On Wednesday March 12th some 18 students and visitors met in the Wolverhampton University Students Union building to discuss the topic "Capitalism in Crisis - More of the Same or Revolution?." 

The meeting had been organised by a comrade from Austria with help from other students and with the sanction of the Students Union. Posters and leaflets had been distributed and the turnout exceeded all expectations as this was the first meeting of its kind at the University organised by students who wanted to set up a socialist society.

The discussion was led off by Darrall Cozens from the Hands off Venezuela campaign. He explained the nature of the credit crunch and liquidity crisis that was now affecting the capitalist world, how this crisis was endemic in the nature of capitalism with the circulation of fictitious capital in the form of uncontrolled credit and how around the world movements were taking place that were seeking a socialist alternative to the anarchy of capitalism where the needs of people would be put before the needs of profit. In particular he paid attention to the developments in Pakistan, Cyprus and of course Venezuela.

With students in the audience from Cyprus, Kurdistan and different ethnic backgrounds in Britain, as well as some members of the Tory Party and the Lib dems, there was a lively discussion after the lead off.

All agreed that the meeting had been very worthwhile and many of those present committed themselves to organising another gathering before the end of the academic year. Hands off Venezuela was making its second appearance in Wolverhampton after having been invited a few years ago to the May Day rally organised by the Trades Council. More meetings will follow.

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