20 November 2018

Amid mass protests, France announces return to universal military service

By Alex Lantier, 20 November 2018

After hundreds of thousands protested anti-worker tax hikes this weekend, the French government announced plans to begin drafting youth as early as next summer.

“Macron is the president of the rich”: “Yellow Vest” protesters speak out

By our reporters, 20 November 2018

France shaken by mass protests

Photo Essay: The social cost of the Camp Fire

By Toby Reese and Douglas Alan, 19 November 2018

World Socialist Web Site reporters visited a tent camp set up outside of a Walmart near Chico, California, as well as parts of Paradise, California, which was destroyed by the Camp Fire.

Death toll from California fires likely to soar, with nearly 1,300 people still missing

World Socialist Web Site speaks with California wildfire evacuees

Investigations point to energy corporation’s negligence in California wildfire

White House backpedals on stripping CNN reporter of press pass

By Patrick Martin, 20 November 2018

The conflict was provoked by Trump’s rage at being questioned about his demonization of immigrants seeking to claim refugee status at the US-Mexico border.

Congressional Democrats push Russia probe, censorship

Eleven military-intelligence Democrats win US House seats

US-China trade conflict leads to Wall Street sell-off

By Nick Beams, 20 November 2018

The sell-off was led by hi-tech stocks which are sensitive to heightened trade war tensions that impact on their global supply chains and could lessen demand for their products.

USW pushes through US Steel sellout, prepares the same for ArcelorMittal workers

By Samuel Davidson, 20 November 2018

After suffering a three-year wage freeze in the last contract, steelworkers will get an average of a one percent raise in real wages over the next four years due to inflation.

Australian establishment collaborates in US vendetta against Julian Assange

By James Cogan, 20 November 2018

The sealed US charges underscore the danger facing Assange and the perfidy of those who support his persecution.

Canada Post and Trudeau government conspire to break postal strike

By Keith Jones, 20 November 2018

While Canada Post mounts one provocation after another and the Liberals ready strikebreaking legislation, CUPW continues to straitjacket postal workers’ struggle.

As Canada Post steps up provocations, union silent on back-to-work law threat

Canada Post union silent on Trudeau’s threat to outlaw strike

Charges dropped against falsely accused Texas man

By a reporter, 20 November 2018

Christopher Precopia faced life in prison on false charges of assault on a former girlfriend.

Sri Lankan parliament adjourned amid ongoing political crisis

By K. Ratnayake, 20 November 2018

While claiming to be champions of “democracy,” the rival factions of the ruling class are both committed to implementing the IMF’s austerity demands and suppressing any opposition from working people.

Sri Lankan president’s “all party conference” fails to overcome political crisis

The political crisis in Sri Lanka: Its lessons for the international working class

SEP (Sri Lanka) to hold meetings on the socialist solution to the political crisis

Argentine Senate approves “zero deficit budget”

By Rafael Azul, 20 November 2018

“An austerity policy of this magnitude has never taken place without the collapse of the government.”

Australian pseudo-left group Victorian Socialists promote Greens, Labor

By Patrick O’Connor, 20 November 2018

In the state election, the Victorian Socialists are trying to channel the emerging shift to the left among workers and youth back behind the parliamentary apparatus.

UK: Left groups targeted for decades-long police infiltration

By Alice Summers, 20 November 2018

The long-term police operations against left-wing organisations are an anti-democratic and morally degraded attack and reveal a serious and present threat to the entire working class.

Thousands attend anti-fascist protest in London

“Capitalism is causing the problem with refugees and making them the scapegoat”
London demonstrators speak out against racism and fascism

New in Turkish

Fransa, kitlesel protestolarla sarsılıyor

Alex Lantier, 20 Kasım 2018

Macron’un akaryakıt vergisi zammına karşı protestolarda, toplumsal eşitsizliğe karşı bastırılmış öfkenin dizginsiz bir şekilde taşmasına tanık olundu.

ABD, Kaşıkçı cinayeti nedeniyle sınırlı yaptırımlar uyguladı

Mike Head, 20 Kasım 2018

Hem ABD Hazine Bakanlığı’nın yaptırımlarının zamanlaması hem de önlemlerin zar zor hedefini bulan niteliği, Beyaz Saray’ın, Suudilerin olaylara ilişkin en son versiyonunu desteklemeye çalıştığına işaret etmektedir.

New in French

Près de 1300 personnes sont toujours portées disparues
Incendies en Californie: Le bilan risque de s’alourdir considérablement

David Brown, 20 novembre 2018

L'indignation populaire augmente au fur et à mesure qu'apparaissent des détails pointant vers la culpabilité des géants de l'énergie de l'État et des représentants du gouvernement pour avoir créé les conditions de ce brasier fatal.

Le vice-président américain intensifie l’épreuve de force avec la Chine au sommet de l’APEC

Peter Symonds, 20 novembre 2018

Pour la première fois en 29 ans d’existence de l’APEC, le sommet n’a pas publié de communiqué final, les États-Unis et la Chine n’ayant pas réussi à se mettre d’accord sur ses termes.

Des Gilets jaunes mobilisés parlent au World Socialiste Website

nos correspondants, 20 novembre 2018

Des participants aux actions des gilets jaunes expliquent pourquoi ils se mobilisés. Le mouvement s’est poursuivi hier dans de nombreuses régions.

La « conférence de tous les partis » du président Sri-lankais ne parvient pas à surmonter la crise

Rohantha De Silva, 20 novembre 2018

La réunion de Sirisena a suivi trois jours consécutifs de heurts violents et acharnés au parlement entre les fractions de Rajapakse et de Wickremesinghe.

Les États socialistes unis d’Europe sont la seule réponse au Brexit

Chris Marsden, 20 novembre 2018

Toutes les factions de l’élite britannique au pouvoir, qu’elles soient pour ou contre l’adhésion à l’UE, ou pour un autre moyen de maintenir les relations avec l’UE, s’opposent violemment aux intérêts de la classe ouvrière.

La série de conférences sur les 80 ans de la quatrième internationale se poursuit avec des réunions en Californie et en Oregon

Nos jounalistes, 20 novembre 2018

Dans le contexte du nombre croissant de victimes des incendies en Californie et de la montée de l’extrême droite, les réunions ont attiré un large public de jeunes, d’étudiants et de travailleurs de la côte ouest.

New in Spanish

Francia estremecida por protestas de masas

Por Alex Lantier, 20 noviembre 2018

Los manifestantes, con pancartas que decían “No al presidente de los ricos”, clamaban por la renuncia del presidente Macron.

Es probable que aumente el número de muertos en California, con casi 1.300 personas desaparecidas

Por David Brown, 20 noviembre 2018

La indignación popular está creciendo a medida que surgen detalles que apuntan a la culpabilidad de los gigantes energéticos del estado y los funcionarios del gobierno en crear las condiciones para el infierno mortíferas.

La única respuesta al Brexit son los Estados Unidos Socialistas de Europa

Por Chris Marsden, 20 noviembre 2018

Todas las facciones de la élite gobernante británica —las que están a favor de permanecer en la UE, por el Brexit, o instando a alguna forma de relaciones continuadas— se oponen ferozmente a los intereses de la clase trabajadora.

New in German

Frankreich von Massenprotesten erschüttert

Alex Lantier, 20. November 2018

Demonstranten, die Schilder mit den Worten „Nein zum Präsidenten der Reichen“ hochhielten, forderten Macrons Rücktritt.

Maaßen-Nachfolger Haldenwang will Verfassungsschutz stärken

Johannes Stern, 20. November 2018

Mit der Veränderung an der Spitze des Bundesamts für Verfassungsschutz hält die Große Koalition am rechtsextremen Kurs der Behörde fest.

