As workers, unions and workers' movements and parties confront the capitalist coronavirus crisis and attempts by the ruling class and their stooge politicians to fight it on the backs of the people, The Left Chapter has been covering international news and updates from a left perspective.
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On the The Left Chapter website itself the following articles have been our coverage to date, chronologically from the most recent. This post will be updated regularly.
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Each link is accompanied by the opening paragraph of the post.
- Proletarian comrades: It is necessary to organize and fight -- May Day statements from around the world
On International Workers' Day, May 1st, we look at excerpts from statements of Communist and Workers' parties from around the world.
- Seriously...fuck capitalism -- A May Day message from The Left Chapter
With International Workers' Day at hand after weeks of the capitalist coronavirus crisis the truly awful, harsh and likely to get much worse, corporate driven dystopian reality we find ourselves in can only be summarized by saying...fuck capitalism.
- Bailouts for billionaires mean big gains for Wall St and Bay St. on the eve of May Day
If you were in any doubt who the bailouts are really for Wall St. stocks saw record gains in April even as millions of people lost their jobs, were tossed scraps by our governments and face bankruptcy. Meanwhile billionaires like Elon Musk remind us that they need labour to make all their vast wealth and call for workers to head back to dangerous jobs even if they might face illness or death while Trudeau backs away from making sure offshore companies can't get handouts...still think "we are all in this together"?
- Wage subsidies for strikebreakers and no premium pay at the LCBO -- Dispatches from the bailouts
In yet more evidence that the coronavirus bailouts in Canada are being constructed to heavily favour the interests of big business and the corporations, Unifor is calling out the federal government for a loophole in the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) that allows it to be used to subsidize scab labour.
- Blockade No, Solidarity Yes! US imperialist sanctions need to end
In this audio dispatch, Michael Laxer looks at how -- in contrast to Cuban internationalism and humanitarianism -- the US government has intensified their economic blockades during the capitalist coronavirus crisis despite the humanitarian toll this will take. He also looks at how we need to call out and oppose Canada's hypocritical complicity in this.
- Coronavirus, Nova Scotia Shootings, Tara Reade, Lenin 150 & more -- The Week in News and Opinion April 19 - 26
This week's edition begins again with a very large roundup of news and left opinion about the capitalist coronavirus crisis and its impact on working people globally. There are also a number of links related to the terrible mass shooting in Nova Scotia, Tara Reade's allegations against Joe Biden and the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth.
- Workers’ health over profit! -- WFTU May Day poster and statement
The World Federation of Trade Unions, on the occasion of May Day 2020, salutes the workers in all continents; all those whose work continues to move the gears of life even in difficult conditions such as the Coronavirus Pandemic and keeps producing all the necessary goods so that life may continue and the needs of workers and popular strata can be met.
- Social distancing is important...which is why our politicians need to stop being hypocrites about it
In this dispatch, Michael Laxer looks at the dark and dangerous cloud of hypocrisy that surrounds the calls by our politicians for social distancing.
- Right Wing Brain Worms - Hellworld #9
In this episode, Nathaniel Laxer takes a look at the demented protests against the coronavirus protection measures and the broader decline of American Empire.
- Doug Ford does not deserve any praise...and neither do other neo-liberal politicians
The Left Chapter is on You Tube! Be sure to subscribe on You Tube and watch for future dispatches.
In the first of what are meant to be regular The Left Chapter audio dispatches Michael Laxer looks at how we rally around "leaders" like Doug Ford and Justin Trudeau in times of crisis...and why we shouldn't.
- Cuban Solidarity, Bernie Sanders, the Leaked Labour Report & more -- The Week in News and Opinion April 12 - 19
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
- No time left. This social order must change! -- Statements from Turkey, Greece and Sweden
Three excerpts from recent statements by the Communist parties of Turkey, Greece and Sweden about the coronavirus, capitalism and the need for socialism.
