23 May 2013

Behind Syria peace talks proposal, US prepares regional war

By Bill Van Auken, 23 May 2013

While touring the Middle East ostensibly to discuss joint US-Russian peace talks on Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry met with US allies to prepare for region-wide war.

Iran blocks presidential campaign of pro-US candidate Rafsanjani

By Keith Jones, 23 May 2013

Iranian authorities announced Tuesday that the Islamic Republic’s Guardian Council has approved eight candidates to contest the June 14 presidential elections.

Witness tied to Boston bombing suspect killed by FBI

By Barry Grey and Nick Barrickman, 23 May 2013

The FBI claims that Todashev had implicated both himself and Tamerlan Tsarnaev in the grisly murder of three men in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Chicago officials release final list of 49 school closures

By Kristina Betinis, 23 May 2013

The City of Chicago announced the closing of more than 49 public schools, facilitated by the Chicago Teachers Union and its political allies, including the International Socialist Organization.

DC mayor to offer closed schools to charter operators

By Nick Barrickman, 23 May 2013

The District of Columbia possesses the highest concentration of charter schools of any city in the United States save for New Orleans.

Poverty skyrockets in US suburbs

By Marcus Day, 23 May 2013

According to a new report by the Brookings Institution, poverty rose more than 64 percent in US suburbs from 2000 to 2011.

Far-right Japan Restoration Party defends wartime abuse of “comfort women”

By John Chan, 23 May 2013

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto recently declared that the Japanese army’s policy of keeping thousands of women as sex slaves during World War II was necessary.

Australian budget reports pave way for deeper austerity offensive

By Patrick O’Connor, 23 May 2013

Corporate interests are using the “structural deficit” concept to agitate for massive budget cuts.

Low turnout in Sri Lankan strike reflects no confidence in the unions and opposition

By W.A. Sunil, 23 May 2013

The stoppage was limited to a token protest against the government’s decision to increase electricity prices by up to 60 percent.

Argentina’s ex-dictator Videla dead at 87

By Henry Allan, 23 May 2013

The 1976 coup led by Videla unleashed both economic devastation and mass repression against the working class.

Popular Party government honours Spanish fascists in Hitler’s army

By Alejandro López, 23 May 2013

The government delegate in Catalonia of Spain’s Popular Party handed a diploma of honour to the Brotherhood of Combatants of the Blue Division, which served in the German army during the Second World War.

The European Commission, French President Hollande accelerate austerity

By Anthony Torres, 23 May 2013

While the French economy has entered into recession, the European Union and the French government are pressing to accelerate social attacks.

New in French

Argentine : Le général Videla et la «guerre contre le terrorisme»

Par Bill Van Auken, 23 mai 2013

On a certainement déploré la perte du général Jorge Videla parmi les cercles militaires et du renseignement qui le considèrent comme un pionnier de la «guerre contre le terrorisme».

Beppe Grillo fait de l'agitation contre les immigrés

Par Marianne Arens, 23 mai 2013

Le 14 mai, Beppe Grillo a publié un blog raciste cherchant le soutien de forces d'extrême-droite.

Les quinze ans du WSWS: 1998-2013
Année passée en revue : 2004
Pourquoi je lis le WSWS: Courrier des lecteurs

New in German

Vermögensblasen schaffen Bedingungen für neue Krise

Von Nick Beams, 23. Mai 2013

Die Maßnahmen, die durchgeführt wurden, um eine Krise zu verhindern, schaffen die Bedingungen für eine neue Finanzkrise.

Die SPD feiert ihr 150-jähriges Bestehen

Von Peter Schwarz, 23. Mai 2013

Der Festakt in Leipzig ist ganz auf die herrschende Elite ausgerichtet, der die SPD bestätigen will, dass sie in Zeiten der Krise verlässlich ihre Interessen vertritt.

Zerfallsprozess der US-Demokratie

Von Tom Carter, 23. Mai 2013

Aussagen eines Pentagon-Sprechers und von Obama selbst enthüllen, dass der „Krieg gegen den Terror“ noch zwanzig Jahre dauert, und dass das US-Establishment eine verfassungsfeindliche Politik verfolgt. In den Vereinigten Staaten befindet sich die Demokratie in offener Auflösung.

China stellt japanische Souveränität über Okinawa in Frage

Von John Chan, 23. Mai 2013

Chinas staatliche People’s Daily veröffentlichte letzte Woche einen provokanten Artikel, in dem implizit chinesische Ansprüche auf Okinawa geltend gemacht werden.

Other Languages

Perspective

The social disaster in Tornado Alley

23 May 2013

The financial oligarchy’s stranglehold on social life ensures that tragedies such as the one still unfolding in Moore, Oklahoma will be repeated.

Earlier Perspectives »

Fifteen Years of the World Socialist Web Site: 1998-2013

The WSWS is posting a year-by-year Chronology, selected from its archive of more than 45,000 articles, to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the critical events of years 1998 to 2013.

