The following article was first posted by Media Lens. MANUFACTURING IGNORANCE: KEEPING THE PUBLIC AWAY FROM POWER In their classic book on the news media, ‘Manufacturing Consent’, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky presented a ‘propaganda model’ of how the major broadcasters and newspapers operate. Whereas the ‘mainstream’ media declare that their aim is to educate,…
On police violence
The following article written by Mike Small on police violence in Great Britain, including Scotland, first appeared in bella caledonia ON POLICE VIOLENCE The state holds the monopoly on violence in our society. We can talk about male violence but the murder of Sarah Everard is also state violence and needs to be seen in both contexts. A…
Dublin bus workers reject union backed deal on pay and conditions
This article first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland) outlines the growing tensions between rank and file workers and union bureaucrats in the Dublin bus workers dispute accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic. DUBLIN BUS WORKERS REJECT UNION BACKED DEAL ON PAY AND CONDITIONS Union leaders’ plan puts all workers inside the privatisation rules It barely more…
Gaslighting the public: serial deceptions by the state-corporate media
The following article on the role of political journalists in the state media was first posted by media lens GASLIGHTING THE PUBLIC: SERIAL DECEPTION BY THE STATE-CORPORATE MEDIA During last week’s Tory Cabinet reshuffle, ITV political editor Robert Peston inadvertently summed up the primary function of political journalists: ‘I simply pass on’ His tweet was in reference…
From the war on terror to conflict between world powers
The following article by Claudia Cinatti of Left Voice (USA) points out that the heinous attacks on the World Trade Center have shown the failure of the “war on terror.” Following its defeat in Afghanistan, U.S imperialism is now directing its attention toward China and other capitalist powers. FROM THE WAR ON TERROR TO…
Vaccine apartheid: How Europe failed the global south
Ben Wray wrote the following article for bella caledonia. It highlights the division of the world into those who do and don’t have vaccines. This is a shameful episode that will live long in the memory. There was an opportunity for a different outcome through the waiving of vaccine IP rights, but Europe shut the…
‘The Imperial Mode of Living’: Interview with Markus Wissen
Ben Wray interviewed Markus Wissen for bella caledonia about his book The Imperial Mode of Living. This book has caused a stir in Germany by arguing that our way of life in the global north is imperialist because it is sustained by a level of resource extraction. THE IMPERIAL MODE OF LIVING Are…
Extinction Rebellion is taking to the City
The following article written by Jasmin Orden for The Canary outlines the reasons for the actions taken by Extinction Rebellion targeting The City. EXTINCTION REBELLION IS TAKING TO THE CITY Extinction Rebellion (XR) is currently protesting across London as it aims to “target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis – the political economy”. The…
The SWP and Scottish independence – part 1, Breakin’ up is so hard to do
The following post includes the Contents and the Introduction of the first part of the review by Allan Armstrong of Breaking up the British state – Scotland, Independence & Socialism, editors, Bob Fotheringham, Dave Sherry and Colm Bryce. The full review of Part 1 can be read at: https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/breaking-up-the-british-state.pdf THE SWP AND SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE Part…
The Democrats won’t save democracy
This article by Jason Koslowski of Left Voice (USA) highlights the hypocrisy of Joe Biden’s Democrats in their attempts to block the Republicans’ latest attempt to limit the electorate and remove largely black voters from the electoral roll. “While Republicans are attacking voting rights, the Democrats are pretending they’re champions of democracy. They’re not. Real…