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A repository for reports, opinions and bits of writing on labour, trade union and other issues by a union activist and retired social worker.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Our City's Note For Sale hustings

Intro for Central Ward by election hustings Edinburgh City Chambers 15 August 2011: A very warm welcome to these hustings organised by council unions as part of our campaign that says ‘Our City’s Not for Sale’.

It is also part of the ground-breaking Mobilise anti-cuts festival being held at Belford Road this week. Tickets for all Mobilise events are in big demand so log on to mobilisefestival.co.uk  or pick up a leaflet tonight so you don’t miss out.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Dealing with the symptoms and causes of unrest

By Alan Stanton - Firefighters - High Road Tottenham

In the face of public fear, anger and retribution, the left faces an uphill struggle to articulate the way forward from the unrest in our cities. The demonising of young people in general has led to a fear of groups of them at the best of times, let alone when things get out of control. The fact that many of those involved appear not to have been so young barely gets a mention.

It is hard to get a hearing for the causes of what is happening when people are so caught up in the symptoms. It is even harder when anger is fuelled by the political right in a populist diversion of attention from the policies that led so predictably to some kind of explosion.