4 December 2012
Washington floats chemical weapons charge as pretext for Syria buildup
By Bill Van Auken, 4 December 2012
The Obama administration and the media have cited unspecified “intelligence” about chemical weapons to issue new threats against Syria.
More data pointing to slowdown in US economy
By Barry Grey, 4 December 2012
A fall in US manufacturing coincides with slumping consumer spending.
Mass opposition to Tunisian repression of anti-poverty protests
By Antoine Lerougetel, 4 December 2012
Police have brutally suppressed protests against unemployment and the scrapping of anti-poverty programmes in the town of Siliana.
Jordan hit by protests against fuel hikes and Abdullah’s rule
By Jean Shaoul, 4 December 2012
For weeks, thousands of people in towns and cities throughout Jordan have taken to the streets in protest against the government’s decision to end fuel subsidies.
Florange steelworkers betrayed by French government, unions
By Pierre Mabut, 4 December 2012
The Socialist Party government capitulated to steelmaker ArcelorMittal, putting the 629 jobs at the blast furnaces in Florange in the balance.
Japan: At least nine dead in tunnel collapse
By Oliver Campbell, 4 December 2012
Questions have been raised about the tunnel operator’s safety inspections.
Sri Lanka: Jaffna University students arrested
By our correspondents, 4 December 2012
The latest detentions follow a series of police and military provocations against Jaffna students.
Australian Senate report rejects dole increase
By Mike Head, 4 December 2012
Successive governments have driven down the real value of unemployment benefits, seeking to force jobless workers into low-wage work.
New study details growth of income inequality across US
By Clement Daly, 4 December 2012
Income gaps between the richest and poorest US households have widened significantly since the late 1970s and continue to grow at a rapid pace.
NHL union lays the basis for massive concessions for hockey players
By Alexander Fangmann, 4 December 2012
The hockey players’ union has agreed in principle to massive reductions in salary and changes in contract structure, with negotiations continuing over their implementation.
New in German
Hurrikan Sandy – ein Monat danach
Von Philip Guelpa und Fred Mazelis, 4. Dezember 2012
In diesem Wirtschaftssystem interessiert es keinen, wie die arbeitende Bevölkerung lebt.
Ägypten
Massenproteste gegen
Verfassungsentwurf
Von Joseph Kishore, 4. Dezember 2012
Durch die neue Verfassung wird die Herrschaft des Militärs über die ägyptische Gesellschaft gefestigt.
Nach Entscheidung der UN:
Israel plant
weitere Siedlungen in Palästina
Von Bill Van Auken, 4. Dezember 2012
Die UN hat Palästina den Status eines Beobachterstaates erteilt. Als provokante Reaktion darauf beschleunigt die Netanjahu-Regierung den Bau von 3000 neuen Siedlerwohnungen in Ostjerusalem und im Westjordanland.
Zukunft der Wirbelsturmstudien in Gefahr
Von Bryan Dyne, 4. Dezember 2012
Wegen Einsparungen können 2016 bis 2018 zehn bis 53 Monate vielleicht keine Satellitenbeobachtungen des Wetters gemacht werden
New in Romanian
După alegeri, Obama escaladează tendinţa spre război în Orientul Mijlociu
De Bill Van Auken, 4 decembrie 2012
Administraţia Obama escaladează intervenţia în Siria, ca parte a unei strategii mai largi de cucerire neocolonială.
New in French
Le parti allemand La Gauche vire encore plus à droite
Par Christoph Dreier et Peter Schwarz, 4 décembre 2012
Le parti La Gauche propose de soutenir le Parti social-démocrate (SPD) et les Verts en cas de constitution d’un gouvernement.
Premier Congrès national du PES (Australie)
Résolution 2 : Contre la guerre impérialiste
Par le Parti de l'égalité socialiste (Australie), 4 décembre 2012
Voici la deuxième de sept résolutions adoptées à l’unanimité lors du premier congrès national du Parti de l’égalité socialiste (Australie) qui s’est tenu du 6 au 9 avril 2012 à Sydney.
Perspective
The historical significance of the gathering world slump
4 December 2012
The OECD has warned that a major economic contraction cannot be ruled out.
Workers Struggles
Los Angeles area port workers’ strike continues
By Thomas Gaist, 4 December 2012
The 800 clerical workers on strike have shut down 10 of 14 terminals of the country’s most heavily trafficked port complex. Several thousand dockworkers in Los Angeles and Long Beach have refused to cross picket lines.
University of Illinois graduate assistants:
Reject the sellout contract! Fight to defend the right to higher education and decent living standards!
Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 4 December 2012
The SEP calls on graduate assistants to reject the concessions agreement the Graduate Employees Organization has reached with the University of Illinois administration.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
4 December 2012
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Socialist Equality Party (Britain) South West NHS Fightback
UK health unions mount feeble protest against attacks on National Health Service
By Mark Blackwood, 4 December 2012
Saturday’s “We are One NHS” demonstration, jointly organised by the National Health Service unions, including Unite, Unison, the Royal College of Nursing and the GMB, was a dispirited affair with an extremely low turnout.
A reply to Unite Head of Health Rachael Maskell
4 December 2012
The SEP/SouthWest NHS Fightback replies to a Unite union official.
Visit the South West NHS FightBack web site »
Commentary
The “rule of law” and state killings
By David North and Bill Van Auken, 3 December 2012
In “fiscal cliff” talks, Democrats offer cuts now, cuts later
By Patrick Martin, 3 December 2012
The death of Adnan Farhan Abdul Latif
By Tom Carter, 3 December 2012
German Left Party moves further to the right
By Christoff Dreier, 3 December 2012
Socialist Equality Party
Report to the Second National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party
By David North, 27 November 2012
We are publishing here the opening report to the Socialist Equality Party (US) Second National Congress, given July 8, 2012 by SEP National Chairman David North.
Auto Workers Struggles
“The eight-hour day is a thing of the past”
UAW sanctions “alternative” work schedule at Chrysler
By Jerry White, 30 November 2012
More on the struggle in auto »
International Youth and Students for Social Equality
The PQ budget and the 2012 Quebec student strike
Statement of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (Canada), 3 December 2012
Arts Review
Dangerous Remedy: Bertram Wainer and the struggle for abortion rights
By Richard Phillips, 3 December 2012
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and the historical drama of the Civil War
By Tom Mackaman, 12 November 2012
Mehring Books
Now available from Mehring Books: Russian Revolutionary Posters by David King
29 November 2012
Mehring Books is proud to offer for sale a new book, Russian Revolutionary Posters: From Civil War to Socialist Realism, From Bolshevism to the End of Stalinism by David King (Tate Publishing).
This Week in History: December 3-9
25 years ago: Beijing protest against murder of student
A thousand students marched in Beijing on December 8, 1987, protesting the murder of a fellow student three days earlier.
50 years ago: Acheson belittles Britain in West Point speech
On December 5, 1962, former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson delivered a speech to the Army Academy at West Point that singled out the United Kingdom for sharp criticism.
75 years ago: Japanese forces demand surrender of Nanking
At noon December 9, 1937, Japanese aircraft dropped leaflets over the capital of China's Jiangsu province, Nanking, demanding an unconditional surrender of the city.
100 years ago: Germany prepares for European conflagration
On December 8, 1912, the military and civilian leaders of Germany met in Berlin to hold an informal conference dubbed the German Imperial War Council.
Correspondence
Letters from our readers
4 December 2012
A selection of recent letters to the World Socialist Web Site.
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