Political Page

Following are links to organizations and publications (as opposed to individuals) centrally concerned with the relations between power and the citizen. Between them they give a very wide range of further links to similar organizations.

Adbusters
Brilliantly subversive North American organization using the very tools of consumer capitalism (publishing, graphic design, etc.) against the ideology itself. Adbusters publishes a quarterly magazine as well as running, along with the highly effective website, anti-consumerist campaigns, 'un-commercials' and 'spoof ads', etc.

Amnesty International
Needs no introduction. The website has a vast amount of information, and so is essential to bear in mind.

Anarchy
'Your guide to anarchy on the web' - and an excellent one at that.

Attac
"A group linking citizens, associations, trade unions and newspapers founded ATTAC in France on June 3rd, 1998 around the platform. The idea for this initiative came from an editorial article written by Ignacio Ramonet: 'Disarm the markets', published in Le Monde diplomatique in December 1997. The French association later contributed towards the birth of the international movement ATTAC, while working with numerous partners in the world." Well organized and informative website published in French and English.

Centre for Research on Globalisation
"The Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG) is an independent research and media group of progressive writers, scholars and activists committed to curbing the tide of 'globalisation' and 'disarming' the New World Order. The CRG webpage based in Montréal publishes news articles, commentary, background research and analysis on a broad range of issues, focussing on the interrelationship between social, economic, strategic, geopolitical and environmental processes."

Charter 88
A pressure group for open government and democracy, proportional representation, written constitution and bill of rights etc. Interestingly, apart from its being a not-for-profit limited company, it seems to be hard to find out about its own structure and an e-mail sent via its site has not received a reply.

CorporateWatch
'Corporate Watch is a radical research and publishing group, based in Oxford, UK. It was set up in late 1996 to support activism against large corporations, particularly multinationals.' The extensive website is packed with useful information, including back numbers of the magazine and an excellent guide on how to research companies, etc.

The Equality Trust
Founded on Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's book The Spirit Level, this organization advocates equality as the principal means of promoting social and individual health and well-being.

European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP)
Does exactly what it says: lots of information on users' and survivors organizations Europe-wide.


Human Rights Watch
US-based organization with extensive and informative website. "Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all."

Independent Media Centre
This is the UK branch of a world-wide 'network of media activists and organizations offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues'. The organization is non-hierarchical and it is open to anyone to publish reports (text, audio, video) on the site. 'Through this system of 'Direct Media', Indymedia erodes the dividing line between reporters and reported, between active producers and passive audience: people are enabled to speak for themselves'.

Keep Our NHS Public
Campaign to oppose the creeping privatization of the British National Health Service.

Le Monde Diplomatique
This is the website of the well known French monthly publication. What is so to be appreciated about Le Monde Diplomatique is the combination of political commitment, intellectual quality and clarity - it manages to avoid becoming choked in academic verbiage while maintaining the highest standards of informativeness and (in the best sense) objectivity. The website contains a lot of information as well as links to English editions, etc.

New Internationalist
Very readable monthly publication giving in-depth analyses of global issues from a red-green point of view. The website has loads of links to relevant political organizations.

Oikos
This is principally a 'psychological' site featuring a constructivist approach to psychology and psychotherapy. It is packed with information about related approaches and has very useful links to radical psychology and anti-psychiatry sites.

People's Global Action
An association of groups world-wide to combat the globalization of trade.

Public Citizen
Centrally focussed on consumer issues in the US, there is nevertheless a lot of uselful information here concerning the machinations of and resistance to corporate power.

Red Pepper
Interesting lefty monthly magazine. The Directory on its website has a lot of useful links. You can order a free copy of the magazine from the site, but if you're like me you won't get one.

Trans-National Institute (TNI)
'TNI is an international network of activist-scholars concerned to analyse and find viable solutions to such global problems as: militarism and conflict, poverty and marginalisation, social injustice, environmental degradation.' Access to the fruits of their labours can be gained via this site.

War on Want
Militant charity that, among other things, sets its sites on corporate globalization. "War on Want exists because in the developing world there is a need. The need is for solidarity not charity. For a hand-up not a hand-out. For an end to the root causes of poverty not just its symptoms” Roy Hattersley, Vice President, War on Want.
' Set up in 1951 by Harold Wilson and Victor Gollancz, War on Want was at the cutting edge of international campaigning and practical solidarity. We still are. We help people find their own solutions and campaign against the root causes of poverty. In the struggle to end exploitation and oppression War on Want is on the front-line, challenging the powerful and helping the dispossessed fight back. We are not afraid to take risks. Our campaigns against formula baby milk, drug companies and high street banks, our funding of trade union projects, and our part in fighting Apartheid, were all highly controversial at the time. We’ve made it easier for others to be radical.'

World Socialist Website
Hearteningly 'old-fashioned' socialist site with penetrating and informative analyses of the current world political and economic situation as well as articles on the arts, science, philosophy, etc.

This page last updated 12.11.09

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