Economists estimate extreme poverty could be drastically reduced for a fraction of global defence spending, yet military budgets continue to expand year on year, says JON TRICKETT MP, ahead of the Stop the War International Conference on Saturday
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Let’s drink to English wine
PETER FROST raises a glass to English, Welsh and Scottish vineyards this English Wine Week
CHEERS! Ridgeview and Nyetimber, English sparkling wines produced in Sussex; Breaky Bottom Vineyard near Lewes, a producer of English sparkling wine
[(L to R) Dr-john/CC and Peter Whitcomb/CC]
As Unison launches its Year of Women Workers, ANNIE COGAN-THOMAS argues that stronger organisation and collective bargaining are essential to winning equality
Trade unions, trades councils and community organisations must work together to build lasting solidarity and resistance to the far right, argues DREW GILCHRIST
Recent violence in Belfast was not spontaneous — it was built on years of failure and political neglect, argues STIOFAN O NUALLAIN
As delegates meet in Brighton this week, Unison faces pressing questions about pay, organising, workers’ rights and political representation, explains ANDY CHAFFER
Andy Burnham’s growing stature has fuelled hopes of a Labour revival – but ALAN SIMPSON warns that Britain’s crisis runs far deeper than just its leadership and traces its roots to decades of financialised capitalism
I’LL START this week’s Ramblings with a quote from Karl Marx: “Be careful to trust a person who does not drink wine.” Marx was of course himself a vineyard owner and winemaker. Apparently he was also a bit of a socialist philosopher.
Today we are coming to the end of English Wine Week (June 18-June 26) an ever-growing celebration of the rapidly growing English wine industry.
Before I go any further let’s get round the language. English Wine Week strangely celebrates wine from England, Wales, Scotland and even wine from a vineyard or two in the north of Ireland.
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