From IWU-FI
Foreword
This new issue of International Correspondence is dedicated to the aggravation of the global crisis of the capitalist-imperialist system that has provoked the invasion of Ukraine by Putin and Russia. And to its dire consequences on the masses with increased prices for energy, and food, increased social inequality and more spending on armaments. All this is producing a new and dramatic fall in the standard of living of the people of the world.
Another expression of the aggravating crisis is Europe’s extreme heat wave that shows the advances of capitalist environmental destruction. Over 500,000 hectares of forests have already burned (see page 33). The Po River, the largest in Italy, dries up for the lack of rain and snowfall in the winter. Italy is experiencing the worst drought in 70 years. Also, the war in Ukraine affects climate change. Because of Russia’s gas supply cuts, Germany and Austria, for example, will expand coal production, increasing CO2 generation in the process.
Hunger does not cease growing. To this, we must add the migratory crisis caused by wars and famine. But the peoples of the world are responding to this capitalist counter-offensive with workers’ strikes and popular rebellions as having occurred, for example, in Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Panama or the workers’ strikes in Europe. In this new issue, we dedicate space to these struggles and rebellions. Also, to the resistance of the Ukrainian people against Putin’s criminal invasion and the struggle of women in the United States and around the world for abortion rights.
From these pages, we promote and support those rebellions and struggles of the peoples in the world so that “The workers do not pay for the crisis. Let the capitalists pay for it.”
