Part 1 of the Series: Centenary of the Russian Revolution and the Repudiation of Debt
Russia: Repudiation of debt at the heart of the revolutions of 1905 and 1917
by Eric Toussaint
February 23, 1917: Womens protest in Petrograd
In February 1918, the repudiation of the debt by the Soviet government shocked international finance and sparked off unanimous condemnation by the governments of the great powers.
This decision of repudiation was intrinsic to this first big movement for social emancipation which rattled the Russian Empire in 1905. This huge revolutionary uprising was caused by the conjunction of many factors: the Russian debacle in its war with Japan, the wrath of peasants demanding land, the rejection of autocracy, workers’ demands... The movement began with strikes in Moscow in 1905 and soon spread throughout the empire like wildfire, adopting different forms of struggle. Out of the process of self-organization by the masses emerged councils, or soviets in Russian: peasants’ councils, workers’ councils, soldiers’ councils and so on.
[Texto original en catalán: 
Claims of Morocco's exceptionalism during the Arab Spring now ring hollow as protests spread in the face of elite policies that deny dignity to the majority
Cette contribution a été écrite pour la Sozialistische Zeitung (SOZ), mensuel publié en Allemagne. Il s’adresse donc à un lectorat étranger, qui n’est pas censé connaître grand chose de la situation française. Elle constitue aussi, de ma part, une intrusion dans le débat sur les récentes élections et la campagne menée par Jean-Luc Mélenchon au nom de la France insoumise – un débat qui touche à des questions assez fondamentales autour, en particulier, du « populisme » et que cette intrusion invite à poursuivre.
The Municipal Network Against Illegitimate Debt and Fiscal Cuts is expanding to the level of the autonomous regions [the Spanish State consists of 12 autonomous communities, among which Andalusia, Catalonia, the Basque country, the Madrid community…] stated Carmen Lizárraga, a Podemos member of the Parliament of Andalusia, at the opening press conference of the second meeting of the Network, which brought together in Cadiz, on 2, 3 and 4 June 2017, over 150 participants representing 77 municipalities from all over Spain. Members of the Parliaments of the autonomous Communities of Andalusia, Navarre, the Baleares, Estremadura and Galicia had a separate meeting that resulted in the decision to meet more frequently and in a more structured way after the summer recess.
“Michael, don’t go! Michael, don’t go! Can you all give it up for Michael Eavis? Michael, I’ve got a gift for you here, it says, ‘Michael, the inspiration that gave space to millions through Glastonbury.’ Thank you Michael Eavis for all that you’ve done.
A brewing conflict among the rulers of the Persian Gulf region reached a crisis stage in early June when Saudi Arabia led other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in cutting ties with Qatar. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain have halted all land, air and sea traffic with Qatar, ended diplomatic ties and ordered to Qatari citizens to leave. With 40 percent of Qatar’s food supply coming over the border from Saudi Arabia, there are fears of shortages of food and water.
Le Maroc vit actuellement une vague de protestation sociale très large initiée par le mouvement de contestation populaire dans le Rif au nord du Maroc. L’État a répondu par une campagne de calomnie et la répression. Il a arrêté des dizaines d’activistes de ce mouvement et poursuit d’autres. Les sit-in de solidarité dans plusieurs villes sont dispersés par les forces de police. Mais ce climat de terreur renforce plutôt la détermination des citoyens et des citoyennes à combattre, exiger la libération des détenus et la satisfaction des revendications sociales. Des comités de solidarités se constituent un peu partout au Maroc.
A toutes les victimes du despotisme, de l’oppression, à toutes celles et ceux qui voient leur dignité bafouée et qui aspirent à un Maroc démocratique.
Following a wave of protests in Zharrez, Albania, Griselda Qosja spoke with activists affiliated with two of the leading leftist organizations in Albania, Organizata Politike and Thurje.
The Korean crisis has gone from chronic to acute since the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States. Against a backdrop of general instability, it is being played out on three levels: the world relationship of forces between powers; the strong tensions at work throughout East Asia; the breakdown or the maintenance of the status quo between the two Koreas. To this, let us add the situation in the USA, where Trump is tempted to compensate for his failures in domestic politics by creating a climate of national mobilization against an external threat - whether it be Russian, Chinese or North Korean.
Le mot d'ordre proposé par certains camarades, "Pas un seul vote pour Marine Le Pen", n'est pas suffisant. On peut "ne pas voter" MLP en votant blanc ou en s'abstenant, en allant à la pêche, etc. On ne vote pas pour elle, mais on ne fait rien pour l'empêcher d'être élue... Si on veut vraiment la battre, il faut mettre un bulletin avec le nom de son rival.
Save the dates and sign up 
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Depuis une semaine, le mouvement de protestation ne cesse de s’étendre, prenant une ampleur jamais vue depuis la chute de Milosevic en 2000. Chaque soir, des dizaines de milliers de Serbes manifestent dans toutes les villes du pays contre la « dictature » d’Aleksandar Vučić, le premier ministre élu président de la République dimanche 2 avril.
Jusqu’à ce jour, les péripéties de l’élection présidentielle auront déjoué tous les pronostics. Ce signe de crise politique intense peut-il ouvrir sur de nouveaux enfermements ou sur une nouvelle espérance ? Les deux prochaines semaines seront cruciales.
The 11 presidential candidates faced off in a live televised debate, with anti-capitalist Poutou goading rivals over their integrity. A little-known candidate emerged as the star of the televised French presidential debate after challenging two of the frontrunners over their honesty and implication in fraud scandals. 
On a lake, plumes of gas, most likely methane from the breakdown of carbon in sediments below the lake, keep the water from freezing in spots, outside Fairbanks, Alaska, October 21, 2011. As the Arctic warms, the threat of abrupt methane releases is rising, too. (Photo: Josh Haner / The New York Times) 
This is ridiculous. Avaaz is circulating a petition to thank the "Dutch people" (whoever that may be) for "choosing hope, unity, and dialogue over hate, fear and old fascist rhetoric." They even claim that, "by rejecting Geert Wilders you've helped stop the rise of the far right everywhere." More generally, the coverage of these elections in the international press has been a complete disaster.
Les retours revanchards de néolibéraux aux gouvernements de certains pays d’Amériques latines remettent-ils en question les expériences d’émancipation des dernières décennies ? Les réalités sont plus complexes, nous dit Franck Gaudichaud.