Apartheid ended in South Africa twenty-one years ago and since then the governments have been of the indigenous black population. Despite this, many are disappointed with the pace of change. One young black student graduated top of his class in high school but when he got to university he found that of the fifteen students who owned cars in his dorm, only one was black. When test results came in, black students ranked at the bottom. South Africa is eighty per cent black but they make up only one quarter of the university students and just five per cent of the faculty. The percentage of African university students has risen just six per cent to 24 per cent since 1994. This shows that no matter what government is in, if the system is capitalism, no real changes will be made.John Ayers
Sunday, October 18, 2015
A Cause Of Conflict
A recent issue of the Toronto Star focused on the discovery of combined oil and natural gas deposits In Guyana said to be worth $50 billion and at least ten times Guyana's Gross Domestic Product. Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, immediately said the area where the deposits have been found belong to his country. Tensions are now high between the two countries. If that doesn't prove that economics are the cause of conflict and war, what does? John Ayers
The Socialist Party for a socialist world
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Obituary: John Higgins (1980)
Obituary from the February 1980 issue of the Socialist Standard
With the death of Johnny Higgins on the 4 December 1979 there passed into history an important contributor to the socialist movement in Scotland. Johnny founded the Glasgow Branch in 1924 and for many years was an indefatigable lecturer, debater and tutor on Marxism. That apart, he worked hard for the formation of branches and groups in Edinburgh, Hamilton and Bo'ness, and in his job as a commercial traveller—he continued working into his late 70s—made contacts for the party from Dumfries to Wick. He was 81 when he died.
In the summer of 1929, when I had just reached 18 years of age, full of juvenile naivete with a smattering of Tressell, Jack London, Wells, Shaw and Russell, I went to Jail Square in Glasgow Green to listen to all the so-called intellectuals. There was a man with a bowler hat and umbrella who was knocking hell out of all and sundry. His language, logic and erudition entranced and overwhelmed me. That was my first encounter with Johnny Higgins. I bought my first Socialist Standard a week later and, thinking that all members had to be of the calibre of Johnny, delayed my joining the party for six years. In all my early years in the party he was my tutor, guide and exemplar.
Johnny was absolutely fearless. In late 1935 Moses Baritz, in his usual overpowering manner, addressed Collet's Club (exclusively members and sympathisers of the Communist Party) on Opera and the Materialist Conception of History. A month later John Strachey was speaking at the same venue, peddling the nonsense of a "socialist" Russia. Johnny challenged him to debate, to the manifest fury of the audience. Johnny his back on the platform and informed the hecklers that he was addressing the organ grinder, not his monkeys!
Johnny, like me and many other members was born in one of the worst quarters of Glasgow, Plantation, and he I went to the same Catholic school, full of statues and vermin. For 25 years until my illness and his age prevented it, he traversed from North Glasgow to the south side to see me.
He was cremated in Maryhill. The Internationale and The Red Flag were played by an obliging organist and I gave a valedictory address on behalf of the party. His departure has left a gap in all our lives. Our condolences to his daughter, Mamie, and his son, Jack, who is overseas. For my part I can hardly envisage my few remaining years without him.
T A Mulheron
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When we say "we" and not "I", there will be plenty for all
Friday, October 16, 2015
The Facts of Life under Capitalism
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Black Lives Matter even in Scotland
Crime Is So Rampant In Parts Of The US
Thirty-five American cities have reported increases in murders, violent crimes, or both this year. In one city alone, St. Louis, there has been a sixty per cent increase in murders so far this year. Crime is so rampant in parts of the US (and not only there) that the police cannot cope. Though socialists do not condone crime, we understand its causes, the major ones being private property and poverty that forces people to commit crimes often to survive. In a system of free access to all, crime will be virtually eliminated. John Ayers
False hope in reforms
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Choking in Corstorphine
Shrinking Lakes And Temperature Increases
On July 31, 2015, the temperature in Bandar Mahshahr, Iran reached 72 degrees on the humidity index that combines moisture and the temperature to state what it really feels like. Actual temperature was 'only' 46 degrees Celsius. In Iraq, a government was sacked over its inability to deliver air conditioning. The first decision by Iran's new government under president Hassan Rouhani was not about the nuclear power deal but to deal with the country's shrinking lakes. Lake Oroumieh, once home of the biggest salt water lake on earth has shrunk eighty per cent in the last decade. In Pakistan, more people have died from the heat this year than from terrorism. (All from The New York Times, Aug 30) Climate change and how to deal with it is appearing on the political agenda of those countries who are feeling the effects. It will be interesting to see how capitalism will deal with this, or not. John Ayers.
