Sussex LRC

Saturday 28 September 2013

Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Day of Action on Sodastream

Meet 12noon at Brighton’s Clock Tower

Brighton & Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been protesting outside EcoStream – Sodastream’s only UK shop in Western Road, Brighton – since 9 September 2012.  This has successfully highlighted the shop’s connections with apartheid Israel and its illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, leading many local people to refuse to buy their products.

This Saturday, 28 September, activists all over the UK will be picketing shops in their local areas that stock Sodastream products, and encouraging local people to join the boycott of Sodastream.  In Brighton, meet at the Clock Tower at 12noon for the start of an afternoon of peaceful, non-violent protest against companies which profit from the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.

This local campaign against Ecostream also includes a petition.  If you can’t make it to Brighton on Saturday, please sign the petition to show your support.  Then, on Sunday:

Sunday 29 September 2013

SAVE OUR NHS!

Defend Jobs & Services – No to Austerity

On Sunday, support the TUC’s national demonstration outside Tory Party conference in Manchester, assembling at Liverpool Road M3 4FP from 11am and marching to a rally in Whitworth Park.  Many have places on the coaches arranged by Brighton and Hove District Trades Council.

On the day, others can support via twitter @NHS299 or on Facebook Tell Conservative Conference SAVE OUR NHS or by signing-up with the TUC to support this campaign.

Supporters of the National Health Service and all those who want to defend jobs, services and a decent welfare state will deliver a clear message to the Tories that we shall Save Our NHS from Coalition cuts and privatisation.

The protest will highlight the impact of huge job losses and spending cuts across the health service, as well as the rapid sell-off of the most lucrative parts of the NHS to private healthcare companies – many of whom are Tory Party donors.  Can this be just a coincidence?

The effect of Coalition economic policies on communities across the UK will also be raised with the demand that failed austerity policies are abandoned.

In part 2 of his guest blog, Simeon Elliott asks what should the British Left, particularly the Labour Party, be doing to fight homophobia in the UK, in Russia, and internationally.

The Labour Party needs clear policy and leadership on LGBT rights.  It is pleasing to hear Labour leader Ed Miliband say that Brighton Pride “is our opportunity to speak with one voice against homophobia, hate crimes and discrimination”, yet Miliband failed to whip Labour MPs to support the same-sex marriage legislation.  What other equal rights issue has been treated as a question of conscience?  A Labour leadership statement on how the Party will fight homophobia is urgently required, particularly on combatting Russian homophobia.

There were few, if any, official, organised Labour Party representatives at recent demonstrations against Russia’s new anti-gay laws, unlike the visible presence of the Labour Party at Brighton Pride and elsewhere.  The Labour Party must consistently and visibly support all marginalised and minority communities to fight discrimination and injustice.  It was pleasing to hear Labour MP Chris Bryant speak powerfully and also find Purna Sen, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, present at the latest demonstration against Russian homophobia on 3 September 2013.  However, chatting with those around me at recent demonstrations, many doubted the willingness of Labour’s leaders to tackle social injustice, including homophobia.  Leadership, policy and visible support for equalities campaigns are vital.  Individual members demonstrating solidarity between the labour movement and LGBT campaigners, including campaigners from the RMT union and the LRC, are a welcome start.

Generally, the British Left must stress the common interests of all groups oppressed by neo-liberal economics.  The Labour Party needs to unify LGBT citizens facing international discrimination, the poor facing austerity, British migrants facing prejudice whipped-up by the Coalition’s racist advertising campaigns on “illegal” immigrants, Muslims facing routine Islamophobia inspired by the far-right groups like the EDL, and other oppressed people.  I was disturbed by a heated conversation overheard between an anti-EDL campaigner and a gay campaigner protesting against Russian homophobia.  The gay campaigner falsely alleged “all” Muslims were homophobic and extended this to the anti-EDL campaigner.  This was most definitely not the general opinion of the recent protests, and it is essential that we are not divided in this way.

