> >New Worker Online Digest > >Week commencing 30th June, 2000. > >1) Editorial - Poverty kills. > >2) Lead story - Mugabe's party wins in Zimbabwe. > >3) Feature article - Corus faces further job devastation. > >4) International story - Galloway slams gore over Iraq. > >5) British news item - Real doctors attack Labour's spin doctors. > > >As from 15th July our email address will change due to Geocities stopping >their email service. Look out for the updated address closer to the time. > > >1) Editorial > >Poverty kills. > >LAST week we heard that Britain came only 18th in the world in a health >survey conducted by the WHO (World Health Organisation). Now we find that a >Unicef (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) study puts >Britain in 20th place (out of 23 countries) in a league table of child >poverty. The study found that four million British children are affected by >poverty. > > British social scientists and medical statisticians are also expressing >concern at Britain's unacceptably high infant mortality rate. Their studies >have linked the problem to the widening gap between rich and poor. > > The number of low birth weight babies is rising as well as the number of >infant deaths from preventable infections. > > Everyone knows that expectant mothers need a well balanced diet, decent >housing and good quality ante-natal and post-natal care. It is therefore >not surprising the report found that babies born into the poorest families >are, on average, twice as likely to die in infancy as those born into rich >families. > > The studies have also pointed out that the provision of doctors, midwives >and paediatricians varies considerably from region to region. > > These reports, like the WHO report into health, do not reflect the overall >economic Power of a country -- the wealthy United States for instance has >an even worse infant mortality rate than Britain. > > This evidence needs to be raised urgently with the government and our MPs. >The regional inequalities in maternity care must be overcome and the >underlying problem of child poverty seriously addressed -- not with >platitudes and promises but with hard cash to raise benefit levels for >families and expectant mothers, including raising Child Benefit, to >increase the stock and quality of social housing and to improve ante-natal >services. > > These measures will certainly help. But they will not solve the problem. >For that we need to struggle to end the capitalist system and the poverty >it causes and start to build a socialist society capable of eradicating >poverty. > > These reports do not of course specifically point the finger at >capitalism. But the evidence they contain shows the nature of this >profit-hungry system at work in the world. It shows that the wealth of >capitalist countries is always concentrated in a minority of hands while >poverty affects more and more people. > > It shows that the rich do not just get richer in isolation -- their gains >are at the expense of everyone else, with the poorest becoming even poorer >and their ranks growing all the time. > > In the same weekas the Unicef report was published, the world heard that >scientists had unravelled the complete human DNA map. Humanity, we are >told, stands on the brink of being able to make many medical breakthroughs. >This new tool for research could open the door to finding cures and >treatments for many diseases and genetic disorders. > > But we are also being warned that individual human genes have already been >patented by drug companies and others eager to profit from the discovery. >In the leading capitalist countries big business interests see this as a >new gold rush rather than a golden opportunity for humanity. > > The ethos of capitalism will drive for profits and this will force up the >price of new drugs and treatments. The discovery, like so many in the past, >could extend the lives of wealthy people in Palm Springs while babies still >die from want of clean water and simple treatments for gastro-enteritis in >many countries of the developing world. > > Already we have seen that AIDS patients in Africa are excluded by poverty >from receiving those treatments currently available to sufferers in the >developed world. > > The benefits of modern technology and scientific research are debased by >capitalism. We need to match these advances with the greatest breakthrough >of all -- a fundamental change of society that gives the gains of science >to everyone. > > ********************* > >2) Lead story > >Mugabe's party wins in Zimbabwe. > >ZIMBABWE'S ruling ZANU-PF party has beaten off a stiff challenge from the >Western-backed Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at last weekend's >parliamentary elections. But it was a close-run race. > > With all the votes now counted in President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF won 62 >seats while the MDC took 57. The independent ZANU (Ndonga) party retained >its one seat. Though this leaves ZANU-PF ahead by just five seats the >President has the right to appoint another 30 MPs and this would easily >give his party a working majority. > > The MDC now have enough votes in parliament to block future constitutional >amendments but their failure to topple ZANU-PF has been a clear >disappointment to the British government. British imperialism made no >secret of its wish to see Mugabe's party out and a pliant pro-Western >government in after the polls. > > Now they will still have to deal with Mugabe, who is still secure as >president and a new government largely or perhaps entirely composed of his >supporters. And ZANU-PF has made it clear that it will not back down in its >support for the war-vets and landless peasants demand for the breakup of >the vast estates of the white planters to give them some land to live on >and farm. > > President Mugabe was in a conciliatory mood on Tuesday, at least to the >opposition, when he went on television to congratulate his party and the >opposition for their efforts. He said he was ready to work with the new >parliament "to build a united and prosperous Zimbabwe". > > "The results are out and these bind us, winner or loser," Mugabe said. "I >look forward to working with the new parliament as we grapple with the >challenges facing the nation,". > > Four million people voted in the elections which African and some overseas >monitors agreed was fair and free. The opposition, an alliance of >right-wing politicians, some trade union leaders and the white commercial >farmers did well in the cities but the ZANU-PF vote held in the poor rural >areas. > > British imperialism is starting to throw its weight around Africa again >particularly in its former colonies. Now the British government is trying >to pressurise Mugabe into accepting a coalition. Foreign Secretary Robin >Cook said on Wednesday that the time was right for "national >reconciliation". He added that Britain would still deliver the �6 million >aid-package to fund land reform but only if Mugabe adopted policies which >"respond to the needs of the people,". > > Cook promised a "fresh start" with Zimbabwe but only if the new government >pursued "policies of reform and national reconciliation". What that means >in imperialist double-talk is reining in the land-reform movement and >driving the squatters off the white settlers estates and giving the >opposition seats in government so that they can better argue the case for >doing the bidding of the tobacco companies and the other Western interests >in the country. > > ********************** > >3) Feature article > >Corus faces further job devastation. > >by Caroline Colebrook > >THE GIANT steel company, Corus, last week warned that further job cuts are >likely, on top of the 1,430 job losses announced earlier this month. > > The company was formed from a merger between British Steel and the Dutch >company Hoogovens last October. > > Since then some 2,200 job losses have been announced, including 1,200 in >South Yorkshire. Another 200 were cut at Port Talbot in Wales as well as a >research and development plant. > > Chairperson Sir Brian Moffat said: "Job reductions and closures of plants >are always a matter of regret. However, the serious erosion of the >competitive position of the group and its customer base in Britain, as a >result of the strength of the pound against the Euro, inevitably means >further difficult decisions will have to be taken in order to improve our >competitive position." > >This remark came just as figures were released showing the company had an >operating loss before tax of �ll3 million in the six months up to 1 April. > > But this is an improvement on the previous year's loss of �250 million. >Also turnover was up at �4.6 billion compared to �2.8 billion before last >October and the merger with Hoogovens. > > Unions reacted angrily to the possibility of yet more cuts, warning that >it will do "irreparable damage" to Britain's manufacturing industry. > > Speaking for the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, Michael Leahy said: >"I discussed the future direction of Corus with the Secretary of State for >Trade and Industry Stephen Byers last week and told him of our concerns, >not only for Workington but for all Corus plants. > > "He promised to speak to the company shortly and come back to the unions. >It is essential that Corus does what it promised it would do -- keep steel >plants configuration as it was at the time of the merger between British >Steel and Hoogovens. > > "To cut jobs and plants now would be very short-term thinking, because the >pound is weakening against the Euro and things are improving for Corus day >by day. To take the axe to any further jobs would do irreparable damage, >not only to jobs but to the British economy." > > Sir Brian Moffat claims the company losses were all incurred in carbon >steel while stainless steel and aluminium made operating profits of �84 >million and �45 million respectively. > > This means that the giant Corus works at Llanwern in South Wales is >probably safe. > > And Moffat admits that "the market for carbon steel for the rest of 2000 >appears to be generally strong, especially in the United States and >European markets, though concern remains about demand in Britain, due to >the