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Build
the international anti-capitalist movement -
People before profit!
End
war and global capitalism! Struggle for a new world!
This conference to set up a new international campaigning
youth organisation takes place at a time of military conflict
in Afghanistan, and deep political and economic crisis around
the world. For a long time, the whole of humanity will be
affected by the course of Bush’s ‘war’ and
its results.
The
terror attacks on the World Trade Centre/Pentagon on September
11, and the US-led war, brings home to our generation what
an insecure future we face. The planet is now a much more
dangerous place. We believe the rule of big business and the
profit system means never ending exploitation, poverty, and
oppression, creating the conditions for wars and civil wars,
and widespread oppression.
Our
generation has grown up in a world more divided and unjust
than ever before. Over the last few years, this has moved
young people in North America, Europe and Australasia to take
to the streets in large-scale anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist
protests. We have seen huge anti-capitalist demonstrations
outside summits of the IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organisation
(WTO), the European Union (EU) and other organisations of
global capitalism. Seattle, Prague, Nice, Gothenburg, and
Genoa - these cities have become symbols for a new movement
from below. Millions of young people, students, workers, and
the unemployed, have taken to the streets to challenge global
capitalism and to loudly say, “We’ve had enough!”
These
events, dominated and lead by young people, have played an
important role in exposing the system. The policies of the
Western governments and the big corporations are now firmly
under the spotlight. But youth and working people have also
been involved in mass struggles in their own countries, against
the effects of neo-liberalism (the policy of attacks on working
and living conditions and wages, huge cuts in public spending
and widespread privatisation of the state sector) and globalisation.
In the poorer countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa,
huge protests and struggles have taken place against terrible
working and living conditions.
The anti-capitalist movement links up with anti-war protests
Faced
with a growing movement against their rule, the rich and powerful
are attempting to strike back. The police and armed forces
of the state have already been used against our movement.
Earlier this year, they used live ammunition during anti-capitalist
protests in Gothenburg and Genoa. They shot dead Carlo Giuliani,
during the Italian protests. People were also brutally tortured
in Genoa’s police cells. And as if this was not bad enough,
the EU states are now discussing setting up a joint “police
force”, to try to severely limit and control public protests.
A number of countries have also used the terror attacks in
the US as an excuse to rush in harsh legislation against civil
and democratic rights. We can be sure that these “emergency
anti-terrorist measures” will also be used against the
anti-globalisation and anti-capitalist movement.
The
big business media campaign against anyone who stands up against
the system has been put into high gear. They try to criminalise
any opposition to their rule. By making an outrageous ‘link’
between terrorism and the anti-capitalist movement, sections
of the press and media, and some capitalist politicians, have
tried to claim that one of the consequences of September 11
and the US-led war has been to “halt in its tracks”
the mass movement against globalisation. This attempt will
fail.
September
11 did initially cause widespread shock, outrage and confusion.
But a new world situation of military conflict and mass terror
has convinced tens and hundreds of thousands of onto to the
streets in anti-war protests. Many are taking part in demonstrations
for the first time in their lives, including young people
who have previously watched the developing anti-capitalist
movement with interest and sympathy. ‘Seasoned’
anti-capitalist activists are also playing an important role
in building the anti-war movement. They bring to it their
own experiences and ideas. This has helped many in the anti-war
movement to make the link between capitalism, war, terror,
and oppression.
We
demand an end to this unjust world! We need to struggle for
a different type of society. We have to step up the magnificent
international movement against globalisation, capitalism,
and war. That iswhy we are proposing to set up a new international
campaigning youth organisation.
We
think this campaigning organisation will allow young people
in the anti-globalisation and anti-war movement to take the
next step, from opposition to capitalism, and war, to struggling
for a new society. Never has there been a more urgent need
to build an international socialist alternative for young
people.
Why
a new international organisation?
