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
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Making the links between militarism, poverty, class and power
SYMON HILL previews a new event on resisting militarism, organised by the Peace Pledge Union
Children being given weapons to handle at the Sunderland Air Show in 2017
[Wayne Sharrocks/Peace Pledge Union]
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
Special report by PEOPLE’S WORLD
NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
“IT’S been a good year for the war buffs,” remarked the US satirist Tom Lehrer in 1968, referring to the 50th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Now, as we approach the 100th anniversary, there are again people who will use it as an opportunity to promote militarism.
We’ve already seen this with the centenary of the founding of the RAF in April 1918.
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Through marches, music, schools and political debate, campaigners in Tower Hamlets are using the 90th anniversary of Cable Street to inspire resistance to modern racism. GLYN ROBBINS explains
WILL DRY speaks to three former members of the armed forces about the political hypocrisy surrounding Armistice Day, how war is a function of class society, and the far right’s use of militarism and nationalism to divide working people
April 9 1928 – July 26 2025