Die einzige Antwort auf den Brexit: die Vereinigten Sozialistischen Staaten von Europa

Chris Marsden, 20. November 2018

Alle Fraktionen der britischen herrschenden Elite, ob sie nun für oder gegen die EU-Mitgliedschaft sind oder auch nur auf den Erhalt der Beziehungen drängen, stehen den Interessen der Arbeiterklasse mit erbitterter Feindschaft gegenüber.

Prozess wegen brutaler Misshandlung von Flüchtlingen in Burbach hat begonnen

Gregor Link, 20. November 2018

In Siegen hat am Donnerstag der Prozess gegen mehr als 30 Angeklagte begonnen, denen in 54 Fällen schwere Körperverletzung, Nötigung, Freiheitsberaubung, Diebstahl und andere Delikte in einem Flüchtlingsheim in Burbach vorgeworfen werden.

New in Russian

Трамп призывает к созданию «огромных палаточных городов» и бессрочному аресту иммигрантов

Эрик Лондон, 17 ноября 2018 г.

Правый демагог описал ужасающее будущее концентрационных лагерей для насильственного содержания беззащитных мужчин, женщин и детей, выступив за то, чтобы тысячи размещаемых на южной границе Америки солдат открывали огонь по безоружным толпам.

Члены польского правительства маршируют в одном ряду с крайне правыми

Клара Вайс, 17 ноября 2018 г.

Открытое сотрудничество польского правительства с фашистскими силами является проявлением резкого сдвига европейского правящего класса вправо.

New in Norwegian

Kongresspanel sammensatt fra begge partier: USA må forberede seg for «grufull» og «ødeleggende» krig med Russland og Kina

Andre Damon, 16. november 2018

En kommisjon oppnevnt av Kongressen, sammensatt av begge partiene, har levert demokratenes blankofullmakt til Trump-administrasjonens planer om forberedelser til krig mellom «store makter».

Brexit-avtale truer May-regjeringens overlevelse

Robert Stevens, 16. november 2018

Statsminister May blir stilt ansikt til ansikt med de fulle konsekvensene av de voksende antagonistiske motsetningene mellom USA og Europa.

Tysklands kansler krever en «reell europeisk hær»

Johannes Stern, 16. november 2018

Merkels krav i Strasbourg om en «reell europeisk hær» understreker de reaksjonære tradisjonene som påkalles av styringselitene i Tyskland og Europa.

Den politiske krisen på Sri Lanka: Lærdommene for den internasjonale arbeiderklassen

Keith Jones og K. Ratnayake, 16. november 2018

Bare Socialist Equality Party (SEP - Sri Lanka) kjemper for at arbeiderklassen skal hevde sine egne klasseinteresser, uavhengig av og i opposisjon mot begge de rivaliserende borgerlige leirene.

Other Languages

Perspective

US vice president beats war drums in Asia

20 November 2018

Mike Pence in effect issued an ultimatum to China: either accept a subservient, semi-colonial status, or confront the full force of US diplomatic, economic and ultimately military weight.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

Showtime’s Kidding with Jim Carrey: Everyone has a breaking point

By Ed Hightower, 20 November 2018

The often humorous drama follows beloved children’s television personality, Mr. Pickles, through personal and social tragedy.

Web television series Homecoming: Everything about America’s wars, corporate elite is “rotten” …
… And two much weaker series, Maniac and Wanderlust

By David Walsh and Joanne Laurier, 17 November 2018

Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old: A devastating depiction of the horrors of war

By Paul Bond, 15 November 2018

History

The centenary of the “Spanish Flu”—Lessons for today
Part two

By Benjamin Mateus, 20 November 2018

This is the second part of a two-part series. The first part was posted on November 19.

The centenary of the “Spanish Flu”—Lessons for today
Part one of a two-part series

Workers Struggles

Strike call in Dominican Republic over fuel price rise, crumbling infrastructure while nurses press demands
Workers Struggles: The Americas

20 November 2018

Social organizations in the Dominican Republic have called for a 24-hour strike November 27 over issues including fuel price increases and the decrepit state of infrastructure.

