7 October 2016

As geo-political and economic tensions mount
IMF warns of record high global debt

By Nick Beams, 7 October 2016

The International Monetary Fund said low and negative interest rates are reaching the limits of their effectiveness and could undermine the solvency of pension and insurance funds.

IMF cuts growth forecasts for major economies

Deutsche Bank and the global financial crisis

Bernie Sanders stumps for Clinton in Michigan

By Shannon Jones, 7 October 2016

The Vermont Senator continued his effort to convince his former supporters to back the Democratic nominee, despite her right-wing policies.

Sanders’ campaign for Clinton: A “political revolution” in defense of the status quo

One year since the exposure of the Flint water crisis

Clinton calls for National Service

By Nancy Hanover, 7 October 2016

Clinton champions General Stanley McChrystal’s policy for National Service, a ruling class initiative designed to promote American nationalism and militarism, and ready society for “the next big war.”

More on the US elections »

“This is everyone’s fight”
After rejection of contract at Allina, Minnesota nurses call for expanded struggle

By Anthony Bertolt, 7 October 2016

The Allina nurses, who have been on strike for over a month at five hospitals, voted down a contract that would exchange their health care for more expensive plans.

Workers struggles mount in run-up to US election

Residents ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Matthew approaches US East Coast

By Brad Dixon, 7 October 2016

As with all natural disasters in the United States, Hurricane Matthew will reveal the stark social inequalities that characterize all facets of American life.

US Fortune 500 firms use tax havens to avoid $717.8 billion in taxes

By Barry Grey, 7 October 2016

The same politicians who say “there is no money” for jobs, schools, health care, pensions or housing, oversee the corporate theft of hundreds of billions in taxes.

Trump’s taxes: Capitalist corruption and class privilege

West Virginia: Seven Fayette County schools to be shuttered

By Joe McGee, 7 October 2016

The number of schools in the rural county would be reduced from 18 to 11, leaving only two high schools open.

Political lessons from the Canadian auto “bailout”

By Roger Jordan, 7 October 2016

A successful autoworker counter-offensive requires not only a political and organizational break with the pro-company Unifor, but a political struggle against the entire ruling class and their political hirelings.

Opposition grows to GM Canada pattern contract

SEP presidential candidate Jerry White visits Windsor
Growing opposition from Canadian autoworkers to Unifor-backed sellout contracts

More on autoworkers issues »

Thousands of Caterpillar workers protest plans to close Belgium plant

By Ross Mitchell and Robert Stevens, 7 October 2016

Despite the efforts of the unions and pseudo-left groups to smother opposition to Caterpillar’s closure plans, workers demonstrated their determination to fight with.

Germany: IG Metall and works council agree to 1,700 more job cuts

By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 7 October 2016

Siemens management and the central works council agreed September 26 to a so-called compromise of interests including plans for widespread job cuts.

Poland: PiS government beats retreat on antiabortion law

By Clara Weiss, 7 October 2016

The government is preparing for more fundamental attacks on the living standards of the working class and an escalation of the military buildup against Russia.

Coventry University in UK attacks teaching staff wages, terms and conditions

By Simon Whelan, 7 October 2016

Coventry University is leading the moves towards marketisation and privatisation of higher education.

Video of summary executions exposes Peruvian police death squads

By Cesar Uco, 7 October 2016

The Peruvian security forces have been rocked by revelations of extra-legal killings and rampant corruption.

New in French

Battant le tambour de la guerre contre la Russie

Par Bill Van Auken, 7 octobre 2016

Le New York Times et d’autres grands médias font pression pour l’escalade de l’intervention américaine en Syrie et une confrontation militaire face à la Russie.

États-Unis : montée des luttes ouvrières à l’approche de l’élection présidentielle

Par Jerry White, 7 octobre 2016

Les grèves des infirmiers, des musiciens d’orchestre, et d’autres sections des travailleurs des secteurs public et privé révèlent l’ampleur de l’opposition sociale aux États-Unis.

New in Turkish

Washington’ın Suriye görüşmelerini kesmesinin ardından ABD-Rusya çatışması tehdidi büyüyor

Bill Van Auken, 7 Ekim 2016

Washington, bir milyonu aşkın ölüm ve tüm toplumların mahvedilmesi pahasına Ortadoğu’da yürüttüğü saldırgan savaşların 15 yılının ardından, “savaş suçları” üzerine ders verecek son başkenttir.

New in German

Kriegstrommeln gegen Russland

Von Bill Van Auken, 7. Oktober 2016

Die New York Times und andere große Medien befürworten eine Ausweitung der US-Intervention in Syrien bis hin zum Krieg gegen Russland.

Zunahme von Arbeitskämpfen im Vorfeld der US-Wahlen

Von Jerry White, 7. Oktober 2016

Die Streiks von Krankenschwestern, Orchestermusikern und von Beschäftigten in anderen Teilen des öffentlichen und privaten Bereichs zeigen das breite Ausmaß an sozialer Opposition in den Vereinigten Staaten.

Trumps Steuerbetrug: Kapitalistische Korruption und Klassenprivilegien

Von Patrick Martin, 7. Oktober 2016

Die Steuertricks des US-Präsidentschaftskandidaten zeigen den Charakter der “freien Marktwirtschaft”: Ausbeutung der arbeitenden Bevölkerung, um den Reichtum der Superreichen zu vergrößern.

Kaiser’s-Tengelmann – Es droht ein „zweites Schlecker“

Von Dietmar Henning, 7. Oktober 2016

Nach einem erneuten Geheimtreffen wurde gestern die Übernahme durch Edeka erneut verschoben.