This initiative has been launched as an international, anti-capitalist,
and socialist youth movement by a number of international
youth organisations: Elevkampanjen/Youth Against Racism in
Europe (Sweden), International Verzet/Résistance Internationale
(Belgium), International Verzet (Netherlands), Socialist Youth
(Ireland), International Socialist Resistance (Britain), and
International Resistance (Greece).
We
hope to bring together young people from all over the world
to struggle against global capitalism. We are a broad, inclusive,
and democratic socialist youth movement. We appeal to all
those who want to see an alternative to capitalism to join
us. Whether you already consider yourself a socialist or you
are interested to hear more about our ideas, this new campaigning
organisation is the place for you.
We
will participate in building the anti-capitalist movement,
together with other organisations and campaigns, such as ATTAC,
PGA and the radical youth. While building for international
demonstrations against capitalist institutions like the IMF,
World Bank, WTO or EU, we will also link-up with the day to
day struggles in communities, schools and workplaces - against
cuts, job losses, and privatisations etc.
But
we are not just “against” globalisation, neo-liberalism
and capitalism. We are in favour of a socialist society based
on the needs of humanity, not profits: a democratic socialist
society. We will put forward the vision of a socialist future
as part of the important debates and discussions on the alternative
to global capitalism that are taking place in the anti-capitalist
movement.
Capitalism
has failed
Along with the old and sick, young people, as always, suffer
the most under the system of global capitalism. In the West,
growing numbers of us are forced into low paid, dead-end ‘McJobs’.
Education is being privatised and increasingly made only available
for the rich. Unemployment rates are highest amongst youth.
And now we can expect our prospects to worsen as the world
slides into deep economic recession.
In
Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the so-called ‘Third
World’, the situation for the whole of society, and especially
for young people, is unbearable. Joblessness, little or no
education, widespread poverty and starvation, the chains of
enormous national debts, the rule of dictatorships and authoritarian
regimes, bloody ethnic, religious, and national conflicts
- this is the reality of life for the great majority of humanity.
The
media, the politicians, and the education system like to tell
us different. The market economy - so we are told - ‘creates’
freedom, opportunities, democracy and wealth. ISR/IR rejects
this claim. Capitalism can only provide ‘freedom’,
opportunities and wealth for the small minority of the rich
and super-rich.
A
small group owns or controls the bulk of the world’s
resources. More than 50 of the world’s 100 leading economies
are multinational companies. The gap between the rich and
the poor is obscene. The assets of the three richest people
in the world are more than the combined income of all the
least developed countries and their 600 million people.
Capitalism
means profits are put before human life. The G8 summit in
Okinawa, in 2000, cost $500 million, while the total worldwide
budget for research on the malaria vaccine is about $20 million
(and still one million people die of malaria every year).
An estimated 1.4 billion people live without clean drinking
water, and a further 2.3 billion do not have access to proper
sanitation.
Capitalism
is wasteful and destructive. Officially there are more than
15 million unemployed in the European Union. There are over
800 million who are unemployed or underemployed in the countries
of Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Capitalism
means violence, conflicts, and huge spending on arms. War
is ‘normal’ life for many people on the planet.
In the last century, over 200 million people perished in wars
that were essentially about profits, markets and the prestige
of the big powers. Three million people died in Africa alone
in the 1990s. In the same decade, 50 million people were forced
to flee their homes as refugees. The cost of one B2 aeroplane
bomber is $2.6 billion. Yet, in Ethiopia, children die because
there are no needles (that cost a mere 30 cents) to provide
them with life-saving injections.
The
effects of the market economy have resulted in an environmental
and human disaster. Deforestation has lead to the growth of
deserts. Industrial pollution and global warming will mean
that the majority of the coral reefs will be destroyed by
the year 2050. More than eight million people die each year
because of polluted air.
We
have no future under the rule of the profit system. Young
people today feel they will be far worse off than their parents’
generation. Globally, 60 million young people are unemployed
or underemployed. Capitalism condemns every third child in
the world to suffer malnutrition.
No
to war!
