Could Barbara Var with Barbara Vanden's article on pornog- argument raphy In Liberation! Issue 5? Firstly, I find her por- power over men.... trayal of porn as an industry "about men's power over women" objectionable in the extreme. Many Tominica prefer to overlook the fact, I know, but there are rather a lot of women who buy pornographic material that fea tasies of anyone who is tures men! Surew if the deviant and perverse carried enough to waSTe on exploitative material? Throuion to us occa cor clusion, then pornography Surely, it would be better is all about women's to regard pomography as at hact a minor asnect of Or could it be that porn the wider struggle for the is simply a sick industry empowerment of women. that exploits people of It must surely be that the either gender who are first priority is to achieve young and poor? Could it an equal distribution of be that the porn industry wealth, power and empanders to the saddo fan- ployment between men and women, which will in itself help drive "pornographers" out of business. money Isn't porn in itself simply a symptom of capitalist society's exploitation of the poor as a whole, not just of women? In this context porn can be seen as a symptom of class society. Once that society is eliminated, the poverty that breeds exploitation will be too. Only when we have socialism will we have true equality.
On another note, con- frst album. gratulations on producing a youth paper that is genuinely interesting and provocative.
Yours in comradeship, be an advantage!
Phil PS I'd love someone to shoot my arguments down in flames, so please do reply to this letter! sexual image. She plays a predatory female, gyrating voluptuously on stage, the centre of attentlon. Her lyrics often deal with sexual relationships, almost definitely hetero, but mixIng male and female roles. She seems to have an affinity for maleness, sometimes singing as If she were a man (as in "Man Size"). I often wonder how she got on with bad boy Steve Albini (of Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac) who produced her Overall the gig wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer something faster and more energetlc, even If not as slick and controlled. Danceability would also Elle magazine describos P J Harvey as "a new breed of pop female". I hope they don't mean that literally. Personally, I think she's a more interesting and substantial role model than Madonna, but then i don't hold much for role models.
› Aldan Salter Today the bellet in anlmal rights is Inspiring thousands of young people across Europe to challenge the authoritles. What attitude should socialists take to the struggle for animal rights? What Is meant by "rights" and do animals have them?
Most animal rights campaigners argue that animal and human rights are universal, and are based on the sanctity of all living creaTures. Socialists nowever seneve nat dents depend on cultural and material conditions: the ability of people to value themselves and other living things, and the ability to exercise rights.
All societies value some animals. The key question is, can animals exercise rights? At least some animals feel pain. They experience freedom and well being. They can therefore "enjoy" rights and "suffer" their denial. Some, but maybe not all, animals have rights.
If animals have rights, should socialists support them? The goal of socialism is human emancipation - a world free from the exploitation and oppression of one person or a group or social class by another, and from the suffering which results. If it is wrong for people to abuse other humans, how can it be right for them to abuse animals?
Some animal rights campaigners call the abuse of animals by humans "speciesism". They liken it to the racial abuse perpetrated under fascism.
Socialists do not equate human and animal rights in the same way. We recognize that many cultures depend on animals for their livelihood, and that historically the exploitation of animals has been necessary for the devlopment of social and economic life.
However we also recognise that cruelty to animals can condition people to accept cruelty to people, and that respect for animal welfare can make us more human and compassionate.
Another reason why Socialists should support animal rights is that we are fighting the same enemy: capitalism. Powerful economic interests are responsible for massive cruelty To Anime.
Rival cosmetic companies test new brands on animals, inflicting great suffering. The products and therefore suffering are unnecessary. Furthermore, the cosmetics industry exploits young people, women especially, their insecurities, and causing misery to women who don't fit the latest beauty craze.
The meat industry keeps millions of people hungry in the "Third World", as well as mistreating and slaughtering livestock and pouttry. In Latin America rainforests are cut down and huge tracts of fertile land turned over to cattle ranching while local people starve. The beef is exported to hamburger Europe and North America.
Meat is a very inefficient source of protein. The area of land needed to produce meat protein is far greater than that needed to produce the enuivalent amount of vegetable protein. Over grazing is also creating large targeting scale soil erosion.
Modern battery farming methods cause great suffering in the name of "efficiency".
methods would cost more, reducing profits. chains in ditions for ending the abuse of animals.
the waste involved in producing meats.
• Tom t was always obvious that the Criminal Justice Act through Parllament. There was little oppositlon from Labour, who seem to be trying to outflank the Tories as the party of "Law and Order". Yet even though the Bill Is now an Act, the police seem reluctant to use their new powers. Perhaps they realise how draconian the Act Is, or are worried they might provoke a massive reaction. Huddersfleld Reaction Agalnst the CJA certainly got into gear when the first two people were charged under the Act in Kirklees. Two men were arrested whilst peacefully protesting agalnst the felling of trees to make way for a new Morrison's supermarket. occupying a tree and the other was about to climb Into one. Their court cases were adHens and pigs are crammed into cages or Journed twice, largely pens with no opportunity for exercise, kept due to mass demonweak and prone to disease. More human strations In Huddersfleld Town Centre and A socialist revolution would create the conoutside the magisWorkers and communities could jointly plan trates' court. Eventuthe production and distribution of goods for ally the charges the benefit of society, animals and the envi- agalnst the two men ronment. The use of animal products could be were droppod. phased out, and alternatives developed. Pro- Nottingham AntI-CJA duction would no longer be for profit, ending Campalgn renewed Its the incentive to use cruel battery methods. At activitles with a mass the same time a planned economy could end trespass of Kenneth Clarke's garden! The Chancellor of the Exchoquer is an MP for, leave peacefully rather than get arrested.
The Criminal Justice Act is an attempt to would go create a smokescreen to divert attention away from the real crlsis in society. This government has presided over an increase in crime to record levels, yet they always concentrate on punitive measures and would rather Ignore the obvt ous problems of unemployment and poverty. They are attempting to scapegoat certain groups of people such as travellers, squatters and party people, In order to legitimise a further Increase In police powers. Alternative Ilfestyles should be defended as an attempt to escape the atlenation of consumerism and the normal 'nuclear' famlly. Squatters should be defended in their atOne was tempts to tackle home lessness, at a time when thousands of properties are uninhabItable and the government is reducing housing stock. Youth need to enjoy parties as an escape from the harsh realitles of life in the ninetles. In fact It Is Tories who are the real criminals, lining their pockets through privatisations, dismantling the wet fare state and selling arms to oppressive regimes.
The act Is also a