More than an earthquake: a brief history of Haitian resistance and imperialist exploitation

The current crisis in Haiti is on everyone's minds with millions of Americans showing their support through vigils, sending aid or donations to relief projects on the ground. But behind the genuine efforts of people trying to help people we see the limp attempts of the American government, which promised only 100 million in aid to Haiti, and peace keeping organizations such as UN. The people of Haiti are without water, shelter, food, and medical supplies. Individuals are searching for their loved ones as makeshift clinics try to treat the wounded with bed sheets and broken furniture. Meanwhile there is no shortage of armed forces in Haiti. But the people of Haiti need food, not weapons. As Jess Hagopian said in an interview on Socialist Worker, "Emphasizing troops over aid creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that will lead to serious bloodshed."

Join us as we discuss the history of Haitian resistance and the economic policies, which have made this natural disaster into a catastrophe. Reading materials are available through Socialist Worker and the Tucson ISO branch.

Thursday January 21st 7:30pm

Main Library

University of Arizona

Paul LeBlanc: Why I'm joining the US ISO

Paul LeBlanc, author of Lenin and the Revolutionary Party, decided to join the International Socialist Organization at this year's Northeast Socialist Conference. We're excited to welcome him and we're sure it's not just because we read his book!

Check out his post on Links: International Journal of Socialist Renewal.

If you are interested in learning more about the ISO check out our "Where We Stand" at the bottom of the page, or contact us via email, phone, or facebook.

Fundraising for CERSC

One of the most important aspects of building a revolutionary socialist organization is getting those ideas out to a greater audience. In order to do so, we look to resources such as International Socialist Review and Haymarket Books. These two publications are the projects of the Center for Economic Research and Social Change, a not for profit 501(c)(3).

Here in Tucson, we are building our branch and building our presence. Help us raise money for this organization, so that it can continue publishing progressive authors such as Amy Goodman, Arundhati Roy, and Wallace Shawn. In the face of capitalism's great resources it is vital that we cultivate our own.

Our goal is $500. Help us meet our goal and to go beyond it!

There will be a fundraising party this Saturday for Halloween at 9pm. It's a costume-if-you-want-to party; $3 at the door, $5 solidarity for beer, entertainment, political discussion, and radical ideas. Contact us for directions!

ISO at University of Texas host forum over incidents in Iran

The Austin Branch of the ISO hosted a forum on the incidents in Iran, last night. Far from being over, the people of Iran are still taking to the streets. Members of the Austin Coalition for Iran and the International Socialist Organization gave presentations on the history of struggle in Iran, backgrounds on the candidates, and the long standing conditions that gave impetus to today's upheaval.

Bobby Longoria wrote a piece for the Daily Texan summarizing the forum. You can find the full article on their website.

Where We Stand - The Politics of the ISO

Part 1.1

In order that people who come across our page can learn more about us, we are putting up a series of posts titled "Where We Stand - The Politics of the ISO." Many of our posts come from Socialist Worker, our daily publication, or International Socialist Review, a bimonthly scholarly journal. But more could be said about the politics, perspective, and organization that is the ISO. Usually when we sit down with our contacts to talk over politics we bring along a copy of this packet. It is the simplest tool we have to introduce you to our project.

We will do abbreviated points every Sunday based on the information in the packet.

Socialism, Not Capitalism

The injustices of war, poverty, exploitation and oppression are a result of a capitalist system. This system puts the interests of a small minority above the interests of the rest, from whom the capitalists profit from their labor. A socialist society is the alternative where workers work, own, and govern collectively. Our tradition is founded in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, carried on in the works of Lenin, Luxemburg, and Trotsky.

Viva Palestina Activists Stopped at Suez Crossing by Egyptian Authorities

Two ISO members joined the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy that left the US on July 4th. They flew in to Cairo to buy supplies and trucks to bring to Gaza. Today there were attempting to cross the Suez Crossing and were stopped by the authorities for reportedly not providing a list of names of those who were on the buses. However, this information was provided to the Egyptian Embassys and has been sent again.

The convoy's press release is copied in below.

Viva Palestina Convoy, July 12, 2009, 2:45 am Cairo

The 100 Viva Palestina humanitarian volunteers have decided to stay the night in their buses at the Mubarak Peace Bridge over the Suez Canal despite pressure from the Egyptian security officials to return to Cairo.

The official reason given at the checkpoint for refusing to allow them to cross is that the officials there did not have a list of the names of the members of the convoy. Such a list was, however, at the request of the Egyptian authorities before any of the convoy members set foot in Egypt sent to the Egyptian ambassadors to Washington, D.C., and London.

The US Embassy in Cairo has now stepped in to forward a newly provided list of those convoy members aboard the buses at the bridge to the Egyptian foreign ministry to clear the way for the convoy's passage.

Nancy Mansour Leigh, a spokeswoman for the Viva Palestina delegation at the Suez crossing, says, “It's going to be an uncomfortable night, but it's nothing compared with what the people of Gaza must live through every day. We've already succeeded in securing internet access and are negotiating other necessary facilities. But whatever facilities are provided or not, our determination will see us through the night and all the way to Gaza.”

New York City Councilman Charles Barron is on the scene at the Suez Canal and acting as chief negotiator with Egyptian security officials. “The Viva Palestina movement has had a great success this morning with our stand at the Suez crossing. We've now got an agreement for us to stay until the list of our convoy members reaches the foreign ministry. It shows what can be achieved with the determination and commitment of a collective body of people. We are determined to cross onto Gaza, and no matter what happens next, out of this first small confrontation, we've achieved a success for the movement in support of the Palestinian people. The convoy is going to move on, and we ain't gonna let nobody turn us around.”

British Member of Parliament George Galloway offered these words of encouragement for the delegation being held up at the crossing:“This is an American convoy. And Americans are used to refusing to give up seats on buses in the struggle for justice. I regard everyone who's putting themselves on the line tonight at the Suez Canal for the success of this humanitarian mission as nothing short of a hero.”

Kevin Ovenden
Viva Palestina coordinator

Socialism Takes a Big Step!

The San Francisco Socialism 2009 Conference was a tremendous success. Over 400 people pre-registered for the conference. But, by the end of the weekend, when the numbers were crunched over 900 people attended the conference. Rooms were packed with standing room only and many walked away inspired with a new sense of clarity on how to apply new ideas and understandings to struggle.

Alan Maass wrote a great article reporting back from the Conference. The organizers of the conference decided that this year would be different; it would be split into two different conferences, one in the midwest and one on the west coast. Well it looks like that decision really hit upon the next excitement and interest people have around socialism and the progressive left!

Read the full article on Socialist Worker.

Such success really exposes the growing opportunity that we have as activists, veterans, students, and socialists to build the left.