Vigilance Is Required while Fighting against the Cuts

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Vigilance Is Required while Fighting against the Cuts

15 Jobs to Go As Arriva Depot Closes

News In Brief:
Fylingdales Star Peace Camp
Developments at Aldermaston
New Arrow Book

Plans to cut North Tyneside's community services by £2.8m were reversed two weeks ago after protests. However, it is reported in the Newcastle Journal newspaper that the reversal may only be a temporary reprieve.

The cuts package, which included cuts at North Shields and Wallsend People's Centres and the closure of the Linskill centre, were announced by North Tyneside's elected Mayor Chris Morgan in mid-July.

Rory Page is coordinator of the woodwork project at Linskill. In the report he said, "People said it was just a waste of time to fight it but it just shows what a difference people can make," He continued, "But we are worried for next year."

Chris Morgan was outvoted on the issue at a special council meeting. However, next year he will not have to make budget decisions at a full council meeting. He said that the cabinet will be looking at the budget for next year soon, but cannot make any commitment at this point.

What is revealed here is the aim of the economy and whose interests it should serve. Should the economy serve the interests of those who live and work in it or should it continue to be put in the service of making maximum profits for the rich and powerful? Secondly, the aims of the reforms to local government that the government is carrying out with its introduction of the elected mayor and cabinet local government, alongside its White Paper on Regional Assemblies, are similarly aimed at serving these minority interests. Far from bringing decision-making closer to the people, these reforms to the political process of local government are aimed at further marginalising people from decision making and further concentrating power in new local executives. The government is introducing such reforms when the issue for modern society is in fact to extend democracy so that people are put at the centre of all decision-making.

Vigilance is required because such reforms to the political process serve to underline that the workers must set their own agenda for renewal of the political process and for setting the direction of the economy, as working people continue to fight against the cuts.

Bus passengers will lose five services and 15 jobs are to go after Arriva Northumbria announced the closure of its Berwick depot recently.

Graham Exley, town centre ward councillor, said: "These are all the main bus

services around the town. It is a bitter blow for Berwick."

The county councillor in charge of transport said bus deregulation was the cause of the closure of such depots. "There are just too many companies," he said.

Ulla Roder, well-known anti-Trident activist, took the initiative, in May, to establish the camp and then set about trying to build support. A number of peace people have stayed on and off and there is good local practical support. The camp has generated a lot of publicity (including several regional TV features) and has been excellent promotion for Yorkshire CND's anti-Star Wars Campaign. The camp has received good will messages from peace campaigners in many different parts of the world.

On July 31, when Ulla Roder left for trial at Newbury, some Menwith Hill Women's Peace Campers agreed to ''camp sit'' while she was away, anticipating her return within three or four days.

Ulla then learned that she had to face a Deportation Hearing at Edinburgh High Court on Thursday, August 22. But supporters of the Camp are determined that Ulla's deportation would not be the end of the campaign to close Fylingdales! Supporters intending to contribute to the Fylingdales Star Peace Camp funds could send their donations to WoMenwith Hill Women's Peace Camp[aign], P O Box 105, Harrogate HG3 2FE. Please make cheques payable to ''WoMenwith Hill'' or to Yorkshire CND, 22 Edmund Street, Bradford BD5 0BH, to help with the costs of organising the International anti-Star Wars Conference in Sheffield on October 5. Enquiries or messages can be sent via Jackie of Fylingdales Action Network, 01947 896481. Contact: Fylingdales Star Peace Camp, Outside Fylingdales US Space Command Base, Ellerbeck Bridge, N Yorks. YO22 5LX.

Developments at Aldermaston

There is to be new plant at Aldermaston to maintain Trident's capability, predictability and safety. The programme will use a new generation of super-computers and lasers and will avoid nuclear testing. The new equipment could be used to upgrade or replace Trident, if such a political decision were made. These new developments contradict Britain’s commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

A spokesperson for AWE ml (who run the site for the government) said that the new facilities would provide Aldermaston with the capacity to design and produce mini-nukes, (possibly for delivery by sea launched cruise missiles). Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University, said: "At the very least, they want to build the infrastructure to create a new generation of weapons." Local MPs Martin Salter and David Rendle have already asked the government to go public on the development, but in his replies to their questions in the House of Commons, Under Secretary of State for Defence, Lewis Moonie, has denied everything.

Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp (AWPC) is launching a new campaign to oppose this development. AWPC website: http://www.aldermastonwpc.gn.apc.org/tng.htm

New Arrow Book

WAR PLAN IRAQ: 10 Reasons Why We Shouldn't Launch Another War Against Iraq, by Milan Rai, joint co-ordinator of voices in the wilderness UK.

War Plan Iraq brings together the arguments against war on Iraq, exposes the way in which the US destroyed UNSCOM and is undermining UNMOVIC, and explodes the false claims made about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

INCLUDES

* Noam Chomsky's 'Terror and Just Response' A NEW ESSAY

* Anti-war statements by Amber Amundson and other September 11 relatives

* Ten pages of photographs from the streets of Baghdad by Kim Weston-Arnold

War Plan Iraq will be published on September 11. Advance orders (within the UK) are post-free. War Plan Iraq will cost £12 in the shops, but is £10 direct. There is also a 10% discount for bulk orders of five copies.

Individual orders within the UK:

- On or before September 8: send £10 for each copy of the book.

-After September 8: Send £11.80 for each copy of the book.

Group bulk buy discount orders within the UK: send £45 for five copies of the book.

Please make cheques payable to ''Arrow Publications'' and send to Arrow Publications, 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0HE. Please make sure to include your name, address and e-mail and to indicate how many books you are ordering.