We Hold Up Our Pens in Hope not Hate

Yesterday’s terrible events in Paris, when 12 people lost their lives at the offices of the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, have caused outrage and sadness across the world. Earlier today (Thursday), Nick Lowles, from the campaigning organisation, HOPE not hate, released a statement expressing thoughts and sentiments which many of us share, but are struggling...

Call for Action Against Rail Price Rip-off

Campaigning organisation Compass is calling for thousands of people to take action this Monday against the new year hike in rail fares. Rail fare price rises of upto 2.5% were announced on Friday, making an “unbelievable” 27% increase since 2010, according to Compass, which has teamed up with trade unions and grassroots organisations such as...

Uniting the Community

Unite, the largest union in Britain, has come up with an imaginative response to the current austerity crisis by creating a community arm that supports people hard hit by the cuts. GERRY LAVERY reports on how it helps them campaign for change. The aim of Unite Community is to unionise and embrace people “being pushed...

Where is the Left’s Anger over Isis?

Angst over the invasion of Iraq in 2003 shouldn’t prevent the left offering real solidarity to Iraqi Kurds in 2014, argues GARY KENT. The Kurds have long been a cause celebre for the international left. Iraqi Kurds were victims of genocide and all Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria were denied basic rights. Support...

Owen Jones: Our Prophet of Hope?

BARRY WINTER was one of 260 people who piled into the largest lecture theatre at Leeds Beckett University last week to hear left wing author and journalist Owen Jones. He left feeling impressed, and a little bit inspired....

Podemos: A New Way of Politics?

The sudden rise on the Spanish political scene of Podemos, a radical political party based on the indignados 15M movement, will be the subject of discussion at the next Taking Soundings meeting in Leeds on Wednesday 26 November....