7 September 2018

Amazon market capitalization surpasses $1 trillion

By E.P. Milligan, 7 September 2018

Amazon’s soaring profits, like those of Apple, are the direct result of the brutal exploitation of its workforce.

Kavanaugh hearings highlight corporate control of US Supreme Court

Striking Tacoma, Washington, teachers demand better pay, funding for education

By Kayla Costa, 7 September 2018

On Thursday, teachers in Tacoma joined thousands of striking teachers throughout the state of Washington as the unions work to contain and isolate the struggles in each district.

Tacoma teachers strike as walkouts spread across Washington

Seattle Education Association orders teachers to work without contract vote

For a statewide strike in Washington to defend public education!
Build rank-and-file committees to unify educators, parents and students

Trump administration to abandon court settlement prohibiting indefinite detention of immigrant children

By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 7 September 2018

The decision is a major escalation in the administration’s attack on immigrants.

In wake of credit downgrade huge job cuts looming at Ford

By Shannon Jones, 7 September 2018

The downgrading of Ford credit to near junk status is a shot across the bow by Wall Street to pressure management to intensify its attacks on workers.

UK “identifies” Russian agents in attempted Skripal assassination

By Robert Stevens, 7 September 2018

The government’s narrative, supplied by the same security services that faked “evidence” of Iraqi “weapons of mass destruction,” cannot be taken at face value.

Pompeo visits Pakistan to demand “reset” in support for Afghan war

By V. Gnana and Athiyan Silva, 7 September 2018

US Secretary of State Pompeo and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford staged a four-hour visit to Pakistan on Wednesday.

May’s Africa visit highlights Britain’s decline

By Jean Shaoul, 7 September 2018

While aid has always been about Britain’s geo-strategic interests, in future it will be used not to alleviate poverty, but to boost Britain’s business interests.

Saxony’s minister president declares solidarity with far-right protests in Chemnitz

By Johannes Stern, 7 September 2018

Kretschmer called for a strong state, the intensification of the hardline anti-refugee policy, and the downplaying of the attacks on journalists, immigrants and the left.

Chemnitz and the call for a stronger state

The fight against fascism in Germany requires a socialist perspective

German government places Socialist Equality Party on subversive watch list

German Left Party leader launches right-wing nationalist movement

By Ulrich Rippert, 7 September 2018

On Tuesday, Left Party leader Sahra Wagenknecht publicly presented the movement “Stand Up" in Berlin.

More on the growth of the extreme right in Europe »

French ministers resign as Macron government plunges in polls

By Francis Dubois, 7 September 2018

Hostility to President Macron’s agenda is spreading among not only among workers, but also broad sections of small business.

Leader of breakaway republic in Ukraine assassinated

By Andrea Peters, 7 September 2018

The 42-year-old head of the Russian-backed rebel state in eastern Ukraine died in an explosion at a café in Donetsk last Friday.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces he will not seek reelection

By Kristina Betinis, 7 September 2018

On the eve of the trial of the Chicago cop who killed Laquan McDonald, the mayor, who oversaw a cover-up of the teen’s murder, announced that he would not seek a third term.

CIA Democrat complains of political spying by Republicans

By Harvey Simpkins, 7 September 2018

Democrat Abigail Spanberger, whose main political “credential” is eight years as an undercover CIA operative, is denouncing the Republican Party for obtaining a copy of her full federal security clearance document.

Elissa Slotkin: A CIA Democrat runs for Congress in Michigan

Many Japanese schools fail to meet earthquake-resistant standards

By Gary Alvernia, 7 September 2018

Schools in earthquake-prone Japan, which have endured decades of spending cuts, will receive no new funds for safety from Tokyo.

Home loan stress threatening millions of households in Australia

By Mike Head, 7 September 2018

Nearly one in four households are already “mortgage prisoners”—trapped in debt while house values are falling.

Australia: Factory fire sends toxic smoke over western Melbourne

By Eric Ludlow, 7 September 2018

Authorities tried to reassure concerned residents, but hundreds of dead fish, eels and birds have been found in nearby waterways.

