Workers Daily Internet Edition Year 2001 No. 209

Year 2001 No. 209, December 6, 2001	ARCHIVE	HOME	SEARCH	SUBSCRIBE

Daily On Line Newspaper of the
Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
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The Alternative Solution to the Anglo-US "New World Order"

The second in the new monthly series of meetings of the London Political Forum took place in central London on Wednesday, December 5.

The meeting focused in initiating the discussion on the alternative to the Anglo-US "New World Order" and its "war against terrorism". It focused on developing the answers to questions such as: what is the just and peaceful solution; what can be done; how can people be empowered; what is the alternative to the values and the culture being imposed by this society?

The meeting opened with a representative of RCPB(ML) in London giving an opening presentation, which dealt with the background and developments of the Anglo-American crimes being committed in the name of the "war against terrorism", introducing the issue of building the opposition and developing the alternative, and touching on the question of self-determination of nations and peoples, their projects of nation-building and the movements of the people which are opposed to the programme of annexation that is the content of the arrangements which Anglo-US imperialism is seeking to put into place nationally and globally.

The discussion to which all the participants contributed is gaining momentum. The form of the meeting attracts those who are interested in getting to the heart of the matter, and complements the organising and campaigning that is taking place on these questions. It is opposed to the sectarianism which views issues as cut and dried and not to be analysed, and which can only conceive of participating in the movement to win support for a particular organisation or position.

The chair at the conclusion of the meeting of the London Political Forum drew attention to such qualities in the discussion, and called on the participants not only to take the ideas and the arguments among the movement as a whole, but to use the method as a model, which can only contribute to strengthening the alternative which is being planted and nurtured.

Britain’s Industrial Recession Worst for Decade

Britain’s industrial sector recorded its worst annual output figures in October since the country’s last economic recession a decade ago, official data released today show.

The National Statistics office figures show that industrial production fell 1.1 percent in October to stand 4.2 percent lower than a year ago, the steepest annual decline since August 1991. The narrower definition of manufacturing output, which excludes oil and gas and utilities, fell 0.3 percent on the month to stand 4.4 percent lower than a year ago. Annual output last fell by that much in October 1991.

The figures were considerably worse than economists’ consensus forecasts for a 0.1 percent contraction in industrial output and a 0.1 percent rise in manufacturing output.

"These are disappointing numbers because the September figures were very sharply down and the market had expected some rebound. So there is no likely turnaround in the foreseeable future," Simon Rubinsohn of Gerrard Limited said.

Britain’s manufacturing sector is currently in its third recession of the last decade.

Underlining the dire prospects for the industrial sector, National Statistics said it had revised down the trend growth rate for manufacturing output to -6.0 percent from -5.0 percent and the industrial output trend rate to -4.0 percent from -3.5 percent. It said the electrical and optical equipment sector fell 5.0 percent in the latest three month period. Within that subsector, the "manufacture of computers and other information processing equipment" fell 8.6 percent in the latest three months and the "manufacture of telegraph and telephone apparatus, equipment, radio and electronic" fell 5.8 percent to stand 43.1 percent lower than a year ago.

The Labour Party came to office saying that the days of "boom and bust" were over, and that they are the party of economic competence, as well as of "social justice". Only last week the Chancellor delivered his pre-Budget statement, saying that the economy was sound. The reality shows that the fundamentals of the economy are beyond the control of government policy, and the government is unable to divine its laws. Yet they continue to insist that the free market economy and globalisation are the answer to the world’s economic ills. Who is it who should decide the direction of the economy? Can it be acceptable that it should be a government who upholds these beliefs, and is a champion of the international financial institutions?

Unemployment Rises in Germany

According to official figures, unemployment in Germany, the EU’s biggest economy, has risen again in November, going up from 9% in October to 9.2%. This means that the official German unemployment figure now stands at nearly 3.8 million. Commentators note that this recent rise means that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s election promise to cut unemployment to 3.5 million is now looking "virtually impossible".

The November figures indicate that the rise has been more pronounced in the western states than in the states of the old German Democratic Republic, where unemployment rates are more than twice those in the west. The president of the German Labour Office noted that the "global growth slowdown is having a particularly strong effect on western Germany" and other observers argue that there is likely to be a continued net loss of jobs until at least the middle of next year.

The present downturn is affecting not only the manufacturing sector but has also spread to the service sector.

Treasury Official Casts Doubt on Growth Forecast

The September 11 attacks have created "a big increase in the range of uncertainty about next year", ensuring that the 2002 Treasury forecasts have "a wider error band around them than usual" one of the Treasury's top officials said on December 4, casting doubt on the Chancellor’s latest economic forecasts. Gus O'Donnell, head of macroeconomic policy at the Treasury, told MPs that he expects a slowdown in growth in the first half of 2002, despite Gordon Brown's prediction that Britain's economy would grow between two and 2.5 per cent next year.

