CONTENTS in this editorial issue In the News 4-5 EU: Exit Left 6-7 Women’s liberation 8 Ukraine Ukraine’s crisis 9-10 p9-10 Referendum revisited 11-12 Back2Basics 13 Toxic Tories 14 Venezuela TUC Young p18-19 Members 15-16 Sma’ Shot Day 17 Venezuela fights back 18-19 BobCrow Bob Crow 20 p20 Tony Benn 21 Revolutionary Sounds 22-23 May2014 Volume21,Issue34 Layout&design: Ben Stevenson & James Rodie What We Stand For Print: Communist Party Publishedby: YCL, Ruskin House, 23 Coombe 24 Rd, CR0 1BD Frontpic:Tom Page (CC) 3 IN THE NEWS inthenews Youthmark65years ofinvasionandwar he world’s anti-imperi- alist youth have marked pic: Jos van Zetten T65 years of Nato’s “wars, dictatorship, assassinations, invasions and occupations” Liverpool with a fresh call to destroy the imperialist bloc. stands up The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in April 1949 as the military arm for services of Western imperialism, led by nperturbed by the recent the United States. loss of two of its giants, “Nato has been the greatest Uthe labour movement in military tool of imperialism Liverpool turned out last month in the past 65 years, directly to show its support for the pub- and indirectly connected with lic sector which has been cut by the biggest crimes against nearly 30 per cent in Merseyside the peoples of the world that An anti-Nato demonstration in Strasbourg compared to 2 per cent in the took place in all those years,” Tory heartlands in the south. said the World Federation of “Nato’s history is directly tion to strengthen the national The demonstration snaked Democratic Youth. connected with wars, inter- and international struggle to its way through the streets. Global youth organisation ventions, occupations, coups put an end to Nato and the From the Pierhead the proces- WFDY was founded in London d’etat, dictatorships, advancing other imperialist organisations.” sion started, filling the streets 1945 to counter imperialism weaponry and nuclear growth. “For 65 years WFDY has with the sound of drums and after the horrors of World War “Over the past 20 years incorporated in its goals the the International, towards the II. The YCL is its British affiliate. its role has been upgraded struggle against Nato. The road town centre stopping the traf- “Nato’s existence has lead in directly demonstrating of peace and friendship of the fic for several minutes. to military growth internation- its military strength, most peoples of the world will only A minute’s silence to hon- ally and it expands its military importantly with the bombing open if we demolish the tools our the memory of strident presence everywhere,” said of Yugoslavia 15 years ago, and of imperialism. socialists Bob Crow and Tony WFDY. the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq “Our struggle is long and Benn preceded speeches, “After the overthrowing and Libya.” difficult, but against the inter- from prominent members of of the Soviet Union, which Budapest-based WFDY said national murderous alliances Unison and Unite addressed was being used as the pretext it was the “duty” of the anti- of imperialism we put forward the crowd from the steps, talk- for Nato’s existence, its role imperialist youth movement to the internationalist solidarity ing of the need to defend our continued to grow in policing strengthen the struggle against of the peoples! society from the cuts of the the world for the interests of Nato. “Nato will dissolve, imperial- Tory government. mopoly capitalism. “It is the duty of our genera- ism will be overthrown.” 4 IN THE NEWS European Anight communists wake up to ofClass threat of EU ore parties of the Music United Left/Nordic CGreen bloc in the European Parliament have slammed the EU as “in its essence neoliberal and militarist” and therefore “unreformable.” The statement ahead of this year’s European elec- tions marks a significant shift of position for some of the communist and workers’ parties who signed up — in oung Scottish com- ous generations. in opposition to the com- particular the Spanish, Italian munists launched their “That’s something that’s re- mercialised, often sexist and and French ones — which Ylong-awaited new social ally lacking nowadays with most individualist outlook youth are have previously argued that it and fund-raising initiative last pop music being more bland fed presently.” was possible to work within month with their first-ever gig and commercialised than ever.” All the acts received loud the EU to provide some posi- at the Roxy bar in Glasgow. Mr Hunter said they envis- applause and there was an tives for the working class. The Class Music night saw aged broader objectives over excellent atmosphere through- But the change — regard- singer-songwriter Calum and above fund-raising. out. ing the EU as “an imperial- Baird (pictured above), spoken “It’s definitely something Particularly well received ist political-military bloc word act and former YCL EC we’ll be doing on a regular was Marc Livingstone’s poem subordinated to Nato and member Marc Livingstone and basis in future. Thatcher’s Eulogy. therefore the United States” local bard Declan Welsh take “I think it’s very impor- The night closed with a — moves them much closer to the stage. tant the YCL has vibrant and rendition of the International, to the Communist Party of YCL Scottish organiser John- integral social aspect as well with all three acts back on Britain and YCL’s position, as nie Hunter said the inspiration as our political work. It’s a stage to finish. well as that as major parties for the night came from the good way of drawing in people The YCL Scottish organiser in Europe such as the Greek “rich musical tradition we have in who might not want not said it had been “a good effort and Portuguese. on the left.” necessarily sit through a two to put the social back into CPB international secre- He said: “Obviously there’s hour public meeting in the first socialism.” tary John Foster explains that the folk traditions but there instance. Videos of all the acts can the change has been brought also used to be lots of very “I think as young commu- be found on youngcommu- about by the “sheer depth of prominent politically left-ori- nists it’s very important to nistleaguescotland.wordpress. the economic and political entated pop music for previ- foster a different social scene com. crisis of the eurozone.” “There is now a recogni- tion that it is the EU treaty rules themselves that are driving the remorseless at- Labourhacksatunionlink tack on the democratic and abour has again frantically Would-be party leaders will social rights won over the hacked at its remaining need to gain the support of 15 past generation.” Llinks to Britain’s working per cent of Labour MPs rather But the “more urgent” class, with the mad slash- than the current 12.5 per cent. reason is the rise of the far ing threatening to break the Further, the blind rush towards right across many European bonds entirely. US-style “democracy” continues, countries. A special conference in with closed primaries introduced A prime duty of the left, March overwhelmingly passed to choose the London mayoral says the statement, is to halt the Collins report, weakening Peters Bob pic: candidate, with a view to extend- “the resurgence of extreme the trade unions’ role in La- ing that to other selections. right-wing and fascist forces bour Party democracy through The changes are likely to deal that were defeated by the abolishing the electoral college. a massive blow to party finances struggle of the peoples in Of the affiliated union, only ism, as union members will be as few levy-paying trade union- the 20th century.” the bakers (BFAWU) voted expected to sign up individu- ists are expected to sign up. That can’t be done within against. ally as supporters to continue Unite has already slashed the framework of the EU, The changes represent an having a say over the supposed its membership subs from £3 explains Mr Foster. ideological attack on collectiv- workers’ party policy. million to £1.5m. 5 MAY DAY pics: Maya Llamazes Theracistscan’t divideworkers This May Day, push to exit left from the EU, writes ZOE HENNESSY May Day is a celebration of the capitalist class at their expense While Ukip leader Nigel this threat as the media does history, culture and successes – democratic ownership of the Farage is fast becoming a dar- (while simultaneously giving of the labour and trade union means of production by the ling of the media, communists the message as much free air movement in our own country working class naturally became recognise the threat his racist time as possible). and internationally. As we pre- an attractive idea to many. message brings to our commu- The Communist Party, in pare to attend various events As workers across Britain nities and workplaces. alliance with the RMT union in Britain, so too will workers face a ruling-class offensive We know that his anti and Socialist Party, will be out and their families across the which seeks to strip us of all “Big Three” politics strikes a canvassing for our No2EU –Yes world. the gains our movement has chord with workers who feel to Workers’ Rights platform. International Workers Day won, and return us to the dark betrayed by the politicians Along with many other trade originated in the United States times of the interwar years, they have elected, and par- unions, communist and socialist in the late 1880s, during the in- when unemployment, poverty ticularly with a Labour Party parties across Europe, we will dustrial struggle for the eight- and despair crippled our move- which stubbornly refuses to be making the case that the EU hour working day.