Unique role

February’s fund has got off to a slow start - which is a pity, since the last thing we need during this period of huge challenges is for the Weekly Worker to be held back through lack of funds.

As I write, I am listening to Colin Powell’s self-justifying speech to the UN, whose very lack of substance confirms once and for all that the US-UK are intent on launching an attack on Iraq, come what may. Stopping their bloody onslaught is of course our number one challenge.

Our paper must be able to play its unique role in the anti-war movement - the next issue, to be produced for what is likely to be the biggest leftwing demonstration in Britain for decades, will be a 16-pager, aimed at providing the protesters with answers that show the way to the permanent ending of wars. Our aim is to sell 1,000 extra copies.

Comrades, let’s make sure we are up to the job - the sentiment no doubt shared by our donors this week: DG, JO and FS all gave £20, not to mention first-time contributor KL, who came up with a tenner. So we start February with £70 - but we need to bust through our £500 target in just three more weeks.

Last week 6,270 people read us on the web with 2,377 copies of ww465 downloaded in pdf format.

Robbie Rix

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Weekly Worker 466 is available in pdf format as zipped (1.67MB) or unzipped (1.99MB) files

Number 466

Thursday February 6 2003

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.

Anti-war movement must avoid UN trap
Ian Donovan calls on the left to take the offensive against the system of capitalism

Letters
Battleground; Elitist; Electoralism; Independents; Consenting; Never forget; Afghanistan; No score; United front; 'Fascist' Turkey

Uneven and creaking
The Socialist Alliance website comes in for some harsh criticism from Phil Hamilton

Moved home or deceased?
Merv Davies of Colchester Socialist Alliance summarises the contents of some local SA websites

Key debates for March 15 conference
Marcus Strom assesses the motions submitted to the SA's annual meeting

The left and the Muslim Association
Jack Conrad discusses Marxist strategy and tactics

Blair and the provisional republican government
War brings restrictions on democracy and civil liberties, argues Dave Craig of the Revolutionary Democratic Group, but it is also the harbinger of democratic revolution

Creative Chaos hits Brazil
Tina Becker looks at the recent meeting of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre

Small steps forward
Vittorio Agnoletto is the only official representative of the Italian left on the international council of the World Social Forum. Tina Becker interviewed him

Left history - learning the lessons
What is keeping revolutionaries in separate organisations? Petty sectarianism, argues Dave Spencer, veteran of AWL fore-runner Workers Fight

No escape
James Bull reviews 8 mile

Hold firm for unity
Ronnie Mejka and Sarah McDonald were on the firefighters' demo in Glasgow