The Left must clearly demonstrate the common themes of social injustice and point out how our opponents prosper when we are divided and fight against each other.  All groups affected by prejudice, poverty and social injustice must unite together.  Around the world we share the same experiences of prejudice and violence directed toward us due to oppression and disempowerment.

The Labour Party must make clear how poverty, made worse by austerity policies, combine with growing prejudice to negatively impact minority communities, ultimately violently, as witnessed in the 1930s.  Poor communities made poorer by austerity are highly susceptible to influence from the right, as shown by the rise of UKIP in recent elections.  The far right exploits public concern about unemployment and poverty among (white) working class voters to advance a rhetoric which demonises migrants and minority groups.  People seeking an explanation for the deterioration in their living standards are being encouraged by Britain’s right-wing press to scapegoat minority communities, rather than to rightly blame the banks and the collapse of the financial sector.  Rising anti-Muslim violence reflects Labour’s failure to tackle the Coalition’s policies on so-called “illegal” immigrants.  Labour must speak out against the demonisation of communities –to expose myths, such as the “job-stealing” migrants, “benefit-rich” claimants, or “marriage-destroying” LGBT citizens.  Labour must seek to educate where the general public may have latent prejudices due to ignorance and a lack of knowledge of other cultures.

Fascism has thrived around the world where the Left has allowed poverty and right-wing provocation to combine without serious challenge; leading to institutionalised prejudice of all kinds, including attacks on disabled people, homophobia, racism, sexism and anti-semitism.  Clearly minority groups have a common interest in resisting the rise of the far right.  Labour’s leaders must offer an alternative to austerity policies in order to provide Britons with hope and the vision of an alternative future.

(c) Alice Bell

Is history repeating itself?  UKIP’s rise in austerity Britain – with clear prejudices against Eastern Europeans, virulent Islamophobia and homophobia, and increasingly extreme statements on women and disabled people – has been based on taking votes from both Tory and Labour parties.  Statements like the slut furore caused by Godfrey Bloom and Eric Kitson’s “Islam is a cancer which needs to be cured with radiation” are cause for grave concern, as is UKIP’s national policy to oppose equal marriage for same-sex couples.

The protests of 3 and 10 August and 3 September 2013 highlighted the new anti-gay laws in Russia, Putin’s macho posturing and the extreme homophobia of the Russian Orthodox Church.  It is much easier to incite violence against any minority group when income inequality thrives and disempowered communities live in poverty, as in Russia and, increasingly, in the UK.  If the Labour Party wishes to tackle homophobia – in the UK, Russia or anywhere – it needs not only to tackle homophobic rhetoric and legislation in the UK and internationally, but must also tackle the poverty which creates the conditions in which homophobia and all other forms of hatred thrive.  To do this the Labour Party must actively oppose the Coalition’s failed austerity policies and advocate a real alternative – not austerity-lite.  Simultaneously Labour must also fight against all forms of homophobia and other discrimination expressed by politicians, other parties and the media, both nationally and internationally.

7.30pm Wednesday 18 September 2013

Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF

Remember Bevan’s words: the NHS “will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it”. It’s time for us all to get fighting!

What can we learn from Chile & South America?

Jeremy Corbyn MP & Maria Vasquez-Aguilar

7.45pm Saturday 14 September 2013

Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF

Join Jeremy Corbyn MP at this special public meeting.  We commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chilean coup – when the elected socialist government of Salvador Allende was overthrown by a brutal dictatorship led by General Pinochet.  Nationally and internationally, trade unionists were at the forefront of resisting the Pinochet regime and democratic protest eventually led to the regime’s downfall. 

In the 1980s Pinochet led the world in applying monetarism and neo-liberal economics, providing an example that Thatcher and Reagan went onto apply and popularise with governments in the west.  Today we are living with the results of failed neo-liberal economics, including failed austerity policies.  The general situation in Latin America is very different.  Having followed Chile’s lead before, what can we learn today from events in Chile and Latin America?  Come along to this next public meeting of Sussex LRC to find out. 

We shall also be joined by Maria Vasquez-Aguilar, Chair of the London Network of the Chile 40 Years On campaign.  You can listen to Maria’s powerful contribution to Midweek broadcast by Radio 4 on 11 September 2013, before meeting her in person on Saturday 14 September.

Refreshments will be available as well as our new range of Sussex LRC badges.  (We know you love ’em!)

Guest blog by Simeon Elliott, 14 August 2013

PROTEST AT RUSSIA’s SECTION 6.13.1

On Saturday 10 August, 2,000 people – mostly from the LGBT community – joined the London protest against Section 6.13.1, a new law passed by the Russian state Duma by 436 votes to 0 in June 2013.  In violation of the Russian constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and the European Convention on Human Rights, which Russia has signed and pledged to uphold, Section 6.13.1 punitively fines any person or organisation providing information about homosexuality to people under 18 and has been seen to give a green light to LGBT hate crime in Russia.  To UK equality campaigners, this echoes the Tories’ hated Section 28, which legitimised a wave of virulent homophobia in the UK in the late 1980s and 1990s before its repeal by Labour.

Risibly described as non-discriminatory by the Russian government, Section 6.13.1 has encouraged individuals, organisations and the Russian state to engage in vicious physical attacks and the verbal abuse of LGBT people.  The arrest of 60 LGBT equality campaigners in the St Petersburg’s Gay Pride parade this June – some of whom received horrific injuries in police beatings – is evidence of this.  The response of the Russian LGBT Network identifies the growing inability of the Russian government to manage and control far-right groups who openly raise racist and homophobic banners with a blatant disregard for the truth.  This should have worrying echoes for us all.

Concerns about Russian state and individual homophobia have recently crystallised around the position of international visitors and athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  In line with Section 6.13.1, Russian Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko, said that foreign athletes will be punished if they “propagandised” for LGBT rights.  Alexander Zhukov, head of Russia’s National Olympic Committee, added that ”People of non-traditional sexual orientations can take part in the competitions and all other events at the Games unhindered, without any fear for their safety whatsoever” as long as they don’t “put across” their views ”in the presence of children.”

This presents a problem for the International Olympics Committee – which is now being asked to enforce its long-standing commitments to non-discrimination.  The protest in London highlighted the call to strip Russia of the 2014 Winter Olympics because of its new anti-gay laws.  Celebrity and LGBT campaigner Stephen Fry had compared the current situation in Russia to the scapegoating of Jews during the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany and this view was reflected in some demonstrators’ placards.  These included numerous examples of Putin depicted either with a Hitler moustache or in drag.

Worldwide protests against Russia’s anti-gay law Section 6.13.1 on 10 August 2013 have drawn attention to the plight of LGBT people in Russia and shown how communities can organise very quickly around issues of shared interest.  The presence of national LGBT celebrities, such as Stephen Fry and the veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell, attracted media attention to the determination of the protesters to tackle Russian homophobia.  Disappointingly, there was little visible support from the mainstream political parties, with LGBT Labour having no national organised presence at a demonstration which was well-attended by Labour members.  Individual members did attend from the LRC, other left groups and trades unions including RMT and PCS; but where was the organised support of the British Left expressing solidarity with the LGBT community?

SO DIFFERENT AT BRIGHTON PRIDE

Just a week earlier on Saturday 3 August, Brighton and Hove Gay Pride attracted an estimated 160,000+ people onto the streets in a celebration of diversity and equality.  About 60 groups joined the parade, including political organisations, trades unions, public and voluntary services.  It was great to see these groups happily align themselves in solidarity with Brighton and Hove’s LGBT communities.  It was particularly heartening to see the National Union of Teachers’ bus, since the NUT has campaigned tirelessly for LGBT teachers’ rights over many years as various governments did little to defend LGBT rights for workers in the education sector.