New in Turkish

Dördüncü Enternasyonal'in kuruluşunun 80. yıldönümü üzerine

David North, 7 Eylül 2018

Dördüncü Enternasyonal'in Troçki'nin önderliğinde kurulması, son derece büyük tarihsel öneme ve güncel geçerliliğe sahip bir olaydır.

New in French

Soixante-dix mille personnes assistent à «Rock contre la droite» à Chemnitz, en Allemagne

nos reporters, 6 septembre 2018

Le concert tenu à Chemnitz sous le mot d’ordre « nous sommes plus nombreux » a démontré l’opposition massive à l’extrême droite et au fascisme de la part des travailleurs et des jeunes

Alors que l'opposition sociale monte, la Silicon Valley et Washington intensifient la censure de l'Internet

Andre Damon, 6 septembre 2018

Au moment où les managers de Facebook et Twitter s’apprêtent à témoigner au Congrès, les monopoles des médias sociaux se bousculent pour démontrer jusqu'où ils sont allés pour mettre en œuvre la censure.

Le Parti de l’égalité socialiste et le coup d’État anti-Corbyn : une réponse à un lecteur

Chris Marsden, 6 septembre 2018

Le SEP ne cède pas la direction à Corbyn et ne se tient pas non plus à l’écart d’une lutte politique qui oppose des dizaines de milliers de travailleurs et de jeunes à une cabale droitière de criminels pro-austérité et pro-guerre.

New in Russian

Путин поддерживает ненавистную массам пенсионную реформу

Клара Вайс, 7 сентября 2018 г.

Пенсионная реформа — с предлагаемыми изменениями Путина или без них — представляет собой агрессивный удар со стороны олигархии в ее войне против российских рабочих.

New in Spanish

Las audiencias de Kavanaugh subrayan el control corporativo de la Corte Suprema

Por Patrick Martin, 7 septiembre 2018

Las audiencias frente al Senado sobre la nominación de Brett Kavanaugh para la Corte Suprema han arrojado luz sobre el grado de dominio de la oligarquía corporativa sobre las cortes y toda rama del Gobierno.

En la audiencia del Senado, Facebook se compromete a reemplazar el “mal discurso” por “hechos alternativos”

Por Andre Damon en Washington, 7 septiembre 2018

La audiencia del miércoles de la Comisión de Inteligencia del Senado dejó clara una cosa: no hay diferencia alguna entre Facebook y las agencias de espías en el impulso para censurar el internet.

El artículo de opinión del New York Times por parte de un funcionario anónimo de Trump brinda apoyo implícito para un golpe palaciego

Por Eric London, 7 septiembre 2018

El funcionario escribió que “haremos lo que podamos para dirigir la administración en la dirección correcta hasta que —de un modo u otro— se acabe”.

Incendio de Museo Nacional de Brasil: un crimen capitalista contra patrimonio de la humanidad

Por Bill Van Auken, 7 septiembre 2018

El devastador incendio, un incidente completamente predecible y prevenible, es emblema de las políticas criminales perseguidas por el capitalismo en Brasil, a través de toda América Latina y el mundo.

Informe del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Siria, Propaganda y los Medios socava afirmaciones de ataque químico en Duma

Por Paul Bond, 7 septiembre 2018

Ante el ataque orquestado al Grupo de Trabajo sobre Siria, Propaganda y los Medios como “apologistas de Asad”, el trabajo cuidadoso de Paul McKeigue, Jake Mason, David Miller y Piers Robinson es si cabe más digno de atención.

Camioneros anuncian el 5 de octubre como fecha límite para el voto
¡Vote “no” en el contrato traicionero del sindicato de los camioneros del UPS! ¡Formar comités de base para organizar la oposición!

Por Boletín del WSWS de los trabajadores de UPS, 7 septiembre 2018

El martes, el sindicato de los camioneros anunció que el voto por el contrato será contado el 5 de octubre, más de dos meses después de la expiración del actual acuerdo.

