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Resist Capitalism

Build Socialism

Join International Socialist Resistance

Across the globe more and more young people are questioning capitalism. Over the last couple of years mass anti-capitalist protests have attracted hundreds of thousands of people from across continents. Cities like Seattle, Prague and Genoa have become famous for their protests against the institutions of capitalism, such as the World Bank and the IMF. These protests have focused the attention of millions on the appalling conditions and exploitation faced by the majority of the population of the world. Above all the anti-capitalist movement has exposed the role of big business, together with institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, and the pro-capitalist governments in perpetuating this situation.

The neo-liberal agenda of privatisation and cuts in social spending that they impose on the populations of the world are responsible for creating a social catastrophe on a gigantic scale.

Today, more than one fifth of the world's population live in absolute poverty. An estimated 1.4 billion people live without clean drinking water, while 2.3 billion do not have access to proper sanitation.

Under capitalism the corporations' drive to make profit always comes before human or environmental need. That is why as long as capitalism exists then there will be no end to poverty, war, the destruction of the environment, and the other problems that face humanity.

That is why International Socialist Resistance (ISR) is involved in building the anti-capitalist movement. However, we also fight for an alternative to capitalism; socialism. Socialism means a society which can meet the needs of all the world's population and environment. It would allow the majority in society to own and control the wealth that they produce and democratically decide how society should be run.

ISR fights for:

An end to Bush and Blair's wars

Capitalism means a future of war and armed conflict. This has been shown by recent events. The widespread revulsion at the horror of the September 11 terrorist attacks has been cynically used by Bush and Blair to launch a war against Afghanistan. Thousands have died in that conflict. Thousands more will die in if Bush goes to war against Iraq.

Any military action taken by the main capitalist powers is about defending their prestige, their power and the profits of the western multinationals.

ISR stands for a society in which the causes of both war and terrorism can be eliminated.

Free education for all

Around the world, millions of young people are denied an education. In Africa alone, 45.4 million children are out of school.

In the western world, governments are viciously cutting education spending while introducing and increasing tuition fees. Increasingly, privatisation and commercialisation of the education system means young people's education coming second to big business profit.

ISR stands for a world where everyone would have access to a good quality and free education. It wold allow everyone to develop their full-potential for the benefit of themselves and society.

For decent jobs and a decent minimum wage

In Latin America between 36% and 66% of young people are out of work. Throughout the world, millions of young people are unemployed.

Here in Britain, many thousands of young people are forced into 'McJobs'; casualised, low-paid work, with few rights. ISR fights for the right for everyone to have a decent job and training. In Britain we call for a decent minimum wage of £7 that everyone can live on. We believe everybody should be entitled to this rate regardless of their age.

Defend the right to asylum l No to racism and fascism
No to homophobia
An end to discrimination; equal rights for all
No to privatisation, social cuts, job losses and deregulation
The abolition of the IMF, World Bank and WTO
Stop the exploitation of of the world by multinational banks and corporations
End child labour
For a society worldwide based on the needs of people and the environment - a socialist democracy.

Why join ISR

International

ISR has a presence in many different countries and on 5 continents.

By building an international organisation, we aim to help link up the many struggles that are taking place across the globe against the policies of big business and governments.

Above all, we aim to build an international opposition to capitalism itself.

Socialist

ISR aims to build the anti-capitalist movement and other struggles that challenge big business. But we also raise socialist ideas in the movement. We believe it is vital that the anti-capitalist movement is armed with a socialist alternative to capitalism if it is to succeed.

Resistance

Since its formation ISR has continually built resistance against the actions of capitalist corporations and governments. This has included building international anti-capitalist demonstrations.

In Europe we were an organiser of the anti-capitalist protests in Brussels in December 2001. 35,000 people marched through the city protesting against the EU summit being held there.

ISR also organised an international day of action against the privatisation and commercialisation of education on March 15th 2002. Protests were organised on five continents in countries including Greece, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Nigeria.

Founding statement