relative strength of the pound." > > In other words, there is very little real justification for any more cuts. > > ************************* > >4) International story > >Galloway slams gore over Iraq. > >by our Middle East Affairs correspondent > >GEORGE GALLOWAY, the Labour MP at the head of the British campaign to end >the blockade of Iraq tore into US vice-president and Democrat presidential >hopeful Al Gore for his support for the pro-imperialist "Iraqi National >Congress" (INC). > > Gore met INC leader, northern Iraqi Kurdish rebels, and Iraqi Arab >reactionary exiles largely unknown in their own country, last weekend. The >INC delegation included Jalal Talabani and Nechirvan Barzani -- rival >leaders of the two Kurdish parties that run the so-called northern Iraqi >"safe-haven" under the protection of Anglo-American aircover. Others >included Sherif Ali bin Hussein of the "Consdtutional Monarchy Movement" >and two other pro-imperialist placemen. > > A joint statement said "The Vice-President reaffirmed the Administration's >strong commitment to the objective of removing Saddam Hussein from power, >and to bringing him and his inner circle to justice for their war crimes >and crimes against humanity." > > It went on to say "the United States views the INC as an authoritative and >representative voice for the people of Iraq in their struggle to free >themselves from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. In particular, both sides >discussed measures by which the INC could improve their ability to >represent the will of the Iraqi people both inside Iraq and on the world >stage," > > This was met with derision from Galloway. "The decades of Zionist >investment in Al Gore's political career are clearly paying off," he >declared. "But most of the world will laugh at the proposition that the INC >are anything other than a group of expensively hired nobodies bereft of >credibility or support in Iraq or elsewhere. Their only claim to the >millions of US dollars on which they live is that they are ready to be a >slave government in exile taking their orders from the White House and >reducing the great civilisation of Iraq to a mere vassal,". > > The Americans have agreed to train up to 145 INC members in skills such as >field-medicine, logistics, computers, communications, broadcasting and >power generation. The training plan is an escalation of support for the INC >gangs by American imperialism whose air-force together with the RAF is >bombing Iraq virtually every day. > > Galloway, the high-profile campaigner at the fore of the growing movement >in Britain to halt the air-raids and end the blockade of Iraq was also in >the news this week when he attacked the presence of the secret police at a >fringe meeting at the annual conference of the British Medical Association. > > George was speaking on Iraq at the meeting which attracted the unwelcome >attention of two Special Branch men last Sunday. This follows the attempt >to intimidate an British-Iraqi doctor in Oxfordshire, Jerard Misconi, who >had wanted to go on the government blocked Galloway peace flight to Baghdad. > > Galloway has written to Home Secretary Jack Straw in no uncertain terms. >"I charge that the visit to the Misconis and the police presence at my BMA >fringe meeting today were intimidation. They were an attempt to intimidate >those increasing numbers in this country supporting the campaign to end the >sanctions against Iraq," he wrote. > > Galloway has tabled an early day protest motion in the Commons backed by >five other Labour MPs including Tam Dalyell, Tony Benn, Harry Cohen, Irene >Adams and John McAllion about this abuse of police power. > > It read: "This House expresses it's concern at the use for political >purposes of the Metropolitan Police: in particular the visit in March of >this year by a Special Branch officer to the home of a British physician, >Dr Misconi to caution him against attending a conference in Baghdad, this >after Dr Misconi's name and address had been unwittingly supplied to the >Foreign Office by the Honourable Member for Glasgow Kelvin [George >Galloway] as a would-be passenger on a proposed flight from London to >Baghdad; and the attendance by two Special Branch officers, taking notes, >and presumably names, of those in attendance at the fringe meeting on the >health situation in Iraq at the British Medical Association conference, >addressed by the Member for Kelvin in the Abbey Community Centre in Gt. >Smith Street on June 26th and considers that whilst the use of police for >political purposes may be routine in some countries it should not become a >feature of life in Great Britain." > > ********************* > >5) British news item > >Real doctors attack Labour's spin doctors. > >by Daphne Liddle > >THE BRITISH Medical Association at its annual conference in London last >week accused the Government of spending too much on gimmicks to court >popularity and not nearly enough on the core activities of the NHS. > > They named initiatives such as NHS Direct -- which offers a 24-hour phone >advice service staffed by nurses -- and town centre walk-in services and >said