To defend Puerto Rico’s right to peace is to defend Venezuela’s right to exist, argues MICHELLE ELLNER
Turning the tide on merchant navy decline and support maritime employment
Seafaring is vital to our nation’s economy, but the industry has been allowed to diminish with a devastating impact on our port cities and coastal communities – a rejuvenation policy is urgently needed, argues MARK DICKINSON
The port of Liverpool
Despite the apocalyptic destruction RAMZY BAROUD points to Gaza’s triumph of spirit against the architecture of genocide
We are demanding action from our politicians to deliver justice, fairness and decency throughout our communities – join us, says ROZ FOYER
After NGOs and the EU, UN condemns Germany’s crackdown on Palestine Solidarity, writes LEON WYSTRYCHOWSKI
It’s not just the Starmer regime: the workers of Britain have always faced legal affronts on their right to assemble and dissent, and the Labour Party especially has meddled with our freedoms from its earliest days, writes KEITH FLETT
Once again Tower Hamlets is being targeted by anti-Islam campaigners, this time a revamped and radicalised version of Ukip — the far-right event is now banned by the police, but we’ll be assembling this Saturday to make sure they stay away, says JAYDEE SEAFORTH
AS AN island nation, the UK merchant navy once stood as a source of major employment for British seafarers, particularly those in proud port cities like my home in Merseyside near Liverpool or others like Glasgow, Belfast and Southampton, the names of which would be proudly displayed on the sterns of vessels flying the Red Ensign.
Unfortunately, the sight of the Red Ensign on a vessel is becoming less frequent and is even less likely to represent employment of British seafarers, more common now is the flag of convenience — countries like Liberia, Marshall Islands or Panama too often with poorly paid crew from the global South.
In fact, the UK currently faces historic lows in the number of registered vessels, indicating a wider problem — the decline in the UK merchant navy and a source of longstanding employment, particularly for coastal communities. The UK is currently also facing historic lows in the number of qualified active seafarers.
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