We urge our readers to study the Chronology and review how the great events, political issues, social processes, and cultural and intellectual controversies of the last 15 years were reported on and analyzed by the WSWS.

The year in review 2012

The year 2012 was marked by a deepening of the world economic crisis of capitalism, with Europe plunging further into slump, mass unemployment and poverty growing in the United States, and conflicts between the major powers intensifying.

15th Anniversary page »

Fund Appeal

Support the WSWS 15th Anniversary Fund! An appeal from Nick Beams

23 May 2013

In this video, Socialist Equality Party (Australia) National Secretary Nick Beams reviews the WSWS's coverage of the global economic crisis.

Commentary

The “Ecosocialist” conference in New York
A fraudulent campaign for “climate justice”

By Sandy English and Jerry White, 23 May 2013

The Ecosocialist conference, chiefly sponsored by the International Socialist Organization and the Green Party, was held at Barnard College in New York City last month.

The SPD celebrates its 150th anniversary

By Peter Schwarz, 23 May 2013

The ceremony in Leipzig is completely directed towards the ruling elite, with the SPD eager to confirm that it will faithfully represent its interests at a time of crisis.

The crisis of Venezuela’s “Bolivarian” revolution and the political independence of the working class

By Bill Van Auken, 21 May 2013

The decomposition of American democracy

By Tom Carter, 20 May 2013

The Left Party: A party of German imperialism

By Johannes Stern, 20 May 2013

The International Socialist Organization and the imperialist onslaught against Syria

By David North and Alex Lantier, 11 May 2013

Detroit in Crisis

Emergency manager to decide on Detroit bankruptcy within six weeks

By Bryan Dyne, 23 May 2013

Detroit’s emergency manager is using the threat of bankruptcy to extract massive cuts from city workers.

Support D'Artagnan Collier for Detroit Mayor

Emergency Meeting: A workers program to answer the crisis in Detroit

By D’Artagnan Collier—Socialist Equality Party candidate for Detroit mayor, 22 May 2013

Detroit mayoral candidate D’Artagnan Collier campaigns at Eastern Market

By Thomas Gaist, 20 May 2013

Workers must reject emergency manager’s plan for Detroit

By D’Artagnan Collier—Socialist Equality Party candidate for Detroit mayor, 20 May 2013

More on SEP Detroit mayoral campaign »

Auto Workers Struggles

UAW and Fiat battle over union’s multi-billion dollar stake in Chrysler

By Shannon Jones, 23 May 2013

The United Auto Workers is seeking billions of dollars for its holdings in Chrysler Corporation as Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne prepares for a merger of the two automakers.

More on the struggle in auto »

Workers Struggles

California nurses go on weeklong strike

By Evan Winters, 23 May 2013

In yet another effort to isolate its own membership, the California Nurses Association has called a weeklong strike.

Arts Review

Milestone Films’ Mary Pickford: Rags and Riches Collection: The inventor of movie acting

By Charles Bogle, 23 May 2013

Milestone Films’ 2012 release of Mary Pickford: Rags and Riches Collection reacquaints contemporary audiences with silent film star Mary Pickford’s lasting achievements.

San Francisco International Film Festival 2013—Part two
Let the Fire Burn and The East: The MOVE bombing in 1985 and present-day anarchism

By Kevin Kearney, 22 May 2013

SEP (Australia) Election 2013

Why the SEP does not endorse the WikiLeaks Party

By Patrick O’Connor—SEP Senate candidate for Victoria, 20 May 2013

SEP Election 2013 campaign meetings: A socialist program to fight the drive to war

More on the SEP (Australia) election 2013 »

Socialist Equality Party

Tsar to Lenin to be shown at UK’s National Media Museum and at Cornerhouse cinema

21 May 2013

The World Socialist Web Site is proud to announce that Tsar to Lenin is to be screened by two major independent cinemas in the UK, the Cornerhouse in Manchester on May 27 and the National Media Museum in Bradford on June 1.

15 years of the WSWS: Public meeting in Zurich

18 May 2013

This Week in History: May 20-26

25 years ago: Soviet pullout from Afghanistan under siege by US-backed jihadists

Unnamed “Western diplomats” from Islamabad, Pakistan announced May 24, 1988 that the increasing US-backed military assault on Afghan troops was delaying the scheduled Soviet pullout.

More »

50 years ago: Greek dissident assassinated

On May 22, 1963, Greek pacifist and parliamentarian Dr. Grigoris Lambrakis was clubbed over the head by two fascists driving by on a motorcycle.

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75 years ago: Jamaican dock workers strike

Workers employed at Kingston docks, Jamaica struck for higher pay on May 21, 1938.

More »

 

100 years ago: Mexican insurgents attack Concepcion del Oro

On May 20, 1913, Eulalio Gutierrez led seven hundred insurgents in an attack on Concepcion del Oro in Zacatecas.

More »