George Bush, the imperialist warmonger, is set to visit Belfast on the 16 June. His visit is the last of his final tour of Europe before he is replaced as President. Make sure you’re in Belfast on the day to give Bush the farewell he deserves.

The butcher of Baghdad was invited by the former First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to help in their plan to entice US multinationals to Northern Ireland. Bush’s visit will also mark a seal of approval on the anti-worker direction of the Assembly.

Bush is visiting Northern Ireland in attempt to change his historical legacy. Rather than being remembered as a warmonger, Bush incredibly believes he can wipe out the memory of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and instead be remembered as a man of peace!

When he comes to Belfast we have to send out the message loud and clear that he is not welcome, that his war for oil in Iraq, which has cost $500 billion and one million lives will not be forgotten.

Bush’s legacy will not just be the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but also his criminal inaction against climate change and the widening gap between the rich and the poor across the world. All this makes Bush the most unpopular president in US history.

Socialist Youth will be helping to organise a reception for Bush. We want to make sure that Bush does not get the cosy reception the local politicians would like to give him. Instead he should be met with protests. Everyone from Belfast to Cork can get involved in making sure Bush isn’t welcome.

Get active in the No Welcome for Bush Campaign. Whether you live in Belfast or not everyone can help in building opposition to Bush’s visit. An example of this would be to take posters to put in shop windows in your local area. Leaflets are also available for distribution within schools and workplaces. If you don’t live in Belfast then get in contact with Socialist Youth about arranging transport from your area.

Socialist Youth's campaign to END LOW PAY will fight any cut in the minimum wage. Instead we demand an £8 minimum wage without exemptions.

The cost of food has soared putting pressure on many families to find the extra money just to have three meals a day! Bus fares in Belfast Metro have gone up by 7%, train fares by 9% and taxi fares are set to rise by 23%! So the cost to just get to work is even going up.

While the money left over from working is eaten up in paying for the increasing cost of living, attacks against the poverty level that is the minimum wage are being prepared. The government plans to ‘regionalise’/cut the minimum wage are still being discussed for the near future.

Instead of the minimum wage going up to a necessary £8 an hour only a measly increase of just under 4% has been agreed by the Low Pay Commission. This means the Low Pay Commission is recommending a 16 year old worker on minimum wage should receive £3.52 an hour. Is the Commission for or against low pay?

We cannot depend on government appointed commissions to deal with low pay. Young workers can join and get active in a union in their workplace. This will help build opposition against any cut in the minimum wage and campaign for an immediate increase to £8 an hour for all.

For more information or to get leaflets for your workplace please contact Socialist Youth at socialist.youth@btconnect.com or phone 02890232962.