Turbulencia en mercados emergentes

Por Nick Beams, 7 septiembre 2018

El derrumbe en el valor de las divisas de los mercados emergentes es producto del fortalecimiento del dólar y el aumento en las tasas de interés, lo cual está succionando capital hacia los mercados estadounidenses.

New in Italian

La crisi della lira turca rinnova i timori di un collasso del sistema bancario italiano

Allison Smith, 7 settembre 2018

Le maggiori banche italiane sono fortemente esposte all'economia turca attraverso prestiti per quasi 20 miliardi di euro, molti dei quali stanno andando in default.

New in Norwegian

Facebook sverger i Senat-høring å erstatte «dårlige ytringer» med «alternative fakta»

Andre Damon i Washinton, 6. september 2018

Onsdagens høring for Senatets Etterretningskomité gjorde én ting klart: Det er ikke ei stripe dagslys mellom Facebook og spionasjebyråene i pådrivet for å sensurere internett.

Anonym Trump-representant publiserer kronikk i New York Times med implisitt støtte for palasskupp

Eric London, 6. september 2018

Representanten skrev: «Vi gjør det vi kan for å geleide administrasjonen i riktig retning, inntil det – på den ene eller den andre måten – er over.»

Økende kaos i fremvoksende markeder

Nick Beams, 6. september 2018

Stupet for vekstmarkedsvalutaer er produkt av styrkingen av dollaren og økningen i amerikanske rentenivå, som suger kapital tilbake til amerikanske markeder.

New in German

Seehofer stellt sich hinter den braunen Mob

Peter Schwarz, 7. September 2018

Die Neonazis und ihre Mitläufer wagen es nur deshalb so unverschämt aufzutreten, weil die Regierung und die Sicherheitskräfte voll hinter ihnen stehen.

Facebook will „unangemessene Äußerungen“ durch alternative Fakten ersetzen

Andre Damon in Washington, 7. September 2018

Eine Anhörung im US-Senat hat deutlich gemacht, dass Facebook und die Geheimdienste in der Frage der Internet-Zensur vollkommen übereinstimmen.

Kavanaugh-Anhörung unterstreicht Kontrolle der Wirtschaft über den Obersten Gerichtshof der USA

Patrick Martin, 7. September 2018

Die Senatsanhörung zur Nominierung Brett Kavanaughs als Richter am Obersten Gerichtshof der USA warf ein Schlaglicht auf die Kontrolle, die die Wirtschaftsoligarchie nicht nur über die Justiz, sondern über jeden Regierungszweig ausübt.

Other Languages

Perspective

New York Times covers up Google’s censorship

7 September 2018

The Times’ report on allegations that Google is censoring the Internet is a white-wash, echoing the company’s self-serving denials without any serious examination of the facts.

Earlier Perspectives »

History of the Fourth International

On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International

By David North, 3 September 2018

The founding of the Fourth International on September 3, 1938, was an event of great historical significance and contemporary relevance.

Historic discovery of Left Opposition manuscripts from the early 1930s

Workers Struggles

Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) forum reviews lessons of nursing union sellout

By our reporter, 7 September 2018

Participants discussed the need for health workers to rebel against the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, build rank-and-file committees and unite with workers internationally, based on a socialist perspective.

Teamsters announces October 5 vote deadline
Vote “no” on the UPS-Teamsters sellout contract! Form rank-and-file committees to organize opposition!

By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 6 September 2018

Break the UPS-Teamsters conspiracy! Mobilize opposition to the sellout contract!

More on the struggle at UPS »

Croation shipbuilders end strike; police fire on women Swaziland textile workers
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

7 September 2018

In a brutal attack, police fired on protesting women textile workers who had been locked out in a pay dispute; meanwhile, some 4,500 shipbuilders at the Uljanik shipyards in the port of Pula and Rijeka, Croatia, returned to work Monday.

Science

Waste plastics poison the food chain and contribute to global warming

By Philip Guelpa, 7 September 2018

A variety of recent research highlights the ways in which the huge amounts of discarded plastic products are harmful to the environment and human health.

Commentary

In Senate hearing, Facebook pledges to replace “bad speech” with “alternative facts”

By Andre Damon in Washington, 6 September 2018

As social opposition mounts, Silicon Valley and Washington step up internet censorship

New York Times op-ed by anonymous Trump official gives implicit support for palace coup

By Eric London, 6 September 2018

Palace coup or class struggle: The political crisis in Washington and the strategy of the working class

The Socialist Equality Party and the anti-Corbyn coup plot: A reply to a reader

By Chris Marsden, 5 September 2018

Reject the anti-Semitism slurs against Jeremy Corbyn! Drive out the Labour Party right wing!

Report by Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media undermines claims of chemical attack in Douma

By Paul Bond, 6 September 2018

US whistleblower Chelsea Manning defies ban to speak in Australia

Public meetings in Australia

Nick Beams to lecture at Australian universities on the contemporary significance of Karl Marx

6 September 2018

The lectures will make clear that Marx’s theoretical breakthroughs were inextricably linked to his political work as a revolutionary determined to arm the emerging working class with a program that advanced its independent interests.

SEP Australia public meeting in Sydney: The key political issues behind the coup against Turnbull

6 September 2018

As international relations and parliamentary forms of rule break down, the ruling elite is terrified of the growing left-wing sentiment among workers and young people.

International Amazon Workers Voice

“Amazon thinks I’m a piece of trash on the ground and they’ll walk all over me”
Amazon Nightmare: Grandmother injured on the job goes homeless, suffers pneumonia

By Eric London and Zac Corrigan, 3 September 2018

Life under capitalism for an American youth
Injured Texas Wal-Mart worker describes how and why she switched to socialism

By Eric London, 5 September 2018

Amazon unleashes army of Twitter trolls to improve its image

Following IAWV exposure at Texas warehouse
More Amazon workers speak out against atrocious working conditions

More on Amazon »

Arts Review

Leave No Trace: An Iraq War veteran looks to leave the world behind

By Kevin Martinez, 6 September 2018

100 years since the birth of American filmmaker Robert Aldrich
Including an interview with film historian Tony Williams

By David Walsh, 31 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 2

By Fred Mazelis, 25 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 1

SEP 2018 Election Campaign

Socialist Equality Party candidate Niles Niemuth on ballot for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District

By our reporter, 5 September 2018

Abolish student debt! Public education is a social right!

By Niles Niemuth, 31 August 2018

Notes from the campaign trail
SEP candidate speaks with incoming students at Wayne State University in Detroit

By Niles Niemuth, 29 August 2018

Socialist Equality Party campaign for Michigan’s 12th congressional district launches website

16 August 2018

Visit our new website to find out how you can get involved in Niles Niemuth’s campaign against war, inequality and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

Socialist Equality Party to run Niles Niemuth for Michigan’s 12th Congressional district

This week in history: September 3-9

25 years ago: US helicopter gunships murder hundreds in Somalia

On September 9, 1993, two US Cobra helicopter gunships swooped down on a large crowd of Somali civilians protesting at a checkpoint in Mogadishu.

More »

50 years ago: US casualties escalate in Vietnam

The Pentagon announced on September 5, 1968 that US casualties in Vietnam totaled 408 for the last week in August, the highest weekly figure in three months.

More »

75 years ago: Allied forces invade Italy

On September 3, 1943, the Allied powers began a full-scale invasion and occupation of Italy with large detachments of British and Canadian troops.

More »

 

100 years ago: Red Army launches attack on Kazan

On September 7, 1918, the Red Army began shelling Kazan, the most important city held by the counterrevolutionary forces opposed to the Bolshevik regime.

More »

Book Review

Olen Steinhauer’s The Middleman: An American uprising, darkly imagined

By James Brookfield, 5 September 2018

At the outset of The Middleman a group of approximately 400 Americans scattered throughout the country suddenly disappear from their day-to-day lives without telling friends and family.

Seymour Hersh’s Reporter: A life exposing government lies and crimes

By Andre Damon, 3 September 2018

History

Fifty years since the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia: Part one
Establishment of a deformed workers’ state in Czechoslovakia

By Clara Weiss, 28 August 2018

On August 20-21, 1968, tens of thousands of troops of the Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” and stifle a nascent movement of the working class. This is the first part of a four-part series.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Obituary

Arsène Tchakarian (1916-2018): the Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 2: Who betrayed the Manouchian Group?

By Francis Dubois and Alex Lantier, 31 August 2018

There is no doubt that the Stalinists’ decision to sacrifice the Manouchian Group was bound up with their genocidal onslaught against Trotskyism and the Left Opposition.

Arsène Tchakarian (1916–2018): The Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 1: The political origins and military record of the resistance fighters

IYSSE

Join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and take up the fight for socialism!

By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US), 31 August 2018

Join the IYSSE, the only organization fighting against war, authoritarianism and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

International Committee of the Fourth International

Resolution of the SEP (US) Fifth National Congress
The Resurgence of Class Struggle and the Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

8 August 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Socialist Equality Party Congress, held from July 22–27, 2018.

Opening report to the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US)

By David North, 4 August 2018

Security and the Fourth International

An “Exemplary Comrade”: The Socialist Workers Party’s 40-year-long cover-up of Stalinist spy Sylvia Callen: Part one

By Eric London, 14 August 2018

This is the first part in a four-part series examining the cover-up by the Socialist Workers Party beginning in 1947 of information exposing the role of Sylvia Callen, the personal secretary of long-time party leader James P. Cannon, as a Stalinist agent.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Seventy-eight years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

By Eric London and David North, 21 August 2018

On August 21, 1940, Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International and the co-leader of the Russian Revolution, died from wounds inflicted the day before by an assassin, the Stalinist GPU agent Ramon Mercader.

New in Arabic

Arabic translation of preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend

We are publishing here the Arabic translation of the new preface written by David North for the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International.

Autoworkers Issues

Late Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne lied to federal investigators about gift to UAW official

By Marcus Day, 17 August 2018

UAW bribery predated 2009, lawyer for former Fiat Chrysler executive tells court

More on autoworkers issues »

Mehring Books

Two new pamphlets from Mehring Books

15 August 2018

Mehring Books is pleased to announce that two new pamphlets—The World Socialist Web Site and the Defense of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks and The 2018 Teacher Rebellion—are available for online purchase.

Defend Julian Assange!

London: Ecuador embassy vigil marks six years since Julian Assange granted asylum

By Paul Mitchell, 18 August 2018

Christine Assange, mother of WikiLeaks editor: “I’ve not been able to speak to my son for four months”

By Richard Phillips, 24 July 2018

Mueller investigation seeks to implicate WikiLeaks and Julian Assange in “Russian interference”

Protest in London against Ecuadorian President Moreno’s persecution of Julian Assange

By our reporters, 25 July 2018

The Turnbull government must act to repatriate Australian citizen Julian Assange to Australia

By James Cogan, 19 June 2018

Bringing Julian Assange Home

By John Pilger, 19 June 2018

More on the campaign to free Julian Assange »

Featured Video

Coby Day: Hundreds memorialize fallen Detroit autoworker Jacoby Hennings

Friends and family of Jacoby Hennings (1995 - 2017) want answers about the circumstances surrounding the young autoworker's death at Ford's Woodhaven stamping plant.

International Committee of the Fourth International

Preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend

By David North, 21 June 2018

We are posting the new preface written by David North for the soon to be released thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International.

Support the Socialist Equality group in Turkey!
Statement of the SE group, in sympathy with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), on the snap elections in Turkey

WSWS 20th Anniversary

Twenty years of the World Socialist Web Site: 1998–2018

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 14 February 2018

As the WSWS marks its 20th anniversary of daily posting, it is taking the lead in exposing the conspiracy by governments and corporations to censor the Internet as the ruling class prepares for war and domestic repression.

Lenin, Trotsky and the Marxism of the October Revolution

By David North, 19 March 2018

David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (US), delivered this lecture at the University of Leipzig on March 16.