Understanding Capitalism
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Protect Nature
Build a New Society
Monday, October 12, 2015
Little rest and recuperation for the doctors
More On The Environment
More on the environment – an international group of scientists have calculated that if we burn all the coal, oil, and gas resources available, the Antarctic ice sheet will melt entirely triggering a global sea level rise of more than fifty metres. It would take thousands of years to unfold but would reshape the face of the earth. The scientists believe that any more than a two degree warming would set in motion a melting that would be unmanageable. Another reason, they say, for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. John Ayers.
Shriking Water Lakes
On July 31, 2015, the temperature in Bandar Mahshahr, Iran reached 72 degrees on the humidity index that combines moisture and the temperature to state what it really feels like. Actual temperature was 'only' 46 degrees Celsius. In Iraq, a government was sacked over its inability to deliver air conditioning. The first decision by Iran's new government under president Hassan Rouhani was not about the nuclear power deal but to deal with the country's shrinking lakes. Lake Oroumieh, once home of the biggest salt water lake on earth has shrunk eighty per cent in the last decade. In Pakistan, more people have died from the heat this year than from terrorism. (All from The New York Times, Aug 30) Climate change and how to deal with it is appearing on the political agenda of those countries who are feeling the effects. It will be interesting to see how capitalism will deal with this, or not. John Ayers.
The Hopes and Dreams of Socialists.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
We are a Marxist Party
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Edinburgh's Luxury Houses
Oceans Of Plastic?
As many as nine out of ten of the world's sea birds probably have pieces of plastic in their guts, a new study estimates. The birds mistake plastic for fish eggs so they think they are getting a meal. One researcher said, "I've seen birds eat everything from cigarette lighters to bottle caps, to model cars, even toys." It's obvious it's time to clean up the oceans, but can it be done in our present system? And, The New York Times reported recently that researchers have found a' stunning' amount of plastic in the world's greatest fresh water system, The Great Lakes. Studies show that there are about 7,000 plastic particles per square kilometre in Lakes Superior and Huron, 17,000 in Lake Michigan, 46,000 in Lake Erie and a whopping 248,000 in Lake Ontario. Another report published in "Global Change Biology" states that fifty-two per cent of turtles worldwide have eaten plastic debris. Not too surprising as, in this throw-away society, developed to increase profit, about thirteen million tons of plastic is dumped into the oceans each year John Ayers.
Hoarding Money
Thomas Walkom of the Toronto Star, discussing politics and the election, wrote, "Corporations still make profits (in spite of the recession). But because demand for goods and services they produce is so weak, many don't reinvest. Canadian companies are sitting on billions of dollars worth of what former Bank of Canada governor, Mark Carney, called dead money." Bingo! He got it right. All socialists know that when something is not profitable, money gets hoarded, production slows, and unemployment results. Nice to see it written in the press, though. John Ayers.
Friday, October 09, 2015
Fracking and farming
Fracking for shale gas under Scottish farmland could have a "profound effect" upon the food chain for current and future generations, Professor Robert Jackson, a pollution expert has warned in a recent issue of Scottish Farmer.
Described by Scottish Water as one of country's leading independent experts in waste water management, he has cast doubt on the gas extraction industry's safety claims, citing years of evidence from the US that many hydrocarbon wells, sooner or later, will threaten groundwater with noxious leaks.
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Paternalism is a common attitude among well-meaning social reformers. Stemming from the root pater, or father, paternalism implies a patria...