Kolumbianer stimmen gegen Friedensabkommen zwischen FARC und Regierung

Von Andrea Lobo, 7. Oktober 2016

Der Plan von Präsident Juan Manuel Santos, unter den Schlagworten „Frieden“ und „Einheit“ einen Sparkurs einzuläuten, ist vorläufig an der massiven Stimmenthaltung gescheitert.

Other Languages

Perspective

Fifteen years of the war in Afghanistan

7 October 2016

The US has been the central instigator of the Afghan tragedy for a period that now spans 38 years, with a toll in dead and wounded that numbers well over a million people.

Earlier Perspectives »

Online Election Forum with Jerry White

Online meeting Friday, October 7
SEP presidential candidate Jerry White on war and the 2016 elections

7 October 2016

At on online forum at 7:00 pm, streamed live at fb.com/sepus, White will speak about the state of the US elections and the war drive of the American ruling class.

November 5 Antiwar Conference

Socialism vs. Capitalism and War
The SEP and IYSSE schedule November 5 antiwar conference in Detroit

Register today at socialismvswar.com


Commentary

Germany: Common ground between Left Party leader Wagenknecht and the far-right AfD

By Johannes Stern, 7 October 2016

While leading CDU politicians are drumming up support for coalitions with the Alternative for Germany, the Left Party is playing a key role in integrating the far-right party into the official political spectrum.

Beating the drums for war with Russia

By Bill Van Auken, 6 October 2016

Threat of US-Russia clash grows after Washington cuts off Syria talks

The “major and deadly” wars to come

More on the war in Iraq and Syria »

Escalating war games in the South China Sea

By Peter Symonds, 6 October 2016

US defence secretary announces “third phase” of military build-up against China

More on the South China Sea crisis »

India’s military calls for more strikes on Pakistan

By Keith Jones, 6 October 2016

France’s sale of Rafale jets to India stokes Indo-Pakistani war tensions

Yahoo spied on “hundreds of millions” of email accounts on behalf of US spy agencies

By Nick Barrickman, 6 October 2016

More on NSA spying »

Ford Australia’s closure demonstrates need for a global auto workers’ strategy

By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 6 October 2016

More on autoworkers issues »

Socialist Equality Party

Sri Lankan plantation workers’ struggle: Build action committees, fight for socialist policies

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 7 October 2016

The protests spreading throughout the plantation areas sharply pose the need for workers to establish new forms of organisation and a new socialist leadership.

Online Interview with David North

Large audience for interview with David North, author of A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony, 1990-2016

By our reporter, 29 September 2016

SEP 2016 US Election Campaign

SEP Presidential candidate Jerry White speaks to students and workers in Northern Virginia

By Alex Gonzalez and Nick Barrickman, 4 October 2016

SEP Vice Presidential candidate Niles Niemuth speaks about the presidential debate and the danger of war

By Niles Niemuth, 1 October 2016

Socialism and the 2016 elections
Socialist Equality Party campaign launches fall election meetings

Socialist Equality Party (US) 2016 Congress Resolutions
Perspectives and Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

Arts Review

Toronto International Film Festival 2016—Part 5
Lady Macbeth, John Coltrane, Mali Blues and more: What makes a film festival interesting?

By Joanne Laurier, 7 October 2016

There are many problems with filmmaking today, but human ingenuity and curiosity have not stopped functioning.

Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Part 4
Sami Blood from Sweden, Werewolf from Canada, Park from Greece: Society’s cruelty to its youngest members

By David Walsh, 5 October 2016

Toronto International Film Festival 2016
Ma’ Rosa from the Philippines: Small-time drug dealers set upon by the police

By Dylan Lubao, 5 October 2016

Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Part 3
Loving, The Birth of a Nation: Distinct approaches to historical events

Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Part 2
The Chosen, on Trotsky, and other political subjects

Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Part 1
How well does filmmaking reflect present-day life?

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

7 October 2016

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Harvard dining hall workers strike over health insurance, wages

By Kate Randall, 6 October 2016

Faculty set October 19 strike date at Pennsylvania universities

Book Review

Adam Hochschild’s Spain in Our Hearts: A deeply felt work on the Spanish Civil War marred by its perspective

By Emanuele Saccarelli, 3 October 2016

This week in history: September October 3-9

25 years ago: Yugoslav civil war deaths reach 2,500

On October 7, 1991, the Croatian capital of Zagreb sustained surface-to-surface missile attacks and the presidential palace was rocketed by warplanes, nearly killing the republic’s president and other leaders.

More »

50 year ago: Hoffa fraud and conspiracy conviction upheld

On October 4, 1966, the conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges of Teamster President James R. “Jimmy” Hoffa was upheld by the US Court of Appeals in a 2-to-1 decision.

More »

75 years ago: Nazi armies advance upon Moscow

On October 3, 1941, Hitler made his first address to the German public since the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, known as Operation Barbarossa.

More »

 

100 years ago: New Japanese cabinet formed amid international tensions

On October 4, 1916, the Emperor of Japan, Taishō, requested that Lieutenant General Count Seiki Terauchi form a new cabinet to replace the government that had been headed by Marquis Okuma.

More »

Obituary

Shimon Peres (1923-2016)

By Patrick Martin, 1 October 2016

The state funeral for Shimon Peres, former Israeli president and prime minister, brought leaders from around the world to pay tribute, not so much to the individual as to the rapacious, land-grabbing, militaristic state he did so much to construct.

25 years since the death of Bill Brust

A remembrance of veteran Trotskyist Bill Brust, twenty-five years after his death

By Fred Mazelis, 15 September 2016

Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of veteran Trotskyist Bill Brust, whose political struggle as a revolutionary socialist spanned 53 years.

The Life and Times of Bill Brust

By David North, 15 September 2016

This speech, originally delivered by David North at a memorial meeting in Minneapolis in 1991, reviews the life and political legacy of Bill Brust.