Rochester is going to Socialism 2013!

For information about the Rochester contingent, including carpooling, logistics, and fundraising, call 585-MUST-ISO (585-687-8476) or email iso.rochester@gmail.com.

A weekend of revolutionary politics, debate, and entertainment

JUNE 27 - JUNE 30

CHICAGO, IL

SocialismConference.org

Register here! Early bird rates end May 29!

For more than 160 years, socialists have looked to the Marxist tradition for a theoretical understanding of society, an analysis of capitalism and its crises, and the vision of society anew on the basis of democracy, equality and freedom. With the continued economic crisis and rising inequality, more and more people are looking for alternatives to capitalism. Socialism 2013 has many workshops on the Marxist tradition, history, questions in Marxist theory, and how socialists can use those principles as a guide for changing society. 

City Branch Meeting, 2013-05-23: System Change, Not Climate Change

The Rochester City Branch of the International Socialist Organization meets every Thursday at 7:00 PM in room MC-1 of the Miller Center at 25 Gibbs St, across from Java's in downtown Rochester

Capitalism is in fundamental conflict with the biosphere, and this fact has to inform our strategy of combating climate change. We can’t afford to wait for Obama and the Democrats to take action on climate change themselves, because they won’t. That’s up to us.

City-branch Meeting 04/18: Right of Nations to Self-Determination

Update: In light of the recent attacks in Boston, instead of the second point on "Why Socialists Defend Palestine",
Branch Committee has proposed a discussion of Islamophobia and the Socialist Analysis of Terrorism.

Preparatory readings include

• http://socialistworker.org/2013/04/17/the-medias-prejudiced-lens
• Shaun Harkin: "Marxism versus terrorism"
  http://socialistworker.org/2012/05/30/marxism-versus-terrorism
• Leon Trotsky: "Why Marxists Oppose Individual Terrorism"
  (source article referenced in article above, super short)
  http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1911/11/tia09.htm
• Paul D'Amato: "The greater terror of U.S. power" (an SW vintage cut)
  http://socialistworker.org/2004-1/493/493_09_GreaterTerror.shtml
• The Boston bombing produces familiar and revealing reactions
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/16/boston-marathon-explosions-notes-reactions

 
The meeting of the Rochester city branch of the International Socialist Organization for today, April 18 will be at its usual time and location of 7;00pm at the Miller Center, room MC-1, on Gibbs St., across from Java's.

The meeting will include brief presentations followed by discussion on the following topics:

1) "The Right of Nations to Self-Determination"

Suggested reading: http://socialistworker.org/2013/01/18/right-to-self-determination

2)  "Why Socialists Defend Palestine"

Suggested reading (and talk):

• Talk by Sherry Wolfe at Socialism 2012: http://wearemany.org/v/2012/06/israels-apartheid-state
• Part of a interview transcription on the BDS campaign: http://socialistworker.org/2013/02/07/we-wont-be-silenced-about-israel

SlutWalk RIT

 "I've been told I'm not supposed to say this, however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized."

These were the words spoken by Constable Michael Sanguinetti of the Toronto Police while giving a presentation on safety at York University in 2011. In response to this upwards of 3,000 people flooded the streets of Toronto and marched on the police headquarters carrying signs and singing chants that demanded an end to victim blaming and slut shaming. This sparked similar movements all around the US and international community, collectively called SlutWalks.

SlutWalks provide a grounds for women and men to take a united stand against a perverse culture that blames victims instead of rapists. They also present the opportunity to introduce a dialogue on the realities of sexual violence and spark action to challenge the backwards status quo. The movement aims to give a voice to those survivors of sexual assault who have fallen through the cracks of our system and for whom justice was not attained.

Friday, April 19, 2013, 11:30am.  Meet at the RIT Sundial.

 

RSVP on Facebook

 

Ecosocialism Conference

Rochester ISO will be attending the EcoSocialist Conference in New York City on April 20.

If you're planning to go and would like to join our carpool, email iso.rochester@gmail.com or call 585-MUST-ISO (585-687-8476).