these diverted money from core NHS services. > > Dr Jane Milson from Grimsby told the conference: "It's time for Tony Blair >to admit he was wrong and abandon this foolish scheme [NHS Direct] so funds >can be switched back into general practice." > > Dr Julian Neal from Portsmouth said: "Our health service must seek to >provide high quality patient care rather than modernist, short-term >consumerist initiatives." > > The doctors muted their criticisms a little in the hope that the coming >NHS review, in which the Government will consult with doctors, is not just >another cosmetic exercise in spin. They have been pressing for greater >consultation for a long time. BMA chairperson Ian Bogle said: "I challenged >the Government to stop spinning, stop railroading doctors into radical >reform and start talking to doctors about the best way to modernise the >health service and improve outcomes for patients. > > "The message has been hammered home time and again and it has got results. >Following the Budget announcement in March, the Prime Minister offered to >include us in the policy making process." > > Later he added: "I don't want to be too cynical. I have waited 13 years on >the national scene to see a government that consulted." > > But many doctors remain cynical. Dr Ronald Timms of Southend said: "We >still need to know how much and how this money is to be spent. > Insistence on the short-term populist solutions proposed by the spin >doetors has meant there is a loss of faith in the Government." > > And Dr Chaand Nagpaul from London said: "We implore the Government not to >squander this money on some flighty ideals of modernisation hut to use it >to get the basics rights, repair the cracks and make a real difference to >the health of the population. > > One area where Government policy has led to health cuts was highlighted >when Lothian University Hospitals Trust announced that savings equivalent >to the cost of 19 consultants will have to be made if the Edinburgh Royal >Infirmary Private Finance Initiative project is to go ahead. > > The trust admitted that 17 vacant vacancies will not now be filled and >retiring doctors will not be replaced. > > The cuts were cited by Dr Evan Lloyd at the BMA conference as he spoke in >support of a motion calling for PFI to be scrapped. > > The conference was warned to be prepared for more scandals of medical >blunders and malpractice being exposed. > > Dr Ian Bogle said this was due to "the profession that gained a reputation >for burying its mistakes getting better at digging them up". > > Another contentious issue before the conference was the breakdown of >patient confidentiality as computerised health records are abused. > > Currently dozens of different people in the NHS, health authorities, local >councils, universities, drug companies, computer firms and medical schools >routinely have access to confidential information. > > Doctors expressed fears that patients would not confide in doctors if they >thought other; would sec their records. > > Hospital doctor Rita Pal said: "Medical notes are in essence your life -- >how many affairs you have, ifyou have an alcohol problem, do drugs, your >sexual activity, your psychiatric state. They are all very personal issues. >Yet patients have no control over their confidentiality." > > Marion Chester, legal officer at the Association of Community Health >Councils, said: "Identifiable health records are flying around inside and >outside the NHS at a rate of knots. > > "It's getting worse because of the increase in financial and clinical >audit and the increasing use of information technology." > > Some instances were cited: a 68-year-old man barred from a care home after >social services discovered from his records that he was gay; a woman sacked >after her GP sent her records to her employer -- with details of previous >mental health problems; patients with particular conditions being >approached by researchers who have seen their records and one man from a >strictly religious family who discovered his niece had had an abortion when >the company he worked for did a financial audit of the local health >authority. The BMA conference also heard the results of a poll which showed >that 75 per cent of doctors want to see acupuncture more widely available >on the NHS and better training given to doctors on its use. > > Already 58 per cent of doctors are referring some patients for acupuncture >treatment. The BMA's Board of Science and Education found that acupuncture >can help with a list of conditions including back pain, toothache and >migraines. > > ********************* > > >New Communist Party of Britain Homepage > >http://www.newcommunistparty.org.uk > >A news service for the Working Class! > >Workers of all countries Unite! > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Never lose a file again. Protect yourself from accidental deletes, >overwrites, and viruses with @Backup. >Try @Backup it's easy, it's safe, and it's FREE! >Click here to receive 300 MyPoints just for trying @Backup. >http://click.egroups.com/1/5669/10/_/_/_/962302487/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
