The Plough
Volume 2, Number 34
28 April 2005

E-Mail Newsletter of the Irish Republican Socialist Party      

1) May Day Message from the IRSP
2) Letter from Venezuela
3) China and Wal-Mart
4) What's On

*******

MAY DAY MESSAGE FROM THE IRSP
 
The leadership of the Irish Republican Socialist Party sends May Day
greetings to its friends and supporters worldwide. May Day itself is
an opportunity for the working class to celebrate its strengths and
the victories achieved by the working class. May Day is also an
opportunity every year for the world to be reminded that there is a
continuous class struggle taking place worldwide. 
 
Here in Ireland we have daily class battles taking place. There is the
struggle for union recognition in Ryanair. There is the battle for
fair wages for Turkish migrant workers. There are the campaigns
against the education cuts in the North, and against the privatisation
of water and the imposition of water charges. Private interests own
half the water supplies of the North's population. Lough Neagh, the
largest freshwater lake in Europe, is owned by a British aristocrat. 
 
Every day there are small class battles taking place in our country.
These battles are waged in many cases by small groups of people
isolated from the mainstream of trade unionism. The isolation and
marginalisation of the workers is in the interests of the employers
who exploit division within the class in order to keep wage costs down
and profits up. The unity of the workers is hampered by racism,
sexism, and sectarianism. So long as there are divisions within the
working class movement, so long will exploitation continue.
 
But we can learn from the experiences of the working class worldwide.
 The success of the Cuban revolution and the Bolivarian revolution in
Venezuela give hope to the workers. The struggles of the poor in the
Philippines, in Nepal, in Iraq, and all around the world show that
imperialism is not getting its own way. The IRSP sends greeting to all
those progressive forces in struggle against imperialism.
 
But while we identify with international struggles, we do not forget
our own struggle against imperialism. While involved in the day-to-day
struggles of the class, the IRSP recognise that the major
contradiction in Ireland is the unresolved national question. That is
at the heart of the problems facing our class in Ireland. In solving
the national question we create the conditions for the withering away
of sectarian divisions.
 
Neither the current round of elections nor the full implementation of
the Good Friday Agreement will resolve the fundamental contradiction
at the heart of Irish society. Only a socialist Ireland can begin to
do that. Socialists need to take the leadership of both the class and
national questions for neither gas and water socialism - as James
Connolly described either reformism - nor sterile nationalism can
bring about a united country or a united working class. 
 
Workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains!!
 
*******

LETTER FROM VENEZUELA
By Tomás Gorman

My arrival in Caracas came off the back of a hectic week travelling
around the Basque Country and Catalonia so the intense heat here
compounded the burden of my heavy backpack. Walking through the
airport, I notice a sign that translates as, "The Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela, now for all." I came here to Venezuela intrigued by the
reports I had been reading of the "Revolutionary Process" that the
left in Ireland and Britain had been debating about.
 
Some argue that Chavez's radical programmes aimed at alleviating the
poverty suffered in this oil rich country fall far short of revolution
given the huge wealth gap that still exists since his coming to power.
 Others argue that one must look to what came before Chavez to
appreciate the radical nature of his policies.
 
Since coming to power in 1998, Chavez began to slowly deconstruct the
corrupt political system that served the selfish purposes of the mega
rich minority. He instigated a nationwide consultation with the poor
population of Venezuela that gave birth to a new Constitution that
enshrined the right of poor in the country to a more dignified
existence.
 
He sacked the corrupt executives of the National Oil Company that
oversaw the annual "disappearing" of $40 Billion per year of oil
revenue.  
 
Having recaptured this huge amount of national revenue began spending
it on a number of "missiones" or programs aimed at alleviating the
deprivation suffered by the majority of the countries population. Most
notable amongst these programmes are the free medical programmes in
which oil is exchanged with Cuba for medical practitioners who operate
out of specially built clinics in the countries poorest districts.
Free education programmes at all levels have seen schools in the
poorest area open to almost eradicate once widespread illiteracy in
only a few years.
 
New land reform legislation that allows the Government to seize land
that has not been productive for a long time (80% of the country's
land is owned by approximately 15% of the wealthy elite) accompanied
with further legislation making it easier for small farmers and
cooperatives to access grants and credits to develop the agricultural
production of the country. It is incredible to think that this fertile
land with vast plains imported 80% of its food before Chavez's
reforms. This is now changing. National food production is on the up
and is helped along by a new chain of nationalised supermarkets that
offer staples grown in Venezuela at cheap rates to the country's poor.
 
These along with countless other initiatives have paved the way for
the true revolutionary aspect of Venezuela's recent history, the
revolutionary change in the consciousness of the country's poor.  
 
All of Chavez's programmes have awakened a sense of pride and dignity
in the Venezuelan people that had been suppressed by the oppressive
neoliberal puppets of the USA that had come before. People are taking
a more active role in their affairs. Poor inner city areas are heaving
with community organisation similar to that witnessed in the past in
the Bogside of Derry and Ballymurphy in Belfast. Fierce communal pride
reinforced with a deep suspicion of parliamentary politicians is
pushing the people to create a dignified and promising future for
themselves and their children. Aided with assistance in the form of
educational and medical resources supplied by the national government,
the Venezuelan people are at the baby steps stage to a truly
democratic and grassroots socialist society.
 
The picture is not entirely rosy. There remains a huge reactionary
presence in the country's civil service and government structures. 
Despite the Chavez government's sincere commitment to radical social
change, there are those who wish to destroy the process totally, as
well as those claiming to be for the process but frightened by the
mass organisation and self sufficiency being shown by the people in
the poor "barrios." This has lead to tensions and conflict between the
people and the conservatives within the revolutionary government, the
revolution within the revolution as it has been called.
 
The Juan Batista Alberdi School in a poor barrio in western Caracas
lay in near dereliction due to a lack of investment from the
anti-Chavez mayoralty and was run by anti-Chavez teachers who joined
in the walk out "strike" organised by the rich elite aimed at ousting
Chavez. The people of the community responded with a counter-strike
and ousted the teachers. The local community then organised and
embarked on a renovation of the school so that it could serve to
educate all in the area, children and adults alike. A democratically
elected and administrative staff, caretaking staff teachers for the
school was put in place and the school has expanded its alumni and
curriculum since. It was a huge achievement; all of the labour and
academic help was totally unfunded for the initial few years and is a
credit to the community.
  
The children are responding well to the community approach to their
education. There is a somewhat relaxed atmosphere in the school with
no real atmosphere of austerity and discipline. The children love
their teachers and openly display affection to them. Gabby, a
voluntary teacher at the school, was greeted with hugs and kisses by
laughing and smiling children when she guided me through school to
show me where I will be working.
 
The Alberdi School is where I have volunteered to, in a small way,
participate in the revolutionary process here in Venezuela, which,
despite the dogmatic ramblings of those who profess the contrary, is
taking place directly where revolutions do. On the very streets of the
poorest areas of Venezuela. I have committed myself to basic English
lessons for the primary school age classes and hope in return that the
kids can improve my awful Spanish. After I finish my classes, I will
then volunteer the rest of my day to help out the volunteer caretaker
staff with the many logistical tasks required in running a school.
 
The work is the least I can do for the people in the Mannicomio area
where the school is situated. I have been received here like a local
and been afforded lunches, dinners, and endless hospitality in many
houses. I stress however the term, "like a local."  There has been no
exception made for me. This sense of community and sharing is the norm
here and whilst my efforts are welcomed, I am just another helper in
their efforts to improve their existence and I in turn am grateful for
that.
 
On my first full day here in Caracas I was invited to Oscar's house
for a tasty breakfast of arepas (a bread dumpling made from corn
flour), cheese, and coffee. After breakfast, a friend and "good
comrade" Luis called and the three of us sat and drank coffee. I
struggled to understand as Oscar and Luis sat and discussed the local
community issues vigorously. Two men armed with the knowledge that
they were affecting the affairs and changing things for the better for
themselves and their community. It reminded me of the times I sat
listening to my father and his friends discussing community and
political issues in my home in the mid-eighties. I was a child then
and didn't quite grasp the nuances of the politics they discussed but
I sensed the feeling of community and popular struggle. Sitting with
Oscar and Luis I sensed the same powerful feelings and longed for them
to return to Belfast.
 
*******

CHINA AND WAL-MART

A republican socialist recently made this objection against defending
the gains of the Chinese revolution:
 
"China, with Japan, is the largest holder of the USA's public debt.
China recently purchased the PC division of IBM Corporation. China is
known the world over for its garment working sweatshops...Wal-Mart,
when confronted with workers in the US seeking to organise a union
were told by the reactionary administration of Wal-Mart Corp. that
they should join the union of its workers in China, because
union-hating Wal-Mart loves its Chinese union, because unions in China
don't defend workers, they mobilise them for the needs of production.
It is not an example of the success of socialism; it is an example of
the hideous crimes that can be perpetrated against the working class
by a party that calls itself 'communist.' It is absolute proof that
'communist' parties are the enemies of working class people and that
the struggle for socialism must be waged by the working class itself
and not a party claiming to function in its name."
 
In 1996, Wal-Mart began its operations in China. Today it has over 40
plants employing 23 000 people. Wal-Mart does business with more than
4800 Chinese companies employing 130 000 people. Wal-Mart then exports
to the US what had been produced in China.(1)
 
Wal-Mart tried to introduce in China its US work practices: extended
hours, etc. It also forbids trade unions. However, Cheng Siwei, vice
president of the Chinese Parliament threatened Wal-Mart last year: "If
you do not respect our social laws, you will pay the consequences."(2)
 
In November 2004, Wal-Mart was forced to give written guarantees that
it will respect social legislation and trade union rights. Zhang
Hingzun, a Chinese trade union leader declared: "If we can
successfully organise trade union activity in Wal-Mart, it will
greatly encourage labour activists in the US."(3)
 
Factories used by Wal-Mart were investigated by the CP and the Union.
The  He Yi and Qing Shu factories in the Guangdong province were
particularly bad: painted on the wall was the slogan "If you don't
work hard today you will have to work hard to find a job tomorrow."(4)
 
Under the action of the workers, union and party, that had to change.
Work will be based upon collective conventions, will be limited to 8
hours per day and 5 days a week, that wages will have to be above the
minimum wage etc (5).
 
The Chinese workers, government and union want to use this victory
against Wal-Mart as an example to force all companies to respect
social legislation. It is now attacking Dell, KFC, Kodak, and others.
 
For our critic "It is absolute proof that 'communist' parties are the
enemies of working class people."

The reality is that it is those who fail to defend the gains of the
Chinese revolutions that are the enemies of working class people, and
'council communists' by their sectarian attitude towards the world
communist movement is the absolute proof of it. 

(1) Wal-Mart drifted into trade unions dispute in China, Xinhua, and
17 October 2003 · 

(2) China tells MNCs to set up trade unions, Legal Daily, 25 October
2004 · 

(3) Wadi'h Halabi, Wal-Mart workers of the world unite, Political
Affairs, June 2004 · 

(4) The dark side of Wal-Mart's low prices, China Newsweek, 22 March
2004 · 

(5) Following the He Yi factory incident, Chinese Social Security
Magazine, 5 July 2004 ·
 
*******

WHAT'S ON

*

Saturday, April 30

RPAG PUBLIC MEETING IN DERRY

In a statement on April 25 Richard Walsh, PRO, Republican Prisoners
Action Group said that the RPAG will hold a second public meeting to
discuss the current conditions facing Republican POWs in Maghaberry
Jail on Saturday, April 30 in the Munster Suite of the Calgach Centre,
Butcher Street, Derry City (opposite the Tower Hotel), starting at
2pm. The statement called on everyone concerned about the plight of
republican prisoners to attend.
 
*

Saturday, April 30
 
On 30th April 2005, the IPSC is organising a meeting of diverse groups
and individuals to discuss plans for demonstrations on 4th June to
coincide with the Ireland/Israel football match at Lansdowne Road.
Suggestions include a number of street theatre events in the course of
the day representing Israeli checkpoints or the demolition of the
Apartheid Wall, a concert after the match, face painting in the
Palestinian colours, etc. etc. Please come along and make your own
suggestions, and/or volunteer to participate in this attempt to show
the world's television cameras that Israeli Apartheid is unacceptable
in Ireland. Remember that Israeli soldiers recently murdered three
Palestinian teenage boys who were playing football in Gaza. Remember
that the Palestinian football team is forced by the illegal Israeli
occupation to practise under the most adverse conditions, with
individual players often prevented from showing up. Remember that the
Arab members of the Israeli team are elite members of a community of
second- or third-class citizens within the Israeli state, and are
regularly subjected to racist abuse by Israeli football fans. The
meeting will take place at 11.30am on Saturday 30th April in the
Teachers' Club, Parnell Square, Dublin. All are welcome! 
 
The IPSC will be marching along with Belfast Trades
Council in the May Day March on Sat 30th April
 
Assemble at the Art College at 12 pm.  
There will be speeches and stalls.  
 
The rally departs at 12.30pm and arrives at St.George's Market at 1pm.
Family Festival in St George's from 1-5pm with the usual stalls,
food, drink etc. The IPSC will have a stall at St Georges Market,
1.00pm - 5.00pm Volunteers needed to carry banner in March and to
organise the stall. Please let me know which you will be able to help
with.

*

Saturday, April 30

National May Day Demonstration - Solidarity with Migrant Workers
 
Republican Socialist Contingent
 
Assemble: Saturday April 30th 2pm, Garden of Remembrance, Parnell
Square, Dublin.
 
This year's May Day trade union demonstration will take place on
Saturday April 30th meeting at 2pm at the Garden of Remembrance in
Parnell Square.

The demo will march to Liberty Hall and is on the theme of solidarity
with migrant workers. The march itself has been called by the Dublin
Council of Trade Unions.

Bring Your Work Mates, Friends, Family, Flags (Starry Plough/Red) and
Solidarity!

Irish Republican Socialist Party, Dublin
PO Box 10081, Dublin 1, Ireland
Telephone: 0876 320 323
Email: dublinirsp@hotmail.com
http://www.dublinirsp.150m.com/
http://www.irsm.org/irsm.html

*******

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*

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