Yes to the euro

As always seems to be the case, whenever we have a successful month and surpass our £450 target, as was the case in October, the donations I receive drop off immediately after. It is as though comrades need some collective breathing space before they can begin to think about the next month’s fund.

So it is with the first few days of November. True, we are going to press a day early so that this edition can arrive in Florence for the start of the European Social Forum, but, even so, the total of £35 in my mailbag is disappointing, to say the least. Thanks to comrades BF, DS and TR.

Speaking of Florence, many of the thousands attending will be readers of the Weekly Worker via the web. Every week many dozens read us from each of the major European countries. If you number yourself as one of these, when you buy this copy, why not give us an extra donation to cover all the issues you have read gratis? Our comrades in Italy will be more than pleased to accept your euros.

I look forward to reporting a much improved total in eight days time - whatever the currency.

Robbie Rix

Ask for a bankers order form, or send cheques, payable to Weekly Worker, BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX

Weekly Worker 455 is available in pdf format as zipped (2.48MB) or unzipped (3.06MB) files

Number 455

Wednesday November 5 2002

The Weekly Worker is available from bookshops across the United Kingdom or can be delivered direct to your door by completing our online subscription form.

Build a European Socialist Alliance
The left must grasp the opportunity of the 2004 European parliamentary elections, argues Marcus Ström

Letters
Leninists; Kautskyite; SSP stunted; German CP; Unity; SWP front; Allegations; Factions; Chechnya solidarity; Mistake

Their United Europe and ours
The left needs a positive programme for Europe, writes Jack Conrad

Meeting the challenge of unity
David Sherrief reviews Jack Conrad's Europe: meeting the challenge of continental unity

Step forward for unity
Tina Becker looks forward to the November 6-10 meeting of the European Social Forum

Political parties kept under wraps
Without democratic and open decision-making at all levels the Social Forum project will not survive, argues Tina Becker

Fight for class independence
Ian Donovan analyses the much-predicted victory of the Brazilian Workers Party's Lula

Socialist Labour endorses personality cult
The SLP's Simon Harvey reports on last weekend's party congress - and Scargill's back-handed compliments

Firefighters join anti-war demo
One thousand marched against war in Newcastle. Martyn Hudson was there

Proud to be subversive
Maurice Bernal reviews the BBC's True spies

Fight any sell-out
Derek Hunter warns against the cancellation of the FBU's third phase of strike action