Gus O'Donnell on Tuesday told the House of Commons Treasury select committee that this was a time when, if asked to give a forecast, "you might want to answer 'pass' because there is a much higher degree of uncertainty now". He said: "I certainly expect a slowdown in growth in the first half of 2002." He cited the damage to export markets caused by the world slowdown but described the chance of a recession in Britain as "unlikely".

He added that global economic recovery in the second half of next year would help Britain's economy. Growth would also be boosted by the delayed effect of this year's interest rate cuts, and "fiscal policy will support monetary policy" as a result of the growing budget deficit.

British manufacturers are cutting employment at the fastest rate in three years, according to a survey of purchasing managers released on December 3.

The news suggests that the persistence of Britain's manufacturing recession has exhausted the patience of many businesses, which have responded by reducing workforces.

The survey, from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, also increases fears that October's rise in the unemployment claimant count was no flash in the pan. Jobs growth in services has until recently more than compensated for job cuts in manufacturing.

Stephen Radley, chief economist at the Engineering Employers' Federation, said: "Companies will do everything they can to retain skilled people, and they don't want to react too fast in case the drop-off is temporary. But after a few months they found the evidence that this was a sustained downturn very compelling."

The survey also showed further falls in output and new orders in November – the latter at a faster rate than in October.

Cips' index of manufacturing activity – a composite of indicators including employment, output and new orders – fell by 0.9 points to 45.6, pointing to the fastest fall since the beginning of 1999. Any figure below 50 means a contraction.

The survey highlighted the fact that Britain's manufacturing recession, which started in January, has been driven by businesses rather than consumers. Output continued to fall for investment goods, which includes computers and other equipment, and for intermediate goods, which are used up as part of the production process. But production of consumer goods continued to grow, albeit more slowly than in October.

Many businesses in aerospace and aviation have been hit badly by the worsening conditions following the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to the survey.

The manufacturing industry throughout the eurozone is still suffering from the global downturn, according to the latest Reuters Purchasing Managers' Report released on December 3.

Output and new orders are still continuing to fall throughout the eurozone and it is not clear that the decline in European manufacturing is yet close to bottoming out. Indices for Germany and France have now been declining for eight months in a row. Output and new orders have continued to fall as a result of the weakening in conditions in both domestic eurozone economies and overseas markets.

Employment in manufacturing is clearly suffering as a result of the deterioration in demand. All the countries covered in the survey except Greece reported an acceleration in job losses during November. German and French manufacturers are now reducing employment at the fastest rate in the history of the survey. Many companies report that numbers of part-time and temporary staff are being reduced and a significant number also report that employees are not being replaced after retiring or leaving.

James Carrick of ABN Amro said: "Eurozone firms are trying to increase their productivity. But since they are sacking workers at an increased rate, it means that the labour market is going to continue to deteriorate. That's not good news for consumer confidence."

The Chancellor had said that the pre-Budget report was being delivered in the context of the world economic downturn. Economic growth in the eurozone next year is forecast at 1.5 per cent, while the US economy is expected to grow only 0.7 per cent and Japan is seen contracting by 0.6 per cent. In last year's pre-Budget report, the government had predicted economic growth of 2.25-2.75 per cent in the UK. On November 27, Gordon Brown said he expected growth to be maintained at 2.25 per cent this year, despite the global economic downturn and the economic impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US.

The Chancellor forecast next year's growth at 2-2.5 per cent, and 2.75-3.25 per cent the following year, before returning to trend in 2004. The inflation target remains 2.5 per cent annually.

The Chancellor said that there was opportunity for growth if the world economic recovery was coupled with increased productivity in Britain. Gordon Brown said it was the right time to press ahead with productivity reforms.

"Flawless Relationship" Focusing on Strengthening EU as Military Power

"Flawless Relationship" is what French President Jacques Chirac called the coming closer together of Britain and France at the Downing Street Summit on November 29.

This does not mean that the contradictions between two of the EU’s big powers are lessening. But in the wake of September 11 and the aggression against Afghanistan, the militarisation of the European Union and its involvement in the drive to war and annexation that is presently gripping the big world powers is an area in which British and French interests appear to be converging.

The Laeken Summit of the European Council is due to take place on December 14-15, and this will itself declare the so-called European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operational. The "Capabilities Improvement Conference" of EU member states on November 19-20 addressed "shortfalls in defence capabilities" after the September 11 attacks, urging more arms spending, and adopted an "Action Plan". This "Action Plan" involves member states of the EU working on specific areas to enhance the EU'’ military "capabilities". The Laeken European Council is set to sanction the possible use of NATO "assets" (the new word for weaponry), and to settle the operation and financing of the European "Rapid Reaction Force". This is a 60,000-strong EU force for military intervention.