On
7 October 2001, a huge military attack was launched by the
US-led ‘coalition’ against Afghanistan. We are completely
opposed to this war. The conflict has already resulted in
the deaths of many innocent civilians in Afghanistan. Worldwide,
people were shocked and horrified by the terrorist attacks
on the US on 11 September, which resulted in around 7,000
deaths. However, there is widespread opposition to the bloody
military policies of the US government and its allies.
We
are completely opposed to terrorism. The September 11 attacks
killed many office workers and helped drive many people in
the US into the hands of the right-wing Bush administration.
Many governments have used this atrocity as a pretext to introduce
new repressive measures. The media and politicians have whipped
up anti-Muslim feelings, which has led to an increase in racist
abuse and attacks.
Terror
methods will never succeed in ending the military, political
and economic domination of the big powers over the rest of
the world, nor of changing society in the West. Only an international
movement of young and working people, in the ‘Third World’
and the West, can achieve this.
Bombing
raids on Afghanistan or any other country will not stop terrorist
attacks, but, in fact, will only create huge anger in the
Middle East and the ‘Third World’. Leaders of major
capitalist countries, such as Bush, Blair, Schroeder, and
Jospin, practice policies that create the conditions for terrorism.
Iraq is still regularly bombed by the US and British airforces.
Sanctions haveled to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of
children in that impoverished country. The US government gives
$2 billion each year in military aid to Israel, much of which
is used by the ruling elite to carry out the brutal repression
of Palestinians in the Gaza and West Bank.
There
is widespread hatred against the economic and military policies
of the US amongst oppressed people in the Middle East, Asia,
Africa, and Latin America. This follows years of super-exploitation
of the people and the resources ofthe poorer countries. The
attacks against Afghanistan and other ‘war’ measures
will only increase hatred of the US and other big capitalist
powers. Unless a movement involving the majority of young
and working people, and the poor can be built to end capitalism
new terrorist acts will happen again.
The
war on Afghanistan is clearly not being fought in the interests
of youth and working people. The war is all about showing
the world that the US ruling class is boss. It is also about
the US ruling class andbig corporations securing their vital
economic, military, and political interests in the Middle
East and Central Asia.
The
IMF, World Bank, and WTO are strangling the ‘Third World’
The
West European and North American powers have used their domination
of the world economy to super-exploit the countries of Africa,
Asia, and Latin America. On top of this, the people of the
‘Third World’ live under the rule of corrupt governments,
and these are often brutal dictatorships.
The
IMF, World Bank, and WTO are strangling the ‘Third World’.
In 1999, the poorest countries owed $2.5 trillion in debts
to the industrialised world.
We
stand for the abolition of the IMF, World Bank and WTO. These
institutions cannot be reformed. They are under the control
of the governments of the rich countries and represent the
interests of the multinational banks and corporations.
We
fight for the cancellation of the obscene debt burden suffered
by the poorest countries.
We
also oppose the bosses’ big trading blocks, such as the
European Union. Despite attempting to dress the EU in ‘democratic’
clothing, this institution represents the interests of big
business, and not the working people of Europe.
To
decide how the wealth of the world is used,we must first have
control of it. The major corporations, the big finance houses
and banks, and our basic utilities (railways, electricity
etc) need to taken out of the hands of the profiteers, and
put into public ownership.
We
demand free education!
Internationally,
attacks continue against the educational system. These include
school and university fees, the privatisation of education,
and cuts in spending. Access to free education is a basic
right. ISR/IR fights all attempts by capitalist governmentsto
create an educational system that drives working class youth
out of colleges and universities, and increasingly is only
open to the children of the rich elite.
Stop
discrimination against women!
Women,
who make up half of the world’s population, are still
the most exploited section of society. To give just one example;
two-thirds of all the world’s work is done by women and
yet they receive just one tenth of the world’s income.
Due
to decades of mass struggles, women have won some important
reforms in the West. However, they still bear the main responsibility
for childcare and housework. More women than ever before are
now in the workplace, but they are doubly exploited, as workers
and as women.
Women
in the ‘Third World’ face the most deplorable conditions.
For a great many, their situation has not improved for hundreds
of years.
