Africa & the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is being exacerbated by the deep-rooted poverty, underdevelopment, and instability which affect the 55 countries and 1.3 billion people of the African continent – a legacy of colonial domination, post-colonial exploitation of people and resources and imperialist economic, political and military interventions today.
How to and how not to deal with a pandemic, COVID-19 and US imperialism.
In recent months the COVID-19 virus has taken the world by storm. The virus has also tested every country it has touched. It has revealed just how murderous the bourgeoisie is, Engels coined the term ‘social murder’, claiming that “when [capitalists] force workers in a condition that knowingly leads to death, it should be called what it […]
YCL: Tory negligence has killed tens of thousands; the drive for profit risks millions
The Young Communist League has issued an updated statement on the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) in response to yesterday’s (10 May 2020) government announcement attacking lockdown protections.
Coronavirus in the developing world and the flaws of pandemic bonds
The worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have so far been limited to developed or relatively developed nations. But as the spread of the disease continues at breakneck speed, questions have begun to emerge about the capacity of healthcare systems to cope with the outbreaks. The numbers are staggering and medical equipment to deal with the respiratory effects caused by the virus are in short supply even in the most advanced countries.
Protest graffiti on the rise across lockdown Britain
Across Britain in recent weeks people have been finding all manner of ways to cope with being cooped up inside for hours on end – that is, if you are one of the majority that is stringently observing the government’s lockdown rules. But in an interesting series of events, Challenge has received a number of […]
Rent waivers violate ‘human rights’ says Labour MP
Labour MP Clive Betts told renters union ACORN that rent waivers risked violating “Human Rights” yesterday (May 6th 2020). Mr Betts who is Chair of Select Housing Committee made this statement in a response to a letter from ACORN seeking greater protection for renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crisis destroys any pretence of humanitarianism under Capitalism
Covid-19 has done many things in a relatively short period of time. It has removed the thin veil of ‘eternally generating profit’, destroyed any semblance of solidarity within the confines of the European Union, highlighted the advantages of state-controlled economy, as well as showing the roots of fascism and authoritarianism in capitalist crisis. Like any […]
Care Worker MP sacked for speaking out
Former care worker and Labour MP Nadia Whittome revealed today (May 6th 2020) that she had lost her job at Nottinghamshires’s Lark Hill retirement village for speaking out about a lack of PPE. The MP for Nottingham East, who returned to work at the care home a month ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that she was told on Tuesday (May 5th 2020) she would no longer be given shifts due to her comments.
Hancock tells Doctor MP to watch her ‘tone’
Health Secretary Matt Hancock instructed Labour MP and A&E doctor Rosena Allin-Khan to watch her “tone” in during an exchange in Parliament today (5 May 2020).
During the Health and Social Care Questions session Dr Allin-Khan alleged that the government’s testing strategy was “non-existent” and that “testing figures are now being manipulated” after it emerged uncompleted tests were being counted towards the government’s 100,000 tests a day figure.
Wales: Mixed Response to Covid-19
The Welsh National Health Service should be applauded for playing a leading role in Britain’s coronavirus treatment programme by extracting Covid-19 convalescent plasma from healthy blood to help patients develop immunity by providing antibodies to combat the virus.
In the same breath, Welsh Labour and Tory ministers in Westminster should be ridiculed for neglecting to act on the cross-government UK pandemic drill, Exercise Cygnus, which took place in October 2016 and accurately concluded that the NHS would be plunged into an enormous crisis by the outbreak of a highly infectious and deadly strain of influenza.
