercial Drive, business improvement associations, in processed, tar sands expansion continues industrial genocide disappears leaving nothing behind. Scott recognized a woman passing by. our community centres, in transit and against First Nations, from the Athabasca Chipewyan Along the way, there is little or no She shows the success of ALIVE’s so on.” First Nation at ground zero to the communities all along measurement of results. In addition, approach. A few years ago, they were Scott couples revolutionary methods the pipeline routes. “Domestic refining,” using Canadian as Scott points out, the location of able to get her help with childcare with clear goals in the fight against nationalism to continue to devastate Indigenous land, is no many services for urban Aboriginals and housing. She got involved in the the wreckage racism, colonialism and solution. creates a “pipeline to the downtown Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre and neoliberalism produces. For every 10 The way to deal with the recession and job losses is to East side,” Canada’s poorest ALIVE. She was able to find work Aboriginal people who are pushed out spend public money on building clean energy sources like neighbourhood. and move out of the downtown east of the education system, if he can help solar, geothermal and wind projects, not to keep expanding The place-based strategy is an side and enroll in post-secondary two find the support they need to make the oil and gas sector by building refineries. From the UK to “empowerment model,” where education. However, in her new it to university, “then I will have done South Africa there are campaigns for a million climate jobs, people are given a chance to neighbourhood she can’t afford my job.” “My spot in this moment and this has spread to Canada. May seemed to be on this organize themselves in their own the community services offered at of struggle: I can’t change Canada, track early in the debate, when she explained that “We need neighbourhoods to get the services the local community centre where this province or this city, but I might an army of carpenters, electricians, and contractors going out they need for success from “pre-natal children “play if you can pay.” There be able to change something in my to plug leaky buildings.Thirty per cent of carbon pollution to post-secondary.” is a subsidy program for the centre’s community” comes from the energy we waste and the money we waste Taking this holistic approach, services, but they don’t publicize it. heating the outdoors in the winter and cooling it in summer.” She never returned to this idea, and neither did Mulcair. What we wear: a woman’s right to choose Climate justice There is a large and growing climate movement across by Chantal Sundaram for going topless, making toplessness impetus for the “Slut Walk” movement, Canada and around the world. In April 25,000 marched legal. which began in 2011 after a Toronto in Quebec City to act on climate and in July 10,000 Despite several decades since the At the time, the debate was about Police officer suggested that “women marched for “Jobs, Justice and the Climate” in Toronto-- women’s liberation movement raised “indecency,” and feminists, socialists should avoid dressing like sluts” as a including Unifor, which represents some of the tar sands the notion that women should have and others on the left defended the precaution against sexual assault. workers. There are blockades put up by the Unist’ot’en control over our bodies and what right of women to challenge being in BC defending their land from pipelines, and there is we choose to wear on them, we live held to a different standard of decency It’s not about decency an Anishinaabe water walk against Energy East. Over a in a society just as obsessed with than men. At the same time, there The issue is not “decency” but the hundred First Nations in BC have signed the Fraser River regulating what women wear. was also a critique of the purely legal systemic sexual oppression of women Declaration to prevent pipelines from crossing their land. Women are blamed for the right, abstracted from the systemic that relies on the role of women in the All across America people have chained themselves to sexualisation of their body if they sexualization of women’s breasts, that home and in procreation. construction equipment to try to stop the Keystone XL choose to reveal too much. Or they prevents most women from exercising Because the female body and its pipeline. are blamed for blindly accepting it for fear of harassment—particularly role in procreation and domestic We already have a real “objective process”: the “barbaric” beliefs if they choose to women who are already most care has not been fully liberated increasingly dire warnings of climate science, and the lived wear the hijab or niqab. You’re either vulnerable to harassment and sexual from being defined in that way, our experience of Indigenous peoples who bear the brunt of covering too much or not enough: violence, including racialized, queer capitalist society continues to assign it the climate crisis and who are leading the climate justice either way, women are robbed of the and disabled women. a fundamentally sexualized role. And movement. The climate justice movement quite rightly fact that our bodies are our own. because the market turns everything dismisses every tar sands project, and the NDP should do In Waterloo on August 1, around 300 Rape culture into a commodity, including sexuality, the same. Siding with the Tories and their corporate backers people rallied at a protest called “Bare The timing of the recent topless protest and because our relationship to to support pipelines and refinieries