15 December 2017

World’s richest one percent capture twice as much income growth as the bottom half

By Niles Niemuth, 15 December 2017

The inaugural World Inequality Report published by economist Thomas Piketty and his colleagues documents the rise in global income and wealth inequality since 1980.

Jeff Bezos’ $100 billion: The case for expropriation

Pentagon claims confrontation with Russian warplanes over Syria

By Bill Van Auken, 15 December 2017

The latest report of a hostile encounter between US and Russian fighters comes as Washington prepares to roll out a post-ISIS plan for continuing the war in Syria.

Washington’s secret wars

More on the war in Iraq and Syria »

PBS cancels “Tavis Smiley” show as sex witch-hunt expands

By Barry Grey, 15 December 2017

As has become typical in the growing campaign over alleged sexual offenses, the public broadcaster did not name the accusers or provide any details of their allegations.

Why has Time magazine endorsed the #MeToo “revolution”?

America’s latest “Scarlet Letter” moment

Autopsy report refutes claims young Ford worker was on drugs at time of factory shooting

By Jerry White, 15 December 2017

UAW officials told police that Jacoby Hennings, who allegedly took his life on October 20 after confronting union officials with a gun, appeared “under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

“Ford and big companies don’t care if you live or not”
Ford workers speak out on Kentucky Truck worker’s death

Amid escalating corruption scandal, top UAW operatives step down

By Shannon Jones, 15 December 2017

The ongoing federal corruption investigation and growing worker anger and militancy are fueling an apparent crisis in the top echelons of the United Auto Workers union.

More on auto worker struggles »

Investigation reveals employer impunity in Canadian workplace deaths

By Lee Parsons, 15 December 2017

The conditions documented by the CBC are the result of decades of cost-cutting and deregulation.

Construction worker killed in horrific incident at Australian gas project

By John Harris, 15 December 2017

The tragic death at the INPEX gas project was not an aberration but the result of increasing company productivity demands ratified by the unions.

Beijing warns against Australia’s anti-China campaign

By Oscar Grenfell, 15 December 2017

The Chinese regime is fearful that the Australian government’s draconian “foreign interference” legislation could be used as a precedent by the US and its allies.

Militarism and crackdown on refugees dominate EU summit

By Peter Schwarz, 15 December 2017

Divided by social and national contradictions and paralysed by political tensions, the 28 heads of government agree on only one thing: a major escalation of militarism.

Brexit crisis deepens after Tory revolt on eve of EU summit

By Chris Marsden, 15 December 2017

The parliamentary defeat for Prime Minister Theresa May has been hailed as proof of a majority for a “soft Brexit”—preserving at all costs full access to the Single European Market.

Greek unions hold one-day general strike to protest Syriza’s brutal austerity measures

By John Vassilopoulos and Robert Stevens, 15 December 2017

The day prior to the walkout, angry municipal workers booed and jeered Greek Prime Minister and Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras.

After ten days, largest of Southern California wildfires continues to rage

By Dan Conway, 15 December 2017

As the massive wildfires that engulf Southern California continue, a fire that consumed portions of Los Angeles’ wealthiest neighborhood is being blamed on the city’s homeless.

UN special rapporteur on poverty visits LA’s Skid Row

By Adam Mclean, 15 December 2017

Alston spent his time in the impoverished LA neighborhood notorious for homelessness, drug abuse and police brutality.

New in Russian

Патрисия Жуковски (1947-2017)

Фред Мазелис, 15 декабря 2017 г.

Пэт Жуковски была активным членом Рабочей Лиге США в первые годы ее существования, а также женой Марти Жуковски, преданного сторонника Партии Социалистического Равенства.

Российские следователи рассматривают антисемитскую теорию заговора в деле об убийстве царской семьи

Клара Вайс, 15 декабря 2017 г.

Начатое в 2015 году расследование по факту убийства царской семьи в 1918 году советским правительством рассматривает вопрос о том, является ли достоверной фашистская и антисемитская теория заговора, согласно которой казнь была «ритуальным убийством».

New in Turkish

ABD nükleer savaşın eşiğinde mi?

Andre Damon, 15 Aralık 2017

ABD, Kuzey Kore’nin, Kuzey Amerika’nın büyük kısmına ulaşabilen kıtalararası bir balistik füze denemesi yapmasından bu yana geçen on üç günde, savaş tehditlerini daha da tırmandırdı.

IŞİD’in Suriye’deki yenilgisinin ardından ABD-Rusya gerilimleri tırmanıyor

Bill Van Auken, 15 Aralık 2017

Washington ile Moskova, Suriye’nin Fırat Nehri vadisi semalarında birbirlerinin savaş uçaklarına yönelik kışkırtıcı eylemlerde bulunma suçlamaları getirdiler.

