Philip Chevron was a guitarist with the Pogues, the London-Irish punk/traditional Irish fusion band. He died on October 10th. Stuart Munckton wrote this tribute for the Green Left Weekly, the biggest selling Australian socialist paper. Philip Chevron. “I am a gay, Irish, Catholic, alcoholic Pogue who is about to die from cancer — and don’t think I don’t…
The Case For The Republican Socialist Platform In The Left Unity Party In England
There has been considerable interest shown in the proposed Left Unity Party in England and Wales, which it is intended to launch on November 30th. We have already posted one proposed platform – the Socialist Platform (see The Socialist Platform). In an interesting development, some members of the Republican Socialist Alliance in England are Making the Case…
DUP Bigots Move To Restrict Abortion Rights
After the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in pregnancy, after being admitted to Galway Hospital and refused an abortion, most socialists are aware of the reactionary role of the Catholic hierarchy over women’s rights in Ireland (see Ireland and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act/). The following article, written by J. M. Thorn of Socialist…
Socialist Unity – The RCN Asks 12 Questions
The RCN has been involved in preliminary discussions with Frontline, the International Socialist Group (Scotland), individual members of the International Socialist Network and Defense of Our Party faction in the SWP, as well as other individuals mainly from an SSP background. Frontline published the views a number of socialist organisations, which we reposted at Socialist Unity. Stemming…
This Land Is Your Land
We have been sent the words of this famous Woody Guthrie song, updated for today. It was written in response to the Scottish Defence League’s attempted march in Dundee on September 12th. Was listening to some music yesterday when up popped the Woody Guthrie classic This Land Is Your Land. Applying this sentiment to the…
The Case For The Independent Workers Union – Our Right To Organise
In the aftermath of the UNITE leadership’s capitulation at Grangemouth, a key issue socialists need to address is that of how to effectively organise workers. The RCN and the commune organised the 3rd Global Commune conference – ‘Trade Unions- Are They Fit For Purpose’ (see Trade Unions In The Twenty First Century) – in which a number…
AFTER GRANGEMOUTH – WHAT NOW FOR THE LEFT IN SCOTLAND?
The ignominious climbdown of the Broad Left UNITE leadership at Grangemouth highlights the need for the Left in Scotland to assess the political significance of this disastrous capitulation, which will encourage every employer to resort to similar dictatorial methods when dealing with their workers. Furthermore, the decision of the SNP government to bow to Ratcliffe and…
Two Irish-Themed Events At The 17th Edinburgh Radical Book Fair
Out of the Blue Drill Hall 30-38 Dalmeny Street Edinburgh EH6 8RG
17th Edinburgh Radical Book Fair – October 23rd-27th
THE 17TH EDINBURGH INDEPENDENT RADICAL BOOK FAIR – THE ALTERNATIVE BOOK FESTIVAL – will take place from Wednesday 23rd October to Sunday 27th October, 2013 in Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30-38 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG.
Secularism: Time To Seperate Church And State
This is an introduction given by Allan Armstrong (RCN) to the Edinburgh branch of the Edinburgh Radical Independence Campaign on Monday, September 30th. It is followed by some responses from other socialists. Two interesting articles were published last week. The first one in The Herald (27.9.13) highlighted the recent Scottish census, which pointed out that,…