Monthly Archives: March 2012

Trade Unions; the next generation….

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lipstick socialist

In the past 18 months there has been a surge in political activity by young people in the Occupy Movement, in student protests against tuition fees and withdrawal of EMA and in anti-workfare campaigns. At the same time, but less … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Manchester, NHS, trade unions, women, young people | Tagged | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 25, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Happy People (2010) A year in the Taiga by Dmitry Vasyukov. Siberia extends from the Urals to the Pacific and is one and a half times the size of the USA. 38 million people live in this area, but … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, Communism, education, films, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, music, Socialism, trade unions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dirty Old Town Fights Back!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by lipstick socialist

 Salford people marching from Bexley Square on 30 November 2011 The last time the Tories were in power they had a clear plan, based on what we now call a neo-liberal agenda. This involved the destruction of much of manufacturing, … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Salford, trade unions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 18, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Ken Loach at the BBC. During the 60’s and 70’s at the BBC he directed some of his most innovative work with Tony Garnett and Jim Allen which is now collected on this excellent DVD. It includes Cathy Come … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, book review, drama, films, labour history, music, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, TV drama, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

St.Patrick and reflections on a day………..

Posted on March 15, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Me, Auntie Margaret and Mum, 2010 Maureen, Mum and Margaret, 1940s, Manchester St.Patrick’s Day is on 17 March, a day to celebrate Irishness. Growing up in 70s Manchester, it meant shamrock and family celebrations with our relatives. It was the … Continue reading →

Posted in human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, Manchester, North of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 11, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Passion Fish(1992). A film by John Sayles (US equivalent of Ken Loach). The story of the relationship between a soap star, who is paralysed and returns home to rural Louisiana, and her care assistant. Not just the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, education, films, human rights, labour history, Manchester, music, Socialism, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reclaim the Day!

Posted on March 7, 2012 by lipstick socialist

What does IWD mean to women today? International Women’s Day was started in 1909 in America by the Socialist Party and was first celebrated internationally two years later. It was originally called International Working Women’s Day, its aim was to … Continue reading →

Posted in International Women's Day, labour history, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, women | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 4, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Shabby Tiger. Made by Granada TV in 1973 it’s the adaptation of  a novel by Howard Spring. Set in 1930’s Manchester,  it’s the love story between an artist and an Irish waitress,  and  the story of how the depression … Continue reading →

Posted in Communism, drama, films, labour history, Manchester, music, novels, radio drama, Socialism, TV drama, women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment