1 April 2017

Trump steps up trade war agenda

By Nick Beams, 1 April 2017

US President Donald Trump signed two protectionist executive orders Friday, signalling a return to the kind of measures that proved so disastrous in the 1930s.

Trump administration document lays out trade war agenda

The UK’s Great Repeal Bill: A bonfire of workers’ rights

By Julie Hyland, 1 April 2017

The bill is framed to meet the demands of banks and big business to end all regulation of their predatory activities.

Triggering of Brexit intensifies national tensions in Europe

Greek Syriza government and European Union finalise more brutal austerity

By John Vassilopoulos, 1 April 2017

Greece’s Syriza-led government has reportedly reached an informal agreement with the European Commission to slash the pensions of 900,000 retirees.

Japan’s ruling party calls for military to have offensive weapons

By Peter Symonds, 1 April 2017

Using the North Korean “threat” as a pretext, the LDP defence policy committee proposed the armed forces acquire a “counter-attack” capability.

Japanese imperialism rearms

US House votes to repeal internet protections
Trump expected to sign anti-privacy measure into law

By Kevin Reed, 1 April 2017

Congress has decided that internet providers own the information that consumers provide when they use the internet to shop, browse or message.

Senate votes to repeal FCC internet privacy regulations

More than 52,000 in the US died from drug overdoses in 2015

By E.P. Milligan, 1 April 2017

Drug overdoses now account for more deaths than from guns or car accidents; 63 percent of overdoses were due to opioids.

Capitalism and America’s addiction epidemic

Highway bridge collapses after fire in Atlanta, affecting over 200,000 commuters

By Shelley Connor, 1 April 2017

The collapse of the I85 overpass highlights the serious decay of America’s infrastructure.

Trump’s education chief touts Uber as model for “school choice”

By Nancy Hanover, 1 April 2017

DeVos hailed Trump’s budget proposal to cut $12 billion from the Department of Education.

German air force provides target coordinates for massacre of civilians in Syria

By Johannes Stern, 1 April 2017

The massacre at Mansoura, with up to 420 killed, recalls the criminal history of Germany’s Luftwaffe.

German foreign minister outlines European strategy

As toll from Peru’s storms mount, capitalists see new source of profits

By Cesar Uco, 1 April 2017

The ravages of El Niño have exposed the stark social inequality that pervades Peruvian society and the indifference of the country’s ruling elite to the conditions of the masses.

Six months after Hurricane Matthew, hunger and desperation grip Haiti’s south

By John Marion, 1 April 2017

While Haiti’s bourgeoisie welcomes new President Jovenel Moïse, workers and peasants face desperate conditions.

Australian government withholds report on death of unemployed teenager

By John Harris and Oscar Grenfell, 1 April 2017

The Liberal-National government is covering-up the dangerous conditions facing unemployed workers and young people forced onto Work for Dole programs.

New in French

Le déclenchement du Brexit intensifie les tensions nationales en Europe

Par Robert Stevens, 1 avril 2017

Les représentants de l'UE et des plus grandes puissances du continent ont réagi avec une hostilité ouverte à la mise en œuvre de l'Article 50 par la première ministre Theresa May.

Après n'avoir pu révoquer Obamacare, l'administration Trump se voit offrir l'aide des démocrates

Par Patrick Martin, 1 avril 2017

Après n'avoir pu révoquer Obamacare, l'administration Trump se voit offrir l'aide des dirigeants démocrates du Congrès pour collaborer dans des réductions d'impôts et des coupes dans le système de santé.

New in German

Trump gibt Pentagon freie Hand für militärische Eskalationen

Von Bill Van Auken, 1. April 2017

Die unausgesetzte Bombardierung von Zivilisten im Irak und Syrien, die erweiterte Intervention im Jemen und die offenen militärischen Drohungen gegenüber dem Irak werden vom Pentagon ohne jede öffentliche Debatte, aber mit uneingeschränkter Billigung der Demokraten vorangetrieben.

Beginn des Brexit-Verfahrens verschärft Spannungen in Europa

Von Robert Stevens, 1. April 2017

Vertreter der EU und der großen europäischen Staaten reagierten auf den Beginn des britischen EU-Austrittsverfahrens mit unverhohlener Feindseligkeit gegenüber Premierministerin Theresa May.

Hoher amerikanischer General fordert militärisches Vorgehen gegen den Iran

Von Peter Symonds, 1. April 2017

General Joseph Votels provokative Bemerkungen und Forderungen nach militärischen Aktionen befeuern das Geschrei in Washington für härtere Maßnahmen gegen den Iran.

Berliner Flughäfen: Stimmt mit „Nein“ gegen den Verdi-Abschluss!

Von Gustav Kemper und Marianne Arens, 1. April 2017

Der Tarifabschluss, den Verdi für die Bodenverkehrsdienste an den Berliner Flughäfen unterzeichnet hat, muss abgelehnt werden. Er zementiert die Billiglohnarbeit und beinhaltet einen dreijährigen Streikverzicht.

New in Greek

Αυξανόμενο σχίσμα και απειλές πολέμου διαφαίνονται πάνω από την Σύνοδο Κορυφής της ΕΕ στη Ρώμη

Του Άλεξ Λαντιέ, 31 Μαρτίου 2017

Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ανταποκρίνεται στην έξοδο της Βρετανίας επιζητώντας να μετατραπεί σε ένα επιθετικό στρατιωτικό μπλοκ που θα συναγωνίζεται τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες.

New in Spanish

Los demócratas le tienden la mano a Trump tras fracasar su proyecto para derogar Obamacare

Por Patrick Martin, 31 marzo 2017

Tras el naufragio del proyecto de ley de Trump para derogar Obamacare, los congresistas demócratas ofrecieron trabajar con él en los temas de salud e impuestos.

Other Languages

Perspective

Senate committee hearing blames Russian “information warfare” for social discontent in the US

1 April 2017

The line promoted by the political reactionaries speaking at the hearing is that mass political and social discontent is largely attributable to the malevolent actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier Perspectives »

Free the Maruti Suzuki workers!

Sri Lankan SEP and IYSSE hold picket to demand freedom of Maruti Suzuki workers

By our correspondents, 1 April 2017

The well-attended SEP/IYSSE picket attracted the attention and interest of workers and youth who were returning home from work or school.

India: Stalinist-led unions call token protest against frame up of Maruti Suzuki workers

By Deepal Jayasekera, 1 April 2017

The CPM and CPI and their respective labour federations, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and the All India Trade Union Congress, have systematically isolated the Maruti Suzuki workers.

Thirteen sentenced to life imprisonment in India
Free the framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers!

International Committee of the Fourth International, 20 March 2017

More on the frame-up of Maruti Suzuki workers »

Centenary of the Russian Revolution

SEP and IYSSE to screen documentary of Russian Revolution April 4 in Detroit

1 April 2017

Tsar to Lenin is a film that “bears witness to a moment in history when socialist ideals inspired the greatest revolutionary movement in world history.”

This week in the Russian Revolution
March 27-April 2: Trotsky departs for Petrograd

27 March 2017

Parting for Russia with promises to bring down the Provisional Government and stop the war, Trotsky sets sail via Oslo aboard a Norwegian liner, while Lenin remains stranded in Switzerland, where he is feverishly working to shape Bolshevik policy in Petrograd from afar.

This week in the Russian Revolution
March 20-26: Dual Power in Russia

Online lecture: “The Legacy of 1905 and the Strategy of the Russian Revolution”

Arts

Once again on Dana Schutz’s painting of Emmett Till: The New York Times intervenes to preserve identity politics

By David Walsh, 31 March 2017

The foul attempt to censor and suppress Dana Schutz’s painting of Emmett Till

Lyrical and left-wing film
Nicholas Ray’s They Live by Night (1948): “They’re thieves, just like us”

NHS FightBack

UK: Health workers denounce attacks on Bournemouth Intermediate Care Service

By our reporters, 1 April 2017

Many workers in BICS, Bournemouth Council and at Bournemouth and Poole hospitals responded enthusiastically to an article by the NHS FightBack campaign, calling for a struggle against redundancies.

More on NHS FightBack »

Workers Struggles

Pseudo-left cover for dockworkers’ defeat in Spain

By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 1 April 2017

A key role in covering up this treachery of the trade union bureaucracy was played by the pseudo-left groups, which intervened to prevent any independent mobilization of the dockworkers.

UK: Southern GTR train drivers speak in opposition to rail union sell-out deal

By Daniel O'Flynn and Paul Mitchell, 1 April 2017

Many rail workers oppose the government-backed attacks on their jobs and conditions being carried out by Southern GTR and the divisive policies of the various rail trade unions.

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

1 April 2017

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

Allegations of vote fraud mount
The UAW betrayal at Caterpillar and the case for rank-and-file committees

By Jerry White, 31 March 2017

“The way I look at it is, the UAW is Caterpillar”
Caterpillar workers in Peoria, Illinois denounce UAW sellout deal

Commentary

Pentagon exercises free rein in global military escalation

By Bill Van Auken, 31 March 2017

Top US general calls for military action against Iran

Washington protests proposal for nuclear disarmament

Arkansas pushes forward with plans to execute eight inmates in eleven days

By Brad Dixon, 31 March 2017

IYSSE

IYSSE member Mitch Abrams wins student senate seat at Eastern Michigan University

By a WSWS reporting team, 1 April 2017

Vote totals have yet to be released, but the results are in as far as the impact the IYSSE is having on the political life of the campus.

What is behind the hysterical defence of Baberowski by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung?

By Christoph Vandreier, 31 March 2017

German daily reacts to Baberowski ruling with campaign of lies against the IYSSE

Jörg Baberowski: A right-wing extremist professor

More on the fight for historical truth »

IYSSE at Geneseo protests attacks on immigrants

By our reporters, 31 March 2017

Photo Essay: Outrage in upstate new York over detention of immigrant family

Stop the attacks on immigrants! For a socialist policy of open borders and full rights for all workers!

More on the attack on immigrants »

New York University’s ties to Trump, Wall Street banks and Gulf monarchies

By Sandy English, 29 March 2017

“A university should be a place for free speech”
New York University students denounce decision to deny IYSSE club status

New York University Student Activities Board rejects IYSSE appeal on club status: An act of political censorship

More on the fight for democratic rights at NYU »

Writings of Leon Trotsky on The Russian Revolution

Writings of Trotsky from 1917
War and the Revolution

By Leon Trotsky, 27 March 2017

More from the archives of the Revolution »

Obituaries

Beryl Hood: 29 November 1938–21 March 2017

By Mike Head, 25 March 2017

A Trotskyist for four decades, Comrade Beryl was a fine and steadfast representative of the most advanced layers of the working class, attracted, above all, to internationalism.

History

Trump turns to American history
The strange political afterlife of Andrew Jackson

By Tom Mackaman, 21 March 2017

The political art of Jackson, which so inspires the Trump administration, consisted of his ability to obscure powerful contradictions behind a veil of nationalism and populist demagogy.