The Downing Street meeting of Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and French Prime Lionel Jospin last Thursday focused on this strengthening of the EU as a military power, and its ability to conduct what the joint communiqué referred to as "crisis management operations". That the EU should have the capability for such operations to be "credible and effective" is said to be important than ever following September 11. They are to be undertaken "in pursuit of the EU’s external policy goals".

This is a whole strategy for what can be called EU empire building. The ability for the European Union to intervene militarily as a superpower bloc is being developed hand in hand with its political and monetary union, the so-called "liberalisation" of trade, and particularly the growing reactionary international drive to erase the sovereignty of states and impose solutions which serve the interests of the big powers and international finance capital. The communiqué of the UK-French summit itself spelt out that: "the EU integrates civilian and military crisis management capabilities with existing economic, development, trade, justice and home affairs tools, allowing the Union to play a role from the first reaction to a crisis right through to rehabilitation and reconstruction; its procedures have been specifically designed to meet the demands of modern integrated crisis management; it allows the EU to respond to crises in any area of the world as far as military and civilian capabilities permit." It could hardly be clearer.

This imperialist-type strategy of the EU tears up international law, the role of the United Nations, the right of nations and peoples to self-determination, all in the name of innocuously-titled "crisis management". This is double-speak for annexation, aggression and the dictate of finance capital. It is at one with the ideology being developed by the British government of "failed" and "weak" states, into which crises the big powers can benevolently intervene "right through to rehabilitation and reconstruction". It is also a recipe for a new world war, not only as these big powers commit aggression against legitimate state authorities, but also as these same big powers contend among themselves for a new redivision of spheres of influence and control of markets and resources globally. For example, there is Africa, where the UK-French summit admitted there were sometimes "differences of opinion", particularly in regard to the Great Lakes region, within the context of the G7 "Plan for Africa".

The UK-French summit recognised no more than "dialogue" between the EU and the United Nations when it comes to "crisis management". In other words, the European Union, as is the case with Anglo-US imperialism, acts first and then looks to "develop and strengthen dialogue" later. Only "pluralist" states, states which respect individual "human rights", which will "liberalise" their economies, are to have legitimacy, otherwise "crisis management" demands intervention and annexation. This is the thoroughly reactionary direction Britain and the other "western" powers are taking the world, and this is what the "flawless relationship" represents.

WDIE calls on the British working class and all democratic people to demand that Britain get out of EU and that the EU and all such big power blocs be dismantled. It is more than ever necessary that the working class and people build their opposition around a political programme which demands: "For Modern Sovereign States! Defend the Rights of All! No to State Terror, Annexation and War!"

French Air Traffic Controllers Strike

French air traffic controllers have launched a 36-hour strike in opposition to the plans of the EU to eliminate national air traffic controls and introduce an "open sky plan". The strike, which has been called by members of four French civil aviation unions, is expected to affect around 90% of French flights. Air France has said that it will cancel 85% of its domestic flights and medium haul flights within Europe, British Midlands are cancelling all their French flights for Thursday, Lufthansa has cancelled 40 flights to France until Friday and Easyjet said it would be cancelling 22 flights.

The strikers condemn the EU plan and say that it will threaten safety and lead to privatisation of the industry. A spokesman for the strikers declared, "This strike is aimed at pushing France to clearly express its opposition to the open skies plans. We need to work together with other European air traffic controllers and not in competition."

One union leader, referring to Britain’s rail network, said, "We do not want a Railtrack of the skies."

Illegal Bullets Used in Bloody Sunday Massacre

US Used Nuclear Waste

The use of reprocessed nuclear waste in the US air strikes against the Taleban is posing a serious risk of radiation poisoning to the human lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A signed article in the Pakistan publication Weekly Independent of November 29-December 5 pointed out that hard target weapons loaded with reprocessed nuclear waste have been used as secret weapons in the US-led air strikes against the Taleban, exposing human lives in Afghanistan and the adjoining border areas of Pakistan to a serious risk of radiation poisoning. Sources in Pakistan's military establishment say that the first warning about the use of reprocessed nuclear waste arrived last week in the shape of a dying Afghan child, which led an Afghan doctor to diagnose that she was infected with radioactive or chemical weapons, presumably used by the US aircraft.

Some later diagnoses revealed that many of the Taleban troops and Afghan civilians have been affected, primarily due to radiation caused by the Depleted Uranium (DU), which actually is reprocessed nuclear waste. The DU (U238) has a half-life of 4.56 billion years.