2013 Brighton Pride themes were “icons” and solidarity with the Russian LGBT community. 100 placards declaring “Brighton Supports LGBT Russia” were dispersed through the parade.  They were supported by the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus performing “Banned’ in solidarity with LGBT Russia, and the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

At the end of the parade Peter Tatchell and representatives from Cameroon stood with great dignity holding placards to remind Pride revellers of the plight of LGBT communities in Cameroon and elsewhere in Africa and the Commonwealth.  For many, one of the highlights of the entire day was Peter Tatchell’s speech against international homophobia.

Labour’s strong local support for LGBT communities in Brighton & Hove and Russia was demonstrated by the presence of Labour Group leader Warren Morgan, our new Labour councillor – Emma Daniels, many other councillors and Labour’s local parliamentary candidates, including Nancy Platts.   The jubilant atmosphere of the Brighton parade reflects the high degree of LGBT acceptance and integration locally where Pride is enjoyed by all-comers as “a really positive, friendly and inclusive event.” (Warren Morgan).

WE MUST BE PROUD TO PUT POLITICS BEFORE COMMERCE

Regrettably, the message of solidarity with LGBT Russia was overwhelmed by the party atmosphere and prevalence of commercial interests in the parade.  Pride’s official merchandise included no items mentioning Russia, suggesting lipservice more than solidarity.  If anyone wanted to proclaim their support for the Russian LGBT community they had to have brought a homemade item, or get hold of one of the excellent “Brighton Supports LGBT” placards (two of which later reappeared at the London demonstration) – but it is rumoured that these were produced by a local individual, not by Brighton Pride and unlike the official merchandise it was noticeable that they did not bear the official Brighton Pride logo.  Our local rag, The Argus, made no mention of solidarity with LGBT Russia in its online report, nor did the council’s tourist information website.

Pride is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the intrinsic worth of LGBT citizens, and to bear witness to the homophobia and health-related difficulties that many LGBT citizens face, whether in the UK or overseas.  The pay-to-enter Pride festival at Preston Park is somewhat contradictory to the wellbeing of the LGBT community.  For example, should Pride diminish people’s health by the very active promotion of alcohol consumption within the Park, when external and internalised homophobia results in the known high incidence of alcohol-related ill-health amongst the LGBT community?  Or, should Pride promote materialism by engaging so conspicuously with commercial sponsors?  It was depressing to see big business excessively promoting expensive cars, luxury hotels and jacuzzis in a time when most have had no pay rises and we need to reduce carbon consumption.  While it is necessary to raise funds for Pride to go ahead, we must be aware that unaffordable lifestyles diminish wellbeing and excess consumption damages our environment.

ISSUES FOR THE LOCAL LGBT COMMUNITY

Health issues are of great concern to the LGBT community.  Brighton & Hove has the highest rate of HIV infection outside London with 1,387 residents or 7.59 per 1,000 people having HIV, compared to a UK average of 1.5 per 1,000.  Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV as approximately 90% of infections are in men, with sex between men being the most likely route of transmission.  Health promotion, the fight to preserve NHS services for HIV/AIDS, specific services promoting lesbian health, and the particular health needs of the transgendered community are all key issues for our community.  Yet Coalition health “reforms” have transferred the public health responsibility for HIV to local authorities while ending ring-fenced funding for HIV care.  Like Tory-controlled West Sussex County Council, despite a dramatic increase in rates of people living locally with HIV, many local authorities have failed to acknowledge the seriousness of this responsibility in their budgets.

At Brighton Pride, statutory and voluntary sector organisations presented an excellent range of stalls offering advice and support to the LGBT community on health and safety issues.  So why were these facilities only available to those who were able to pay £20 to pass through the massive steel barricades that separated the Pride parade from Pride in Preston Park?  A huge number of young and poor people were thus denied access to resources which had been specifically designed for the LGBT community.  Doubly unfair in a time of such great austerity!

