22 December 2017

UN General Assembly repudiates Trump over Jerusalem announcement

By Jordan Shilton, 22 December 2017

The 128-9 vote, with 35 abstentions, reflects the extreme isolation of the United States and increases the prospect of a violent clash in the Middle East.

Catalan nationalists win narrow majority in crisis elections

By Alex Lantier and Alejandro López, 22 December 2017

The result puts paid to hopes in Madrid that elections would rapidly resolve the conflict between the Spanish and Catalan regional governments.

Crisis election in Catalonia
No to dictatorship and national separatism! For the Unity of Catalan and Spanish workers!

Jury acquits all six defendants in first trial of Inauguration Day protesters

By Patrick Martin, 22 December 2017

The verdict is a significant blow to efforts by the Trump Justice Department to criminalize anti-Trump protests.

“They are going to cover-up everything like they always do”
Ford, UAW downplay finding of Legionella bacteria at Kansas City assembly plant

By Shannon Jones, 22 December 2017

Ford and the UAW are keeping workers in the dark following the discovery of deadly Legionella bacteria at the facility in the wake of the diagnosis of a plant worker with Legionnaires’ disease.

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

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

More on auto workers issues »

DACA deal put off to 2018 leaving 800,000 under deportation threat

By Norisa Diaz, 22 December 2017

While a deal is still being worked out, there is no doubt that the Democrats are negotiating some of the most reactionary anti-immigrant legislation since Japanese internment.

UK: Deputy Conservative leader Damian Green forced to resign by manufactured sex scandal

By Robert Stevens, 22 December 2017

The contrived campaign at Westminster over sexual impropriety has caused the suicide of one leading Welsh Labour member and the sudden death of a Labour Party staffer—also believed to be a suicide.

German police publicly name and shame G20 protesters

By Peter Schwarz, 22 December 2017

In an unlawful act, the police and state prosecutor have published online the photos of hundreds of demonstrators five months after the G20 protests.

Court ruling allows Canadian spies to conduct mass surveillance of cellphones

By Laurent Lafrance, 22 December 2017

Chief Justice Paul S. Crampton ruled that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service can make use of cellphone surveillance technology to carry out warrantless spying.

Maldives and China sign free trade agreement

By Rohantha De Silva, 22 December 2017

Maldives has become a focal point of geo-political rivalry between the US and India on one side and China on the other.

Mentally ill man drives vehicle into crowd in Melbourne, Australia

By James Cogan, 22 December 2017

Police initially said they had no evidence of any connection to terrorism but the authorities may still be seeking to link the incident to Islamic-inspired terrorism.

Australian university overturns student union election result

By Will Morrow, 22 December 2017

The University of Wollongong administration’s intervention is part of a broader crackdown on students’ democratic rights across the country.

Continuing attacks on New Zealand public transport workers’ jobs and wages

By our reporters, 22 December 2017

The Labour Party-aligned Auckland and Wellington councils are moving to axe jobs and working conditions.

Power outage at Atlanta airport causes chaos

By Kranti Kumara, 22 December 2017

What is particularly striking about the latest catastrophe caused by America’s decaying infrastructure was the absence of any sort of help from officials to stranded passengers.

New in French

Élection de crise en Catalogne
Non à la dictature et au séparatisme national! Pour l'unité des travailleurs catalans et espagnols!

Alex Lantier, 22 décembre 2017

Avec les élections, Madrid vise à donner un vernis «démocratique» au développement de régimes d'État policier et à la réhabilitation des forces d'extrême droite à travers l'Europe.

New in Turkish

Katalonya’da kriz seçimi
Diktatörlüğe ve ulusal ayrılıkçılığa hayır! Katalan ve İspanyol işçilerin birliği için!

Alex Lantier, 22 Aralık 2017

Madrid, bugünkü seçimle, polis devleti rejimi yönelimine “demokratik” bir maske takmayı ve AB genelindeki aşırı sağcı güçlere saygınlık kazandırmayı amaçlıyor.

Eşitsizlik ülkesi: Amerika Birleşik Devletleri

Andre Damon, 22 Aralık 2017

Geçtiğimiz hafta, Kongre trilyonlarca doları mali oligarşiye aktaracak bir vergi yasasını geçirmek için koştururken, uzmanlar ABD’deki toplumsal eşitsizliğin büyümesini belgeleyen mahkum edici raporlar yayınladı.

Yoldaş Keerthi Balasuriya’nın 30. ölüm yıldönümü üzerine

22 Aralık 2017

Aşağıdaki mektup, WSWS Yayın Kurulu Başkanı David North tarafından, Keerthi Balasuriya’nın 30. ölüm yıldönümünü anmak üzere toplanan Sosyalist Eşitlik Partisi’ne (Sri Lanka) gönderildi.

Trump’ın Kudüs’ü İsrail’in başkenti olarak tanıması Arap önderlerin krizini derinleştiriyor

Jean Shaoul, 22 Aralık 2017

Trump’ın Kudüs açıklaması, yalnızca İsrail ile Filistin arasında yeni ve kanlı bir çatışma değil; Arap, Musevi, İranlı ve diğer ulusal ve etnik grupların birbirleri ile karşı karşıya geleceği bölgesel bir savaş yönünde artan tehlikeye işaret etmektedir.

New in Spanish

La crisis en Cataluña
¡Ni la dictadura ni el secesionismo nacional! ¡Por la unidad de los trabajadores catalanes y españoles!

Por Alex Lantier, 22 diciembre 2017

Madrid espera que las elecciones del 21D le provean una fachada “democrática” a la marcha hacia la instalación de regímenes de Estado policial y la rehabilitación de la ultraderecha a través de Europa.

La estrategia de seguridad nacional de Trump: la reanudación de los conflictos militares entre “grandes potencias”

Por Bill Van Auken, 22 diciembre 2017

La nueva estrategia de seguridad nacional y el discurso de Trump del lunes constituyen una advertencia sombría para la humanidad de que el imperialismo estadounidense está firmemente encauzado hacia una tercera guerra mundial nuclear.

Trump desvela la estrategia de seguridad nacional “Estados Unidos primero”

Por Bill Van Auken, 22 diciembre 2017

Detrás del estereotipado discurso tipo campaña que pronunció Trump el lunes, el aparato militar y de inteligencia estadounidense se está preparando para una guerra mundial.

En medio de un escándalo creciente de corrupción, dimiten trabajadores de la UAW

Por Shannon Jones, 22 diciembre 2017

La presente investigación federal sobre corrupción y la creciente ira y militancia de los trabajadores están alimentando una crisis patente en los niveles más altos del sindicato United Auto Workers.

En el 30 aniversario de la muerte del camarada Keerthi Balasuriya

Por David North, 22 diciembre 2017

El fallecimiento de Keerthi el 18 de diciembre de 1987 fue una pérdida irreemplazable para el Comité Internacional de la Cuarta Internacional y su sección srilanquesa.

New in German

Trumps Nationale Sicherheitsstrategie: Die Rückkehr der militärischen Konflikte zwischen den Großmächten

Bill Van Auken, 21. Dezember 2017

Die neue Nationale Sicherheitsstrategie der USA und Trumps Rede am vergangenen Montag müssen als Warnung verstanden werden: Der US-Imperialismus hat einen Weg eingeschlagen, der direkt in einen atomaren Dritten Weltkrieg zu führen droht.

Hamburg: Polizei stellt G20-Demonstranten an den öffentlichen Pranger

Peter Schwarz, 21. Dezember 2017

Fünf Monate nach den Protesten gegen den G20-Gipfel in Hamburg haben Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaft in einer rechtswidrigen Aktion die Fotos und Videos von hunderten Demonstrationsteilnehmern ins Netz gestellt.

Brasilien: VW hat militante Arbeiter an Militärdiktatur ausgeliefert

Ludwig Weller, 21. Dezember 2017

Ein Untersuchungsbericht der brasilianische Bundesstaatsanwaltschaft gelangt zum Schluss, dass VW die brasilianische Militärdiktatur finanziell unterstützt und ihr freiwillig Arbeiter ausgeliefert hat.

US-Steuerreform: Massive Sozialangriffe auf Studenten

Patrick Martin, 21. Dezember 2017

Die Steuerreform, die Ende November im Repräsentantenhaus verabschiedet wurde, hat katastrophale Folgen für das Leben von Studenten und Absolventen, während sie den Superreichen einen Goldregen beschert.

IYSSE: „Tsar to Lenin“ in Bonn, Frankfurt und Bochum

unseren Korrespondenten, 21. Dezember 2017

Die IYSSE hat den Film „Tsar to Lenin“ in drei weiteren Universitätsstädten gezeigt. Bei allen Veranstaltungen löste das einmalige Filmdokument lebhafte Diskussionen aus.

Other Languages

Perspective

Drug deaths drive down US life expectancy for second year

22 December 2017

The fall in US life expectancy reflects the social devastation wrought on the lives of millions of people by decades of bipartisan policies aimed at enriching the wealthy.

Earlier Perspectives »

WSWS Holiday Schedule

Over the holiday period, we will not publish on Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26, and on Monday, January 1 and Tuesday, January 2. We will resume our regular schedule of postings on January 3. The WSWS extends season's greetings to all of our readers.

Commentary

UK: Pro-Corbyn councillors sabotage fight against Labour’s social cleansing

By Robert Stevens and Margot Miller, 22 December 2017

Haringey Labour Council will commence the demolition of 1,000 council homes and the building of luxury accommodation that only the wealthiest can afford, in one of the largest acts of social cleansing in the capital.

Bitcoin speculation continues to surge

By Nick Beams, 21 December 2017

Over token Democratic opposition
US Congress passes tax windfall for corporations and the rich

By Barry Grey, 21 December 2017

Alabama announces freeze on children’s health program

By Shelley Connor, 21 December 2017

Actor Matt Damon comes under attack for his criticisms of the sexual misconduct campaign

By David Walsh, 20 December 2017

Far-right party enters Austrian government

Trump’s National Security Strategy: The return of “great power” military conflict

US workplace fatalities rose 7 percent in 2016

Workers Struggles

London hospital workers protest low pay and poor working conditions
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

22 December 2017

The protests targeted outsourcing company ISS, which provides cleaning, security and portering services at the hospitals.

Arts Review

Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck: “Small” films at a time of big crisis

By Carlos Delgado, 21 December 2017

One hundred years since the birth of Romanian pianist and composer Dinu Lipatti

By Clara Weiss, 20 December 2017

Star Wars: The Last Jedi—The further business of the Disney franchise

By Matthew MacEgan, 19 December 2017

The Falsification of David King’s work—Red Star Over Russia: A Revolution in Visual Culture 1905-55 at the Tate Modern in London

Socialist Equality Party

SEP in Sri Lanka pays tribute to Keerthi Balasuriya

By our correspondent, 20 December 2017

On the 30th anniversary of the death of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya

By David North, 19 December 2017

Keerthi’s death on December 18, 1987 was an irreplaceable loss to the International Committee of the Fourth International and its Sri Lankan section.

Australian and New Zealand Trotskyists hold powerful Russian Revolution centenary meetings

SEP meeting attendees speak about the Russian Revolution

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico governor orders review of official hurricane death toll

By Niles Niemuth, 19 December 2017

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”

“The poverty is no longer hidden by the trees”
Hurricane Maria exposes the conditions of life for the working class in Caguas, Puerto Rico

“The rich people are not going to do anything for us”
University of Puerto Rico students speak on inequality and the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria

More on Puerto Rico »

Mehring Books

WSWS publishes Urdu translation of Trotsky’s Lessons of October

Preface to the Urdu edition of Lessons of October

Centenary of the Russian Revolution

This week in the Russian Revolution
December 18-24: Peace negotiations begin at Brest-Litovsk

18 December 2017

Trotsky later writes, “The circumstances of history willed that the delegates of the most revolutionary regime ever known to humanity should sit at the same diplomatic table with the representatives of the most reactionary caste among all the ruling classes.”

Chronology of the Russian Revolution »

The Grenfell Tower Fire

Families and survivors hold six-month commemoration of Grenfell Tower fire

By Paul Mitchell, 18 December 2017

Oppose media witch-hunt against “the left” over Grenfell fire

By Robert Stevens, 18 December 2017

Six months since the Grenfell Tower fire

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

More on the Grenfell Tower fire »

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.

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

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 conducts total surveillance of workers in new German plant

By Marianne Arens, 16 December 2017

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

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

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 »

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

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.