Glasgow Day School (from 1.00pm)
Date:
Saturday, 10 May 2014 - 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Venue: Maryhill Community Central Halls, 304 Maryhill Road, Glasgow G20 7YE
Directions: About 7 minutes walk north from St.George's Cross SPT subway station
The Scottish Referendum; an exercise in futility - John Cumming
The referendum on Scottish independence will ask: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" From now until polling day you will be subjected to politicians and commentators agonising over this question on television and in other media.
The referendum on Scottish independence will ask: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" From now until polling day you will be subjected to politicians and commentators agonising over this question on television and in other media.
The Scottish National Party government is exhorting you to vote "yes". Its argument is that the interests of the "people of Scotland" can be served best by a government in Edinburgh rather than one in London. But what people do they mean? To nationalists, the nation, or nation-state, is an entity to which we should have automatic allegiance. But what exactly is a nation, and in whose interests does a nation-state operate?
The nation-state is a convenient vehicle by means of which a local (national) capitalist class can exploit the workers within its boundaries; it brings no benefit to the workers. Instead of independence for a nation, the workers should seek independence for themselves: independence from the tyranny of capital and silly flag-waving nations! To do anything else is - just like the coming referendum - an exercise in futility!
The growth of Russian capitalism - Brian Gardner
History repeats itself, as someone once said. Almost exactly 160 years ago, war broke out in the Crimea. And while there are important differences to today's Ukraine tensions, we can see at work the very same power-games of the planet's rulers and their hired henchmen.
The West views Putin's Russia in much the say as the Tsar's Russian "bear" was feared in the 19th Century; it was a backward and conservative - but most of all, an aggressive - threat to the old economic powers and their global economic interests.
Russia has of course had a fairly unique process of capitalist development, from Tsar to totalitarian dictatorship to a Mafia friendly/free-market economy; how useful is this in understanding the current situation, and what does it mean for the future of capitalism in the region and indeed, the future security of the planet?
A world based on co-operation - Jacqueline Shodeke
The last century was called quite correctly the century of war. At the end of the Second World War lots of speculations were made; for instance, all the new methods of production would lead to the working day being reduced to six hours.
Wars remain with us still. Production has increased continuously, yet, workers are now asked to work until the age of 68-70. The problems of unemployment and the stress for many workers remains with us, while many workers who are working find they have to go to food banks because their wages are so low.
Capitalism is a worldwide system and Jacqueline will emphasise that an entirely new set of human relationships are possible from a world socialist perspective.
All welcome
Free admission
The growth of Russian capitalism - Brian Gardner
History repeats itself, as someone once said. Almost exactly 160 years ago, war broke out in the Crimea. And while there are important differences to today's Ukraine tensions, we can see at work the very same power-games of the planet's rulers and their hired henchmen.
The West views Putin's Russia in much the say as the Tsar's Russian "bear" was feared in the 19th Century; it was a backward and conservative - but most of all, an aggressive - threat to the old economic powers and their global economic interests.
Russia has of course had a fairly unique process of capitalist development, from Tsar to totalitarian dictatorship to a Mafia friendly/free-market economy; how useful is this in understanding the current situation, and what does it mean for the future of capitalism in the region and indeed, the future security of the planet?
A world based on co-operation - Jacqueline Shodeke
The last century was called quite correctly the century of war. At the end of the Second World War lots of speculations were made; for instance, all the new methods of production would lead to the working day being reduced to six hours.
Wars remain with us still. Production has increased continuously, yet, workers are now asked to work until the age of 68-70. The problems of unemployment and the stress for many workers remains with us, while many workers who are working find they have to go to food banks because their wages are so low.
Capitalism is a worldwide system and Jacqueline will emphasise that an entirely new set of human relationships are possible from a world socialist perspective.
All welcome
Free admission
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