while quibbling over the With Us” with signs reading “Nudity in Kitchener-Waterloo raises two sexuality is distorted by capitalist details will only turn off voters. The NDP in BC tried the isn’t sexual” and “They’re boobs, not issues. The ongoing “war on terror,” society, the female body remains a strategy of being only midly different from the ruling party bombs” to support the Mohammed and attack on cultures that sexualize battleground. and it didn’t mobilize people to vote for them. The federal sisters—three young women who were the uncovering of hair like the The decision of what to cover and NDP runs the same risk, if they try to play it safe and if they stopped by Kitchener police for riding uncovering of breasts, is one. But there what not to cover can only be a truly don’t tap into the movements and the anger people have over bikes home topless on a hot summer is another: the Ghomeshi, Cosby, and free one when women are free of the the climate, the wars, and the economy, they risk losing the night. One of them is Juno-nominated Dalhousie Dentistry scandals, and the much broader constraints over the role election. Or if they win on a commitment to tar sands it will Alysha Brilla (her stage name), and she growing challenge to rape culture. ascribed to gender in society. In the be more of the same, adding to the long history of social appeared at the rally side by side with a Some have suggested that women meantime, the choice to go topless or democracy. topless Gwen Jacob—who as a 19-year and men should show more modesty to wear the hijab or niqab, even if we university student in 1991 overturned a in an effort to combat sexual violence. don’t all feel comfortable doing so, an “indecency” conviction against her But such arguments harken back to the must be respected. 8 Socialist Worker September 2015 LEFT JAB REVIEWS John Bell Thin soup from the NDP kitchen While Tom Mulcair’s NDP democratic roots—sparked is holding on to its tenuous by the leadership campaign of lead in the pre-election polls, Jeremy Corbyn. their campaign is not exactly Corbyn is a long-serving setting the nation on fire. Labour MP who has remained Increased support seems staunchly on the left, opposing due to growing dislike and his own party’s positions on distrust of Stephen Harper’s war and austerity and using his Tories more than any great platform to regularly aid those enthusiasm for Mulcair and his building grass-roots move- policies. That the disaffection ments. Corbyn was allowed for Harper has swung behind into the race to elect a new Mulcair rather than Justin Labour Party leader literally Trudeau’s Liberals is a result at the last second, receiving of the one, clear, courageous nominations from a number of stand taken by the NDP: to sitting MPs who don’t support vote against Bill C-51 and to him but were pressured to do promise to repeal it if elected. so by local party members. Thanks to that strategic They and the party leadership error by Trudeau’s braintrust, were confident that he repre- subsequent Liberal attempts sented only a tiny fraction of to outflank the NDP to the left the membership, and could Indigenous resurgence and Marxism have not found much traction. be largely ignored. They were BOOK His promise to raise taxes on wrong. the wealthiest 1% would seem Corbyn has brought oppos- Red Skin, White Masks primitive accumulation is a process of self-recognition in anti-colonial to custom-made for the NDP ition to austerity and privatiza- Written by Glen Sean Coulthard that is ongoing but not necessarily struggles and connecting them to platform, but Mulcair instead tion into the mainstream. He Reviewed by Jesse McLaren violent. This insight challenges the contemporary Indigenous scholars— promised to keep corporate says he will reverse the cuts to economic reductionism that has dom- Mohawk political scientist Taiaiake taxes low. “We want to make the health care system; will re- Twenty-five years since resistance inated academic Marxism (picked up Alfred and Anishinaabe feminist sure that the Canadian tax verse privatization of the post at Kanesatake, and in the midst from Stalinism), and also questions Leanne Simpson. After reviewing the rate for our large corpora- office and rail systems; will of Truth and Reconciliation the past four decades of land claims. emergence of Idle No More, which tions remains below the US scrap tuition fees and restore recommendations and the ongoing Coulthard also draws on Marx’s has exposed the failure of the tactic combined rate and we’re going grants for a national education Idle No More movement, Glen Sean concept of “mode of production” to of recognition and reconciliation, to continue to work on that,” plan. He has called for an end Coulthard’s book is a must read. highlight the Indigenous understanding Coulthard concludes with five Mulcair told reporters. to attacks on welfare and for The recent release of the Truth and of culture. As well as debunking theses on Indigenous resurgence and Despite a couple of posi- restoration of state support Reconciliation Commission report pseudo-Marxist claims that cultural decolonization. tive promises—raising the for affordable housing. He has highlighted how recognition demands are divisive or reactionary, He defends direct action not only minimum wage for federally promises to reverse Tory cuts and reconciliation dominate the the history of his own Dene Nation’s for its immediate effect—blocking the mandated employees, de- to social support for people discussion of Indigenous politics. But struggle for self-determination state from entering, and capital from criminalizing (not legalizing) with disabilities. as Coulthard explains, this new tactic shows that it