RICHARD WOLFF
Recently back from Europe, Wolff is author of the book Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About It. He said today: “Today’s general strike across France represents a major escalation of mass opposition to governments seeking to make the mass of people pay for the economic crisis and the immense costs of government bailouts of financial corporations. All six French national union federations united to make this statement of no confidence in the Sarkozy government.

“Across Europe, from the UK to Spain to Greece, France, Germany, and beyond, mass mobilizations of workers, students, retirees, and others are marching in the streets against the austerity plans of their governments. General strikes and demonstrations are scheduled in September culminating in the all-European day of action on September 29. They demand an end to firings of public employees, raising the age of retirement, cutting public services, and raising government fees and taxes charged to average people.”

Wolff is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In June and July he gave a series of talks in Europe, including at the University of Athens and University of Paris, meeting with many of the people organizing the protests.

He is currently a visiting professor in the Graduate Program for International Affairs at the New School University in New York City. Video of his talk “Capitalism Hits the Fan” is available at CapitalismHitsTheFan.com.

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167