29 September 2009

German election: The collapse of the Social Democratic Party

By Ulrich Rippert, 29 September 2009

The most important feature of Germany’s Bundestag (federal parliament) elections last Sunday was the dramatic loss of votes by the Social Democratic Party.

Three months after coup:
Honduran regime imposes state of siege

By Bill Van Auken, 29 September 2009

In a bid to crush popular resistance, the Honduran coup regime imposed a state of siege, suspending basic democratic rights for 45 days. On Monday it put the decree into effect, repressing demonstrations and closing down opposition media.

US, NATO reach “consensus” to sanction rigged election in Afghanistan

By Jerry White, 29 September 2009

The US and NATO countries involved in the occupation of Afghanistan have signaled their willingness to recognize the re-election of Afghan President Hamid Karzai despite evidence of massive fraud in the August 20 elections.

Australian government lawyers demand Guantánamo compensation case be stopped to protect US alliance

By Richard Phillips, 29 September 2009

The government has intensified its efforts to stop Mamdouh Habib, a 53-year-old Australian citizen and father of four, from suing over its role in his illegal detention and torture in Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay between 2001 and 2005.

Severe dust storm hits Australian coastal cities

By Alex Safari, 29 September 2009

A huge dust storm blanketed large areas of Australia’s southeastern coast last Wednesday, covering cities and towns in the states of New South Wales and Queensland, before moving out to sea towards New Zealand.

US Army abandons effort to court-martial Iraq war resister

By Peter Daniels, 29 September 2009

The US Army has abandoned its three-year effort to punish First Lt. Ehren Watada for refusing to deploy to Iraq, allowing him to resign from the military on October 2.

New in Russian

Историческое поражение социал-демократов на всеобщих выборах в Германии

Штефан Штайнберг, 29 сентября 2009 г.

Всеобщие выборы в Германии, состоявшиеся в воскресенье, привели к историческому поражению Социал-демократической партии Германии (СДПГ) и зафиксировали значительное падение поддержки всех партий, участвовавших в уходящем коалиционном немецком правительстве.

New in German

 

Die Niederlage der SPD

Von Ulrich Rippert, 29. September 2009

Das bedeutendste Ergebnis der Bundestagswahl am vergangenen Sonntag ist der dramatische Stimmenverlust der SPD. Noch nie zuvor hat eine Bundestagspartei innerhalb einer Wahlperiode derart viele Stimmen verloren.

G-20-Gipfel bereitet Boden für die Verschärfung internationaler Spannungen

Von Barry Grey, 29. September 2009

Der Gipfel der Gruppe der zwanzig führenden Wirtschaftsnationen ging am Freitag mit der Präsentation eines gemeinsamen Kommuniqués zu Ende. Das Kommuniqué soll die Konflikte zwischen den Großmächten über die Frage verbergen, wie die Weltwirtschaft wiederbelebt und eine neue finanzielle Kernschmelze abgewendet werden soll.

 

Weltweite Proteste gegen Verhaftung des Regisseurs Roman Polanski

Von Barry Grey, 29. September 2009

Die Verhaftung des Regisseurs und Oskarpreisträgers Roman Polanski am Samstagabend löst weltweit Zorn und Empörung aus.

New in French

France : les « gauchistes » opportunistes s'unissent à la CGT pour faire dérailler la lutte pour les emplois

Par Pierre Mabut et Antoine Lerougetel, 29 septembre 2009

Une manifestation de travailleurs de l'industrie automobile luttant contre les fermetures d'usine et les licenciements de masse représente l'exemple par excellence de la manière dont les syndicats, avec le soutien des opportunistes petits-bourgeois de Lutte ouvrière (LO) et du Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste (NPA) conduisent les travailleurs dans une impasse.

Perspective

The political significance of the Balmoral Estate Action Committee

29 September 2009

The courageous step taken by tea plantation workers on the Balmoral Estate in Sri Lanka in establishing their own action committee, independent of the trade unions, has broad political significance for workers throughout the island and internationally.

Earlier Perspectives »

Political Statements

Once again, on the ex-left and Iran

By Joe Kishore, 29 September 2009

The latest orchestrated provocation over Iran’s nuclear program exposes the reactionary role of the middle-class backers of the “green” opposition in Iran.

Book Review

What does reality require from fiction?
Aravind Adiga and Indian society

By Sandy English, 29 September 2009

Aravind Adiga’s new book of interrelated short stories, Between the Assassinations, exhibits many of the strengths of his Booker Prize-winning novel, The White Tiger, and fewer of its defects.

Arts Review

A dramatic account of the death of Jean Charles de Menezes
Stockwell, by Kieron Barry

By Paul Bond, 29 September 2009

A review of Kieron Barry’s play Stockwell: The Inquest into the Death of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Socialist Equality Party

Public meeting
70 years since World War II: Origins & consequences of a historical catastrophe

29 September 2009

SEP National Chairman David North will speak on the lessons of World War II and their implications for the present period.

Sri Lankan SEP to hold election meeting in Galle

29 September 2009

As a part of its campaign for the Southern Provincial Council elections, the SEP will hold a public meeting in the provincial capital of Galle on Sunday, October 4.

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: The Americas

29 September 2009

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

29 September 2009

A selection of recent letters sent to the World Socialist Web Site.

•••••

Videos and Images

ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally
ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis
Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis OU video
Michigan’s Oakland University faculty strike has student support Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts
Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts D'Art
Detroit city workers oppose concessions, layoffs Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic
Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight
Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight A conversation with Windsor municipal workers
A conversation with Windsor municipal workers New York City workers speak against cuts in healthcare and social services
NYC workers speak against cuts in social services Flint vid
Flint, Michigan and the bankruptcy of General Motors MI auto vid
GM workers on bankruptcy and plant closings MI auto vid
Michigan auto workers and families speak on plant closures GM vid
GM workers speak out on concessions contract Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS
Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote
Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote UK Visteon workers speak on occupation
UK Visteon workers speak on occupation GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions
GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
WSWS interviews G20 protesters in London Donovan
Pontiac residents speak on schools crisis Detroit jobs fair
Workers interviewed at Detroit jobs fair
Ford workers: “Now the fight is with our own union.” GM workers videoGM workers denounce concession demands Chrysler workers oppose cuts
Chrysler workers oppose pay cuts, concession demands London demonstration against Sri Lankan war
Over 100,000 demonstrate in London against Sri Lankan war Joanne
Funeral for Michigan man frozen following utility shut-off Montserrat
Exposing Franco's mass graves Bay City, Mich.: “Shutting somebody's electricity off in the dead of winter is criminal”
Bay City, Michigan residents speak on death from utility shut-off London protesters speak to the WSWS
WSWS interviews London protesters London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza
London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts
Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts Griffiths and Walsh
The Writer and Revolution: A conversation with Trevor Griffiths

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