13) YOUTH FESTIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA

(The following article is from the March 1-15, 2010 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, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

The 17th World Youth Festival, the largest gathering of democratic, progressive and anti-imperialist youth around the world, will be held in December 2010 in South Africa. The World Federation of Democratic Youth has announced the decision following a special General Council meeting in Beirut.

     "We view this as very positive and exciting," Johan Boyden, General Secretary of the Young Communist League of Canada (YCL), told People's Voice. "Well over 10,000 young people are expected to gather for this festival which promises to be a powerful expression of the anti-imperialist, anti-fascist and anti-colonialist struggles led by youth, and this year's largest and the most significant political, cultural, broad-based mass international event organized by world's progressive and democratic youth and students forces."

     2010 is the 20th anniversary of the release of historic freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, as well as the decriminalization of the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party. The decision comes after lengthy consideration and debate about the location of the Festival.

     WFDY noted the "historical background of anti-apartheid struggle, the current process of transformation lived in the whole country (and the unity of all youth movement), and the fact that never in sub-Saharan Africa there was the opportunity to organize a WFYS, led to us decide that, in this moment, the most appropriate venue for the 17th WFYS is South Africa."

     Boyden noted that the YCL Central Committee strongly supports the organization of a diverse festival committee, reflective of the youth movement across Canada including Quebec and Aboriginal youth. "We think a number of allies and other youth organizations will be very enthused to work on this festival despite some potential conflicts with the timing for us," he said referring to the December date for the Festival. "But youth in the South have been overcoming these problems for sixty-five years, so I think we'll be able to as well."

     The WFDY also recently passed statements on the situation of the youth struggles in Greece, unfair sanctions against Eritrea, and the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. "WFDY calls for sports to cherish fair-play and cooperation and promote peace, internationalism and solidarity - not militarism, elitism and consumerism" the statement said.

     The next issue of People's Voice will carry more information about the Beirut meeting and Festival organizing.