Murdo Ritche (RCN) reviews Yes- The Radical Case for Scottish Independence by James Foley & Pete Ramand (Pluto Press, 2014). This was first posted on Murdo’s blog (http://murdoritchie.blog.co.uk) and has been slightly changed. JUST SAY YES? The cover and the title of this book summarize the contradictory tensions that flow all through the text. The word…
Exploitation, Oppression And Alienation: Emancipation, Liberation And Self-Determination
The RCN has based much of its analysis of capitalism on the notions of exploitation and oppression, to which we counter the ideas of emancipation and liberation – hence the name of our main publication. However, we have been conducting discussions on capitalism’s third prop, alienation, and its antithesis, self-determination, understood in its widest sense. In the article below, by…
‘Emancipation & Liberation’ RIC Special Bulletin, May 2014
The RCN produced its second RIC Special Bulletin in May. It includes the articles the following articles: What happens after September 18th Support the struggle for real self-determination in a Scottish democratic, secular and social republic Winning internationalist allies in Ireland Edinburgh RIC branch proposals to RIC National Forum in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote on September 18th…
Notes from Copenhagen
A socialist perspective on climate change Eric Chester and Susan Dorazio, two comrades from the Socialist Party of the USA visited Scotland recently, lived in Glasgow and joined the Maryhill branch of the SSP. They became very involved in the party’s activities and debates, as well as making new friends. Here we print Eric’s thoughts…
Peak Oil, Oil Depletion, & Alternative Energies
Rod Macgregor examines the oil depletion debate, its consequences for the world economy and a socialist response Peak Oil & oil depletion A debate is currently raging among oil professionals, and it splits into two camps. This debate focuses on a day called Peak Oil, the day in the future when oil production reaches an…
Tsunami and the tourist industry
The US media admit that Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Thailand is designed to prop up the hard-hit tourist industry there. The catastrophic Dec. 26 tsunami hit the beaches of Sri Lanka and Thailand and the islands of the Maldives at the height of tourist season. While the tourist industry brings a lot…
Tsunami solidarity donations
(Source: CPGB website) Please note that we cannot take responsbility for the work of any of these organisations. Trade unions The Indonesian forestry workers union has put out an urgent appeal for funds for Aceh and North Sumatra. Money donated will go directly to the union in one of the worst-affected areas. Donations can be…
Tsunami: an act of nature and the laws of capitalism
Nick Clarke looks at the global reaction to the tsunami and how capitalism is responsible for the human consequences. The devastating tsunami that smashed through the coastal areas of countries that ring the Indian Ocean on December 26th exposed the contradictions and contrasts that exist across the globe in the 21st Century. This ‘act of…