Even in progressive Brighton & Hove homophobia still exists. In October 2012 the gay quarter of Kemptown was said to be “fast becoming a no-go area” by the Chair of the LGBT Community Safety Forum after a number of serious physical assaults.  Verbal abuse is also far from unusual, especially from visiting football fans.   In April 2013 there was widespread national publicity for a local campaign highlighting the homophobic abuse faced by Seagulls fans from at least 72 per cent of their opponents in the 2012/13 season – in at least 70 per cent of away games and 57 per cent of their total matches as at April 2013.  But will fans notice any difference when the 2013/14 football season starts or will the abuse kick-off again too?  It did at Brighton’s pre-season friendly against Leeds, even as both cities were celebrating Gay Pride.

MOVING FORWARD

It appears that the balance between private sector and local government funding for Pride needs to be re-balanced, while the scope and nature of Pride’s activities needs to be addressed. The demonstration against Russian homophobia in London was mobilised with no commercial sponsorship; but it achieved far greater national publicity for the fight against homophobia and issues of concern to both the LGBT community and socialists.

The LGBT community very rarely has such an opportunity to be heard.  What more should we have been shouting about?

The Probation Service: Public Safety or Private Profit?

Public meeting called by NAPO Surrey & Sussex Branch

7pm-9pm, Thursday 15 August (doors 6.30pm)

City College, Pelham Street, Brighton BN1 4FA

The Coalition government plans to outsource 70% of the Probation Service’s work to private companies like G4S and Serco.  This will include supervision of all low and medium risk offenders.  Yet this is no free market as Probation Trusts are not to be allowed to bid for their own work.

NAPO believes justice and public protection should not be about profit, but about public safety, reduced offending, rehabilitation of offenders and the prevention of further crimes creating more victims.  We agree!

Support this important public meeting to hear more about the Coalition’s plans to privatise the UK justice system.  Hear how the privatisation of the Probation Service will affect communities, residents and businesses in our area from Ian Lawrence – General Secretary of NAPO, Professor Paul Senior – Director of Hallam Centre for Community Justice and Caroline Lucas – MP for Brighton Pavilion.

Even if you can’t make this meeting, you can still sign the petition opposing privatisation of the Probation Service and watch the video Grayling Sinks Probation Service – you may recognise some of the scenes.  Please also lobby your MP, raising your concerns and urging them to oppose the privatisation of the Probation Service.  NAPO’s website provides more information on its Probation Under Threat campaign and NAPO News has an interesting report on Labour’s opposition to this proposed privatisation.  You can also contact surreysussexnapo@outlook.com for further details.  Finally, if you tweet, after this meeting you may want to follow Probation SPO and Ian Lawrence .

The Coalition is systematically attacking the UK’s justice system – seeking to introduce more private prisons, close local courts and privatise the Probation Service.  Legal Aid has already been severely restricted and PCS and POA members have taken action.  It’s time for us all to stand-up for justice.

Saturday 3 August 2013

(c) Alice Bell

Today join the people of Brighton & Hove in celebrating diversity, not just promoting but demanding equality for all, and having lots of fun!  Yet, as you party in the park or watch the brilliant Pride march, do also remember that Pride is a political event.  This year the organisers have highlighted the plight of LGBT people in Russia.  The Russian LGBT Network has provided more information (in English) on the campaign against Article 6.13.1 which reminds us of the hated Section 28.   We also hope that everyone will be allowed to march freely and without restriction this year.  We don’t want a repeat of last year’s disgraceful segregation and kettling of Queers Against Cuts – a group of peaceful anti-cuts protesters – which appalled us last year.  Brighton Pride has always been a free-spirited, tolerant, peaceful and jubilant occasion – for everyone.  Let’s keep it that way.

Brighton & Hove LRC is stepping-up its support for local green keepers currently fighting the imposition of a 20% pay cut (£4,000 on average) and 28% staff cuts by private contractor Mytime Active.  B&H LRC has drafted a resolution to be taken to local Labour Parties and other organisations, as shown below.  We encourage all our supporters to propose this resolution, suitably amended as required for their organisation and/or area.