Capitalism
is a system that is based upon power relations and exploitation.
Many women face violence and abuse within the family. Furthermore,
the domination of the market economy results in everything
being turned into a commodity for sale. This is most graphically
seen in the treatment of women. The billion-dollar pornography
industry, and the so-called ‘sex trade’, symbolises
the extreme sickness of a society based on profit
This
situation will continue as long as the big corporations rule.
But women are not just accepting it. In fact, in all the anti-capitalist
and anti-war protests, as well as community, workplace, and
rural struggles internationally, young women have taken a
leading role.
We
campaign against sexism, and stand for real equality between
men and women.
Fight
Racism, Fascism and Homophobia!
Discrimination
against people because of the colour of their skin, their
gender, their nationality, their religion, or their sexual
orientation is deeply rooted in the society we live in. The
ruling elites use ‘divide and rule’ tactics to maintain
their power.
We
stand for the maximum unity of youth and working people. We
will play an active part in the struggle against all forms
of discrimination.
End
the environmental disaster!
The
last 25 years, according to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),
has been the most environmentally destructive in the last
65 million years. The market system is based on the ruthless
exploitation of both human and natural resources. Global warming,
air and water pollution, forest destruction, land degradation,
and a possible nuclear catastrophe, have put a question mark
over the future of planet earth.
We
certainly cannot entrust the environment to the politicians.
Under pressure from growing public anger at looming environmental
catastrophe, the world’s governments came up with the
Kyoto Accord, which aimed to cut carbon dioxide emissions
(but only by a small amount). However, Bush, in one of his
first acts as president, declared that the US government was
withdrawing from the agreement. This is despite the fact that
the USproduces the most CO2 emissions in the world!
We
campaign for an ecologically responsible and sustainable economy
as a priority, and will be part of the campaigns for immediate
reforms to improve the environment. The struggle for a clean
environment is linked to the struggle against global capitalism
and the need to fundamentally change society.
You
can’t have capitalism with a human face
Capitalism
is not only an unjust system that denies the majority of people
the wealth of the planet; it is also produces regular crises.
We see regular economic swings, from ‘boom’ to bust.
This brings rising unemployment, mass poverty, and attacks
on what is left of the welfare state.
We
believe that we should fight for every possible reform or
concession from the capitalists and the ruling class - and
we will be involved in these struggles. However, as long as
capitalism remains, reforms that are won today will be attacked
later on. The bosses and the politicians will try to make
us pay for the crisis of their system,through, for example,
increases in taxes or cuts in public spending.
We
do not believe that a better, more ‘humane’, form
of capitalism exists. The capitalist system will always be
based on greed and profit, and the dictatorship of the market.
The exploitation of the majority of people by a minority will
continue under this system. To solve the world’s problems,
capitalism has to be abolished!
The
power strikes back
The
rich and powerful resist the growing opposition to their rule.
They control the mass media and the main political parties,
and through them they try to control “public opinion”.
Since the September 11 bombings in the US, and the‘war’
against Afghanistan, they have stepped up attempts to demonise
any anti-establishment protests. They try to portray the anti-capitalist
movement as “violent”.
It
is the big capitalist powers that are responsible for violence.
They are perfectly prepared to use violent methods when it
suits their interests. They control the armed forces of the
state, and have already used them against our movement. In
Genoa, they even used fascist provocateurs in an attempt to
disrupt and to discredit the anti-capitalist protests.
A
number of governments are rushing in draconian legislation,
which can be targeted against the anti-capitalist opposition.
We
will be part of the struggle to defend all our hard won civil
and human rights. We are opposed to all attempts to increase
the powers of the state. We will defend every victim of police
and state violence and oppression.
Alongside
attempted repression, the Western governments and the establishment
are attempting to appeal to some parts of the anti-capitalist
and anti-globalisation movement to join them in “normal”
politics. Of course, the ‘only’ requirement for
membership of this exclusive club is acceptance of the continuation
of capitalism!