was capital’s drive to leaving Indigenous communities—but marijuana, starting a national His campaign has turned by the Canadian state—a response to accumulate that de-coupled cultural also as a method to loosen internalized day-care program—Mulcair’s into a movement. Rallies waves of Indigenous resistance—is demands from social, economic and colonialism and prefigure a renewed campaign seems more became mass meetings. The meant to mask an old strategy. political transformation: relationship between Indigenous concerned with calming jittery largest venues routinely turn The 1969 White Paper aimed peoples and their land. He exposes right-wing voters than with away hundreds. At one rally to forcibly assimilate Indigenous Reconciliation vs resistance gentrification as a new wave of attracting new, young or dis- Corbyn stood atop a fire truck peoples, but was defeated by the Whereas truth and reconciliation dispossession of urban Indigenous affected ones. His disappoint- to address hundreds who had Red Power movement. Through initiatives historically emerged populations, and stresses gender ing statements on energy and been unable to enter a hall. Section 35(1), the 1982 Constitution from countries that went through a justice within decolonization. And he resource extraction have been Thousands of people are recognized Aboriginal and treaty formal transition—like Apartheid to calls for moving beyond capitalism dealt with elsewhere. joining the Labour Party to rights on paper but made little liberal democracy in South Africa— and the nation state, along with an Worryingly, the NDP support him. Many are young difference on the ground, and the no such transition has taken place openness to non-Indigenous allies. leadership has turfed several people, but he is also re-invig- resulting frustration culminated in the in Canada. As Coulthard explains, Red Skin, White Masks brings quality candidates because of orating older party members defeat of the Meech Lake accord and exercises in “reconciliation” in to mind the writings of Indigenous their public support for human who had opposed Blairism. resistance at Kanesatake in 1990. In the Canadian context serve to Marxist Howard Adams, a leading rights in Palestine. Predictably, the Labour response the 1996 Royal Commission ideologically manufacture a transition: activist and theorist of the Red Power These decisions suggest Party bureaucracy is freaking on Aboriginal Peoples made a series of characterizing residential schools as movement. Contrary to the academic that—despite opposition to the out. They are unleashing the recommendations that have since been “sad events” firmly in the past, rather Marxists and left-materialists specifics of Bill C51—an NDP worst kind of red baiting. ignored, and the Harper government than part of an ongoing process of Coulthard challenges for subordinating government would continue They are moving to revoke the “apologized” for residential schools colonization. As a result Indigenous anti-oppression and national liberation Canada’s recent history of voting privileges of Corbyn while continuing to attack Indigenous people become the object of repair struggles to economics, Adams militarism and “national secur- supporters, not just new ones rights—sparking Idle No More, the rather than the colonial relationship. pointed to the potential of intertwining ity” hysteria. but also some who have been latest cycle of Indigenous struggle. This pacifying discourse attempts Indigenous radical nationalism with a Finally, when confronted members for decades. Some Coulthard critically engages Marx to discipline Indigenous resistance class struggle against capitalism— with past examples of his Labour MPs have stated they in two ways. First he uses his theory by labeling anger and resentment as from the “Riel rebellion” to the Red praise for Margaret Thatcher’s would refuse to serve in a of “primitive accumulation” to explain negative emotions about “the past” Power movement. free market policies, Mulcair Corbyn-led government. the twin processes of colonization instead of critical consciousness in As part of the latest wave of doubled down. “A government As a socialist I find this a (dispossession and proletarianization) the present. resistance, Coulthard has made an should never pretend it can joy to behold. The decades while focusing on the experience of Coulthard concludes with a call important contribution to Indigenous replace the private market. It old consensus that there is no Indigenous communities. By stress- for cultural self-affirmation and resurgence and contemporary does not work,” Mulcair said alternative to cuts and auster- ing Indigenous peoples’ experience of Indigenous resurgence, critically Marxism, whose intertwining is in 2001. “It didn’t work in ity is being shaken to its core. dispossession, Coulthard shows that assessing Fanon’s writings on the role critical for our time. England. Up until Thatcher’s I’m also aware that Corbyn’s time, that’s what they tried, success—polls show he would BOOK the government stuck its nose stand a good chance of becom- everywhere.” ing Prime Minister—pose Now he says: “My No. 1 huge problems and debates. Unfinished Leninism priority is to get good services Pat Stack, a comrade from Unfinished Leninism itself – the notion that organic I have already posted Le Blanc’s to the public. That hasn’t Britain and author of a pamph- Written by Paul Leblanc intellectuals can rise from amongst “What to do/What not to do” tactical changed and that’s what that let entitled Can Socialism Reviewed by Glen Truax the ranks of the working class and outline for the emerging Neo- statement was about.” Come Through Parliament? attain political consciousness, upon Marxist groups. Standpoint politics As if Thatcherism was (spoiler alert: the answer is Part of the reason why Unfinished which the intellectual/activists try are particularly emphasized – it’s about improving service! no), writes: “Corbyn’s cam- Leninism is so compelling and to pass on to the more conservative possible to maintain one’s own It was about privatization, paign is offering us all hope, addictive to read is the fact that elements of his/her environment. standpoint (e.g. Neo-Marxism) while union-busting, and imposing and an opportunity to make this is a manual for militants. The first half ofUnfinished still being able to interact and act increasing austerity on work- socialist ideas seem relevant This is not another Verso collection Leninism is, sadly, a historiography with other radical groups. ing people. The “New Labour” and real, and can pave the way of nearly unreadable theory that they of all of the interpretations of Lenin’s If nothing else, Unfinished direction epitomized by Tony to the more complex debate of pass off as the work of “Radical thought for the past century. There Leninism will make you run for Blair adopted the “free mar- how we actually achieve these Thinkers.” This is instead an attempt is nothing necessarily wrong with the classics; I re-read The State and ket” mantra and transformed aims.” Compare that excite- to make Lenin’s theory relevant to this set-up, and it gives Le Blanc Revolution for the third time, and the British Labour Party into ment of a real movement for the actual workers, radicals, and the opportunity to shoot down the fresh approach that Le Blanc something barely distinguish- change with Mulcair. activists in the West, not another stab critics like Robert Service, who provides created new viewpoints able from the Tories. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be at persuading the reader that there are are more interested in character- and interpretations of work with voting NDP and using what X number of angels dancing on the assassination than genuine critical which that I was already richly Wanted: more opportunities the election head of a pin. thought. Unfortunately, this history familiar. Furthermore, it dragged Corbyn, less Blair affords to raise arguments Le Blanc was a union activist in of histories may only be of use to the these Leninist works out of the grave This is the direction a about the viability of social- that most proletariat of American most die-hard Leninist thinkers. and into the present, making them Mulcair government would ist ideas and tactics. But I’ll cities, Pittsburgh, and while he is The work kicks into high gear in dynamic handbooks rather than want to take. But timing is do so while noting the thin currently making a living as an the latter half, however, as it links curios from the past. everything. Even while those soup coming from Mulcair’s academic, the ties to militant trade elements of Leninist thought into the at the top of the NDP want to kitchen. And I’ll do so hoping union activism can be discerned standpoint of 21st Century modern This is shared from emulate “New Labour,” there a Corbyn-style movement throughout the volume. That is activism. There are great lessons to http://betterreadthandead.com is a rousing, growing move- from the NDPs rank-and-file precisely a part of Lenin’s theory be drawn from this presentation, as ment to restore the British will light a fire under his ass, Labour Party to its social should he become PM. September 2015 Socialist Worker 9 WHERE WE STAND The dead-end of capitalism The capitalist system is based on violence, oppres- sion and brutal exploitation. It creates hunger beside Activist calendar plenty, it threatens our sustenance through unsafe and unsustainable farming, and kills the earth itself with pollution and unsustainable extraction of oil, minerals, animals, trees, and water. Capitalism leads movement events to imperialism and war. Saving ourselves and the planet depends on finding an alternative. A system that is killing the planet Capitalist profits depend on extracting the world’s blood and bone. The devastating impact of capital’s assault on the planet affect the world’s most vulner- able populations and threaten the long-term mean- ingful existence of humanity. Capitalism cannot regulate the catastrophic effects of climate change. We stand for climate justice, including the concept of “just transition” for affected workers. Socialism and workers’ power Any alternative to capitalism must involve replacing the system from the bottom up through radical collective action. Central to that struggle is the workplace, where capitalism reaps its profits off our backs. Capitalist monopolies control the earth’s resources, but workers everywhere actually create the wealth. A new socialist society can only be con- structed when workers collectively seize control of that wealth and plan its production and distribution to satisfy human needs, not corporate profits—to respect the environment, not pollute and destroy it. Oppression Within capitalist society different groups suffer from specific forms of oppression. Attacks on oppressed groups are used to divide workers and weaken solidarity. We oppose racism and imperialism. We oppose all immigration controls. We support the right of people of colour and other oppressed groups to organize in their own defence. We are for real, social, economic and political equality for women. We are for an end to all forms of discrimination and homophobia against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. We oppose environmental International Socialist events racism. We oppose discrimination on the basis of religion, ability and age.

