THE PEACE MOVEMENT IN WOLVERHAMPTON AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
Since the civil wars of the seventeenth century our civil affairs have been in the hands of secular authorities. This present illegal and unpopular war may herald changes.
Two of these secular institutions have been discredited, Communism and Social Democracy. Now Blair has discredited New Labour by claiming that the core of our foreign policy must be support for US imperialism instead of support and help for the Third World. Whatever popularity Blair may regain for the cowardly and horrendous removal of one dictator, New Labour may considered to be at an end as a theoretical concept. It is old right-wing Labour imperialism writ large.
It was under these circustanccs that we learned of an interview of our good friend Sedhev Bismal with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Sedhev readily agreed that he would present a letter from us to the Archbishop. Tile letter had two main points. Firstly our congratulations on his stand for peace and suggesting that it would be appropriate if he accepted the leadership of the movement. The second was the outstanding place taken by Wolverhampton in the movement against racism, which is what the war with Iraq and the endless succession of wars to remake the world in the likeness of US imperialism are about.
These `firsts' for Wolverhampton include:
l.The oldest and most representative Race Relations Council in Britain, founded in 1965, which has now been destroyed mainly by two persons, the chainnan and the Director, who have left the ethic minority communities without their main source of support and influence when they need it most.
2.Probably the best system of public consultation in the country between the West Midlands Police (independently trained under the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry) and the local Race Equality Council, chaired by the Leader of the local authority meeting every three months to plan improved race relations.
3. The first multicultural College in Britain with a still unprecedented 30% of ethnic minority staff which was closed down by an assortment of racists, institutional racists, educational elitists and snobs. Those responsible for the closure of the College from ministers such as David Blunkett to local agents are in the course of being brought to book and they will be made to apologise for their institutional racism, and the vast damage caused to FE in the city.
4. The recent discovery that Wolverhampton University has 48% of working class students, the highest in England, means that it its the most important University in England. More important than Oxford or Cambridge because it can mount an independent challenge to create with its syllabuses, staff, students, research, world contacts etc. the first Multicultural University in Britain.
It is already clear that Bush and Blair have bitten off rather more than they expected and indeed within the parameters they have set themselves i.e. that not too many of themselves should be killed and they should not kill too many Iradi citizens they say they liberating, it is difficult to see how the imperialists can be successful. For further information contact Kamaljit on 07932983821.
INDIAN WORKERS ASSOCIATION (W'TON BRANCH) : W'TON & BILSTON TUC FRIENDS OF BILSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE