red pepper issue136 december 2005

contents

features

Hey, Banker, leave our schools alone 18The government’s latest plans for schools have prompted furious opposition. Richard Hatcher and Ken Jones explain why parents and teachers alikeare organising against them

china special From Mao to the market 20There is more continuity between Maoist and modern-day China than is often recognised, writes John Gittings . It’s the importance of the Chinese people that has been lost along the way

Starbucks for the people 22China has eagerly embraced the big institutions of global capitalism. Starbucks even has a branch inside the Forbidden City. Wang Chaohua asks if there is anything left of socialism inside China’s economic miracle

The struggle continues – Remembering Tiananmen 24Sixteen years ago, the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 left the blood of the Chinese democracy movement on the streets of Beijing. Now China’s new economy is claiming more lives. But the workers are fighting back. Han Dongfang reports

China’s new civic voices 26Civil society is stretching out from under the communist monolith in China. Lin Gu reports

Telling the truth about Tibet 28Construction cranes, it has been said, are the new national bird of China – and Tibet certainly has its share. Economic development also conceals what is happening under the surface. Robert Barnett reports

The winged killer flies in 30As avian flu continues its unstoppable advance through the world’s bird population, fears of a human pandemic are growing. Be afraid, says Mike Davis , be very afraid – not least because we are so unprepared

red pepper christmas party

Come and join Hilary Wainwright and the Red Pepper team for an evening of festive fun with:award-winning socialist magician Ian Saville;test your knowledge in our political quiz;guest speaker Michael Mansfield QC;music,raffle,auction and much more

Tuesday 20 December, 7pm-11 pm Smithy’s wine bar, 17 Leeke Street, Kings Cross WC1X

Tickets: £9(on the door), £7(in advance), £5(volunteers, concs – MUST be booked in advance). Ticket price includes buffet.

For details about disabled access and parking call 020 7281 7024

For more details or to book please see booking form that came with this magazine or www.redpepper.org.uk

Cover image from University of Westminster Reworked by Tom Lynton

regulars 04Lettersand Agony Subcommandauntie

06Activision Around the left in 30 days: UK Natural born rebel: Edwin Westwood-Linton Asylum Watch A day in the life: British Sikhs’ Campaign for Truth and Justice House surveillance Know your enemy: Asda & Walmart Guerrilla guides: Green power Temperature gauge: Industrialisation in China

15World Around the left in 30 days:World France: Va va boom

38Infrared David Osler

39Rear view Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa: The Living Memorial

review 32There is no wealth but life Kevin Jackson was given a tough task – to produce a comic book version of John Ruskin’s densely magnificent prose. ‘Be more of a hooligan,’ he was told. Here he tells how he did it

34Book reviews

36Arts reviews Preview

coming soon Palestine special: Graham Usher, Mike Marqusee Why single out Israel? asks Richard Kuper Austin Mitchell: government consultants – the truth on the web More from our China special Election time in Bolivia Taking on the WTO in Hong Kong Inside the European Left Party

december 2005 red pepper

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