The green keepers will appreciate your solidarity even if you are outside of Brighton & Hove.  A solidarity message on your bin is also an option.  Support our green keepers, who a cash-rich company appears to be trying to penalise for its own failings, and oppose any privatisation of public sports facilities.

Keep Sports Facilities Public

This [Labour Party/other organisation] recognises the value that being able to participate in sporting activities has to the health and well-being of all, including residents of Brighton & Hove [and…].

We deplore all increases in the price of public participation at all sports facilities owned and/or controlled by Brighton & Hove City Council [and…], above any necessary inflation-linked price rises.

We also deplore any attempt by the Council to privatise, sell or relinquish control of any of its sports facilities.  We call upon the Council to take back under its direct control all such facilities where management and/or operations have already been outsourced to private contractors.  In particular we call upon Brighton & Hove City Council to bring back in-house the management of the Hollingbury Park and Waterhall Golf Courses, so that these facilities are once more under day-to-day council management and do not have their operations outsourced to Mytime Active.

We support the green keepers in their dispute against Mytime Active’s plan to enforce 20% wage cuts (on average £4,000) and 28% staff cuts to green keepers working at Hollingbury Park and Waterhall Golf Courses.  We encourage all members of Brighton, Hove and District Labour Party to do likewise, especially members of the Labour and Co-operative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council and members of these two golf clubs.

We urge Brighton & Hove City Council to intervene immediately in support of the green keepers and to publicly express its disapproval of Mytime Active’s intended wage and staff cuts to the green keepers.

We agree to send copies of this resolution, excluding this last paragraph, to:

Steve Price, Chief Executive of Mytime Active

Penny Thompson, Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council

Gary Palmer, GMB Organiser – representing the green keepers

Alex Knutsen, Brighton & Hove UNISON – representing the green keepers

All Labour & Co-operative councillors sitting on Brighton & Hove City Council

The Argus

Brighton & Hove LRC meeting:

7.30pm Thursday 18 July

Lord Nelson pub, Trafalgar Street, Brighton

Come along after London FBU’s march to stop the cuts (see below)

All welcome.

Ian Evans, from UNITE the Union’s National Industrial Sector Committee for Health, will speak about the importance of the Labour Party’s link with the trades union movement.  With his knowledge of healthcare, Ian will also be happy to give us an update on the state of the NHS under the Coalition and what the next Labour government must do to rectify this situation.  We look forward to another interesting discussion.

Brighton & Hove LRC meets in the backroom of the Lord Nelson pub, which is five minutes walk from Brighton railway station, straight down Trafalgar Street.  Our meetings are friendly and informal.

Meet at The Monument, London, 11.30am on Thursday 18 July. 

As our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of firefighter Stephen Hunt who died while tackling a blaze in Manchester on Saturday 13 July, show solidarity by planning to support London FBU in their campaign against fire service cuts.

10 firestations, 14 fire engines, 552 frontline firefighters and 2 specialist fire and rescue units will be cut if Mayor Johnson gets his way.  94% of Londoners opposed these cuts in the public consultation.  Add your voice to theirs this Thursday.

The Monument is only 10 minutes walk from London Bridge railway station – being the historic, gold-capped tower at the north end of London Bridge.  So easy to get to from Sussex, we’ll see you there.

Brighton, Hove and District Labour Party has unanimously passed the motion below.  We recommend that others also adopt it.

Oppose Fire Cuts and Privatisation

This Labour Party opposes the cuts to the London Fire Brigade being forced through by Mayor Boris Johnson and resolves to actively and publicly support the London FBU and the London Labour Party in their campaigns against these dangerous cuts as this may be a fore-runner to cuts in other parts of the country, including the proposed cuts in East Sussex.

This Labour Party also opposes the proposal by Coalition Fire Minister Brandon Lewis to privatise national Fire and Rescue Services.  This Labour Party resolves to actively and publicly support the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in its campaign opposing the privatisation of the Fire Service or any part thereof.