Socialist Appeal New Zealand

Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster Profit to Blame

It’s been close to a month since the Deepwater Horison Oil Rig exploded and sank into the Gulf of Mexico, just 45 miles south of the already beleaguered gulf coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi. The ensuing oil spill may well surpass that which followed the wreck of the Exxon Valdez, which poured over 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound in the spring of 1989. British Petroleum, which was the operator of the oil platform, had been leasing the rig from the deep seas drilling conglomerate TransOcean.

A New Stage in the Crisis of Capitalism - Part Five

The loss of belief in the existing society, its institutions, laws and morality, is a prior condition for revolution. But such a change does not happen all at once. Gradually, to the degree that the given socio-economic system begins to fail, the feeling grows that “something is not right” with society, that some kind of change is necessary.

A New Stage in the Crisis of Capitalism - Part Four

Europe faces a protracted period of austerity, with major contractions in output, consumption and employment. The crisis has started with the smaller, more vulnerable economies like Greece, Portugal and Ireland. But the others will follow, starting with Britain.

A New Stage in the Crisis of Capitalism - Part Three

A New Stage in the Crisis of Capitalism - Part Two

In the second part of his article, Alan Woods looks at the dire economic situation the European Union faces. He also analyses the effects of the European crisis on the world economy.

A New Stage in the Crisis of Capitalism - Part One

After talk of the so called "credit crunch" gave way to optimistic comments about the "green shoots" in the economy, events in Greece caught the bourgeois commentators unaware. Now the world economy has once again been plunged into chaos and uncertainty as the governments of Europe try to contain the fall-out from the near-default of Greece and it is the workers who will be presented with the bill.

“To the toiling masses of Europe it is becoming ever clearer that the bourgeoisie is incapable of solving the basic problems of restoring Europe’s economic life.” (Trotsky, On the United states of Europe, 1923)

New Zealand Perspectives 2010

New Zealand Perspectives 2010 should be read in conjunction with previous years’ perspectives documents (New Zealand Perspectives 2008 & 2009) as they are a continuation from them. In addition these perspectives should be read in conjunction with the latest World Perspectives analysis and associated material from the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) and Socialist Appeal NZ.

The Class War Steps Up

In December 2009 the unemployment rate reached 7.3% of the work force (or 169,000 people), the highest rate in sixteen years.

No to Hikes in GST

Technically it can be argued that the recession is over in New Zealand. However, for the vast majority of workers this simply isn't the case. Unemployment is still rocketing up with another 13% claiming the dole in December2009. Youth unemployment is very high indeed. The government's lack lustre response is to allow a whole generation to rot as they do nothing.

Marxist Education

Socialist Appeal is pleased to re-print this document as it is an invaluable introduction into Marxism. A "must" read for all workers and youth.

The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism

by V.I. Lenin

Parliamentary Cleaners Take Action

Cleaners at Parliament have taken industrial action for the first time ever over their employer's refusal to pay a decent Living Wage.

Maritime Union Fight Outsourcing

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says outsourcing at Ports of Auckland cannot replace a skilled in-house workforce. Maritime Union Auckland Branch Local 13 President Garry Parsloe says any moves to contract out work by port management would meet strong resistance.

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