Welcome to the first issue of Fightback, newspaper of Fightback (Aotearoa/NZ). Fightback is a nationwide socialist organisation with branches in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. With this paper we plan to continue and develop our agitation for struggle, solidarity and socialism.
The fight against asset sales is a key struggle in Aotearoa/NZ. In this issue we lead with two articles on this struggle. Firstly, we report on the mass protest against asset sales, and argue for the need to fight at the point of production. Secondly, we interview Annette Sykes, a lawyer in the Maori Council claim against Crown commercialisation of water.
Last month, we reported on a strike planned by Christchurch teachers, which would have challenged both charter schools plans and laws against political strikes. This was called off and replaced with a march, which we cover. We also report on a successful mass teachers’ strike in the Solomon Islands, where teachers are fighting for unpaid wages.
Internationalism is a key to workers’ liberation, overcoming the imposed national divisions which drive down conditions overall. In an article on rising health insurance costs under the Regional Seasonal Employer scheme, we argue the need to show solidarity with migrant workers.
During the global financial crisis, debt has received a lot of attention. We explain the Marxist theory of debt, which is necessary to the capitalist system. A second article debunks the myth of Iceland’s “peaceful revolution” against debt and finance capital.
Fightback is affiliated to Mana, an organisation in which tino rangitaratanga activists and revolutionary socialists work together. We review Red October: Left-Indigenous Struggles in Modern Bolivia, a book by Jeffrey Webber, which has lessons relevant to the Mana movement.
Like all fights against oppression, queer liberation must be integral to socialist politics. We provide a snapshot of the Gay Liberation movement, 1969-1979; and finally conclude with a review of Black Faggot, a play about the “gay Samoan male experience.”
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The globalists organised, ’bout time we did too.
You say that this issue of the paper “explains the Marxist theory of debt”. But actually, the article is quite muddled and doesn’t really explain such a theory. For instance, the article says, “Marxists argue rather that fictitious capital is a claim to property ownership,
by the lender. A mortgage is a claim on property, and until it is paid back the bank owns the house.”
Yes, the bank *owns the house* – an actual physical commodity. So this is *not* an example of fictitious capital, any more than when the bank technically owns a machine in a factory because the factory capitalist has taken out a bank loan to pay for it.
Another step has to take place before a debt becomes fictitious capital.
If you’re presenting a “Marxist theory” on something, a good place to start might be Marx, not David Harvey. Primary sources!
David Harvey has written some very good stuff, but he’s also rather confused on some things. See, for instance: http://blip.tv/marxisthumanist-initiative/left-forum-panel-discussion-david-harvey-and-capitalist-accumulation-6033945
Phil