SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Eamonn McCann, author of War and an Irish Town Paul Foot, campaigning journalist of the decade Ken Loach, film director Linda Smith, FBU London Regional Treasurer Cheryl Townsend, community leader/advocate
Rally against privatisation
September 15, 7.30pm Pakistan Community Centre, Station Parade, Willesden
Green (left out of Willesden Green tube) Louise Christian, civil rights lawyer for Guantanamo Bay prisoners Adam Hartman around one hundred people to discuss what kind of MP needs.
Anti war school students from Hampstead Comprehensive school joined grass roots black activists involved in local campaigns against gun crime, members of the Asian communities, trade unionists and pensioners for an upbeat discussion. Rowena Davies, from the Hands Up for Iraq school students group, told the meeting: "Young people have got a lot to say. We need an MP who will engage with young people. We need an MP who supports multiculturalism, who will combat pollution.
Politics is about more than a bunch of old, white men making a noise in parliament. We need to hear about
alternative policies. We need an MP to restore our faith." rent Socialist Alliance organised B a successful Convention of the As a young
person I want Left on July 31 attended by an MP who
supports an the constituency equal minimum wage for young people," said Thomas. "I want an MP who opposseekers." future." es the Criminal Justice Act, supports the legalisation of drugs and stands up for vulnerable people, like asylum
"They have a war chest, but there's not enough money for schools or hospitals. They're spending it on killing people like us in Iraq. If we cut defence spending we could have a convention like this to decide how it was spent. We have to build a better future. The stakes are high. We can shape the
member of the Labour Party for 33 years," said Arvind Jadhav. "But now it is closing schools, getting rid of teachers. Things have changed in the Labour Party since Tony Blair. We don't want MPs doing whatever Tony Blair wants, we want an MP batting for the Former Brent East Constituency Secretary Alf Filer, now press officer for Brent Socialist Alliance said: "We are building a united force to challenge in future elections. We want to give Blair a bloody nose. This by-election is not about Robert Evans. It's about a
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Petition on behalf of PT Senator Heloisa Helena and PT Deputies Joao Batista Araujo Baba and .. Brazil solidarity Luciana Genro chance to show there really is an alternative. ernment's policies.
co September 2003 e the undersigned, like millions of others around the world, shared the joy of the Brazilian people when Lula was elected President of Brazil last year. After more than a decade of neo-lib eral policies devastating the peoples of the world; after more than four years of a new, diverse, international movement of opposition arguing that another world is possible - in which Lula, the PT and the World Social Forums in Porto Alegre played a crucial part - it seemed that at last there would be a
Of course the circumstances are difficult, the legacy is a heavy one, and time has been short. But it is with deep alarm and dismay that we learn the PT is now considering expelling three of its most outspoken members of congress for publicly opposing the government's planned pension reforms. It is not our business to express an opinion about the detail of the Brazilian govHowever we do know that pension reform, not only in Latin America but here in Europe and elsewhere, has been a key issue pitting neo-liberal governments and the IMF against the organised labour movement. Just one day after the PT decided to begin disciplinary proceedings against these three members of congress, millions of workers in France and Austria took action .... against pension reform in their countries. Henrique Cardoso. tional policies. changed their mind would send a terrible message around the world. on its proud tradition of democracy, pluralism and tolerance. possible.
We also understand that the PT itself opposed similar pension reforms when they were proposed by the previous government of Fernando
It therefore seems to us very grave that the PT leadership is now considering drastic punishment against those who continue to argue for the PT's tradiOf course, as Emir Sader of the World Social Forum International Council has put it, the Lula government may well have the right to change its mind about such issues, but to punish those who have not
To those millions of workers on the streets in France and Austria, to the many millions more who have been mobilising against neoliberalism and war, it will seem to say, Sorry, we don't care about all that, we've decided there really is no alternative". It will also suggest that the PT as a party has given up
We therefore urge you to step back from any expulsions and reaffirm the PT's role as a beacon of hope for all of us around the world who want to work with you to realise our common dream - that another world is indeed the Congress building in Brasilia Heloisa Helena (centre) campaigning with strikers outside