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From The Socialist newspaper, 8 November 2017
Brum meeting celebrates centenary of 1917
Birmingham Socialist Party's public meeting celebrating the centenary of the October revolution, photo by Birmingham Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Birmingham Socialist Party branches organised a public meeting at the end of October to mark the centenary of the Russian revolution. Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, was the main speaker. Over 50 attended, including many young people.
Peter explained the tsunami effects around the world of the first workers' state to be established and the influence of socialist ideas led by the Bolshevik Party.
Against the hostility of world capitalism, it inspired workers in the advanced capitalist, as well as the colonial countries that they could throw off the yoke of exploitation to build a world free from war, inequality and starvation. At the same time, planning resources on a world scale could ensure the welfare of the planet.
Peter also spoke about the right to self-determination of countries that had been dominated by Russian imperialism. The Bolshevik Party raised this during the revolution, which in the majority of cases won over the populations of these nations to the revolution.
The Soviet government immediately granted full independence to Finland. Peter linked this to what is happening in Catalonia's struggle for independence today against the capitalist Spanish state and the repression being implemented.
Finally, Peter drew out the lesson that capitalism today can no longer develop science and the productive forces. Eight billionaires have as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the planet! Only workers can once and for all solve the crisis of world capitalism by building a socialist society.
Bill Murray, Birmingham South East Socialist Party
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In The Socialist 8 November 2017:
What we think
'Paradise' for billionaires - austerity for us
Socialist Party news and analysis
Westminster sexual harassment scandal
Walk out against tuition fees!
Bosses say 217 years to close pay gap - workers' struggle can close it now!
Child poverty set to hit 5.2m - unions and Corbyn must act now
Workplace news and analysis
Pay cap decisively rejected by PCS union members
BA mixed-fleet workers show strikes get results
Unite union sector conferences: coordinate action over pay
Picturehouse strike: "evil corporations are evil"
International socialist news and analysis
US: Minneapolis Socialist chimes with voters
Ireland: rail workers demand share of 'recovery'
Ireland: dangerous ideas for the ruling class
Spain: Madrid rally celebrates October revolution
Sweden: 'Revolution2017' success
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Health campaign discusses strategy to save NHS
Chatsworth neuro-rehab ward still open - unions join the campaign
Housing campaigners ask Corbyn to instruct Labour council regeneration ballots
Thousands march in London for Palestine
Opposition to new academy school being built on Leeds playing fields
Orgreave campaigners' Halloween 'Death of Justice' march
Sheffield trees campaigner sentenced to prison
Brum meeting celebrates centenary of 1917
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Obituary: Derek Robinson, car workers' leader, 1927-2017
Welsh update of Chekhov an engrossing tale of 1980s class conflict
Obituary: Paul Randall, 1959-2017
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