Marxism 2008- Cultures of Resistance

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday October 21, 2008 23:30 by Marxism 2008 team info at swp dot ie 0879889244

2008 has seen a crisis of capitalism not seen since the 1930’s. The workings of the market, once universally worshipped, have imploded and are wrecking people’s lives across the globe. Alongside this, the so called “war on terror” pursued by the same market fundamentalists, has brought death and havoc in Iraq and now, in Afghanistan, it threatens to spill over to new and deadlier frontiers. Never has it been so important to develop alternatives to the madness of the system.

Marxism 2008, on the weekend of November 7th-9th in Dublin, could not be more timely. The weekend will bring together activists, trade unionists individuals and campaigners to discuss the issues that confront us – recession, war, racism, social inequality, Ireland post-Lisbon – and debate how we can change the world. Radical writers, journalists, socialists and activists will talk about a range of other subjects - the US elections, the new sexism, the distortions of the media, Beckett and Shakespeare, the 1930s in Belfast and China today, crime and young people, climate change, Alternative Ulster, and much more.

The Culture Zone, a new addition to the event, will offer screenings of independent films, documentaries and photographic exhibitions and special participatory workshops. All these will be taking place in the Parnell Room. At the back of this room will be the Marxism 2008 bookshop with a wide selection of left-wing books, and many titles relevant to the subjects covered in the meetings.

Some of the speakers include:
Hossem el Hamalawy Cairo based journalist on the recent food riots and strike waves in Egypt

Nick Davies, Journalist of the Year and columnist with the Guardian newspaper. His new book Flat Earth News exposes the falsehood, distortion and propaganda of the global media.

Richard Boyd Barrett, People before Profit will talk on the opportunities, post Lisbon, for the left in Ireland . He will also join other speakers to discuss, after the events of Georiga in the summer, whether we are seeing a new cold war reemerging.

Debbie Ging, writer on Bratz culture and Goretti Horgan, abortion rights activist discuss why the new sexism has such a hold and how it can be challenged.

Prof Helena Sheehan and researcher Seamus Sweeney give an illustrated talk on the American TV drama “The Wire" and will argue that it is a tv series with a difference.

Check out the Marxism2008 blog for more updates- events are happening so quickly and this years Marxism is certainly going to reflect this.

Weekend of November 7-9th 2008
ROYAL DUBLIN HOTEL O’Connell St
Tickets to cover the cost of hosting the event
€28/£20 (waged)
€15 or £10 ( unwaged and students)
Email [email protected] or Contact 0879889244 for details

Details will be posted to indymedia.ie events section for each day.