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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

6 February 2010

Sovereign debt fears signal new stage of global crisis

By Barry Grey, 6 February 2010

Stock markets in Europe and Asia fell sharply Friday in the second day of a near-panic selloff fueled by fears that the debt crisis facing weaker European economies will throw the world economy into a “double-dip” recession.

20,000 jobs lost in US as official unemployment rate falls
Revised figures show 8.7 million jobs lost since December 2007

By Andre Damon, 6 February 2010

The official US unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent in January, despite 20,000 jobs lost, according to the Labor Department. Revised figures show a sharp increase in the number of jobs wiped out since the beginning of the recession.

Sri Lankan president sets out agenda of “economic war”

By Wije Dias, 6 February 2010

President Rajapakse delivered the annual independence speech on Thursday, outlining his government’s agenda. In the name of rebuilding the nation, he is preparing an economic offensive against the working class.

Anger toward UAW erupts at California auto workers meeting

By Tom Eley, 6 February 2010

Outrage among workers at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, toward the United Auto Workers exploded at a January 24 meeting discussing the slated closure of the factory, which will cost some 5,000 jobs.

Israel’s crisis deepens over Gaza war crimes report

By Chris Marsden, 6 February 2010

The UN general secretary threw a lifeline to Israel yesterday, stating that there was not yet enough evidence to say whether Israel or the Palestinians are complying with UN demands to investigate allegations of war crimes during the 22-day assault on Gaza.

With US backing, court rejects candidate ban in Iraq

By James Cogan, 6 February 2010

After concerns voiced by the Obama administration, an Iraqi appeals court overturned a ruling that had banned hundreds of Sunni-based candidates from standing in the March 7 election.

British Labour presides over increase in inequality

By Paul Bond, 6 February 2010

A report commissioned by the Labour government shows how its pro-business agenda during its 13 years in office has led to a dramatic increase in inequality.

Opposition mounts to Michigan education cuts

By Shannon Jones, 6 February 2010

Opposition is growing as school districts across Michigan prepare to close schools, lay off teachers and privatize services in response to the huge funding cuts imposed by Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm and the state legislature.

Oregon voters approve higher taxes for wealthy and corporations

By Hector Cordon, 6 February 2010

Measures 66 and 67, passed by Oregon voters late last month, will levy minimally higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

New in German

Spannungen zwischen USA und China nehmen gefährlich zu

Von John Chan, 6. Februar 2010

Die amerikanischen Waffenlieferungen an Taiwan beschwören das Gespenst eines offenen diplomatischen und politischen Bruchs herauf.

Perspektiven und Aufgaben der Socialist Equality Party im Jahre 2010

Von David North und Joseph Kishore, 6. Februar 2010

Im Folgenden veröffentlichen wir die ergänzte Version eines Vortrags, der am 9. Januar 2010 bei einer Mitgliederversammlung der Socialist Equality Party in Ann Arbor gehalten wurde. David North ist der nationale Vorsitzende, Joseph Kishore der nationale Sekretär der SEP in den Vereinigten Staaten.

Griechenland: Die Sozialangriffe der Regierung und die Rolle von KKE und SYRIZA

Von Markus Salzmann, 6. Februar 2010

Während die EU-Kommission der griechischen Regierung ein drastisches Sparprogramm diktiert, stützt sich die Papandreou-Regierung auf die Zusammenarbeit mit der stalinistischen KKE und dem Linksbündnis SYRIZA

New in French

Le chômage augmente à 10 pour cent dans la zone euro

Par Stefan Steinberg, 6 février 2010

Le chômage a augmenté dans les 16 pays comprenant la zone euro pour atteindre en décembre le taux moyen officiel de 10 cent, soit le niveau de chômage le plus élevé depuis l’introduction de l’euro en 1999.

Obama courtise la droite républicaine

Par Patrick Martin, 6 février 2010

La réunion de 90 minutes entre le président Barack Obama et les membres du groupe républicain de la Chambre des représentants et qui fut diffusée vendredi par les réseaux câblés a révélé d’une façon extraordinaire le large consensus droitier qui existe dans la politique bourgeoise américaine.

Perspective

US to launch Fallujah-style attack in Afghanistan

6 February 2010

As US and British troops prepare to attack the town of Marjah in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, military commanders and the media are openly comparing the operation to the siege of Fallujah, one of the bloodiest war crimes of the Iraq war.

Earlier Perspectives »

Emergency Conference

An Emergency Conference on the Social Crisis and War

As the second decade of the 21st Century begins, humanity is confronted with the worst economic and social crisis since the 1930s and unending war that threatens to spark a new global conflict. The SEP, WSWS and ISSE are calling this critical public conference April 17-18 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to discuss the political basis to organize the working class to fight back.

Socialist Equality Party

Successful launch of In Defence of Leon Trotsky at Sydney’s Gleebooks

By our correspondent, 4 February 2010

An appreciative audience of 150 filled the upstairs auditorium of Sydney’s Gleebooks bookstore last night to hear David North launch his In Defence of Leon Trotsky: A Reply to the Falsifications of Robert Service.

WSWS chairman David North addresses Sydney book launch
In defence of Trotsky’s “immense and enduring historical significance”

4 February 2010

David North, the chairman of the WSWS International Editorial Board and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US) spoke at the launching of his book, In Defence of Leon Trotsky: A Reply to the Falsifications of Robert Service, at Sydney’s Gleebooks bookstore last night.

Perspective and tasks of the Socialist Equality Party in 2010

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 1 February 2010

The following is an amended version of a report submitted to a national aggregate meeting of the Socialist Equality Party in Ann Arbor, Michigan on January 9, 2010.

Sri Lankan SEP establishes trilingual web site

5 February 2010

The SEP has converted its presidential election web site into a permanent party site in the country’s three main languages—English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Commentary

What’s at stake in the Canadian intervention in Afghanistan?

By Richard Dufour, 6 February 2010

The Harper government’s suspension of parliament, an act carried out to try to hide the brutal reality of the Canadian Armed Forces’ “Afghan Mission,” underscores the close connection between the growth of militarism and the threat to the democratic rights.

A dangerous rise in US-China tensions

5 February 2010

In the rift over US arms sales to Taiwan, the determination of both the US and China to take a tougher stance, regardless of the consequences, raises the spectre of an open rift in diplomatic and political relations.

Sri Lankan SEP replies to the United Socialist Party

By Wije Dias, 4 February 2010

While the USP boasts that its “united front” with the right-wing UNP defended democratic rights, the SEP insists that the USP’s class collaboration undermined the ability of workers to defend their rights through independent action.

Workers Struggles

Rio Tinto Borax locks out 570 California mine workers

By Don Knowland and Alfonso Santana, 6 February 2010

On Sunday morning, January 31, Rio Tinto Borax locked out 570 union workers from its mine in Boron, California, in the Mojave Desert.

Workers Struggles:
Asia, Australia and the Pacific

6 February 2010

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

Arts Review

Academy Award nominations: Hollywood plods on

By David Walsh, 5 February 2010

The decision to increase the number of films considered for Best Picture is unfortunate in light of the generally poor quality of the movies released in 2009. It is difficult to think of five major studio releases deserving acclaim, let alone ten.

25 years
50 years
75 years
100 years

25 years ago: Australia, New Zealand rebuke US nuclear policy

Responding to mass popular hostility toward the Reagan administration's rapid nuclear build-up, the governments of Australia and New Zealand this week in 1985 delivered separate rebukes to US military planning, rattling the South Pacific military alliance—the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty, or ANZUS.

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50 years ago: African-American students stage Woolworth’s sit-in

On February 1, 1960, four students of the all-black Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina staged a sit-in at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Woolworth's many stores, like most public spaces in the US South, were segregated, providing no seats for black customers at their service counters.

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75 years ago: Mexico voids British oil contract

The Mexican government on February 4 repudiated all concessions to the Eagle Oil Company, a British firm, on the grounds that they were illegal and against national interests.

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100 years ago: France joins naval race as European tensions mount

The French cabinet on February 7, 1910 announced plans for a major naval expansion. France would appropriate $28,000,000 over the next decade to establish a fleet numbering nearly 200 vessels.