May 2007 Archive 

Papuan justice denied Indonesian human rights campaigner Peneas Lokbere talks to Kirk Ward about transmigration policy, Papuan rights and Indonesian state torture

Occupation without troops The US and UK governments, the IMF and oil corporations are behind Iraq’s proposed Hydrocarbon Law, which would effectively privatise Iraqi oil. Becca Fisher investigates

West’s warmongering serves repression in Iran Iranian President Ahmadinejad has failed to deliver on his 2005 election promise to ‘put the oil money on the people’s tables’. The growing gap between millionaire mullahs and ordinary workers’ incomes has led to a new labour movement, ranging from bus drivers to teachers. In this context, western aggression is a godsend for Ahmadinejad’s regime, which uses the pretext of ‘security threats’ to crack down on strikers and militarise Iran, write Andreas Malm and Shora Esmailian

Longing for the Taliban Chris Sands reports un-embedded from Kandahar, Afghanistan, where chronic insecurity and anger at foreign troops is leading much of the local population to support a resurgent Taliban

Workers of the world - welcome! The British economy is reliant on migrant labour and has benefited greatly from the arrival of migrant workers from the new EU member states, argues Nigel Harris. An internationalist left should embrace the mobility of this new world working class, with its potential to redress global inequalities and end the scourge of xenophobia and war

Privatisation in Europe The privatisation of public services is proceeding apace across Europe. Paolo Andruccioli examines what it means for consumers, workers, citizens – and democracy

Breaking up Britain With Labour in danger of losing control at Holyrood, Roz Patterson looks at the politics of the SNP, the debates over independence, the tactics of the Greens and the frustrations and hopes of the Scottish Socialist Party of which she is a member

Payback Time

Dear Auntie,

As a lifelong feminist, I’ve always insisted on sharing the costs on dates. But I only work parttime and have money troubles, while the man I’m now seeing earns a lot more than me. So he always pays when we go out on dates.We’ve never talked about it but I feel awkward. Does that make me a bad feminist?

Yours,

Anne Elliot, Bath

The high cost of calling From its sourcing of materials to its disposal of toxic waste, with the whole production process in between, the mobile phone business is repeating the same discredited practices as longer established industries. Dave Sambrook reports

Politics outside the box Red Pepper’s first issue came out 13 years ago this month, shortly before Tony Blair became Labour leader. As we celebrate outlasting him, and prepare for a new phase in our development (more of which later), Hilary Wainwright sets the wider scene for the independent left.

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