We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the people of Greece and the SYRIZA-led government as they prepare for a referendum on July 5, 2015, on whether to accept the continuation of the program of neoliberal austerity or chart a new course free from the debilitating stranglehold of the Troika 鈥 the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission.
Austerity
A coalition of French left groups held nation-wide demonstrations on November 15 against the new austerity budget of the unpopular Socialist Party (PS) government.
The protests called for a redistribution of wealth from finance and big business to workers and the poor, creating jobs, increasing social security and cohesion, and beginning an ecological transition of society.
Called by the anti-austerity group Collective 3A, organisers said the protests drew 30,000 people in Paris. More than 30 other cities across France staged rallies, including several thousand in Toulouse.
Fearless Milk Crate Theatre Carriageworks, Sydney September 13-22 $35, $25 www.milkcratetheatre.com Milk Crate Theatre director Mirra Todd says his main goal is to get people thinking and talking about homelessness. 鈥淎ll theatre is about starting a conversation,鈥 the wiry, animated Todd tells 91自拍论坛 at Milk Crate鈥檚 rehearsal rooms in Sydney鈥檚 Kings Cross.
At first glance, you might have mistaken London鈥檚 packed streets on November 10 for a Mardi Gras carnival. There young faces and large grins, combined with incessant whistle-blowing, trumpet-blasting and drum-beating. All mixed together to form the din of student protest.
The noise took shape and all of a sudden burst from the centre of the crowd, picked up by everyone else: 鈥淣o ifs, no buts, no education cuts鈥 鈥 the main chants of the 50,000 students marching forward from Westminster to the destination of the Milbank headquarters of the Conservative Party.
The Conservative Party, or Tories, has never really forgiven the British working class for demanding and winning the creation of the 鈥渨elfare state鈥. Gains won included such things as free health care, council homes at affordable rents, and care for the elderly and vulnerable.
From the Tories鈥 point of view, these are all things individuals should sort out for themselves. The modern state should provide the same level of social protection as was available to Queen Victoria鈥檚 subjects in the 19th century.
The Irish Republic鈥檚 government said on November 4 that it wants to slash 6 billion euros from its 2011 deficit, MorningStarOnline.co.uk said the following day. The cuts were announced despite the government admitting it would lead to lower economic growth.
Ireland鈥檚 deficit is set to reach an astronomical 32%, MorningStarOnline.co.uk said, mainly because the government鈥檚 bailout of the banks with public funds cost 31 billion euros.
The country has already endured two years of recession driven by the bail-out costs and a doubling of unemployment to 13.6%.
A million trade unionists marched past Rome鈥檚 Colosseum on October 16 in defence of rights that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi鈥檚 government and Fiat bosses are trying to water down.
The attacks are part of the government鈥檚 鈥渄eficit reduction鈥 measures.
Under red flags, and the banners of the metal workers鈥 union (FIOM-CGTI), workers from metal and other industries, students and opposition politicians shouted: 鈥淪trike, strike, strike!鈥
Since October 12, France has been gripped by intensifying mass opposition by workers and students to proposed counter reforms to the country鈥檚 pensions system by the right-wing government of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Public opposition to the attack has been highlighted by three national strikes each involving millions of people, two national student strikes and a growing wave of indefinite strikes in a range of industries 鈥 most notably the crippling shutdown of the oil industry.
Workers and students mobilised in their millions on October 12 in the fourth and largest mobilisation in the last month against laws that will reduce the pension entitlements of French workers.
The political situation in France is dominated by the mobilization against the proposed reform of the pension system. This reform is at the heart of Sarkozy鈥檚 austerity policy. Although it is presented as an obvious demographic necessity, it is meeting increasing opposition in public opinion.
More than 10 million workers staged a general strike in Spain on September 29 in response to vicious government attacks on their rights and pensions.
The huge mobilisation, organised by the Confederacion Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Sindicato Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) labour unions, produced a 75% turnout of members, sending a strong message of opposition to the austerity measures.
UGT secretary for organisation and communication Jose Javier Cubillo said that in some sectors of the economy, such as steel and energy, support for the strike was close to 100%.
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