Leicester Socialist Party Branch Programme
Public meeting Wednesday 19th 7.30pm - venue to be confirmed
Kashmiri earthquake appeal
2005 has been described as the 'year of the natural disaster'. Whilst earthquakes, volcanoes and tidal waves are natural events and cannot be prevented, much of the suffering and devestation could be reduced. If good quality public housing was available, early warning systems were put in place, together with an effective evacuation policy, thousands of lives could have been saved. However, such 'luxuries' are the preserve of the elite. For the poor, living in the most vulnerable areas, in the worst housing and with a lack of effective emergency services the result is tragic. We will be raising donations to aid the appeal in Pakistan. Through our common generosity, we can demonstrate international solidarity, in contrast with the paltry sum of just £1m given by the British government.
Leicester West branch meet at 1, Bede St. (off Humberstone Gate) at 7.30pm on Tuesdays
Tuesday 18th October - speaker: Josie Nicholls
Report back from the ISR conference on women's rights
As socialists, we hold the view that everyone should be valued equally. We all have the same rights - to a fair, decent wage, to be able to bring up our families, to be able to hold our leaders to account and express our views.
Unfortunately, the 'glass ceiling' still exists for women, despite decades of legislation to try to prevent this, starting from the 1970 Equal Pay Act. Why should this be so? Is it possible to have genuine equality under capitalism?
Tuesday 25th October - speaker: Drew Walton
What happens when the oil runs out?
We have only a few more years of cheap oil left, before the world's supply peaks, when it will become an increasingly scarce resource. Under the present system, unfortunately, there are no plans in place to develop renewable energies to take the place of fossil fuels, as these are deemed to be too 'uneconomic'. However, the fact that we would run out of oil was foreseen around 50 years ago!
As well as a fuel, oil is also used to make pesticides and fertilisers, essential to feed the planet. As the world's population grows and demand from countries such as India and China increases, is there an answer to the scarcity of resources? We need to plan decisions in order to benefit the mass of people, not a handful of petrochemical companies. We need to develop alternatives to fossil fuels urgently. Only through international co-operation and an end to the rule of market economics can this be achieved. Come along to discuss these issues.
