C A M B R I D G E   U N I V E R S I T Y

Respect was born out of the anti-war movement in 2003, and is already the UK's fastest growing political party. We're for all those people who think that another world is possible, built on peace, equality, and justice, and not war, oppression, and greed. Find out more at www.respectcoalition.org.

CU Respect was set up in 2005, and holds talks and events to inform, engage and inspire students to help build a better world. Join the mailing list, here or to find out more, email us. See below for details on our events.

 

RESPECT MEANS...

• An end to the war and occupation in Iraq. We will not join any further imperialist wars.

• An end to all privatisation and the bringing back into democratic public ownership of the railways and other public services.

• An education system that is not dependent on the ability to pay, that is comprehensive and gives an equal chance in life to every child no matter how wealthy or poor their parents, from nursery to university.

• A publicly owned and funded, democratically controlled NHS, free to all users.

• Pensions that are linked to average earnings.

• Raising the minimum wage to the European Union Decency threshold of £7.40 an hour.

• Tax the rich to fund welfare and to close the growing gap between the poor and the wealthy few.

• The repeal of the Tory anti-union laws.

• Opposition to all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs (or lack of them), sexual orientation, disabilities, national origin or citizenship.

• The defence of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

• Support for the people of Palestine and opposition to the apartheid system that oppresses them.

• An end to the destruction of the environment by states and corporations for whom profit is more important than sustaining the natural world on which all life depends.

Stop Climate Change - Change the World

The Music Room, New Hall College, 7.45pm, Thurs 11th October

Earlier this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of dire consequences if global greenhouse gas emissions were not drastically cut within the next few decades: crop yields could fall by 30% in Asia alone, with Pacific countries likely to suffer dramatically increased risks of flooding. Shockingly, scientists are now warning that these predictions may be too conservative. The WHO estimates that Climate Change has already lead to thousands of deaths world wide in recent years.

Global Climate Change is everyone’s problem; even George Bush has finally recognised that – yet refuses to commit to mandatory cuts in emissions. The British government is ostensibly committed to cut CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050, yet a number of scientists believe this is wholly inadequate.

The big questions remain: How do we achieve the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions? Are carbon credits markets a solution? Is individual action enough?

Jonathan Neale will argue that such measures are wholly inadequate. In order to stop Climate Chaos, we must change the world.

Stop the War Demonstration

Central London, Mon 8th October

A coach will be leaving Cambridge at 11am to take people to the demonstration called to coincide with the return of MPs from their summer break. Tickets for the bus cost £4 for students and can be obtained from Tom Woodcock (0771 2893552) of the Cambridge town branch of Respect. More info on the demonstration, and why it's so important to keep protesting, can be found here.

Tom Woodcock standing in Cambridge council elections

 http://cambridgeelections.blogspot.com/

Tom Woodcock will be standing as a Respect candidate in the Romsey ward of Cambridge for May 2006's council elections. Check out Tom's blog for info on what the local campaign is all about, and to see how things are going. The May elections promise to be a huge turning point for Respect, with the goal of getting councillors across the country and taking control of Tower Hamlets council.

Craig Murray speaks for Stop the War

Latimer Room, Clare College, 8.00pm, Mon 13th March

To build up momentum for March 18th's international day of action against the war in Iraq, Craig Murray will be talking about the brutal truth behind the 'war on terror'. Murray was the UK ambassador to Uzbekistan before being dismissed for drawing attention to the brutal practices of the West's new ally. Craig is currently battling the Foreign Office to have his book of the events published.

Women's Liberation Today

Keynes Hall, King's College, 7.30pm, Thurs 2nd March

An evening with Moira Nolan from Respect, and others, discussing women's liberation today. As we near International Women's Day, we'll be discussing the issue of women's liberation in the modern world. Is pole dancing a sign of liberation and free choice, or simply a symptom of the pervading problem? Why has Britain slipped out of the top 50 countries in the world for women's representation in parliament? Is patriarchy really the problem - and would women today ever burn that bra?

Zionism After Sharon

Keynes Hall, King's College, 7.30pm, Thurs 9th Feb

A talk by John Rose, author of the Myths of Zionism, about the future of Zionism after Ariel Sharon's departure from Israeli politics. The event was jointly organized by CU Respect and CU Palestine Society.

Racism, Islamophobia and Free Speech

Keynes Hall, King's College, 7.30pm, Thurs 23rd Feb

With Weyman Bennett, Chair of Unite Against Fascism

What are the real issues behind the furore over the Danish cartoons? Is this really about a 'clash of civilisations' 'our values against theirs'? Or is it that far more insidious and dangerous thing: Racism? A discussion of the roots of the so-called crisis.
Latin America: Resistance & Revolution

Munby Room, King's College, 7.30pm, Mon 13th Feb

Chris Harman, editor of Socialist Review, will report back from the World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela, and talk about the wider pattern of social and political upheaval across Latin America, following the rise of Chavez, Morales and others. With the US tied up in Iraq, and the seemingly unstoppable march of the left across the continent, does Latin America hold the key to a very different future? Organized by the Socialist Workers' Student Society.