Appeal
Put Socialist Outlook on your Gift List!
It's the end of another busy year: December is the month in which most of us are under pressure to dig deep into our pockets to give generously to those nearest and dearest.
But while you’re at it, why not spare a thought for political principles — and add S ocialist Outlook to your list for a gift?
Over the last year we’ve done plenty to deserve your support and respect. We and our readers have been deeply involved in the European wide campaign against unemployment, cuts and social exclusion.
We were central to organising the British leg of the European Marches, building for the Amsterdam demonstration, and getting People to last month’s demonstration in Luxembourg.
Through this work we have deepened our links with workers In struggle, particularly with the Liverpool Dockers, the sacked Magnet workers and the courageous Hillingdon women.
We have strengthened our involvement in unemployed action groups and activity against the JSA Project Work and Labour’s misnamed ‘New Deal’.
All this work must go on. in 1998 we will need resources to build a demonstration and counter-summit to take place In Cardiff at the time of the Intergovernmental Conference in July.
Without help from you, our readers, we will not be able to give this crucial mobilisation the person-power or publicity it needs.
Despite our heavy Involvement in this campaign, we have not neglected other areas of activity.
We have fought cuts and closures in the NHS social services and local government We have supported and built the campaigns of students against tuition fees, and of women fighting for the defence and extension of abortion provision.
We have been involved in campaigns against the racist policing of the black community and for justice for victims of racial attacks.
We have fought for the closure of detention centres in which asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their countries of origin have been imprisoned and brutalised.
We have fought for class struggle policies, action and leadership within the trade unions. We have been relentless critics of Blair’s New Labour policies.
We have sought co-operation with other socialists and activists to strengthen our common fight and win new forces to our causes. We have tried to struggle against the sectarianism on the left which so often dissuades new militants from any sustained Involvement.
We have done all this and more on the shoestring budget on which the left always operates. Sadly we have no Bernie Ecclestone to offer us £1 million a time.
Our policies don’t tend to attract millionaires. Rather we are dependent solely on the generosity of ordinary working people, Often low-paid, some unemployed.
We desperately need to upgrade our equipment so that we can produce better publicity material around the issues we are working on.
We need to boost our travel budget so that we can better resource some of our smaller groups of supporters. We also need money to refurbish our building which needs some major repairs.
if you like what we do and are interested in what we say, then please consider sending us a donation — however large or small. Cheques should be made payable to Socialist Outlook and sent to PO Box 1109, London N4 2AA and marked ‘Xmas appeal’.
Even better, why not consider making us a regular monthly donation? Standing order forms are available from your Socialist Outlook seller, or from the above address.