Canada, Quebec, Indigenous Peoples Canada is not a “colony” of the United States, but an imperialist country in its own right that partici- pates in the exploitation of much of the world. The Canadian state was founded through the repression of Indigenous peoples and the people of Quebec.We support the struggles for self-determination of Que- bec and Indigenous peoples up to and including the right to independence. In particular, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ original and primary right to decide their fate and that of their lands, heritage, and traditions. Socialists in Quebec, and in all oppressed nations, work to give the struggle against national oppression an internationalist and working class content. Internationalism The struggle for socialism is part of a worldwide struggle. We campaign for solidarity with workers in other countries. We oppose everything that turns workers from one country against those from other countries. We support all genuine national liberation movements. The 1917 revolution in Russia was an inspiration for the oppressed everywhere. But it was defeated when workers’ revolutions elsewhere were defeated. A Stalinist counter-revolution, which killed millions, created a new form of capitalist exploitation based on state ownership and control. In Eastern Europe, China and other countries, a similar system was later established by Stalinist, not socialist, parties. We support the struggle of workers in these countries against both private and state capitalism.

Elections and democracy Elections can be an opportunity to give voice to the struggle for social change. But under capitalism, they can’t change the system. The structures of the present parliament, army, police and judiciary protect the ruling class against the workers. These structures cannot be simply taken over and used by the working class. The working class needs real democracy, and that requires an entirely different kind of state—a workers’ state based upon councils of workers’ delegates.

Reform and revolution Every day, there are battles between exploiter and exploited, oppressor and oppressed, to reform the system—to improve living conditions. These struggles are crucial in the fight for a new world. To further these struggles, we work within the trade unions and orient to building a rank and file move- ment that strengthens workers’ unity and solidarity. But the fight for reforms will not, in itself, bring about fundamental social change. The present To donate visit system cannot be fixed or reformed as the NDP and many trade union leaders say. Nor can the system www.socialist.ca/donate or send a regulate itself to prevent environmental destruction cheque to and climate injustice. It has to be overthrown. That will require the mass action of workers themselves. Socialist Worker Fighting Fund PO Box 339, Station E, Toronto ON The Revolutionary Party To achieve socialism the leading activists in the working class have to be organized into a revolu- tionary socialist party. The party must be a party OPEN SATURDAYS, 12-3pm of action, and it must be democratic. We are an 427 Bloor Street West, suite 202, Toronto ; 416-972-6391; www.facebook.com/resistancepress organization of activists committed to helping in the construction of such RESISTANCE a party through ongoing activity in the mass organizations of the PRESS Students working class and in the daily BOOK ROOM Austerity struggles of workers and the & oppressed.If these ideas make ideas for sense to you, help us in this project Resistance and join the International Socialists. struggle

10 Socialist Worker September 2015 [email protected] PUBLIC SERVICES BLACK LIVES MATTER STICKING WITH THE UNION by CATHERINE GENDRON Carolyn Egan A grassroots campaign, made up of labour and community groups, has come together in Lessons of the Saskatchewan, with a call for people to protect Crown strike and take back our public services. The Crown strike is over The campaign is called after 22 long months national solidarity with Own It!. This statement at- and the workers fought strikers visiting a plant in tracts peoples’ attention, and til the very last. Only Turkey to show solidar- drives hard at what matters; two crossed the line out ity with Turkish workers the fact that Saskatchewan of 120 and the strikers who had organized their belongs to everyone. Not understood that they workplace. That support business, not public-private were fighting not only for was reciprocated in actions partnerships, but everyone. themselves but for every by those workers. Unite, a worker in this country. major union in the United Public services The vote was close: 53 Kingdom and Ireland, held Saskatchewan is known for to 45. Crown, a vicious demonstrations against its ties to the Co-operative employer, had targeted Crown plants in the UK. Commonwealth Federation 34 activists who they had This gave confidence to (CCF), a political party refused to take back, and the workers in Toronto that that aimed to ensure pub- were demanding that all they were not alone. lic ownership of the econ- by VALERIE LANNON the scabs keep their jobs. omy. Saskatchewan still Its intent was to break the Lessons maintains public ownership “Every single day, Black Andrew Loku to be funded asked Carby to identify union because the workers There is much to be learned over its telecommunica- bodies in this city face completely by the City of himself even though he fought back. about the need for solidarity tions (SaskTel), car insur- violence—whether it’s