For a Fighting Students' Union

by Paul Murphy, SY UCD

UCD STUDENTS' Union President Aonghus Hourihane's reactionary comments about the Reclaim the Streets demonstration is a reflection of the current state of the Students' Union across the country. Instead of fighting for the interests of students, they act only as launch-pads for the careers of those in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin.

Any serious campaign for students' rights, such as a campaign for a decent student grant would bring the students and the Students' Union into conflict with the political establishment. However, at the moment, the Union leaderships are so closely tied to the establishment that to launch any such a campaign is unthinkable. Instead the leadership of most the Students Union prefer to see the unions as commercial concerns, trying to be as profitable as possible, rather than campaigning seriously on the issues that matter - for an increase in the student grant, for decent affordable accommodation, and for truly free third level education.

These Union leaderships can be defeated by the mass action of students in our interests. This was shown in UCD, where Socialist Youth led a successful campaign, against a referendum that would have further commercialised the Union, and decreased democracy within it. Students responded positively to our campaign and as a result the referendum was defeated by 2083 to 1255.

What we need is a militant fighting democratic Students Union across the country - a Union that fights for students' rights. An SU like this could launch a serious campaign for a vastly increased grant, at least to the level of Social Welfare, as a step towards a - living grant of €200 a week plus rent allowance. It could fight for the democratisation of the governing authorities of the colleges in this country; for free public transport for students and for a state funded and publicly book company as the only way to end the rip-off in the educational books market.

The potential force of over a hundred thousand students acting together is huge, but in order for this to be achieved, ordinary students must reclaim our Union from the careerists. For this to happen, thousands of ordinary students must join the battles across to reclaim our Union from these people. This is the only way our USI will become a real weapon of students as opposed to the current tool of the political establishment.

Why We Need International Socialism

by Matt Waine, SY National Organiser

THE WORLD is now a more divided and unequal place than ever before. The world's richest three people now have a greater combined wealth than the income of the world's poorest 600 million people. In the west, a growing number of young people are being forced into low-paid dead end jobs while in the "underdeveloped" world, the vast majority of people face a future dominated by poverty and exploitation. Privatisation and neo-liberal policies are the new Bible from which the capitalists preach.

As the recent period graphically shows, capitalism means conflict, violence and war. In the last century 200 million people died in wars that were basically about profits, dominance of world markets and the prestige of the imperialist powers. India and Pakistan have between them approximately 350 million people living on less than a dollar a day yet have six rimes as many soldiers as doctors!

But what is the alternative. We believe that it is impossible to make capitalism a more humane system. What is needed is a fundamental break with it and the building of a new society based on the needs of the majority of people not on the profits and interests of the bosses and their political backers. To do this we need to mobilise all the oppressed of the world in the fight for a socialist society.

Such a society would take account of the needs of the population and the resources available. The giant multinationals would be taken into democratic public ownership and their resources utilised to guarantee a decent standard of living for ail. A plan of production would be drawn up by representatives of all sections of society to decide what needs to be produced and how much is needed. Instead of elections every five years, committees would be elected at local, regional, national and international level which would democratically fun every area of the economy. Ali representatives would be regularly elected and would be subject to recall at all times as well as only receiving the average wage of the people they represent. Socialism would see an end to all forms of discrimination and the huge damage caused by capitalism on our lives could be healed within a generation.

This is the alternative offered by Socialist Youth. If you agree that capitalism offers no future for young people. If you are opposed to the domination of the world by the multinationals, then join us in building the socialist alternative.

Review: Socialism and the Environment by Martin Cook & Bill Hopwood

by Helena Byrne, SY Drogheda

THE BOOK Socialism and the Environment by Martin Cook and Bill Hopwood is essential reading for any one interested in the environment from a socialist perspective. Not only does this book give a broad account of what capitalism has done to the environment in the past century it also gives viable solutions.

It highlights the huge waste of resources caused by the capitalist market system, especially in agricultural subsidies used in the EU and in the USA to try and manipulate the market and control food prices. The former bas mountains of beef and lakes and milk while millions go short of food everyday.