"It presents a perpetual health hazard similar to asbestos – especially in the lungs. And there is no known cure for inhaling Depleted Uranium dust," the article says. The sources say that as these cases were reported to the aid agencies conducting relief work in Afghanistan, the US military bosses were quick to refute them as mere speculations. "The US actually wanted to hush up the matter. Therefore, a bill has already been moved before the US Congress, calling for a total ban on Depleted Uranium and the disclosure of the facts about its use in Afghanistan." However, in a recent statement questioning the safety of the US troops in Afghanistan, the American Defence Department spokesperson Kenneth Bacon indirectly confirmed the use of nuclear waste "We obviously put out instructions about avoiding Depleted Uranium dust. Our troops are instructed to wear masks if they're around what they consider to be atomised or particle-sized Depleted Uranium," Bacon said. Estimates by Pakistani experts show that Afghanistan might have been hit by the reprocessed nuclear waste along with several hundred tonnes of smart bombs and cruise missiles used by the allied forces. Experts say that since the metal is 50-75 per cent of the weight of the bombs – up to 1.5 tons – the toxic reserves in the area could be huge and as dangerous as they were in the aftermath of the Gulf war.

The lethal Depleted Uranium oxide is known for travelling up to 25 miles by wind. "Therefore, large areas may be affected by each of the American bombs." The experts say the new generation of hard target smart bombs and cruise missiles being used by the US against Afghanistan can penetrate 10 feet into reinforced concrete before exploding. They were mostly used to attack the Taleban bunkers, caves, command centres, fuel and ammunition stores. "The 2 tonne GBU-37 Bunker Busters and 2000 lb GBU-24 Pave-way smart bombs, plus the Boeing AGM-86D, Maverick AGM-65G and AGM-145C hard target capability cruise missiles all use advanced unitary penetrators (AUP-113, AUP-116, P31) or BROACH warheads with the mystery high density metal in alloy casings."

Field experts fear that given the massive bombing, the amount of hazardous radioactive deposits in the area might prove extremely dangerous to tens of thousands of the human lives in Afghanistan and the adjoining border areas of Pakistan. Reports emanating from Afghanistan reveal that after the fall of Taleban and the landing of the allied forces there, the troops and aid agencies have been told to proceed with caution. The Red Cross, Oxfam and other international aid agencies have reportedly been cautioned to stay away from the locations bombed by the allied forces and use bottled water only. The sources say that the post retreat US bombings on the Taleban militia in Afghanistan were not targeted on the military installations but various channels of water supply instead. "Water-supply tunnels and sources were targeted with bunker-busting bombs, with the intention to flush out Osama bin Laden, his Al-Qaida group and the Taleban fighters from the hillside tunnels that riddle the landscape", said a source requesting anonymity. "The already bombed ancient tunnels were a vital source of water supply to thousands of the border villages adjoining Pakistan." Where it is feared that the US bombardment on Afghanistan could dramatically increase water shortages in the war-torn and drought-stricken country, experts estimate the damage could be far more than what is being expected, given the presence of Depleted Uranium in the water reservoirs. "Not only will the water of the Afghan areas become poisoned, but it will also be extended to many parts of Pakistan as many of the Afghan rivers flow across the border to the neighbouring Pakistan".

In the vote at the UN General Assembly regarding an investigation of DU, the United States was unable to muster more than 54 votes out of a possible 144 because 45 states abstained and another 45 voted "yes".

Thus Iraq was only narrowly defeated in its efforts to have the effects of depleted uranium (DU) weaponry under close UN scrutiny (by the General Assembly).

The World Health Organisation has already undertaken serious steps at evaluating the Iraqi health crisis linked to use of DU weaponry in the Gulf War and the United Nations. The UN Sub-Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights is already committed to a report on DU weapons due at its 2002 session. Therefore the resolution at the General Assembly was largely "symbolic". It is by no means a victory for the US as the "Western" media have portrayed it. The combined "yes" votes and the abstentions show the majority of countries are opposed to the US on this issue.

The UN Sub-Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights DU study is going forward with Justice Sik Yuen (Mauritius) as Special Rapporteur.

Anti-War Demonstration in Birmingham

There is a demonstration in Birmingham, on Saturday, December 8, against the "war on terrorism". It is organised by Birmingham Trades Union Council supported by Birmingham Stop the War Coalition. Adrian Ross, Longbridge Convenor, has been invited to speak.

The Alternative Solution to the Anglo-US "New World Order"

The Alternative Solution to the Anglo-US "New World Order"

Britain’s Industrial Recession Worst for Decade

Unemployment Rises in Germany

For Your Reference on the Economy:

Treasury Official Casts Doubt on Growth Forecast

"Flawless Relationship" Focusing on Strengthening EU as Military Power

French Air Traffic Controllers Strike

Illegal Bullets Used in Bloody Sunday Massacre

For Your Information on the Use of Depleted Uranium:

US Used Nuclear Waste

Anti-War Demonstration in Birmingham