Little Rock, Arkansas teachers’ union relinquishes due process rights

By Nancy Hanover, 19 November 2018

The union-endorsed agreement will open the door to streamlining the ability of the Little Rock School district to fire educators.

US teacher unions’ “Remember in November” fizzles

UAW hides details of new tentative agreement from Indiana Lear workers

Amidst talk of US auto industry consolidation UAW pushes economic nationalism ahead of 2019 contracts

By Shannon Jones, 19 November 2018

“It’s honestly scary going to work because you’re not safe any more”
Kentucky Ford worker describes hazardous working conditions

More on autoworkers issues »

French “Yellow Vest” protesters prepare road blockades against fuel tax hike

By Anthony Torres, 16 November 2018

Australian teacher unions’ phoney campaign against NAPLAN

By Erika Zimmer, 16 November 2018

After campaign of threats and intimidation, Teamsters announces “yes” vote on sellout UPS Freight contract

By Will Morrow, 12 November 2018

Break the isolation of UPS Freight workers! Form rank-and-file committees to unite workers against the company!

“The Teamsters union is with the company”
UPS workers oppose Teamsters isolation of freight division, call for united struggle

More on the struggle at UPS »

This week in history: November 19-25

25 years ago: Clinton intervenes to halt American Airlines strike

The American Professional Flight Attendants union called off a five-day strike against American Airlines on November 23, 1993, after the Clinton administration brokered a deal to submit the strikers’ demands to binding arbitration.

More »

50 years ago: West Virginia disaster kills 78 US coal miners

On November 20, 1968, a series of explosions at the Consolidation Coal (Consol) No. 9 mine in Mannington, West Virginia, killed 78 miners.

More »

75 years ago: Uprising against liquidation of Janowska concentration camp in Poland

On November 19, 1943, Jewish prisoners in the Janowska concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland launched a heroic rebellion against the imminent liquidation of the center and the mass murder of all those incarcerated in it.

More »

 

100 years ago: Anti-semitic pogrom begins in Polish-Ukrainian city of Lvov

Rioting from November 21-23, 1918, primarily by ethnic Poles and encouraged by Polish armed forces, left scores of Jews dead in Lvov, the largest city of Galicia, in what is now western Ukraine.

More »

Commentary

The only answer to Brexit is the United Socialist States of Europe

By Chris Marsden, 19 November 2018

Brexit deal threatens survival of May government

Defend Julian Assange against US charges!

By James Cogan, 17 November 2018

A terrorist network inside the German Army

By Peter Schwarz, 17 November 2018

At least 200 soldiers in German Army neo-Nazi terror network

DSA-backed “progressive Democrats” drop phony opposition to Trump’s attacks on immigrants

By Will Morrow, 17 November 2018

Ocasio-Cortez holds climate change stunt to boost Pelosi

More on US politics »

The government’s $4.6 billion handout to Amazon
Why Amazon should be expropriated

By Tom Carter, 17 November 2018

History of the Fourth International

“Eighty Years of the Fourth International” series continues with meetings in California and Oregon

By our reporters, 17 November 2018

Taking place in the backdrop of the rising death toll from the California fires and the rise of the far-right, the meetings attracted broad audiences of youth, students and workers across the West Coast.

Growing interest in socialism at Chicago meeting on 80th anniversary of Fourth International

By the IYSSE at University of Illinois at Chicago, 14 November 2018

David North lecture tour
Nearly 100 attend meeting in New York City on the 80th anniversary of the Fourth International

David North lecture tour
More than 100 attend meeting at MIT on anniversary of the Fourth International

David North begins US speaking tour in Michigan to mark 80 years of the Fourth International

Friday, November 30, 6pm for 6:30. Admission free, please RSVP to Gleebooks.

