Student Broad Left

The next steps in the student fight-back against cuts, fees, racism and war – for free education, equality, peace and twenty first century socialism.

Come along to the next Student Broad Left nationally planning meeting on Saturday 1 June at the University of London Union from 1pm – 5pm.

As the West continues to step up its intervention in the Middle East and Africa, building a progressive student movement that opposes imperialism and war is vitally important.

Stop the War and Student CND groups had some success in taking forward this important work over the past few weeks by organising a variety of meetings and film showings against imperialism on London campuses.

Stop the War Coalition Protest Friday 15 February, 5.30 – 7pm Outside Downing Street STOP WESTERN INTERVENTION IN SYRIA WESTERN TROOPS OUT OF MALI STOP THE SPREAD OF WAR

Last week the British government announced that it will be sending hundreds of British troops to support the French army’s attack on Mali in Africa.

There is a serious threat that this could be the start of a major, long and bloody imperialist war in Africa. The West’s intervention in Mali will bring nothing but death, destruction and chaos.

Leading student activists from across the country have come together to sign the following Stop the War statement opposing British and foreign intervention in Mali.

To add you name to the ‘Students against British & foreign intervention in Mali’ statement please email me at aaron.kiely@nus.org.uk.

Israel launched an air attack on its neighbour Syria on the night of Tuesday and Wednesday this week. When Israel bombs another country then it's big news. And it's rarely coincidental.

So it was surely as they say no accident that the intelligence chief of the Israeli army, the IDF, Major-General Aiv Kochavi, landed in Washington on the same day that the attacks happened, for talks at the Pentagon with the US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Martin Dempsey.

The US was told of the attack in advance but has so far made no condemnation or criticism of the action. This has been left to the Russians, allies of the Syrian government, who have said that the attack violates the UN charter.

Student Broad Left National Planning Meeting - Saturday 2 February, University of London Union

Join the protest organised by Unite Against Fascism 12 Noon Saturday 19 January Greek Embassy, London (1A Holland Park, Notting Hill, London, W11 3TP)

The rise of the fascist right, racism and xenophobia across Europe is frightening. Nowhere more so than in Greece.

The Golden Dawn Party is unashamedly anti-Semitic. It is directly involved in attacks on immigrants and the Muslim community, which are happening daily. Critical journalists and oppositional politicians have also been targeted.

Golden Dawn doesn’t seek to hide its neo-Nazi credentials or regalia. Yet it is in the Greek parliament and third in the polls despite one of its leaders physically assaulting two women MPs on television before polling day.

Respect the democratic will of the Venezuelan people - no to right-wing destabilisation plans Venue & Time: 7pm, Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DL With: Ambassador Samuel Moncada, Tariq Ali (writer,) Karen Mitchell (VSC,) & Jeremy Corbyn MP

Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced on Friday (4 January) that President Hugo Chávez's new term of office will begin this Thursday 10 January, in line with the country’s Constitution. Hugo Chávez won a record number of votes to be re-elected President with a landslide 55% last October.

There are a number of exciting Venezuela solidarity initiatives taking place over the coming week on campuses across London – come along to one and find out more about the revolutionary transformations taking place in Latin America today.

We send our condolences to Hugo Chavez’s family and the people on Venezuela on the sad news that Chavez has died. 7 days of mourning has begun in Venezuela, with enormous numbers lining the streets of Caracas today.

Hugo Chavez was an example. An inspiration. A beacon of hope. A signal of what’s possible in this world. A northern star for the poor and the wretched of the earth in Venezuela and across the globe.

Massively reducing poverty, eradicating illiteracy, expanding healthcare and education to millions of people in Venezuela in just 14 years is his legacy.

By Jose Maria Guijarro who is an economist and sociologist and an adviser to the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister. This article first appeared in the Morning Star.

As the living standards of the majority come under fire across Europe, Latin America continues to be the beacon of hope that burns brightest for those seeking to build a better world.

The progressive path now being taken by several Latin American countries followed the worst long-term economic failure in the region in over a century.

For two decades from 1980, economic growth on the continent practically collapsed - coinciding with the implementation of the so-called "Washington consensus" economic policies.

Today the region is benefiting from a new consensus. One independent of Washington. One that defends the majority.

Facebook event

Ecuadorians go to the polls to elect their President on 17 February 2013. Like other parts of Latin America, Ecuador is today being transformed by progressive social and economic reforms.

Known as the Citizens Revolution and led by President Rafael Correa these policies are tackling the deep crisis caused by years of extreme neo-liberalism.

Student Broad Left is proud to support founder of the Bring Back EMA Campaign and NUS NEC member, Matt Stanley, for NUS Vice President Further Education. Here we share his draft manifesto and initial supporters list. Please contact Matt directly to add your name to his supporters list and volunteer to join his campaign team.

"I am pleased and excited to announce that I will be standing for NUS Vice President Further Education at this year’s NUS National Conference, taking place in Sheffield this April.

I’m standing to turn NUS around. We need a national union that fights to defend students against the enormous assault we are facing from the Tory-led government.

As NUS VP Further Education I would take the fight to the Tories – uniting our movement behind a serious campaign to force a government u-turn to bring back EMA. I stand for an NUS that actively builds massive opposition to cuts and fees – and for the student movement to link up with other progressive movements in fighting racism, inequality, climate change and war.

Syria, the Kurds and Western Intervention Thursday 17 January 7.00pm School of Oriental and African Studies Room V211 Vernon Square Campus Penton Rise London WC1X 9EW

Student Broad Left firmly condemns France's military invasion of Mali. This assault represents an act of imperialist aggression by France, the former colonial power of Mali, and is the latest attempt by Western powers to re-colonise a part of Africa following the disastrous war on Libya. We say: imperialism - get your hands off Africa!