Northern Region "Kenny Bell" Mini Bus for Cuba

Over 250 people came to Newcastle Civic Centre on Wednesday 12 September to hear Dr. Aleida Guevara talk about the importance of Cuba and international solidarity. In what was probably the largest public meeting on Cuba in Newcastle she received an emotional standing ovation: See the video at http://www.shakewellbeforeopening.org.uk/home/?p=1453
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/09/14/61634-31835629/

To the uncaring by Tatjana Debeljacki

Lost in the grey loneliness.

Cognition intruder – rustling from the mind.

Unclear thread, passionate, cruel, is awoken.

The fruit is not conspiracy.

The lunatic, genius of silence!

UK unions have a simple choice - organise or face a spiral of decline

#tuc12 Seumas Milne, writing in the Guardian on Wednesday, provided a welcome riposte to media union bashing over the recent days of the Trades Union Congress:
..Milne notes the 'union weakness in the private sector – where only one in seven workers is now a member, compared with the majority in the public sector' and states that this is 'the product of decades of industrial change, fragmentation and anti-union legislation.'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/11/trade-unions-not-strong-enough?CMP=twt_gu

MPs back call for UN to recognise Palestine

64 MPs have signed a motion urging British Foreign Secretary William Hague to vote to recognise Palestine at UN General Assembly on September 27th. Has yours signed yet? Check on http://www.parliament.uk/
edm/2012-13/502 If not, find their email on http://www.parliament.uk/ 

Hillsborough – a broader awakening?

As the justified anger of the Hillsborough revelations unfolds will the events now bring a broader awakening to the depths the establishment and the media can stoop to?

Hillsborough- First the Truth, Now justice for the Families

The emotion for those involved in the Hillsborough Families Justice Campaign came across as overwhelming. Twenty three years of battering against state officialdom that had labelled their children and relatives as irresponsible hooligans, aided and abetted by the Murdoch muck-rakers, finally led to total vindication.

Theory & Practice of a UK General Strike

#tuc12 A former Labour leader once coined the phrase ‘far-fetched resolutions’ and some commentators (and Congress opponents) placed motion 5 from the 35,000 strong POA - which called for ‘coordinated action where possible with far reaching campaigns including the consideration and practicalities of a general strike' - in that category.

Alice Walker and Desmond Tutu on the Russell Tribunal on Palestine

Please watch and circulate this 3-minute video explaining the urgency behind the Russell Tribunal on Palestine coming to New York City, Oct. 6-7, 2012. South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker motivate the final session in NYC of this international people's tribunal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCYpFv_FljE&feature=share&list=UUeQK4F_9degvOIiWb7fpIVA

Young must hear about union achievements

#tuc12 Unions must ensure that young people hear about the heritage of what organised labour has delivered, and why it’s so important to defend it, UNISON’s Graham Smith told the TUC yesterday.
..Congress backed a Young Members' call for a programme of political education for young workers that explicitly addresses how trade union activity has delivered essential workers rights and has benefited society and demonstrates the positive and practical workplace benefits of union membership for young people. It also called for a positive media campaign about the value of trade union membership and participation.

October 20 is a launch pad for anti-austerity fight - Dave Prentis

#tuc12 At Congress yesterday UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis moved composite 1, on ‘a future that works campaign’, which condemned the government for ‘the hardship suffered by millions of people losing their jobs, local services or receiving cuts in their pay, pensions or benefits, and for deepening inequality in our society’:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2806