Many European countries have seen a surging wave of strikes and protests since 2022. Leading the labor charge are the workers' unions in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. Other European countries, including Germany, Italy, Hungary and Portugal, also launched strikes in the beginning of 2023.
Organizations, groups and individuals continue to express grief and pay homage to Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founding chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), who died on December 16. Statements and testimonies recognized his contributions to the struggle of the Filipino people and his widespread influence as well on the global proletarian-socialist and anti-imperialist movement.
Exemplary Communards of other nationalities who fought alongside their French comrades in the barricades included Elisabeth Dimitriev, a Russian, Léo Frankel, a Hungarian, and Jaroslaw Dombrowski, a Pole. Dimitriev and Frankel were members of the International, while Dombrowski was a veteran Narodnik revolutionary.
Protest tryptich art by the UGAT-LAHI visual arts group shows a powerful morphing image of three presidents of the Philippines particularly known for their brazenly savage support for military-sponsored killings: Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled as dictator from 1972 to 1986; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who benefitted from a second People Power revolt to become president from 2001 to 2010 but likewise coddled butcher-generals; and incumbent Rodrigo Duterte, whose regime's own bloody record is said to have now reached the same proportions as that of Marcos in his 14 years of fascist dictatorship. The 49th anniversary of Marcos' declaration of martial law is being marked this year by various anti-fascist alliances, with focus on the unprecedented mass killings.
THIS WEEK’S MAIN STORY
UK, OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TOSSED BY WORKERS’ STRIKES
Many European countries have seen a surging wave of strikes and protests since 2022. Leading the labor charge are the workers’ unions in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. Other European countries, including Germany, Italy, Hungary and Portugal, also launched strikes in the beginning of 2023.
The Europe-wide strike wave is being generated by intense economic crisis (fuelled by galloping inflation especially in energy and food prices) and social unrest. The millions of strikers and protesters feel underpaid, overworked, neglected, and clobbered with anti-strike sanctions and police action while negotiations have ground to a halt.
So far, there is wide public support for the labor strikes and union demands, even in the case of key public services such as health, schools and transport. Teachers’ strikes have been supported by students.
RECENT POSTS
TRIBUTE TO JOMA SISON
The Filipino People’s Democratic Revolution Is Invincible
Armed struggles, Frontpage Article, Joma Sison, Mass struggles, The movement, The worldOn the World Situation
Global capitalism, Joma Sison, Socialism, The movementHistorical Rise of Fascism and Current Manifestation in Pandemic
Geopolitics and the state, History, Joma Sison, The worldJMS on 9-11 and the US war on terror
Geopolitics and the state, Global events, Joma Sison, Military affairs, The worldJMS on US occupation of Afghanistan
Geopolitics and the state, Global events, History, Joma Sison, Russia and Central Asia, South and West AsiaJoma Sison on the 1871 Paris Commune
History, Joma Sison, Paris Commune 150, Socialism, The movement, WebinarsBuilding Resistance to the Threat of War and Reaction
Articles, Asia-Pacific, Geopolitics and the state, Joma Sison, Military affairs, The movement, The worldUS-Led Wars and Types of Weapons in the Era of Modern Imperialism
Geopolitics and the state, Joma Sison, Military affairs, Papers and monographs, The worldOn the Land Problem, Peasant Class and Agrarian Revolution
Articles, East Asia, Joma Sison, Peasantry, References, The movementPARIS COMMUNE AT 150
Paris Commune as early example of proletarian internationalism
History, Paris Commune 150, Socialism, The movementPDF for download: Primer on Paris Commune 150th
Paris Commune 150, References, Socialism, The movementJoma Sison on the 1871 Paris Commune
History, Joma Sison, Paris Commune 150, Socialism, The movement, WebinarsPrimer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – III
History, Paris Commune 150, References, Socialism, The movementPrimer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – II
History, Paris Commune 150, References, Socialism, The movementPrimer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – I
History, Paris Commune 150, References, Socialism, The movementThe Counterrevolutionary Position of the Trotskyites against the Filipino Proletariat and Filipino People
Socialism, The movement, TrotskyismMLM-SG-MM: Why Trotskyites Are Counterrevolutionaries Like Their Idol Trotsky
Asia-Pacific, History, Socialism, The movement, TrotskyismEnduco: Comments on Scalice’s Speech
Articles, Asia-Pacific, Socialist theory, The movement, Trotskyism, Working classOn Trotskyites and Other Slanderers
Asia-Pacific, Europe, History, Socialist theory, The movement, Trotskyism, WebinarsCritique of the Trotskyite attacks on the CPP and the Philippine revolution
Asia-Pacific, Socialist theory, The movement, TrotskyismComments of Jose Maria Sison on certain views against the CPP
East Asia, News and articles, Organizations, Socialism, Socialist theory, The movement, TrotskyismIMAGES
OUR PROGRAMS
PRISM generates and shares resources needed by activists for revolutionary mass work. Its main thrust is to promote mass work for the purpose of revolutionary change.
REACHING OUT
We invite activists to lend their support for our programs and activities—as teachers, resource persons, writers, editors, trainors, seminar facilitators, network coordinators, volunteers, technical consultants, or donors.
The 20 latest Blog Posts
- United Kingdom and other European countries tossed by giant waves of workers’ strikes
- Primer on China’s Revolution and Maoism, Part 3
- The Filipino People’s Democratic Revolution Is Invincible
- Primer on China’s Revolution and Maoism, Part 2
- On the launching of the International Peoples’ Front
- Primer on China’s Revolution and Maoism, Part 1
- On the World Situation
- Historical Rise of Fascism and Current Manifestation in Pandemic
- JMS on 9-11 and the US war on terror
- JMS on US occupation of Afghanistan
- Paris Commune as early example of proletarian internationalism
- PDF for download: Primer on Paris Commune 150th
- Joma Sison on the 1871 Paris Commune
- Primer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – III
- Primer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – II
- Primer on the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune – I
- Combat Liberalism
- On the Correct Handling of Contradictions among the People
- On Practice and On Contradiction
- Q and A on Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
The 8 latest Portfolio Entries
Archives by Subject:
- ANZ-Oceania
- Armed struggles
- Articles
- Asia-Pacific
- Climate and environment
- Culture and propaganda
- Culture, propaganda and ideology
- East Asia
- Europe
- Events calendar
- Frontpage Article
- General
- Geopolitics and the state
- Global capitalism
- Global economy
- Global events
- History
- Joma Sison
- Latin America
- Marx Bicentennial
- Marxism-Leninism
- Mass struggles
- Middle East
- Military affairs
- Multimedia
- News and articles
- North America
- October Revolution Centennial
- Organizations
- Other social sectors
- Papers and monographs
- Paris Commune 150
- Peasantry
- Philosophy
- References
- Russia and Central Asia
- Social issues
- Socialism
- Socialist theory
- South and West Asia
- Strategy and tactics
- The movement
- The world
- Trotskyism
- Uncategorized
- Webinars
- Working class
- Youth
Archives by Month:
- February 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- May 2022
- September 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- September 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- November 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- March 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- September 2015
- June 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- November 2014
- September 2014