Socialist Resistance would like to congratulate supporter and Respect National Council member Ken Loach on winning the Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival for his new film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley".
The film has created a certain degree of controversy due to its accurate portrayal of the brutality of the "Black and
Tans" against the population of Ireland in the 1920's following the establishment of the new Irish parliament. Loach has been compared to a nazi propagandists (The Times), criticised for giving the clenched fist salute when collecting his award (The Guardian) and helping to recruit to the IRA (BBC Breakfast) and "loathing" his country (Daily Mail) among other attacks.
We commend him for answering these attacks with courage, clarity and wit while simultaneously pointing out that far from being solely a history lesson about British imperialism, "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" is intended as a commentary on the current occupation of Iraq by the British and US armies.
Director Loach has even been criticized for his association with Socialist Resistance as well as with Respect by that well known friend of the left, Dominic Lawson writing in the Independent.
Script writer Paul Laverty has also written for us on several occasions and it is excellent to see this principled and talented team getting the recognition it deserves.
The controversy surrounding the film means that it is only having a limited showing in England upon its release on June 23.
We urge all supporters and activists to go and see the film upon its release and, where possible, request that their local theatres show it. sector - Increasing privale SCCLOT involvement and announcing an end to the idea that the two sphere's operated with "contradictory value systems".
Frontline staff, he said, would have to become "radiBrown called for a threeyear pay freeze and continued restructuring on market principles in the public sector.
So much for dialogue.
The angry response bv leading labour loyalists in the trade union leadership, like Tony Woodley and Dave Prentis, was clearly anticiappears that neither opposition party will be offering a radically different menu to Labour.
For some time, Labour's tralectorv has opened up space for a new left alternative, but this has largely been reflected through issues like Iraq and civil liberties. The collapse in Labour support on "core issues" will enable the focus to be broadened.
Blair's attempt to brazen OUL public hostility Labour's nine year record on education, health, housing and transport calls for a clear socialist response.