There is also a lack of commitment to recycling and a complete unwillingness to tackle the ever-growing waste problem at source i.e. production level. Some thirty million metric tonnes of solid waste as well as air and water is pollution, is produced every year. The USA produces one-third of this from large-scale agriculture and big business. House-holds only account for less than one per cent of the waste produced, due to the huge amount of waste imposed by excess packaging on products.

Their attitude to waste is to export it to the neo colonial world. Dumping waste in Africa costs as little as one-thousandth of what it does in the advanced capitalist countries.

The recent collapse of the Kyoto Protocol only reaffirms the point that capitalism cannot prevent, the destruction of our environment.

Technology should be used to benefit the ordinary, rather than making profits. The only way to guarantee the health and well-being of future generations is through the establishment of common ownership and democratic control over the economy, in other words, a socialist society.

"You Can't Have Capitalism Without Racism"

by Cillian Gillespie, SY Dublin

IT WAS Malcolm X who said that "you can't have capitalism without racism'. When looking at capitalism today and its historical development it is difficult not to realise that this is the case.

Historically capitalism bas used racism to justify many of the crimes that it bas carried out. When capitalism first began to develop in the 16th century it was used in order to justify the horrors of slavery. In the 19th century slavery may have outlived its usefulness to capitalism but racism was still fostered and nurtured by it in order to justify the plunder of America and Asia through the process of colonisation. Ideas were put forward that it was necessary to take up the "white mans burden" and that it was out of this that racial caricatures began to form. Racism bas also been used by the system to divide and rule ordinary working people in order to protect its vestige interests.

Today in the so-called third world millions are forced to flee as result of the massive poverty created by the policies of the major institutions of capitalism such as the IMF and the World Bank. Due to the crippling debt that these countries are faced with they are forced to privatise virtually all state owned companies and services and to make drastic cut backs in spending on health and education. Also many are forced to flee the persecution of dictatorial regimes that are backed up by the major capitalist powers. Despite this, representatives of the capitalist parties in the European Union have sought to label those fleeing persecution and poverty scroungers, saying that refugees are simply coming to their respective countries because it is "a soft touch" and have questioned their genuine reasons for fleeing by calling them " bogus asylum seekers".

They have also made it next to impossible to get into their countries through the policy of fortress Europe. This policy which is supported by the Irish government, led to the tragic death of eight Kurdish refugees in December in Wexford. Since 1993 about 2,000 asylum seekers have died due to the policies of the European Union in relation to them. Globalisation may mean the free movement of capital throughout the world, however this does not necessarily mean the free movement of ordinary people who are fleeing the consequences of globalisation. At the recent EU summit in Seville the representatives of the various EU countries decided to tighten immigration controls and this was one of the main features of the protests outside the summit.

If refugees do manage to get into a particular state within the EU they often find themselves scapegoated by the representatives of the capitalist class for the lack of adequate housing or hospital waiting lists brought about by the neo-liberal offensive. In Ireland refugees and asylum seekers have been made scapegoats for the current housing crisis being labelled as spongers by right wing papers such as the Independent and the Evening Herald. Socialist Youth has consistently pointed out that it is as a result of the role played by land speculators and landlords that the prices of houses have skyrocketed. The Fianna Fail/PD government have done precious little to curb the greed of these people.

In Cork politicians such as Joe O'Callaghan and Noel O'Flynn have talked about the need "to look after our own". Yet these people have never looked after the interests of ordinary working class or young people. Bath of them for example voted for service charges, which is a form of double taxation on the former. In reality the only people that they have looked after are the wealthy, through tax amnesties for example. They are now opportunistically and cynically playing the race card in order to revive their political careers. Undoubtedly they have also tried to divert attention from the problems that they and their parties have created. This whipping up of a racist mood has had tragic consequences, resulting in the horrific murder of a Chinese student in January of this year. There have been many racist assaults on refugees in cities throughout the country.

It is because capitalism and racism are linked that the fights against the two are inherently linked. This why Socialist Youth bas put forward the slogan "Attack the system not asylum seekers". This means uniting workers, young people and asylum seekers in a common struggle for jobs, homes and services for all. Neo-liberalism is not the unacceptable face of capitalism, it is the inevitable face of a system that maximises profits in the interests of the few and subsequently uses racism to divide ordinary people on racial and national lines.

