The Democratic Green Socialist group of Solidarity members (DGS) have welcomed the Left Unity initiative launched by the party's National Steering Committee (NSC) last week.  The DGS publish a bi-monthy, online magazine www.democraticgreensocialist.org - DGS editorial statement below: 

‘These are undoubtedly times of crisis, but a time of crisis can also be a time of opportunity.  Working class people in Scotland and across the world will face increasing pressure as the crisis deepens.  A renewed left must be there standing shoulder to shoulder with these (extra) ordinary folk, defending them from attack and helping them defend themselves. 

But this is also the time to be spelling out the case ‘for a newer world’, for a new and reinvigourated socialism, shorn of the errors of the past and claiming democracy, liberty, science, and the environment as our own, as well as the more traditional territories of workers rights, social ownership, anti-imperialism and wealth redistribution.  

All socialists, but particularly pro-independence socialists, need to make this crusade their common cause. And they will call on thinking people with a conscience everywhere to join them.’

Danny Masterton of Coalfields Solidarity secured over 7% of the vote in the by-election for the Ballochmyle Ward of East Ayrshire Council.  Despite a 'squeeze' on the other parties in what was perceived to be a close contest between Labour and the SNP, the vote for Solidarity was cause for optimism in future elections in this area.  Local organiser Jim Monaghan said:

"We are on course for a Solidarity councillor in 2011.  Danny fought a great campaign and, unlike other parties, we wont be going away until the next election.  We will still be fighting in these communties for a fairer deal for low paid workers and pensioners, when the major parties election teams return to their bases."

Solidarity's National Steering Committee (NSC) unanimously backed a proposal from Tommy Sheridan calling on members to support a "Left Unity' intitiative.  The party's Co-Convenor had been approached by leading trade unionists across the UK to advance the idea of Scotland's left parties uniting around an agreed "charter".  To read the full NSC-endorsed statement by Tommy Sheridan click 'read more' below.

Climate March Scotland 2008

Saturday 6th December 2008Glasgow 

Assemble 12.30 The Amphitheatre, Clyde Street

March to Caledonian University 

More details at; www.scottishclimatemarch.info  

Public Ownership – Not Higher Prices 

Solidarity slams claims higher fuel bills necessary to pay for carbon reduction. 

As environmental and social justice protestors prepare to gather in Glasgow this weekend for the national demonstration against climate change, Solidarity have slammed claims made in Monday’s report from the government’s Commission on Climate Change that significant carbon emission reduction can only be achieved by massive real rises in the cost of gas and electricity.

Solidarity launches left response to Credit Crunch and Recession 

In a week when latest research commissioned for the BBC shows that one third of all Scottish households are “breadline poor,” Solidarity have published a new pamphlet analysing the economic crisis from a socialist perspective and calls, amongst other things, for full public ownership of the banks, utility and energy companies. 

The Bubble Bursts, written by the party’s Assistant National Secretary Steve Arnott, details the scale of the collapse of the international capitalist financial system, and pulls no punches in holding Gordon Brown and New Labour to account for their part in the creation of the housing and debt bubbles that led to the crisis. 

The figures for poverty in Scotland are contained in a new report, “Changing UK”, produced by Sheffield University, which looked at how nations and regions within Britain have altered over the past four decades.  The report confirms that even during a period of so-called economic “boom”, Scotland had the largest number of poor people in each of the last four decades, as well as the highest death rate of all 14 regions examined.  

Solidarity members and supporters joined with almost 1,000 people on the annual STUC St Andrews Day Anti – Racism March on Saturday 29th November. 

At a time when the collapse of global economic system means that sections of the media, politicians and the far right in particular will look to marginalise and blame sections of our communities for the crisis there has never been a better time to stand shoulder to shoulder with all those opposed to racism. 

For more pictures click below.

Keep up to date with Solidarity's campaign in East Ayrshire in the by-election blog http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/blogsection/5/34/

Tommy Sheridan today called on the voters to put people first and reject Alistair Darling's budget. Solidarity have joined Tony Benn, George Monbiot, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, MEPs Jill Evans and Caroline Lucas and Trades Union branches across the UK, in supporting the People Before Profit Charter peoplebeforeprofit.wordpress.com/ .  Sheridan said:

"New Labour allow billionaires to avoid paying tax altogether and all of the budget measures are aimed at businesses and banks with Darling, Mandelson and Brown clearly stating their only interest is in getting the people to borrow more and spending more, which is partly where this all started.  It's time to stop squandering billions on wars and weapons and redistribute the wealth from the rich to the poor."

Three Human Rights Observers with the International Solidarity Movement have begun a hunger strike in protest over the illegal confiscation of Palestinian fishing boats by Israel. The three HROs, Darlene Wallach of the U.S., Vittorio Arrigoni of Italy, and Andrew Muncie of Scotland, were forcibly abducted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday, while accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

According to Wallach, “We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while. Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen.”

The Labour Government in Westminster are about to take up to 40% of benefits from lone parents who cannot find work.  From next week parents whose children are over 12 years old will face benefit cuts if you do not prove they are looking for work or take jobs affered to them.  Solidarity Co-Convenor, Rosemary Byrne said:

"Income Support is already too low, how could a family survive on 40% less?  Not all parents have the support of extended family and this could lead to many teenagers fending for themselves.  The only result of this will be more latch-key children and more poverty.  At a time when people are losing jobs Labour should be targetting the rich and not the poorest.  They have billions for bankers yet want to raid the purses of already hard-pressed families."