Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
WAR IS a catastrophe and the war in Ukraine is no exception. It has created a new and uniquely dangerous situation, altering the political balance in Europe, accelerating its militarisation, and raising the risk of nuclear war.
This will have a profoundly negative impact on our societies, far beyond the immediate catastrophe of war. We are seeing bellicose nationalism generated by warmongers on all sides, with politicians and media glorifying militarism, exploiting the refugee crisis and stoking racism and xenophobia.
One of the great dangers we face is that the far right, which has developed significantly over the last decade, feeding off economic crisis and weaponising the pandemic, will further develop in this new context.
ROZ FOYER explains the significance and tradition of today’s St Andrew’s Day March and Rally
While 69 per cent of Ukrainians want negotiated peace, Western leaders are cynically prolonging the war for their own strategic and economic goals, to the immense detriment of Ukraine and Europe, write BOB ORAM and MAGGIE SIMPSON
In an address to the Communist Party’s executive at the weekend international secretary KEVAN NELSON explained why the communists’ watchwords must be Jobs not Bombs and Welfare not Warfare
LIZ PAYNE condemns how Labour backs war in Gaza and Ukraine, and massive funding for Trident’s nuclear bombs, when billions are needed just to restore public services


