The War on Democracy

We'll be showing John Pilger's film the War on Democracy on Thursday the 17th of July at 19:00 at Unity Hall (opposite the bus station).

The ruling elite in United States likes to go on about how they spread democracy, but this film shows the “hidden war” that is being waged against democracy - how democratically elected governments are overthrown and replaced by dictatorships who represent US corporate interests. It shows what the United States really likes to spread is capitalism, free markets and the neo-liberal doctrine against all public ownership, it shows how the people of Latin America are plunged into poverty by economic “shock treatment” consisting of massive privitisation. And it shows how the people are fighting back in Venezuela and other countries of Latin America.

Here's what John Pilger had to say about the film:

The film is about the power of empire and of people. It was shot in Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and the United States and is set also in Guatemala and Nicaragua. It tells the story of “America’s backyard,” the dismissive term given to all of Latin America. It traces the struggle of indigenous people first against the Spanish, then against European immigrants who reinforced the old elite. Our filming was concentrated in the barrios where the continent’s “invisible people” live in hillside shanties that defy gravity. It tells, above all, a very positive story: that of the rise of popular social movements that have brought to power governments promising to stand up to those who control national wealth and to the imperial master. Venezuela has taken the lead, and a highlight of the film is a rare face-to-face interview with President Hugo Chavez whose own developing political consciousness, and sense of history (and good humour), are evident. The film investigates the 2002 coup d’etat against Chavez and casts it in a contemporary context. It also describes the differences between Venezuela and Cuba, and the shift in economic and political power since Chavez was first elected. In Bolivia, the recent, tumultuous past is told through quite remarkable testimony from ordinary people, including those who fought against the piracy of their resources. In Chile, the film looks behind the mask of this apparently modern, prosperous “model” democracy and finds powerful, active ghosts. In the United States, the testimony of those who ran the “backyard” echo those who run that other backyard, Iraq; sometimes they are the same people. Chris Martin (my fellow director) and I believe “The War on Democracy” is well timed. We hope people will see it as another way of seeing the world: as a metaphor for understanding a wider war on democracy and the universal struggle of ordinary people, from Venezuela to Vietnam, Palestine to Guatemala.

Everybody is welcome to come along, after the film we'll throw the floor open to discussion on topics raised in the film.

Beyond the Market Economy conference

The Labour Representation Committee are holding the LEAP Conference 'Beyond the Market Economy' on Saturday the 24th of May between 11:00 and 16:30 Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, WC1E 7HX.

Both Tony Benn and John McDonnell MP will be there making an address, and they'll also open up for a Q&A session.

A few topics on the agenda are:

• Securing housing for all
• Ending corporate power: 21st century models of social ownership
• Drowning in debt: transforming the financial system
• Defending pay, pensions and jobs in a global market economy

The agenda can be downloaded here and the 'Red Papers' from here. For those comrades interested in attending (£10 / £5 unwaged) you can register online on the LRC website.

Yeovil Labour Party supports Liberal Democrats in Chard by-election

The Chard Crimchard by-election is on the 29th of May and the British National Party are fielding a candidate, Robert Baehr to contest the seat, the Labour Party isn't putting forward a candidate in this election.

In order to send a clear message that the people of Chard and the Yeovil constituency as a whole do not want a nationalist to represent them we are encouraging our supporters to vote for the Liberal Democrat candidate Jenny Kenton.

2008 May Manifesto Petition

From the Labour Representation Commitee:

In the light of Labour's election defeat last week, John McDonnell MP is circulating a manifesto petition to Labour Party members, trade unons and MPs to gain large scale rank and file support for a new policy programme for Labour to bring about a radical change in political direction for the Laboour Government.

John McDonnell MP said:

"After the serious rejection of New Labour at the polls last week assurances that the Government is listening are simply not going to be enough to restore any sense of belief in the Labour Party. What is needed is a radical change of political direction."We have to demonstrate that change by introducing a new policy programme that specifically and very concretely addresses peoples' concerns raised on the doorstep. This May manifesto petition is launched so that all our supporters can have a say in pressing for the changes we need.

"We believe that Labour can win back the support of our people by adopting a new 2008 May Manifesto, which should include:

• Nailing the 10p tax mistake by the introduction of a fair tax system removing the low paid from taxation and ensuring the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share
• An increase in the basic state pension, immediately restoring the link with earnings, lifting people off means tested benefits and providing free care for the elderly
• An immediate start on a large scale council house building programme and assistance for those facing repossession
• Immediate end to programme of local Post Office closures and liberalisation of postal services
• An end to the privatisation of our public services
• A new pay deal for public sector workers to protect their living standards and tackle low pay
• Abolishing tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants for all students
• Scrapping ID cards and abandoning 42 days detention
• Introduction of a trade union freedom bill and measures to protect temporary and agency workers
• Rejecting the proposals to renew Trident

Those interested in signing this petition should e-mail info@l-r-c.org.uk, include petition in the subject and your name and CLP or trade union. Now's the time to push for genuine working class policies and boot the neo-liberal agenda firmly out of the party, to turn the Labour Party into what it should be - the political wing of the working class.

Yeovil Sports Zone discussion

The Yeovil TUC are holding a meeting to debate the planned re-development of Mudford rec. Ashley Strelling from "Save Mudford Rec" will be presenting the case for opposition of the development, while Tim Carrol leader of South Somerset District Council will be making the case for the development.

The meeting will be held Wednesday 21st May starting 19:30hrs at Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil.