Quebec solidaire turns ten: A critical appraisal The Quebec solidaire congress held on the weekend of May 28-29th marked the 10 year anniversary for the left-wing party in Quebec. After decades of domination by the Liberals and the Parti Quebecois (PQ), the founding of Quebec solidaire (QS) in 2006 generated a lot of enthusiasm as youth and workers were excited to break the hegemony of the two main bourgeois parties. But what is the balance sheet of these developments and how do we move forward?
Bernie: Build a Mass Socialist Party of the Working Class! The results are in from the final state primaries and the outcome is no real surprise. With the media, the Democratic Party machine, and big money behind her, Hillary Clinton has more pledged delegates than Bernie Sanders, and with the hundreds of superdelegates in her pocket, is all but the party’s nominee. Nonetheless, Bernie Sanders won primaries and caucuses in 22 states and more than 11 million votes. Sanders’ strong showing, including his latest victories in North Dakota and Montana, is proof that millions do not want to settle for Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump.
Bernie: Build a Mass Socialist Party of the Working Class! The results are in from the final state primaries and the outcome is no real surprise. With the media, the Democratic Party machine, and big money behind her, Hillary Clinton has more pledged delegates than Bernie Sanders, and with the hundreds of superdelegates in her pocket, is all but the party’s nominee. Nonetheless, Bernie Sanders won primaries and caucuses in 22 states and more than 11 million votes. Sanders’s strong showing, including his latest victories in North Dakota and Montana, is proof that millions do not want to settle for Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump.
The Bolivarian revolution at the crossroads and the tasks of the Marxists This thesis documentwas drafted, discussed, and approved by our members this past October 2015. Although it was written some months ago, it still remains valid. It reflects a correct understanding of the events that have taken place, and shows how our warnings were confirmed in the face of serious threats from the counterrevolution. We believe that the document serves as a tool in the debate that is developing within the ranks of the Chavista movement in general.
Zika Virus: Capitalism’s Infectious Horror Without End In a recent press release, Dr. Anne Schuchat, a senior Obama administration official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that “Everything we look at with this [Zika] virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought.” As of April 2016, there have been 700 confirmed cases related to the Zika Virus in the United States.
Venezuela - a last warning The assault against the Bolivarian revolution has intensified in the recent days and weeks. Editorials and front pages in US and Spanish newspapers are screaming about hunger in Venezuela and demanding the removal of the “dictatorial regime”. Ongoing scarcity problems have led to instances of looting. The right-wing opposition is attempting to trigger a presidential recall referendum, but is also threatening violent action and appealing to foreign powers, including in some case for military intervention. What is really happening in Venezuela and how can these threats be faced?
Canada's own Panama Scandal: Rich Cheat with Impunity using Tax Havens The hypocrisy of the rich has never been more glaring since the release of the Panama Papers. While the rest of the world is reeling about the scandal, we cannot forget Canada's own tax haven. Canada is not immune to the scandalous use of tax havens among the rich and famous. At least 350 wealthy Canadians listed in the documents have been implicated in the shadowy practices of tax dodging. This has proven what many Canadians already knew: that there is one set of rules for the rich, and another more punishing set of rules for everyone else.
Brazil: #FORATEMER occupies the streets of Sao Paulo At the #ForaTemer (Témer Out!) rally in Sao Paulo on Sunday, May 15th, Liberdade e Luta (Freedom and Struggle) was present among the ten thousand-strong protest.
Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff – the Brazilian ruling class on the warpath The Brazilian Senate has just voted by a majority of 55 votes to 22 to proceed with the impeachment the President Dilma Rousseff. Michel Temer, the Vice-President, and member of the bourgeois PMDB, is now making preparations to form a new right-wing government. This marks the end of a long period of relative political stability in Brazil. The economy is in its worst recession since the 1930s. It is in this context that we can understand the recent dramatic shifts and turns in the political situation.
On May 1st in Brazil The 1st May in Brazil occurred in this year amid the deepening economic crisis and the political crisis in the country with the opening of impeachment of President Dilma Roussef, driven by the bourgeoisie to raise a government able to implement deeper the austerity measures demanded by capital.
United States: IMT Gets National Center in New York City! Following a hugely successful three-month campaign which received support from around the planet, the US section of the IMT is thrilled to announce that we have obtained offices in New York City. This is a tremendous victory for our organization and an important step for the growth of the forces of Marxism in the US. This achievement comes at a time when interest in the ideas of socialism and revolution have reached unprecedented levels in modern memory.
Canadian Perspectives 2016: Preparing for the next stage of struggle The Fightback editorial board is publishing our political perspectives for this year as a draft discussion document. We encourage discussion on this among working class activists and youth.
Obama's Visit to Cuba: A Spoonful of Sugar The US embargo and constant imperialist aggression for over 55 years against Cuba have failed in the aim of destabilizing the Cuban government. Instead, the Cuban people have shown remarkable courage and steadfastness in resisting all of the maneuvers of American imperialism and in defending the numerous gains of Cuban revolution—gains ranging from Cuba's often praised medical system, to the literacy campaigns of the revolution's early days, and, of course, the planned economy that made them possible.
Canadian Marxists launch campaign to hire new full-time revolutionary Fightbackis launching a campaign to hire its fourth full-time organizer. Our aim is to unite revolutionary youth in the struggle for free education, student-worker solidarity, and for a socialist alternative to austerity. This initiative comes after important successes over the past several years, including the hiring of our first full-time organizer in Quebec and the opening of our first office in Toronto.
Chicago Teachers Union Strikes Back Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has been in a militant struggle with the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois for several years. Starting with the Republicans’ “No Child Left Behind” legislation, relentless attacks on students and teachers have followed in the past decade and a half.