At a time of very significant public sector spending cuts it is interesting to note that research undertaken by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) shows that these cuts are falling more heavily on those with low incomes than other groups. The IFS is Britain's leading independent institute on public finances and tax and has no party political affiliation. Further details can be found at http://www.ifs.org.uk

Another recent report entitled ‘Keeping the Plates Spinning' (http://consumerfocus.org.uk) on payday lending illustrates that those with few or no alternatives always pay more interest than those with greater means. Payday lending comprises of a small loan (£100 - £1,000) advanced until the next payday (usually a month). Charges are fixed at a fee per £100 and loans can generally be extended each month by paying this fee or can be repaid in full. According to Consumer Focus, which commissioned the report, the number of people using payday loans has quadrupled in the last four years to 1.2 million with £1 billion lent in 2009 alone by around seven major companies. It noted average annual percentage rates of 2,500%.

Can you help to support a delegate from some of the world’s poorest Movements to take part in the World Assembly?

Later in the year we will be launching an appeal to ask for donations to help enable delegates from Movements around the world to attend this meeting in 2009. It’s really important that a world assembly is just that and not only a gathering of those Movements who can afford to send someone.

Perhaps you could start now! May be putting aside each week for the next 2 months the price of a cup of coffee, or tea, or a glass of wine or pint of beer, possibly a bar of chocolate, a packet of sweets or the cost of a newspaper or magazine. You may even have some small change left over from a previous holiday and as we all know every penny or cent does count and you can be assured that.

We know it is a hard time currently for us all every penny with food, petrol and house fuel bills rising contributed will be seemingly day by day. However, we would appreciated. ask that you could see your way to helping us help others.

Emma Goldman (1869-1940) a Lithuanian born American international anarchist is often credited with coining the above title phrase which Ken Livingston years later used for his book "If voting changed anything they'd abolish it" (1988).

This sentiment reflects a left wing critique of liberal parliamentary democratic systems. It argues that such systems do not bring about any real structural change in the distribution of income and wealth and as a consequence political power and influence continues to rest with an economic and political elite.

Recent global events would appear to give some credence to such a critique. The current economic system puts profits for a small elite before the collective need of the whole community especially the most disadvantaged members. In a report entitled ‘Unequal Britain'1 Professor Peter Hills shows in stark terms the outcome of the obsession with the free market; ‘Britain's richest 10% are now 100 times better off than the poorest'.