- Quebec reopens mines despite the concerns of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador
As it continues to demand exceptionally strict social distancing actions by people in cities, neighbourhoods and parks -- backed by draconian fines and aggressive law enforcement -- the province of Quebec is allowing mining to resume over the objections of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL).
- Solidarity Yes -- Blockade No! We Demand the Immediate Lifting of the Criminal US Blockade of Cuba
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread over the whole planet causing enormous human pain and loses, it tragically confirms the existence of two different approaches: one insisting to put profits and imposition of global control above public health and the well-being of their own people, and a different one putting people, their health and well-being, above all other interests.
- The hypocrisy of our leaders around social distancing is reckless
In the past couple of weeks reports have started to come in of freshly empowered cops and by-law officers seemingly going overboard enforcing often vague new rules around social distancing. In Police and bylaw harassment is not a coronavirus cure we noted that without proper oversight and control police will seize on even necessary restrictions to behave in draconian and arbitrary ways and that this is certain to have a greater impact on racialized and marginalized communities as well as on those living in poverty.
- Coronavirus and Racism, Worker Resistance, Sanctions & more -- The Week in News and Opinion April 5 - 12
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
- Police and bylaw harassment is not a coronavirus cure
We have all heard the mystifying stories of folks choosing to gather in public or private spaces in ways that are dangerous and that could spread Covid-19 in our communities. There have also been cases of people with the virus or who may have been exposed to it ignoring quarantine directives in ways that are obviously anti-social.
- #BloqueoNoSolidaridadSi campaign seeks to end cruel American sanctions
The Foro de São Paulo -- a coalition of leftist parties and groups from Latin American and the Caribbean -- has launched the #BloqueoNoSolidaridadSi twitter and petition campaign with the aim of pressuring the US to end its cruel sanctions against countries like Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
- There is no vaccine to humanize capitalism
Excerpt from the statement "We demand free and public health for all" by World Federation of Trade Unions General Secretary George Mavrikos to mark World Health Day on April 7.
- The United States was always the Evil Empire
The Independent had an article from Hannah Selinger April 6 that dissected, with a degree of despair, the appalling actions of the United States and the Trump administration as the coronavirus crisis unfolds.
- Capitalist Coronavirus Crisis, US Aggression Against Venezuela, India & more -- The Week in News and Opinion March 29 - April 5
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
- "It is becoming more and more evident that Socialism is the alternative" - Statements from India
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward Bloc released a joint statement today calling for the government of India to "Attend to People’s Concerns on a War-Footing".
- "Today capitalism itself is bankrupt"
Excerpt from the statement "The end of myths and illusions" by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas, March 31, 2020.
- Capitalist Coronavirus Crisis, Sanctions and Workers' Rights -- The Week in News and Opinion March 22 - 29
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
This list covers the week of March 22 - 29.
- Canadians need to demand an immediate end to criminal imperialist sanctions
As the capitalist coronavirus crisis increasingly highlights the inability of the "advanced" capitalist countries even take care of their own citizens adequately let alone engage in international solidarity actions, socialist Cuba has risen to the occasion.
- 57 Communist and Workers' parties demand "Immediate measures to protect the health and rights of the peoples"
In a joint statement released today 57 Communist and Workers' parties released a set of joint demands that need to be realized to protect workers and people internationally during the capitalist coronavirus crisis. These include calls for strengthening public health systems, ending criminal imperialist sanctions and redirecting public funds from military interventions and exercises to fighting the crisis.
- The centre did not hold
When the epic horror story that is the capitalist coronavirus crisis is finally over the truth will be that the centre did not hold. Things had already fallen apart, but somehow many needed a catastrophe to truly show it.
- Exile -- Hellworld #7
Nathaniel Laxer returns with Episode 7 of his new podcast Hellworld.
In this episode he delves into the differences in how Cuba and China have responded to the coronavirus crisis vs the United States, and how it illustrates a broader conflict between socialism and capitalism.