Therefore Socialist Youth believes it is necessary to overthrow capitalism and replace with it a socialist society in which the major multinationals and corporations would be brought under the ownership and control of ordinary working people. This would be a society based on co-operation between people of all colours and nationalities by democratically planning for the needs of the majority in society. Organisation is required in order for this to be achieved. Socialist Youth and International Socialist Resistance, the anti capitalist socialist organisation to which SY is affiliated, are seeking to build an international socialist movement that will make sure that capitalism and the racism and poverty it breeds is consigned to the rubbish heap of history.

Inside Socialist Youth:

...in the North...

THROUGHOUT NORTHERN Ireland Socialist Youth continues to grow by offering an alternative to the main sectarian parties. Socialist Youth was formally launched in Derry in June. We were delighted to have a guest speaker; Yuval from our Israel/Palestine sister party. Yuval spoke on how our comrades are active in fighting for a socialist solution. We have been on the streets of Derry campaigning against the re-occupation of the Palestinian territories and against low pay. At one street activity four people joined the branch, and we hope to step up our campaigning work throughout the summer.

The Belfast branch of Socialist Youth has recently taken to the streets campaigning against sectarianism. The response we have received from people has been excellent. This is because we have called for an end to the attacks on both communities and have explained that working class and young people need to unite against the capitalist policies of the assembly executive.

Socialist Youth is also recruiting people in the Bangor area where we hope establish a branch soon. Cassie, a school student living in Bangor explained why she joined:" I was completely put off by the mainstream political parties until I met Socialist Youth. I was really interested in getting involved in the anti-capitalist movement and the idea of an organisation for young people run by young people was great. We really need to build Socialist Youth in Bangor and other parts of the country so that young people have an alternative to the sectarian capitalist parties who couldn't give damn about us"

...in the South...

SINCE BEING established in late 2000, Socialist Youth has been active on a wide range of issues affecting young people. Whether it bas been fighting to end the discrimination of young workers on the issue of minimum wage or the campaign to unite young people, workers and asylum seekers to defend all our interests, Socialist Youth bas clearly established itself as a fighting organisation for young people. We have held two demonstrations over the last few months, one against the growth of racism in Ireland and the other against Bush's so-called "War on Terrorism".

Significantly, Socialist Youth was to the fore in mobilising school students in the North to demonstrate against sectarian attacks and murders, which saw approximately 100,000 people take to the streets on 18th January. Socialist Youth also mobilised 30 people to attend the anti-capitalist demonstration in Brussels last December, which coincided with the launch of ISR, International Socialist Resistance, the international organisation Socialist Youth is affiliated to.

Here, 500 young people from across the globe came together to build the socialist alternative. We have also organised weekends away where we discuss our ideas and during the summer we plan to organise our second annual conference. In the next few weeks, Socialist Youth will be launching new branches in Navan and Drogheda. This demonstrates the massive potential to build a socialist alternative for young people today.

Anti-Globalisation Movement Continues To Grow: What Way Forward?

by Kevin Squires, SY Kildare

IN THE wake of the September 11th attacks, as the anti-Capitalist movement has continued to grow, despite the best efforts of the ruling classes, there have been calls for a greater direction to the protests. A split is emerging in the movement among the more radicalised youth and the older more moderate leadership.

The reformists, most notably ATTAC, want to change the system within the framework of Capitalism. They do not want a fundamental change. ATTAC's work on investigating the Tobin Tax is important. The Tobin tax is a reform that would tax all international financial transactions, and theoretically this revenue would go to developing poorer countries. While we would support such a tax, ATTAC's proposals don't take into account the fundamental reasons why such a tax is necessary in the first place, nor will the prevent continuing global Capitalist exploitation. There is also the question of how this reform would be implemented, and how it would be controlled. Do we expect the capitalists to simply roll over and take such a tax, a tax that affects their profits? And in times of recession, which will happen in any Capitalist society, the reforms, like so many others before, will simply be rolled back.

