June 2004 Archive 

The lessons of Abu Ghraib The images of occupying troops torturing and abusing Iraqi detainees are a challenge to every British and US citizen. These horrors are being perpetrated in our name, and unless we act to stop them we are culpable. But to stop them, we have to understand them, along with the other horrors taking place in Iraq: the collective punishment of Falluja; the shooting of civilians; the raids by US and British troops on Iraqi homes; the detention of thousands of Iraqis without charge or trial; the slow progress in restoring basic services.

Cruising for a bruising The prime minister seems to have woken up to the reality of climate change. So why is his government so recklessly keen on encouraging the aviation industry?

Squatting for beginners Squatting? That was in the 1970s, wasn’t it? Now, here’s a secret that always astonishes the media: wherever there are homeless people and empty buildings, there’s squatting. The latest scare has involved a few people who’ve become the owners of houses they squatted for many years. But what the press doesn’t say is that the law has changed and this isn’t likely to happen if you’re starting out now. The real story is that if you have nowhere to live and little money, squatting may be your only hope of a roof over your head. By Jim Paton of the Advisory Service for Squatters

What now for anti-fascists? Searchlight editor Steve Silver says that the left must show it has better answers to the concerns of ordinary people than the BNP

Crunch time in the north In the European elections British National Party leader Nick Griffin needs just 9 per cent of the vote to be elected as an MEP for the northwest of England. Natasha Grzincic reports on the anti-fascists battling to defeat him.

Accidental votes of an anarchist

Dear Subcomandauntie,

I have a dilemma. As an anarchist, I have no time for voting in elections, but I really don’t want the BNP to get in where I live in London. Should I vote even though it would only legitimise the corrupt parliamentary tyranny? And if so, who should I vote for?

Yours,

An agitated agitator