We
are not afraid of open debate with the supporters of capitalism
- after all we have an overwhelming case! But we are opposed
to the anti-globalisation movement going down the road of
calling only for reforms of the profit system. This policy
would mean accepting capitalism, while merely campaigning
for some small changes. Working within the framework of the
system cannot fundamentally alter our lives.
For
the mobilisation of millions
The
only way to seriously challenge the rule of big business is
by mobilising young people, the unemployed, and working people.
Millions are stronger than millionaires.
We
call for the broadest possible campaigns, protests, demonstrations,
and so on, involving the youth, the unemployed and the poor.
We will also actively try to involve working people and their
organisations, the trade unions. We call on the trade unions
to start an anti-capitalist offensive and to start to support
and mobilise for the anti-capitalist protests.
It
is youth and working people that will change society. It is
people in work, the wage earners, who create all the goods
and provide the services, such as electricity and health.
Collectively, the working class is potentially the most powerful
force in society. Through mass actions, including strikes
and general strikes, they can hit capitalism where it really
hurts - in the pockets!
How
do we build the movement?
We
support direct action, based on mass mobilisations and democratic
decision making within the movement. We call for mass blockades
of capitalist summits and gatherings. These protests should
be based on democratic decision-making by the organisations
and people involved. We also call for the organising of broad
conferences that decide on the policies and tactics used during
demonstrations. Co-ordinating organisations and stewarding
organisations, created for these demonstrations, need to be
elected and accountable.
Alongside
the broad anti-capitalist protests, we support in principle
the idea of a local general strike in every city that hosts
a capitalist summit. Strikes and general strikes are potentially
the most successful forms of ‘direct action’, and
alongside large-scale protests of the youth, they can stop
any IMF, World Bank or WTO summit.
We
call for organised mass stewarding to ensure the defence of
demonstrations against police brutality and repression.
Some
young people involved in the anti-capitalist movement vent
their anger and frustration by attacking and destroying shops
and property, and by looting goods. We oppose these actions.
They only hand the ruling classes a propaganda victory on
a plate, and are used as an excuse for police repression.
Such actions are counter-productive and will only discredit
our movement in the eyes of the wider population.
Do
we need politics?
Many
young people are disgusted by the ruling political parties
and say they reject politics altogether. We understand the
reasons for these feelings, but to ignore the politicalarena
would mean the anti-capitalist movement trying to fight with
one arm tied behind its back.
We
think there is a need for politics, in the sense that there
is a need for a political answer to the crisis of capitalism.
Therefore, we call for the beginning of an organised political
debate about the objectives of the anti-capitalist movement.
We will bring to the anti-capitalist movement our socialist
ideas and the need to build a socialist alternative to the
corrupt political parties and the elites they represent.
Replace
capitalism with socialist democracy!
Capitalism
is a discredited and unfair system, but what do we replace
it with? We struggle for socialist democracy. By this we mean
a society which functions to satisfy the needs of human beings
and the environment.
Socialism
means the world’s population owning and controlling the
wealth they produce, and deciding how society should be run
on a day-to-day basis. This is genuine democracy!
Join
us in this struggle to end wars, poverty, and injustice once
and for all!
The
main demands of the ISR/IR includes the following:
-
No to Bush’s war
- Down
with the IMF, World Bank, and WTO
For mass mobilisations by the anti-capitalist movement and
working people to stop the bosses’ summits
- Stop
the exploitation of the world by multinational banks and
corporations
- Immediate
cancellation of ‘Third World’ debts
- Stop
all forms of discrimination; equal rights for all
- Defend
the right to asylum
- For
free, quality education for all
- For
a united struggle to stop the fascists. For mass mobilisations
to prevent fascist activities. No platform for fascists!
- No
to all forms of social cuts, job losses, redundancies, deregulation,
and privatisation
- For
a decent minimum wage
- For
a massive increase in public spending on education, the
environment, health, housing etc.
- For
progressive taxation on profits and wealth.
- For
a society worldwide based on the needs of people and the
environment - a socialist democracy
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