Ben Reid

Two conferences of the English anti-war party, Respect — The Unity Coalition, were convened on November 17 in London. Both were attended by around 350 people. The “Respect Renewal” forces were led by MP George Galloway and 19 other non-Socialist Workers Party members of Respect’s national council. The SWP convened its own conference across town.

Fractures have emerged in Respect — the Unity Coalition, a group formed in January 2004 by an alliance that drew together expelled Labour MP George Galloway (now Respect’s sole MP), the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and anti-war activists. On August 23, Galloway issued a letter to Respect’s National Council titled “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” criticising the group’s lack of organisation and “custom of anathematisation in the organisation which is deeply unhealthy and has been the ruin of many a left-wing group before us”.

Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva &#151 candidate of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT, Workers Party) &#151 received over 46% of the vote in the first round of Brazil's presidential elections, held October 6. He must contest a second round

PORTO ALEGRE — The second World Social Forum occurred at an important time in Brazilian politics. On January 19 Celso Daniel, mayor of Santo Andre in Sao Paulo state, was found murdered. Daniel is the second mayor belonging to the

PORTO ALEGRE — The outstanding success of the second World Social Forum dealt a severe blow to the proponents of the "end of the anti-globalisation movement after September 11" pundits. Some 51,300 people from all over the world and

MANILA — The leader of the militant BMP trade union federation and prominent leftist, Filemon "Popoy" Lagman, was assassinated on February 6. Four gunmen opened fire while Lagman was visiting the Diliman campus of the University of

Kennett continues sell-off of gasMELBOURNE — The state Coalition government is continuing its privatisation of gas services despite mounting concern from consumer and trade union groups. On March 10, the government announced that

ETU to challenge Labor's industrial policyMELBOURNE — The leadership of one of Victoria's more militant unions, the state branch of the Electrical Trades Union, is attempting to force the state Labor Party to endorse an alternative

MUA-Fluor Daniel deal criticised By Susan Priceand Ben Reid MELBOURNE — News of the agreement between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and contractor Fluor Daniel has caused uproar among unionists. The agreement, which entails substantial

Activists discuss the future of unionsMELBOURNE — The re-election of the Howard government threatens to bring in a new period of extensive attacks on workers' rights and trade unions. Seventy people attended a seminar, organised by

By Susan Priceand Ben Reid MELBOURNE — The sincerity of the intentions of the state Liberal government's royal commission into the Longford gas disaster is being questioned. The fire at the Longford plant in September left much of Victoria

MELBOURNE — The September 25 explosion at the Longford gas processing plant near Sale left two workers dead and millions of Victorians without gas. Hundreds of thousands of workers have been stood down. While the