03) YOUTH OF CANADA AND THE WORLD HEADING TO ECUADOR

 

PV Youth Bureau

 

            Mobilizing continues to forge ahead for the 18th World Festival of Youth and Students. The largest gathering of anti‑imperialist youth in the world will assemble in Quito, Ecuador this December 7‑14. Youth from across Canada are now busy fundraising and making the necessary plans to attend. Developments on the international arena point to the event being a site of real friendship and solidarity among the peoples.

 

Ecuadorian‑Colombian youth talk peace

 

            In early October organizers held an Ecuador‑Colombia Bi‑National Meeting in Pasto, a city near the border between the two countries and in the shadow of the giant Galeras volcano. Despite the difficult conditions for progressive forces in Colombia, where upwards of 200 trade unionists are killed in a year, a large delegation is expected at the festival from that country.

 

            The Pasto meeting, which filled a university auditorium, discussed common concerns of the youth in the two countries and building for the festival. Workshops and other events were also held over the course of a weekend addressing themes of democracy, land and territory, and the concerns of high school and university students.

 

            At the 2005 16th WFYS in Caracas, Venezuela, Colombia sent a delegation of over 500 youth. On return, most of the delegation was detained and arrested at the border. Then‑President Uribe of Colombia reportedly accused of the youth on national television of plotting insurrection.

 

            Clearly setting a different tone from that of the Festival's ultra‑right detractors, the Colombian‑Ecuadorian meeting in Pasto concluded a symbolic march "for unity of the youth involved to peace and a better world."

 

IOC now in Ecuador

 

            Also reflecting the internationalist spirit of solidarity was the installation of the WFYS International Organizing Committee, elected at the third world‑wide organizing meeting held in India. The IOC arrived in Ecuador in late October to begin its work of political and logistical coordination before the event.

 

            The IOC includes representatives of Preparatory Committees from over 20 countries, including Nepal, Korea, Vietnam, Namibia, South Africa, Western Sahara, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and the OCLEA (Organization of Caribbean and Latin America Students). The composition gives a truly international character to the festival.

 

            One of the IOC's biggest jobs will be coordinating the political programme of the festival. Already announced topics for the major conferences include a wide‑range of topics reflecting the main slogan of the festival, "for peace, solidarity and social transformation."

 

            The initial schedule will feature major opening and closing ceremonies, show‑casing Ecuador. Other days will be themed around each of five global regions: Asia and the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.

 

            Sports and cultural events include a photo exhibit, an anti-imperialist film festival, a marathon, and a soccer match.

Conference, seminar and workshop titles include subjects like Foreign Military Bases, Military alliances and Demilitarization and Peace agreements; Youth unemployment in Europe; Palestine: the Zionist occupation, Apartheid wall, danger of settlements, and the detainees in the Israeli jails.

 

            Other topics touch on issues like Patents and concentration of knowledge, science and technology; Sexual and reproductive rights, Gender Equality; the Peace Process in Colombia; and Natural resources: in the hands of monopolies or in the hands of the peoples?

 

Ecuadorian organizing

 

            The local Ecuadorian Committee has sent out three promotion teams doing an effective marathon of publicity across the country. The teams are named after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the historic liberator of Ecuador Eloy Alfaro, and Transito Amaguana, a female indigenous rights activist and socialist. They will bring the banner of the festival to all cities and most large towns in the coastal, Andean and Amazonian regions of the bio-diverse country.

 

            The local host Ecuadorian Committee is using creative ideas like holding a song contest by young progressive musicians. The winners will perform their music at the festival.

 

            The Ecuadorian Committee has also released a flashy new website, with lots of information although exclusively in Spanish. The site is linked from the Pan‑Canadian website, www.18wfys.tumblr.com

 

Canadian organizing grows

 

            The Pan‑Canadian Festival Committee is busy purchasing airline tickets. At the time of press, the Festival Committee was scrambling to finalize the details of bulk‑buy ticket rate with significant discounts through a Latin American Airline, Drew Garvie told People's Voice.

 

            "We are seeing growing interest, and emails coming in almost every other day," Garvie said. "While we have a core delegation for whom we are fundraising, the Canadian delegation can still include many more people if they are interested."

 

            There are at least 30 confirmed delegates, and anywhere between 50 and 100 people expected. Garvie, who represents the Young Communist League on the Festival Committee, is co‑chair with Raphaella Weissgerber, a Vancouver-based youth and community activist.

 

            Local committees are also moving into fundraising mode. Montreal held a fundraiser garage sale earlier in October, while Vancouver is holding a Scary‑oke Karaoke night for Halloween. Similar events like raffles, bottle‑drives, and fundraising appeal letters are happening in places like Winnipeg, Guelph, Ottawa and Halifax.

 

            Supporters in the trade union movement are urging other labour and progressive groups to help. "We've made a donation to the Kamloops delegation, but more importantly, we wish to encourage more young people to consider making the trip to this great event," the Kamloops District Labour Council President Peter Kerek said in an open letter from the KDLC endorsing the festival.

 

            In Toronto, festival delegates are planning a special night of entertainment and dinner on Oct. 26 at the Greek‑Canadian Democratic Organization Hall, 290 Danforth Ave.

 

            And in Vancouver, the annual Revolution Dinner on Nov. 16 sponsored by the Centre for Socialist Education will be a fundraiser for Festival delegates. (See the ad on page 3 for details, or call 604-254-9836.)

 

            To make a donation, send cheques to the Marty Skup Memorial Fund c/o S. Skup, Treasurer, 56 Riverwood Terrace, Bolton, ON, L7E 1S4. For more information, visit www.18wfys.tumblr.com or write 18wfys.canada@gmail.com.

 

 

(The above article is from the November 1-15, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)