The Movement cannot be reformist in nature if progression is to be made, because ultimately this will achieve nothing. Social-Democratic reforms were tried in the post-war era and each reform is being taken away in the current climate, while Capitalism's nature remains as brutal as ever. 'Humanitarian Capitalism', as advocated by the reformists is impossible because of the fact that while the economic basis of society is Capitalist, i.e. profit is the driving motive, Capitalist ideology and exploitation will continue as before. There is no two ways about this.

On the other hand, among the revolutionary section of the movement we have those who believe in so-called 'direct action'. Loose groups, such as the 'Black Block' think that violence on demonstrations brings change closer. This could not be further from the truth. While we condemn State brutality, smashing up shops and property and individual acts of violence don't take the movement forward, conversely they give the ruling class the opportunity to step up repression and are detrimental to how we are viewed by wider layers of working people. We must also understand that the protests themselves will not bring Capitalism tumbling down, but they do serve the important task of highlighting issues, giving the movement confidence and showing others that they are not alone. 'Direct Action' will not result in lasting change, neither will reformist methods. So what is the answer?

The answer is not 'direct action' but 'action with direction', and only Socialism offers that correct direction. The movement must be linked up with the wider workers' struggles internationally as only workers, as the productive base of society, have the industrial power to end the Capitalist epoch. Recent examples can be seen all over the world.

Italy held its first general strike in 20 years, and the country was brought to a standstill. In Argentina 8 general strikes in 18 months resulted to the biggest shock to international Capitalism in years. Five presidents were toppled and the IMF pulled out. But the Argentine example also illustrates the need for 'action with direction'. The protesters, while knowing what they didn't want, didn't know what they wanted. This has resulted in a token change at the top, but not a qualitive change in the system of capital in the country. Even had a radical reformist government been implemented, unless they move on to Socialism, the reforms will be subject to recall if economic conditions change. This was recently illustrated by the US backed attempted coup in Venezuela which was not towing the US line. Reformism is limited in what it can achieve, Revolution is not subject to the same constraints because revolution envisages a fundamental change in the character of society, where the profit motive is completely removed and things are run on the basis of need. Reformism does not envisage this fundamental shift.

Ending Capitalism requires mass movements of youth, urban and rural poor, but with workers playing the central revolutionary role. The power of the strike shows why workers are not just one 'pressure group' among many, but the decisive force with the potential, collective power to change society. With a world recession looming, the anti-Capitalist protests are a foretaste of much bigger struggles to come. We will have to link the movement with the workers' movement. But being anti-Capitalist is not enough. We have to be clear what we are fighting for. Socialism is about taking control away from the multinational corporations and rich elite, then democratically and sustainably planning production for need not profit. The struggle for Socialism is the only way forward.

Reclaim the Streets Protest: Who Controls the Gardaí?

by Oisin Kelly, SY Dublin

IN EARLY May the Garda brutality against the Reclaim the Streets (R.T.S.) protest shocked most ordinary people. This latest high profile example of Garda misbehaviour throws up the question of Garda accountability.

The public backlash against the Gardaí's actions at the RTS protest was a largely due to the graphic video footage of their violence and the very open way in which Gardaí removed their identity numbers.

This was Dot the first lime that the Gardaí have attacked political demonstrations and strikes. Anti-capitalist protesters already experienced Garda violence at a protest against privatisation at the Burlington Hotel last year. In the past few years the Gardaí have been used against workers on strike. Building workers striking against the black economy were arrested, more recently Dublin City Council workers were arrested white on strike. The killing of John Carthy in Abbeylara and the framing of Frank McBrearty in Donegal are other recent examples of the need for genuine Garda accountability.

Socialist Youth argues that our society in a class based society and the state is designed to help maintain the political and economic status quo. Socialist Youth calls for a full inquiry into the violence at the RTS protest. We would welcome a Garda Ombudsman, however this would not represent genuine accountability of the Police force. We call for the Gardaí to be brought under the control and accountability of communities. A genuinely accountable police force would implement the policing priorities of ordinary people and would be unable to be used against the political demonstrations and strikes of ordinary people.