August at Leeds University.
nected sharing a common vision.' organisers.
The majority of people involved in the planning of the conference are women.
Here is a conference on all the major political issues of the day unemployment; power — where men have been in a minority. This has made a positive difference Beyond the Fragments has sold nearly 10,000 copies in less than a year. Enthused by this success, people from around the country decided to organise a day event 'open to anyone hoping to develop a new form of socialist politics'. It takes place on 30 'No one is trying to set up a new party,' say the organisers, but they do hope that a 'loose but conmovement of people will emerge that involves activists from different socialist traditions, KENNY BELL — a member of the Socialist Housing Activists Workshop - explains why he is parpublish an interview with one of the conference the friendliness, and efficiency of the organising group.
A determination to avoid sec. tarianism has The cuts; peopic In major political organisations. nuclear particular balsatvil overtone Innuence should provide a strong basis for fruitful and open 1 nose of us in Housing Activists feeling of isolation.
community openness, framework not proved parucularly relevant to also been evident. community action.
usuall • svimbaldenc to most No catalytic ane than ODDOTE DISL struck a particular chord. debate the Socialis Workshop are all involved locally in housing action and came together because of a shared political analysis, a general Existing political organisation have tended to ignore housing and inane action as a legitimate area of struggle, and we all shared a housine common need to locate our housing activity in a stronger political for much Many of us also telt that the ac cepted form of organising adopted philosophy by most political organisations had This CADIeSSCO Beyond the Fragments to develop a way of socialist organising which is wide lallat and alienating these The Fragments' stress on makin action' tween ing our vision of socialism more vocallul explicit in day to day campaigns is reason WIll we becamne involved in the conference. The need for a popular socialist vision, a vision wica is alve and Drovide. a real alternative to the present system, is not peculiar to However the fact that housing has not been on the political agenda Not the left and Lito so may of Tory and laying, very lal Tory and Labour about policy gIven this development greater urgency.
vision anc alternatives will be the common theme to all morning workshops. A Prouds and tinue; dividuals are involved in preparing Our experience has shown that co-operation -between socialists is more likely if discussion starts from common experiences and problems rather than strategic theories which define our differences but we neee to go devone unile which is why the morn ing workshops are organised in a way wolen will make une waks De specific campaigns and socialism more explicit The afternoon workshops wil draw, in part, on experiences of cobetween socialists. for examole trades conners sociausi centres, the experience of socialists and outside the Labour Party working together.
Children's activities are a very important part of the event. These activites are very mucn more tnar a creche. Children themselves have been actively involved in organising events, including hims, theatre, in flatables, tales by trade unionists A day's discussion cannot ge Dul lI canaroviat opportunity to deepen our idea the alternatives are LOT. crealt strongel links, and boost the confidence of people in the localities hoped discussions started and links created will conperiodically coalescing Issues SucH resistance to the cuts, to rent rises. unemployment, and nuclear arms. OLDHAM: SC Linthoree Road. Middlesbrough are IMG NOTICES "JAGANGES.
BRANCH National meeting Sat 20 Sept. Venue to be an NALGO FRACTION. Sat 13 Sept London and si For Engine branc reps to attend Sun Ang ar tional Centre Socialist Challenge 14 August 1980 Page 5
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ticipating in the event and what he hopes to get out of it. In two weeks time Socialist Challenge will