Respect get sent to Siberia!

[mk12]

if, what they say is true, and respect's ranks have swelled beyond 10,000. This would equate to 1,000 delegates at the conference, plus observers, plus stewards and officials and the like, this would put expected attendence at the conference at at least 1,200.

it therefore surprises me to see that they have only booked a hall that caters for around 800 people

Still, 8,000 is good too.

 

[Pickman's model]

Was that a claim by Respect then?

shurely "for".

 

[mk12]

Sorry.

For was that a claim by Respect then?

 

[Pickman's model]

it had obviously emanated from the ruc...

 

[oisleep]

Still, 8,000 is good too.

800 people in a hall, not all of them delegates, getting less and less all the time

 

[flimsier]

that's a lie - i tried to find out and was never told, i know far more about the finances than i did as a member (and branch committee member)

But you were also the only person I've ever known to be a member for a substantial amount of time and never see a pre-conference bulletin!

 

[mk12]

800 people in a hall, not all of them delegates, getting less and less all the time

"A sinking ship", as some comrades once said.

 

[Pickman's model]

But you were also the only person I've ever known to be a member for a substantial amount of time and never see a pre-conference bulletin!

were you ever been sent a pre-conference bulletin when you were a member of the ruc?

 

[mk12]

Yeah flimsier, were you ever been sent one or not?

 

[Pickman's model]

Yeah flimsier, were you ever been sent one or not?

please desist from this unseemly agreeing with what i post.

 

[flimsier]

were you ever been sent a pre-conference bulletin when you were a member of the ruc?

What does this mean?

RnB was talking about when he was a member of the SWP, so why are you talking about RESPECT, as I presume you are?

Weirdo.

 

[mk12]

Respect, SWP front, basically the same etc etc...

 

[Pickman's model]

What does this mean?

RnB was talking about when he was a member of the SWP, so why are you talking about RESPECT, as I presume you are?

Weirdo.

i'll take that as a 'no' then.

 

[flimsier]

i'll take that as a 'no' then.

Take it as a 'can you explain your question?'

 

[Pickman's model]

Take it as a 'can you explain your question?'

yes, i can.

 

[flimsier]

There was only one conference, and I received the agenda. The motions I received on arrival. I wasn't actually a member, because it hadn't been created (it was the founding conference), so I presume that merits a Yes.

What's the question got to do with my point to RednBlack though?

 

[Pickman's model]

There was only one conference, and I received the agenda. The motions I received on arrival. I wasn't actually a member, because it hadn't been created (it was the founding conference), so I presume that merits a Yes.

What's the question got to do with my point to RednBlack though?

nothing really, i was just curious.

 

[flimsier]

yes, i can.

Editing your question after I've replied to it to try and make yourself look witty actually looks a bit forced and fake.

Stop being weird.

 

[Pickman's model]

let's not let the facts get in the way of a good scrap, eh?

i edited it before you posted your reply.

 

[flimsier]

Editing your question to try and make yourself look witty actually looks a bit forced and fake.

Stop being weird.

I don't believe you did. Nonetheless if that is true, the above quote stands as true.

 

[Pickman's model]

I don't believe you did. Nonetheless if that is true, the above quote stands as true.

no, i edited it because i reread the question in your post to which i was replying, and posted the answer you're question was looking for, rather than one it wasn't.

as a teacher i would hope you occasionally remind your pupils that it is a good idea to read the question - something i, now and again, find useful.

 

[Pickman's model]

anyway, this is most likely the reason the ruc have despatched a delegation to siberia

 

[Nigel Irritable]

if, what they say is true, and respect's ranks have swelled beyond 10,000.

You are forgetting that Respect membership involves much the same level of commitment as joining New Labour or the Tories. Sign a bit of paper and bung them a fiver and you will be counted as a member until they get around to recounting some time in the distant future. That's not an insult, it's just a different definition of membership than that used by most of the far left.

If they haven't managed to sign up 5,000 plus on that kind of basis I would be very surprised indeed. Shocked in fact.

 

[Fisher_Gate]

I'm mildly surprised that no one has mentioned the organisation organising this visit and inviting Respect - IPROG, the Institute for Globalization Studies in Moscow. IF you read its web-site you'll see that its specific purpose is to link up with organisations of the Left in the West on problems affecting Russia caused by global capitalism.

http://www.iprog.ru/en/history/

Its director is Boris Kagarlitsky - who was a long time dissident from the left under the stalinist regime. He is the author of numerous books on socialism in Russia and one of the intellectual leaders of the 'democratic left' in Russia.

Now I may be mistaken, but I always thought BP stood for British Petroleum. If IPROG is concerned about their activity in Siberia, it hardly comes as a surprise that they should seek to link up with the british socialist organisation that has an MP in parliament who has been prominent on the world stage on anti-globalisation.

It seems to me that links between IPROG and Respect are entirely legitimate in a situation where british capitalism is causing global problems, so the invitation gives me no cause for concern, in fact I welcome it. I've no idea how the delegation is funded but I am sure that there is a good argument for seeing the situation first hand. Environmental issues are often caused by capitalism and existing environmental organisations rarely focus on the capitalist basis, and on socialist solutions. It is this that IPROG are looking for and in linking up with Respect I think they have made a wise choice. From Respect's point of view being able to raise the problems caused by British companies abroad from the platform of the House of Commons is surely a 'good thing', that I would have thought others in the green and socialist movement would welcome, though the cynicism and sneering of some Brits never ceases to amaze me.

 

[oisleep]

if respect were sending a team that were scientific experts on the issue then i wouldn't have so much of a problem with what they are doing, what i can't understand though is the benefit that they will get from spending thousands of pounds to send non-experts like guy taylor. Why couldn't they have spent those thousands campaigning in Britain against this where the company, it's head office, and most of it's executive is based, why go all the way to siberia then the duma to moan about a british company

and what they fuck is this british socialist organisation you speak off?

 

[rednblack]

british socialist organisation that has an MP in parliament who has been prominent on the world stage on anti-globalisation.

what socialist organisation? respect may have socialist in it's name, but so did nsdap...

 

[oisleep]

and have they told the SSP they are british?

 

[Chuck Wilson]

You are a shaodw of your former self. Cheryl is a bit of all right though. How did you recruit her?

This is my former self , the former self you talk about never existed . I can never be what you want me to be.

Cheryl? She has not exactly accepted the inviatation yet as the letter is still on the hall table waiting for a stamp which I will buy as soon as some of this urgent appeal starts rolling in.

 

[Ryazan]

I was talking about your comedy triumphs on these boards. You are faltering a bit. Got to keep on the top of your game mate.

 

[Pickman's model]

i see that the ruc delegation was only supposed to spend 2 days in siberia and then scamper back to moscow for a press conference.

does anyone know if their sojourn in siberia has - as i hope - been prolonged?