31 December 2018

Opioid overdose deaths triple among US teens and young children

By Kate Randall, 31 December 2018

The depth of the opioid crisis facing young people points to the woefully inadequate response of the government to this social catastrophe as it spirals out of control.

Trump orders freeze in federal salaries as shutdown reaches ten days

By Patrick Martin, 31 October 2018

The purported “showdown” over Trump’s demand for a border wall is a stage-managed conflict in which both sides support repressive anti-immigrant measures.

Impact on workers, services spreads as US shutdown enters second week

Trump administration in question as political warfare in Washington intensifies

A closer look at American “democracy”

More on the Trump Presidency »

Strike looms in Los Angeles as struggles by educators set to continue in 2019

By Nancy Hanover, 31 December 2018

The new year promises to inaugurate growing struggles in defense of public education, as teachers around the world prepare strikes and protests.

January 10 strike date set for 33,000 Los Angeles teachers

Virginia teachers plan statewide protest to demand school funding

Teacher unions in Washington state back Democrats’ regressive school taxes

By Kayla Costa, 31 December 2018

Months after the statewide teachers’ struggle, the Democratic Party, unions and pseudo-left groups are uniting to implement regressive taxes in the name of funding public education.

Amid widespread violence, Bangladesh’s ruling party re-elected

By Vimal Perera, 31 December 2018

The opposition parties have condemned the election as “farcical” and demanded a “fresh election under non-partisan administration.”

“That place is a death trap”
Faurecia workers respond to exposure of conditions at US auto parts plant

By our reporters, 31 December 2018

Workers describe being treated like slaves and compare their factories to plantations.

India: Stalinist unions suppress Tamil Nadu auto strikes, promise “industrial peace”

By Arun Kumar and Yuan Darwin, 31 December 2018

The strikes’ outcome is further proof that the Stalinist-led CITU serves as an industrial police force for big business, containing and suppressing working-class opposition.

US intelligence think tank conducted “false flag” operation impersonating Russian election interference

By Will Morrow, 31 December 2018

New Knowledge sought to influence the 2017 Alabama election and make it appear that Russia was intervening to back the Republican candidate.

One year since Trump’s tax cuts: a balance sheet
Stock buybacks reach $1 trillion

By E.P. Milligan, 31 December 2018

It is now clear the vast majority of the corporate spending of the tax windfall has gone to the further enrichment of a tiny parasitic layer of investors and CEOs.

5,147 workers died at work in the United States in 2017

By Jessica Goldstein, 31 December 2018

The findings of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and a report on the underreporting of workplace fatalities are a glaring indictment of the capitalist system.

Facing possible liquidation, Sears to close 80 more stores in March

By Kevin Martinez, 31 December 2018

Hours after the announcement, Sears Holding chairman and hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert offered to buy the company, valued at $4.4 billion.

FCC to launch investigation of CenturyLink following US-wide 911 outage

By Jacob Crosse, 31 December 2018

Phone and internet services were disrupted across the United States last week, in some cases for as long as 48 hours.

UK: Cross-party moves escalate to prevent Brexit and secure second referendum

By Robert Stevens, 31 December 2018

Amid an unprecedented crisis of rule, Corbyn’s major concern is to preserve the unity of the Labour Party on the basis that only a Labour government can rescue British imperialism.

German AfD parliamentarian joins weapons drill of far-right group in South Africa

By Johannes Stern, 31 December 2018

Petr Bystron, an AfD member of the Bundestag, took part in shooting exercises of the far-right paramilitary “Suidlanders” during an official parliamentary trip to South Africa.

South Australian university partners with US defense contractor Lockheed Martin

By Eric Ludlow, 31 December 2018

The decision by the University of Adelaide, behind the backs of students and staff, marks the further integration of Australian universities into the US-led war drive against China and Russia.

New in Norwegian

Titalls drepte i protester mot innstramminger og undertrykking i Sudan

Jean Shaoul, 29. desember 2018

At Sudans styringselite har reagert med en slik voldsomhet på disse demonstrasjonene vitner om dybden av den økonomiske og politiske krisen.

Facebook: Den globale sensoren

Andre Damon, 29. desember 2018

Året vi legger bak oss var vitne til en intensivering av internettsensur fra Google, Facebook og Twitter, som forvandler disse foretakene til sensorer som kontrollerer hva brukerne sier, gjør og tenker.

Frankrikes «gul vest»-protester og Mélenchons bedragerske «borgernes revolusjon»

Alex Lantier, 29. desember 2018

Med sine oppfordringer til «gul vest»-protesterende om å gjennomføre en «borgernes revolusjon», prøver Mélenchon å forvirre, kvele og stenge ned bevegelsen.

New in French

Des dizaines de personnes tuées lors de manifestations contre l'austérité et la répression au Soudan

Jean Shaoul, 31 décembre 2018

La réaction féroce de l’élite dirigeante soudanaise témoigne de la profondeur de la crise économique et politique.

Facebook, le censeur du monde

Andre Damon, 31 décembre 2018

Cette année, Google, Facebook et Twitter ont intensifié leur censure de l’Internet et fait de ces entreprises des censeurs qui contrôlent ce que leurs utilisateurs disent, pensent et font.

Les «gilets jaunes» et la fraude de la «révolution citoyenne» de Mélenchon

Alexandre Lantier, 31 décembre 2018

En proposant une «révolution citoyenne» aux «gilets jaunes», Mélenchon tente d’isoler et d’étrangler leur mouvement.

Le 50e anniversaire de la fondation du SEP (Sri Lanka)
La lutte politique de la RCL/SEP contre la trahison du LSSP

W.A. Sunil et Deepal Jayasekera, 31 décembre 2018

La RCL a mené une lutte constante, dans des conditions difficiles, contre le second gouvernement de coalition, en particulier contre le LSSP, qui continuait de monnayer de façon malhonnête son bilan trotskyste.

New in Spanish

Facebook: el censor global

Andre Damon, 31 diciembre 2018

Este año ha sido testigo de una intensificación de la censura del internet por parte de Google, Facebook y Twitter, transformando estas empresas en censores que vigilan lo que sus usuarios digan, hagan y piensen.

Las autoridades universitarias suprimen protesta estudiantil en China

Peter Symonds, 31 diciembre 2018

El régimen del PCCh, el cual ha abandonado prácticamente toda su fraseología socialista, está horrorizado ante la posibilidad de que los estudiantes politicen las luchas de los trabajadores.

Roma de Alfonso Cuarón: arte y lucha

Rafael Azul, 31 diciembre 2018

Cuarón logra pintar un cuadro de fuerza y dignidad humana en un ensayo filmado sobre un difícil periodo en la vida de la familia y de su sirvienta Cleo.

Indefendible de Rohini Hensman: la ISO descubre su musa —la CIA— Tercera parte

Alex Lantier, 31 diciembre 2018

Para Hensman, ser "moral" significa abrazar las mentiras y las provocaciones utilizadas para vender las guerras estadounidenses.

Las protestas de los “chalecos amarillos” en Francia y el fraude de la “revolución ciudadana” de Mélenchon

Alex Lantier, 31 diciembre 2018

Con sus llamamientos a que los manifestantes de los “chalecos amarillos” lleven a cabo una “revolución ciudadana”, Mélenchon está intentando confundir, estrangular y poner fin al movimiento.

Académicos y estudiantes se oponen al nombramiento a la Universidad de Cambridge del eugenicista Noah Carl: Parte 1

Thomas Scripps, 31 diciembre 2018

Esta es la primera de una serie de dos partes sobre el significado político del nombramiento del eugenicista Noah Carl como investigador de la Universidad de Cambridge.

New in German

Lehren aus den Fälschungen im Spiegel

Peter Schwarz, 31. Dezember 2018

Die Entlarvung eines Fälschers in der Spiegel-Redaktion zeigt beispielhaft, wie die sogenannten „Qualitätsmedien“ die öffentliche Meinung manipulieren.

Facebook: Der globale Zensor

Andre Damon, 31. Dezember 2018

In diesem Jahr haben Google, Facebook und Twitter die Internet-Zensur verstärkt. Diese Unternehmen haben sich in Zensoren verwandelt, die alles kontrollieren, was ihre Nutzer sagen, tun und denken.

US-Shutdown: Die Folgen für Arbeiter und den öffentlichen Dienst

Patrick Martin, 31. Dezember 2018

Mehr als 800.000 Beschäftigte der Bundesbehörden erhalten zum Jahresende kein Gehalt.

Dänemark will abgelehnte Flüchtlinge auf Insel verbannen

Marianne Arens, 31. Dezember 2018

Die Regierung und das Parlament Dänemarks haben beschlossen, abgelehnte Asylbewerber künftig auf der Insel Lindholm zu isolieren.

Frankreich: Zweite „Gelbwesten“-Versammlung in Commercy

unserem Reporter, 31. Dezember 2018

Mehr als 100 Arbeiter, Freiberufler, Kleinunternehmer und Arbeitslose versammelten sich in Commercy, um über die weiteren Perspektiven des Kampfs gegen Präsident Emmanuel Macron zu diskutieren.

New in Turkish

2019 Avrupa seçimleri
AB’ye, toplumsal eşitsizliğe, faşizme ve savaşa hayır! Sosyalizm ve Avrupa işçi sınıfının birliği için!

Sosyalist Eşitlik Partisi (Almanya), 24 Aralık 2018

Sosyalist Eşitlik Partisi (SGP), Mayıs 2019’da, Avrupa seçimlerine, aşırı sağın yükselişine, artan militarizme, bir polis devletinin inşa edilmesine ve büyüyen toplumsal eşitsizliğe karşı çıkmak için, ülke çapında bir seçim listesiyle katılacak.

New in Russian

Протесты «желтых жилетов» во Франции: Куда дальше?

Алекс Лантье, 14 декабря 2018 г.

Ключевым вопросом является создание независимых организаций рабочего класса во Франции и в международном масштабе в качестве подготовки к европейской всеобщей забастовке.

Other Languages

Perspective

Amid global crackdown on refugees
One sixth of world’s people want to flee their home countries

31 December 2018

Some 750 million people, not including children, want to escape war, poverty, conflict and disease caused by capitalism.

Earlier Perspectives »

WSWS Holiday Schedule

Over the New Year holiday period, we will not publish on Tuesday, January 1 or Wednesday, 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

Der Spiegel’s counterfeit journalism and the campaign against “fake news”

By Peter Schwarz, 31 December 2018

The unmasking of a counterfeiter in the editorial offices of the German newsweekly Der Spiegel has exposed the manipulation of public opinion by the so-called authoritative media.

Germany’s Der Spiegel spreads fake news

Facebook: The global censor

French “yellow vest” protests expose anti-worker role of New Anticapitalist Party

By Alex Lantier, 31 December 2018

The NPA reacted to the protests by first denouncing them as fascist and then demanding that the trade union bureaucracy assert control over the movement and restore order.

France’s “yellow vest” protests and the fraud of Mélenchon’s “citizens revolution”

Commercy “yellow vest” protesters hold second Popular Assembly

More on the 2018 'yellow vest' protests in France »

Academics and students oppose Cambridge University appointment of eugenicist Noah Carl—Part 2

By Thomas Scripps, 31 December 2018

This is the second and concluding part of a series on the political significance of the appointment by Cambridge University of eugenicist Noah Carl as a research fellow.

Academics and students oppose Cambridge University appointment of eugenicist Noah Carl—Part 1

Ten years since Canada’s constitutional coup

By Keith Jones, 31 December 2018

Just weeks after the 2008 financial crash, Canada’s Conservative government used the arbitrary powers of the unelected governor-general to shut down parliament and prevent its defeat in a no-confidence vote.

Behind the epidemic of police killings in America: Class, poverty and race

By Benjamin Mateus, 20 December 2018

Part one | Part two | Part three

More in police violence in America »

Arts Review

Best film and television of 2018

By David Walsh and Joanne Laurier, 31 December 2018

The film world in 2018 can be viewed and judged in different ways and by distinct standards.

Musical highlights of 2018

By Matthew Brennan and Hiram Lee, 31 December 2018

Many of the year’s best musicians refused to limit themselves to one “lane,” “border,” genre or supposedly separate culture.

Vice: A portrait of an American corporate-military gangster

By David Walsh and Joanne Laurier, 29 December 2018

Actor Kevin Spacey releases defiant video: “It’s never that simple, not in politics and not in life”

By David Walsh, 28 December 2018

Actor Geoffrey Rush denies new #MeToo-inspired claims of “inappropriate” behaviour

This week in history: December 31-January 6

25 years ago: Zapatista rebellion erupts in Chiapas, Mexico

The peasant-based Zapatista Army of National Liberation staged an open revolt in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico, on January 1, 1994, the day that the North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect.

More »

50 years ago: Irish civil rights demonstrators attacked while police watch

On January 4, 1969, Irish civil rights protesters engaged in a four-day march from Belfast to Derry to protest the treatment of Northern Ireland’s Catholic minority, were attacked by a mob of Unionists while police stood by and did nothing.

More »

75 years ago: Hitler speech highlights crisis of fascist regimes

On January 1, 1944, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler delivered a New Year’s message which pointed to the increasing crisis of the fascist regimes in Europe, amid major military defeats and mounting opposition from the working class.

More »

 

100 years ago: 700,000 workers march in Berlin in anti-government protest

In an enormous demonstration on January 5, 1919, hundreds of thousands of workers massed in the streets of Berlin to protest the actions of the German government, which was dominated by the right-wing Social Democrats.

More »

International Committee of the Fourth International

The 50th anniversary of the founding of the SEP (Sri Lanka)
Victory of the Trotskyists in the 1985–1986 split in the ICFI

By Saman Gunadasa and K. Ratnayake, 29 December 2018

David North addresses New Zealand meeting celebrating 80 years of the Fourth International

By our reporters, 11 December 2018

80th anniversary of the Fourth International celebrated in Melbourne with public lecture

Eighty Years of the Fourth International: The Lessons of History and the Struggle for Socialism Today

By David North, 9 October 2018

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

Workers Struggles

NSW Ambulance makes stunning reversal of allegation against Australian paramedic Tony Jenkins

By Cheryl Crisp, 27 December 2018

Teamsters union releases new sellout contracts for 15,000 Midwest UPS workers

By George Marlowe, 28 December 2018

UPS workers describe company reign of terror in wake of Teamsters sellout

“I decided that something was wrong with the world and not me”
College loan debt and the life of an adjunct professor

By Nancy Hanover, 27 December 2018

“Amazon ruined my life”
Amazon hired private detectives to spy on injured worker

By Tom Hall, 22 December 2018

Police break up Amazon workers’ protest over oppressive conditions

“I think the whole shipping business is a little corrupt”
Amazon worker wrongfully fired for theft reveals company’s dead-end appeal system

More on Amazon »

Sri Lanka: Abbotsleigh tea plantation workers speak out against harsh living and working conditions

By our reporters, 21 December 2018

Sri Lanka: Action committee of Abbotsleigh Estate workers holds inaugural meeting

The international significance of the Sri Lankan plantation workers’ strike

History

Remembering the Kindertransport: 80 years since 10,000 mainly Jewish children were allowed in to Britain
Until February 10, 2019 at the Jewish Museum London

By Paul Mitchell, 28 December 2018

The bicentenary of Frederick Douglass
A leading figure of the anti-slavery struggle

By Fred Mazelis, 20 December 2018

Science

Moon targeted for further exploration, orbiting space stations and militarization

By Henry Allan and Bryan Dyne, 27 December 2018

New in Urdu

New postings in Urdu on capitalist breakdown and war, France’s Yellow Vest protests

27 December 2018

Four recent WSWS Perspectives are now available in Urdu, Pakistan’s national language.

Book Review

Rohini Hensman’s Indefensible: The ISO discovers its muse—the CIA

By Alex Lantier, 14 December 2018

Rohini Hensman’s book, issued by the International Socialist Organization’s (ISO) Haymarket Books publishing house, is an endorsement of imperialist war.

Part one | Part two | Part three | Part four

The fight against mass layoffs at GM

Political cartoon: Federal prosecutors point to UAW corruption during 2015 FCA contract negotiations

Members of the bargaining committee wined and dined themselves on $15,000 of FCA money to prematurely celebrate the 2015 FCA agreement which workers then rejected.

Watch: Shannon Allen's remarks at Detroit autoworkers meeting

A significant step forward: Detroit meeting of autoworkers resolves to form rank-and-file committees

By Joseph Kishore, 13 December 2018

Socialist Equality Party

Resolution of the SEP (UK) Fourth National Congress
The resurgence of the class struggle and the tasks of the Socialist Equality Party (UK)

By the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 6 December 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Fourth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain, which was held October 27-30, 2018.

IYSSE

Student parliament condemns right-wing attack on IYSSE meeting at Humboldt University in Berlin

By our reporters, 17 December 2018

Security and the Fourth International

The origins and findings of the Security and the Fourth International investigation

By Eric London, 14 November 2018

This is the text and audio of a lecture delivered by Eric London in Detroit, Michigan reviewing the monumental investigation conducted by the International Committee of the Fourth International titled Security and the Fourth International, which exposed the infiltration of the movement by agents of the FBI and Stalinist GPU.

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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.