Twenty three years after the event, the fact that the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster are still fighting for justice is an indictment of the justice system in this country and reflects an utter disregard for the plight and dignity of working class people on the part of the authorities, a section of the media, and the police.

These violent protests and scenes of uncontained anger are not only in reaction to a bigoted, anti-Islamic film. They are the latest manifestation of a world in which the doctrine of might is right is lent legitimacy by the word democracy.

On October 7 the Venezuelan people go to the polls to elect a government. The contest has come down to a straight contest between the present incumbent Hugo Chavez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), and Capriles Radonski and his Roundtable for Democratic Unity coalition (MUD).