- Report: Nearly half of Canadian working renters a month or less away from not being able to pay bills -- Urgent relief for workers needed
In an analysis and press release today the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has found that close to "half of working renters in Canada don't have enough savings to pay their bills for more than a month if they lose their jobs".
- Spanish Communist Party praises Chinese solidarity while condemning cruel American sanctions
On Thursday, March 19, Jose Luis Centella, President of the Communist Party of Spain issued a statement in which he praised the efforts of China in fighting the coronavirus pandemic as well as Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for a global Community of Common Destiny.
- Capitalist Coronavirus Crisis and the Worker Fightback -- The Week in News and Opinion March 15 - 22
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
- Ontario Bill 186 "falls far short" Dias says as Unifor continues to call for 14 point plan for workers
Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, is calling out the Doug Ford government for its woefully inadequate response to the capitalist cornonavirus crisis. On Thursday, March 19, the government of Ontario passed Bill 186. With considerable fanfare the bill allows workers 14 days of sick leave if they have to go into quarantine, but this sick leave is unpaid. So while their job may be protected, their income is not.
- "Socialism is imperative for our health!" -- International workers' parties call for socialist solutions to the capitalist coronavirus crisis
As the capitalist coronavirus crisis unfolds it is clear that, after a generation of brutal neo-liberalism, our governments are not up to the task of making sure that people are placed first. For decades they have destroyed the social safety net, eliminated hospital beds and gutted civil society to give tax cuts to the wealthy and wipe out regulations and workers' rights on behalf of the corporations.
- "It is only through our resistance and struggle that we can defend our rights." - WFTU coronavirus statement
Statement of World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) General Secretary George Mavrikos on the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Chickens coming home to roost in austerity Ontario
"Since 1990, the number of hospital beds in Ontario has
decreased by 36%. In that same period, the population has
increased by 39%. Ontario now has a lower per capita acute
bed count than all countries tracked by the OECD."
- Covid-19 hastens the deepening structural crisis of the capitalist system
Excerpts from a public statement by the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI), 15 March 2020
- Capitalist Coronavirus Crisis -- The Week in News and Opinion March 8 - 15
This week's list of articles, news items, visuals and opinion pieces that I see as a must if you are looking for a roundup that should be of interest to The Left Chapter readers.
- Panic buying and hoarding are a function of capitalism
As the capitalist coronavirus crisis unfolds and people across North America (and around the world) face quarantine for two weeks or more coupled with the prospect of lost income, we have seen scenes of what has been described as "panic buying" as well as instances of hoarding. People are stalking up on food -- especially non-perishables like canned goods and pasta -- as well as, most famously, on items like toilet paper.
- European leftist parties demand support for workers during the capitalist coronavirus crisis
Yesterday we looked at what our governments should be doing to protect workers in the face of the exploding capitalist coronavirus crisis. With several million Canadians and tens of millions of Americans just a couple of paychecks away from being on the verge of bankruptcy and homelessness, or of having to make very hard choices, steps need to be taken immediately so that, unlike in 2008, it is not the people who pay the price of the pandemic while big business gets big bailouts.
- We need disciplined, socialist solutions to the coming capitalist coronavirus crisis
It is a terrible and deadly irony that the mainstream media and idiot pundits in the United States went on and on about how the coronavirus was allegedly exposing the flaws of the Chinese system. There were countless, gloating headlines calling it "China's Chernobyl" and asking if it would bring the downfall of the Communist Party. The fact that the Chinese then rapidly took tremendous, Herculean and ultimately successful steps to contain the outbreak was either belittled or ignored.
- Plague Watch USA -- Hellworld #5
Nathaniel Laxer returns with Episode 5 of his new podcast Hellworld.
In this episode, he looks at the ongoing debacle with the mismanagement of the Coronavirus in the US, the repercussions of this potentially plunging capitalism into deep crisis and how it shows the need for fundamental change.
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