Meetings in Australia and New Zealand to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Fourth International

19 October 2018

Eighty Years of the Fourth International: The Lessons of History and the Struggle for Socialism Today

By David North, 9 October 2018

Large Colombo audience hears David North’s lecture on the history of the Fourth International

On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International

By David North, 3 September 2018

Security and the Fourth International

The origins and findings of the Security and the Fourth International investigation

By Eric London, 14 November 2018

This is the text and audio of a lecture delivered by Eric London in Detroit, Michigan reviewing the monumental investigation conducted by the International Committee of the Fourth International titled Security and the Fourth International, which exposed the infiltration of the movement by agents of the FBI and Stalinist GPU.

Mehring Books

David North in conversation with Nick Beams
Book launch of The Heritage We Defend in Sydney, Australia

9 November 2018

Why are they back?
New title from Mehring Books explains resurgence of fascism in Germany

By our reporters, 19 October 2018

Author Christoph Vandreier presented the book in a well-attended lecture at the Frankfurt Book fair last Saturday.

SEP 2018 Election Campaign

Significant vote for SEP candidate Niles Niemuth in Michigan’s 12th district

By our reporters, 8 November 2018

Final campaign meeting for Niles Niemuth reviews experiences from campaigning

By our reporters, 7 November 2018

Vote Niles Niemuth, Socialist Equality Party, for US House of Representatives in Michigan’s 12th district!

Democratic Party mailer removes SEP candidate Niles Niemuth from sample ballot

Campaign website »

International Youth and Students for Social Equality

The way forward for young people: Not Democratic Party politics, but the fight for socialism!

By Genevieve Leigh, 6 November 2018

Against the right-wing attacks of university administrators and the far-right
Successful solidarity event for the student union of Humboldt University

By our reporters, 2 November 2018

Socialist Equality Party (Australia)

Watch: Two Hundred Years Since the Birth of Karl Marx

By Nick Beams, 31 October 2018

Nick Beams delivers successful lectures on the contemporary relevance of Karl Marx at Australian universities

By our reporters, 31 October 2018

Science

World vertebrate populations have fallen 60 percent since 1970

By Bryan Dyne, 1 November 2018

The latest Living Planet Report demonstrates the far-reaching implications of human activity on both the climate and the degradation of the natural environment.

Book review

DSA covers for unions and Democrats in new book on walkout by West Virginia teachers
55 Strong, Inside the West Virginia Teachers’ Strike

By Nancy Hanover, 18 October 2018

A new book promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is centered on the lie that the West Virginia teachers’ strike, which set off the series of strikes nationally last spring, was a “victory” in which the unions played a heroic role.

International Committee of the Fourth International

Resolution of the SEP (US) Fifth National Congress
The Resurgence of Class Struggle and the Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

8 August 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Socialist Equality Party Congress, held from July 22–27, 2018.

Opening report to the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US)

By David North, 4 August 2018

The 50th anniversary of the founding of the SEP (Sri Lanka)
The lessons of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party’s Great Betrayal

By Rohantha De Silva and Vilani Peiris, 24 September 2018


PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE

Support the Socialist Equality group in Turkey!
Statement of the SE group, in sympathy with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), on the snap elections in Turkey

Security and the Fourth International

An “Exemplary Comrade”: The Socialist Workers Party’s 40-year-long cover-up of Stalinist spy Sylvia Callen: Part one

By Eric London, 14 August 2018

This is the first part in a four-part series examining the cover-up by the Socialist Workers Party beginning in 1947 of information exposing the role of Sylvia Callen, the personal secretary of long-time party leader James P. Cannon, as a Stalinist agent.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Seventy-eight years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

By Eric London and David North, 21 August 2018

On August 21, 1940, Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International and the co-leader of the Russian Revolution, died from wounds inflicted the day before by an assassin, the Stalinist GPU agent Ramon Mercader.

WSWS 20th Anniversary

Twenty years of the World Socialist Web Site: 1998–2018

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 14 February 2018

As the WSWS marks its 20th anniversary of daily posting, it is taking the lead in exposing the conspiracy by governments and corporations to censor the Internet as the ruling class prepares for war and domestic repression.

Lenin, Trotsky and the Marxism of the October Revolution

By David North, 19 March 2018

David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (US), delivered this lecture at the University of Leipzig on March 16.