Empire state of mind

The following article by Mike Small was first posted on bella caledonia. It examines the the environmental legacy dating from the day the Cuyahoga River caught fire on June 22nd in 1969 to June 4th, 2013 when New York recorded the worst air quality indicator for any city in the world, following the major fires…

People who call for tactical voting are pissing into the wind

 We are reposting this article by Ricky from his Council Estate blog, which examines the real nature of the Labour Party. Although written from an English/British perspective, which ignores the likely impact of a Starmer-led Labour government in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, it clearly sees that such a  government would represent ‘Boris-Lite’ (or perhaps ‘not…

Stuff ‘single person’ leadership

We are reposting this article, written by Mike MacNair, which was first published by Weekly Worker. He argues that despite its ostensible archaism, the coronation of Charles III reflects the thoroughly modern practice of one-man management. STUFF ‘SINGLE PERSON’ LEADERSHIP In March 1649, after the execution of Charles I, parliament passed “An Act for the abolishing…

Homophobia in Uganda is a horrifying demonstration of colonialism and evangelism at work

The following article written by Alex/Rose Cocker was first posted by The Canary. It outlines the shared role of colonialism, and in particular Protestant evangelicals, in promoting homophobia  in Africa, particular the ex-British colonies. Several of these evangelical organisations are currently involved in the transphobic offensive in the USA, UK and Scotland and in picketting…

Jewish refugee groups condemn Illegal Migration Bill and government language

The growing opposition to the Tories’ draconian and racist  Illegal Immigration Bill was highlighted when Gary Lineker compared the government’s activities to those of the Nazis. The husband of Tory Home Secretary, Suella Braverman,  Rael , who had  family members killed during the Holocaust,  was incensed by the comparison.  However, Lineker was pointing to the…

More women in the police won’t reduce police violence

The following article by Janey Starling was first posted by openDemocracy. It was written in the aftermath of the damning   Casey Report intom the conduct of The Met. It is followed by a comment from EL&SD EB member, Iain Robertson. MORE WOMEN IN THE POLICE WON’T REDUCE POLICE VIOLENCE As reports of hideous violence…

‘Love is love’: LGBT lives and the fight to become Scotland’s First Minister

The following article, written by Kevin Guyan, was first posted by bella caledonia. It examines the different ways SNP leader contenders Kate Forbes and Ash Regan have promoted anti-trans politics. ‘LOVE IS LOVE’: LGBT LIVES AND THE FIGHT TO BECOME SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER ‘Love is Love’, tweeted Ash Regan on the morning of 21 February,…

Olof Palme: the last Social Democrat

Today, following the economic crisis beginning in the 1960s and the rise of neo-liberalism in the UK (1979) and USA(1980) and its triumph in  1989 with collapse of the USSR in 1989, Social democracy has largely degenerated into social neo-liberalism, or even further into Left populism which sometimes allies with and sometimes morphs into Right…