Toronto. was the passenger and not In the end the tentative from the start, showing that ance (SGI), and hydro carding, whether it’s 7. Monetary the driver; and shot him agreement contained a lot it is not just 120 workers (SaskPower), to name a few. surveillance, whether it’s compensation for the multiple times, claiming of concessions including who are facing off against The comparisons in physical violence, whether family of Andrew Loku for he was holding a knife. wage cuts, and lost both the the employer but the entire pricing with privatized busi- it’s death. This is life and the damages caused by the But as Carby’s cousin, defined benefit pension plan union movement. The USW nesses that offer the same death for us, and we are Toronto Police department. LaTanya Grant, one of the and “30 and out” pension leadership has to under- services are stark. For ex- here to let you know and 8. The adoption of all family spokespersons for eligibility. It was a bitter stand, as do all leaders, that ample, big cell phone com- to put you on watch that recommendations made the campaign for justice, pill to swallow, but all the these battles need the active panies like Bell, Rogers and we will take action, and by the African Canadian explained, “There was no strikers who choose have support of every union. It is Telus offer prices are half that Black Lives Matter.” Legal Clinic: A systemic knife found on the scene. their jobs back and the the work on the ground that (or less) of what is offered This was the statement inquiry by the Office of the Jermaine Carby’s prints scabs will be gone. After will make the difference in Ontario. by one of the Black Lives Independent Police Review were not found on the almost two years on the and an inability to move Matter-Toronto organizers Director to guage whether knife, just his DNA. The line workers bit the bullet quickly can lead to disaster. Privatization at the July 16 meeting of there has been adequate knife was given over to and accepted the agreement This is critical to the battles The Own It! campaign is all the Toronto Police Services disciplinary action taken the SIU several hours after with no strikers left behind. ahead. about talking to people, and Board, as part of demands against officers who use the event…that alone just They were clearly split There will undoubt- listening for what matters to for action around the police force against black people shows me that there was no on the contract but were edly be more strikes ahead, them. Almost always, people killing of Andrew Loku in living with mental health knife.” very comradely to each because the austerity talk about how they do not a building for those living issues, body cameras to The SIU has refused other even though they agenda that corporations want to leave their kids with mental health issues. be worn by all police to give the name of the voted differently in the end. and governments around worse off than they are (alas, officers, the release of data vehicle’s driver to Carby’s Some in the leadership of the world are imposing we’re already there). They Andrew Loku on number of SIU cases family, refused to release the Steelworkers wanted on workers and the poor don’t want to see corners cut On July 5 police went to involving racialized people, the name of the officer who to end it long ago, which is not stopping. Building in our basic needs like health the home of Andrew Loku, and racialized people living shot Carby to death, and could have led to a total rank-and-file strength on and education either. a refugee from South Sudan with mental health issues, refused to release the name defeat. the ground is the key to any With privatization, nega- living in an apartment an inquiry by the Ontario of the officer who produced fight back. It is the workers tive affects are sure to occur. complex for people with Human Rights Commission the knife. The complete Campaign themselves who are facing Businesses would not invest mental health issues. Less into the disproportionate inability of police to safely In the fall of 2013 the the battles and have so or purchase something un- than a minute after arriving use of force used against and peacefully interact with Steelworker Toronto much to loose. less they know they can make on scene, police killed him. black people with mental people of colour speaks Area Council took a The attacks on both a profit—and they achieve Working with the health challenges. to both their racism and bus load of members public and private sector this by cutting wages, cast- family and friends of 9. The adoption of the professional incompetence. including strikers to the workers are unrelenting, ing out good unionized jobs, Andrew Loku, Black Lives 84 recommendations in US picketing a Crown but when workers show up putting safety measures in Matter-Toronto delivered the 2014 report by Frank Black Lives Matter Plant in Massachusetts, on each others strike lines jeopardy, increasing user the following demands to Iacobucci, aimed at On the evening of July 27, Crown headquarters they build connections that fees and weakening quality Toronto Mayor John Tory reducing fatal encounters Black Lives Matter-Toronto in Philadelphia and a aren’t soon forgotten. The standards. and Toronto police chief with people in emotional organized a rally near director’s company in workers at Crown know A prime example would Mark Saunders: distress. where Andrew Loku was Allentown, Pa. The strikers they create the wealth that be the recent privatization 1. The immediate release The Iacobucci report is killed, demanding justice maintained this type of the stockholders benefit of laundry services within of the name(s) of the a product of the outrage to for him, Jermaine Carby activity throughout the from and that pays the $12 hospitals. Previously under officers that Killed Andrew police killing 18-year old and all other Black people strike. In many ways the million yearly salary of the control by the public, this Loku. Sammy Yatim on a streetcar brutalized by the Toronto membership ran the strike CEO. They understand the service was contracted 2. Charges to be laid last year. police. on the ground. There were battle going on between the out to a private company against the officers who Hundreds joined the committees set up to keep 99% and 1% in this country in Alberta, named K-Bro killed Mr. Loku. Jermaine Carby rally, which then marched the line going at the plant, and around the world, and Linens. They cut 300 good 3. The immediate and This comes at the same to Allen Road (a major do picketing at operations they fought for themselves paying jobs, and severely public release of any video time as the “Special expressway in Toronto) that used the scab cans, do and their class. cut the wages of those who footage from the apartment Investigations Unit” has and occupied it for two solidarity work in the US The rank-and-file was remain. Horrifyingly, lin- complex where Andrew cleared police for their hours, stopping traffic and and other areas of Canada. very active in this fight, ens are coming back blood- Loku was murdered. murder of Jermaine Carby. getting Mayor John Tory Workers who never took more so then in most stained, and some have in- 4. A public apology from On September 24, 2014 on the phone to promise a part in union activities in strikes today, and for 22 cluded needles in them. the Mayor, Chief of Police Peel police pulled over meeting. the past became activists long months. Many of Conservative govern- and the Toronto 5. Police the vehicle claiming the The organizing through the strike. the strikers have become ments tend to favour “small Department to the family licence plate was obscured, continues. No justice, no There was a “bottles activists and are committed government” when it comes and broader community. even though footage shows peace, no racist police! not cans campaign” with to supporting workplace to public services (but not 6. The funeral of it was clearly visible; beer stores throughout the struggles where ever they province being leafleted may occur. They have when it comes to the police WAR RESISTERS ON FILM or military), allowing invest- by workers from many given their heart felt thanks US, and of their arrival in ordinary Iraqi people. communities. But broader to those fellow workers ments into public services by VALERIE LANNON to crumble. Yet privatiz- Canada. The film sympathetic- solidarity in the labour who supported them though ing MRI’s won’t work: in Want to see some excel- The Path of Glory ally gives voice to Jeremy movement was slow thick and thin. They are privatized MRI clinics in lent films about US (www.presstvdoc.com) Brockway’s change from to build until about six going to remain active Alberta, wait times are three war resisters coming to is 50 minutes in length a confident Marine who months ago when the in the Toronto and York times as long as they are in Canada? On August 18, and was made by Iranian wanted college benefits and Toronto and York Region Region Labour Council and Saskatchewan. the Toronto chapter of the filmmakers. It begins with “to defend freedom,” to Labour Council called on the Steelworker Toronto The answer is not to pri- War Resisters Support horrific scenes of the initial an ex-soldier struggling to trade unions to step up the Area Council. vatize, it is to invest and Campaign showed two siege of Baghdad and then survive PTSD and disillu- solidarity. Other unions It was a tough battle with strengthen our public servi- such movies – Deserter tells the separate stories of sioned with US foreign set up pickets three days significant losses. Many ces. Supporting the Own it! and The Path of Glory. resisters Kim Rivera and policy in Iraq. a week at the Minister of lessons have been learned campaign means supporting These films are emotion- Jeremy Brockway and their What can you do to Labour’s office for months. for the battles that are sure our responsibility to look out ally difficult to watch families. help? This election, ask The strikers occupied and to come. The workers are for each other. It also ensures but are important politic- Kim Rivera left the US Liberal candidates whether picketed Liberal MPP’s going back with their heads the people have control in ally and should be seen by in 2007 following a tour they will join the NDP and constituency offices. More held high knowing that how their basic services are everyone. of duty in Iraq. During her Greens who are committed momentum was built and they fought back and fully run. Ownership is not for Deserter (Big Noise deployment there, Kim to creating a provision to a lot of pressure was put understanding the meaning business, it’s for us. Films) tells the story of the concluded that she could no allow U.S. resisters to stay on the company and the of solidarity. To join the campaign visit 2005 decision by Ryan and longer be a party to what in Canada. Liberal government. ownyoursaskatchewan.ca. Jenna Johnson to leave the the military was doing to There was also inter-

September 2015 Socialist Worker 11 SocialistWorker