New in French

Allemagne: Le SPD et les chrétiens-démocrates entament des discussions exploratoires sur un nouveau gouvernement

Peter Schwarz, 15 décembre 2017

Les dirigeants de l’Union chrétienne-démocrate, l’Union chrétienne sociale et les sociaux-démocrates se sont rencontrés mercredi lors des premiers pourparlers pour former un nouveau gouvernement.

Six mois depuis l'incendie de la tour Grenfell

Robert Stevens et Chris Marsden, 15 décembre 2017

Le 14 juin, dans l'arrondissement le plus riche de l'une des capitales les plus riches du monde, des habitants de la classe ouvrière ont été brûlés vifs parce que leur domicile avait été transformé en un piège mortel.

New in Spanish

Las lecciones de la elección en Alabama

Por Patrick Martin, 15 diciembre 2017

Después de la elección en Alabama y la derrota de Roy Moore, los demócratas han intensificado su campaña contra Trump con base en las acusaciones de comportamientos sexuales inapropiados e histeria antirrusa.

Doug Jones, pro empresas del Partido Demócrata derrota al derechista evangélico Roy Moore en Alabama

Por Barry Grey, 15 diciembre 2017

La victoria del Partido Demócrata se debe a que más del cuarenta por ciento acudió a las urnas. Mayor de lo que se anticipaba fue la participación de afroamericanos y de jóvenes.

Locura de Bitcoin: el gráfico de la fiebre de una crisis cada vez más profunda

Por Nick Beams, 15 diciembre 2017

La subida y subida de la criptomoneda bitcoin es la expresión más atroz de la especulación desenfrenada que ha llegado a dominar la economía global.

Lecciones de Octubre: La crisis política del Partido Bolchevique en vísperas de la toma del poder

Por Chris Marsden, 15 diciembre 2017

Publicamos aquí el texto de la conferencia del sábado 28 de octubre de Chris Marsden, el secretario nacional del Partido de la Igualdad Socialista (Reino Unido). El audio de esta conferencia está incluido en el texto.

New in German

Militarismus und Flüchtlingsabwehr im Zentrum des EU-Gipfels

Peter Schwarz, 15. Dezember 2017

Gespalten durch soziale und nationale Gegensätze und gelähmt durch politische Spannungen stimmen die 28 Staats- und Regierungschefs nur in einer Frage überein: der massiven Eskalation des Militarismus.

Die Lehren der Wahl in Alabama

Patrick Martin, 15. Dezember 2017

Nach der Niederlage des ultrarechten republikanischen Kandidaten Roy Moore verstärken die Demokraten ihre Kampagne gegen Trump, die auf anti-russischer Hysterie und auf Anschuldigungen wegen sexueller Belästigung basiert.

Amnesty-Bericht enthüllt Rolle der EU bei Massenfolter von Flüchtlingen in Libyen

Alex Lantier, 15. Dezember 2017

Die EU unterstützt den Aufbau und die Ausstattung eines ganzen Netzwerks von Gefangenenlagern, in denen Flüchtlinge willkürlich festgehalten, misshandelt, gefoltert, als Sklaven verkauft und ermordet werden.

Hannibal: Bewohner des geräumten Dortmunder Hochhauses kommen zu Wort

Anuthinan Ratnamaheson, 15. Dezember 2017

Am 21. September wurde der Hochhauskomplex „Hannibal II“ in Dortmund kurzfristig evakuiert. In diesem Video sprechen die Betroffenen über ihre Erfahrung mit Behörden und Besitzern.

Other Languages

Perspective

The end of net neutrality and the fight to defend the free internet

15 December 2017

Thursday’s move by the US government to end net neutrality seeks to usher in an age when corporations and the government decide what people can and cannot access online.

Earlier Perspectives »

Support the World Socialist Web Site New Year Fund!

We are calling on all our readers to make a large donation to develop and expand the work of the WSWS in the new year.

Book Review

Ron Chernow’s Grant: An able and compelling new biography

By Andre Damon, 15 December 2017

Chernow capably weaves together an account of the life of the Civil War general, president and memoirist.

Mehring Books

WSWS publishes Urdu translation of Trotsky’s Lessons of October

Preface to the Urdu edition of Lessons of October

Arts Review

Mudbound and life in post-World War II Mississippi: Dreaming “in brown”
… and a word on James Franco’s The Disaster Artist

By Joanne Laurier, 15 December 2017

Dee Rees’s Mudbound centers on two families, one black and one white, in rural Mississippi, immediately following World War II.The Disaster Artist is a decidedly slight effort.

Cancellation of exhibition about Jewish art collector in Germany raises issue of Nazi-confiscated art

By Sibylle Fuchs, 13 December 2017

Art historian Linda Nochlin (1931-2017)

By Clare Hurley and David Walsh, 12 December 2017

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (1962-2017), one of opera’s greatest baritones

The Man Who Invented Christmas: Charles Dickens and the writing of A Christmas Carol

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
One-day walkout by Italian doctors

15 December 2017

Doctors and veterinarians struck and protested at 50 locations around the country against underfunding of health care and the renewal of their collective agreement.

Commentary

On-the-spot report
Over a million in Puerto Rico living without the necessities of modern life
“The island has been turned upside down since the storm”

By Genevieve Leigh and Zac Corrigan, 14 December 2017

More on Puerto Rico »

Six months since the Grenfell Tower fire

By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 14 December 2017

Film Review
“Grenfell changed everything”—Failed by the State: The Struggle in the Shadow of Grenfell

More on the Grenfell Tower fire »

Lessons of the Alabama election

By Patrick Martin, 14 December 2017

Alabama Senate result shows collapse of support for Trump

Congressional Republicans reach deal to pass tax cuts before Christmas

By Niles Niemuth, 14 December 2017

Trump administration scotches suggestion of talks with North Korea

By Peter Symonds, 14 December 2017

National Public Radio’s This American Life promotes anti-immigrant propaganda

By Eric London, 13 December 2017

Science

The roots of intelligence: What the study of whales and dolphins can reveal about the basis of human intelligence

By Philip Guelpa, 12 December 2017

Centenary of the Russian Revolution

This week in the Russian Revolution
December 11-17: White forces capture Rostov

11 December 2017

As forces commanded by the counterrevolutionary General Kaledin occupy Rostov, a major industrial center in southern Russia, conflict continues to rage in the Bolshevik leadership over the question of the Constituent Assembly.

Chronology of the Russian Revolution »

Obituary

Patricia Noonan Jukovsky (1947-2017)

By Fred Mazelis, 11 December 2017

Pat Jukovsky was an active member of the US Workers League in its early years, and the wife of Marty Jukovsky, a devoted supporter of the Socialist Equality Party.

Featured Video

Watch: Davino Watson, American Citizen, imprisoned by ICE for 3.5 years

International Amazon Workers Voice

Amazon workers ask “$100 billion man” Jeff Bezos: where’s my cut?

By our reporters, 9 December 2017

“We’re human beings, not slaves and animals”
UK newspaper exposé details Amazon’s super-exploitation of workforce

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
One day strike hits German and Italian Amazon distribution centres

Temp work past the age of retirement
Amazon’s CamperForce program exploits elderly workers

Watch: How can Amazon workers fight back?

Share this video widely! Like and Follow the International Amazon Workers Voice on Facebook

Google Censorship

Net neutrality and the drive to censor the internet

By Andre Damon, 25 November 2017

The conspiracy to censor the Internet

By Andre Damon and Joseph Kishore, 18 October 2017

The elites “have no credibility left:” An interview with journalist Chris Hedges

An open letter to Google: Stop the censorship of the Internet! Stop the political blacklisting of the World Socialist Web Site!

25 August 2017

Sign the petition and share it as widely as possible through email, online forums, and social media.

Watch: Stop online censorship!

More on Google Censorship »

Socialist Equality Party

Oppose Trudeau and Trump, the Canada-US alliance, and imperialist war!

By the Socialist Equality Party (Canada), 4 December 2017

Centenary of the Russian Revolution

Australia: Socialist Equality Party holds successful meetings on Russian Revolution

By our correspondents, 7 December 2017

Workers and youth discuss the Russian Revolution at SEP meetings

By our reporters, 7 December 2017

Meeting in Wellington on December 14, Sydney on December 17
100 years on: The significance of the 1917 Russian Revolution for today

Russian television’s Trotsky serial: A degraded spectacle of historical falsification and anti-Semitism

By Fred Williams and David North, 25 November 2017

The eight-part serial is an exhibition of the political, intellectual and cultural depravity of all those involved in its production.

The Place of the October Revolution in World History and Contemporary Politics

By David North, 13 November 2017

IYSSE

IYSSE mounts campaign against university police censorship at University of California, Berkeley

By Evan Blake, 2 December 2017

International Youth and Students for Social Equality launches new website

6 November 2017

The IYSSE’s newly designed website includes an updated Statement of Principles for its US section. We urge all youth and students to join the IYSSE and take up the fight for socialism.