by Pam Frache from a $15 minimum wage is irrelevant, and debating ThereFIGHT is a growing FOR $15the proposal on those terms consensus across Canada privileges economic bean- -- and indeed across counters while alienating the North America -- that all very people with a stake in workers deserve at least the outcome of the debate. $15 an hour. Mulcair should agree that So popular is the notion federal laws are inadequate of a $15 minimum wage that and call on the provinces the matter is now a key issue to immediately implement in the federal election. an annually indexed, $15 Tellingly, opponents of a minimum wage. Given the federal $15 minimum wage recent victory of the NDP in are not discussing whether Alberta and its promise to low-income workers implement a provincial $15 deserve a raise. Nor are they minimum wage (faster than debating the merits of $15 its federal counterparts) such an hour. Instead, they are a statement could be electric trying to focus the debate on for the movements, and who’s going to get it. bolster the electoral fortunes For proponents of a $15 of the NDP both federally minimum wage, this in itself and provincially. is a victory. It shows that But doing so would also a $15 minimum wage has put a spotlight on the fail- become such a common ures of other provincial NDP sense notion that not many governments to bring the politicians are confident to minimum wage above the tell voters that low-income poverty line when in office. workers don’t deserve to Indeed, in Manitoba, where earn wages that bring them the NDP currently governs, above the poverty line. there is an awkward silence Of course, it is true the on this issue. Even in federal government can only Ontario, the NDP has yet to make laws that apply to correct its shameful decision federally regulated workers. is not insignificant, as some railway workers and many wages in order to keep their make it easier for voters during last year’s provincial This isn’t the choice of any have claimed other trans-Canada em- employees. In this way, to persuade provincial election to refuse supporting political party. This is the In fact, achieving such a ployees where workers are a $15 federal minimum governments to implement a the $14/hr minimum wage reality of Canada’s legal standard would be a crucial responsible for the health wage will indirectly help $15 minimum wage in their campaign. system. And it’s a reality step toward winning a $15 and safety of passengers and thousands of other workers respective province. This isn’t to detract from that may be disappointing minimum wage for every communities and for the including those already The minimum wage the importance of the NDP’s for the millions of us across worker, in every province in wellbeing of the environ- earning $15 hourly. debate is a litmus test for a commitment for a federal Canada who earn less than Canada. Here’s why: ment and natural resources. Third, federally regulated political party’s commitment $15 minimum wage. Even a $15 an hour and whose Such workers will have workers comprise a greater to decent work, whether partial victory on this front hourly income falls well Federal $15/hr more disposable income proportion of the population we are talking about banks, would send a sorely needed below the poverty line, even First, a $15 federal min- and, as customers, will help in some provinces than in pipeline companies, or message to workers across when we work full-time. imum wage would directly stimulate economic activity others, which means the telecommunications firms. Canada that it is possible to But if a political party improve the wages of over that will in turn create more effects elaborated above In this context, the attempt fight for better wages and genuinely cares about 135,000 federally regulated jobs. will have an even greater, to discredit the $15 federal win. But we must never raising the wages of workers who earn less than Second, raising wages for positive impact on the minimum wage proposal forget that it is workers’ low-income workers then $15 an hour. Such workers low-income workers in one provincial economy. by railing against the collective action from below it is their responsibility to include bank tellers who sector of the economy helps Perhaps most importantly, constitutional arrangements that creates conditions for use every available policy earn poverty-level wages raise wages in other sectors. a government elected on a of Canada (over which no change and we don’t have to lever at their disposal from (the average wage of bank When low-income workers platform of enacting a $15 political party has control) is accept the parameters set out establishing a decent federal tellers is about $13.80), have better employment minimum wage federally clearly a red herring. by our elected representa- minimum wage to restoring while banks make billions in opportunities, they may will reflect a consensus tives, no matter who they the Fair Wages and Hours of profit year after year. leave one low-wage job for among voters across Canada NDP are. Labour Act. Such workers would also another that pays higher and Quebec that workers Ultimately, the precise num- For more information visit: This is precisely why a include airline workers, wages. Employers may deserve at least $15 an ber of federally-regulated 15andFairness.org and $15 federal minimum wage transportation workers, then choose to pay higher hour. Such a consensus will workers who would benefit WorkersActionCentre.org

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