BY MARIA ISABEL LEBLANC AND CARLOS CATALÁN
MONTREAL - Over the past few weeks there's been real progress here in building the contingent for the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students. Thousands of young people will meet this summer in Havana between July 28 and August 5 to discuss and debate issues such as the economy, environment, imperialism, women's rights, and culture.

Young people building the Quebec delegation set up tables on campuses to invite as many people as possible to participate. Many members of the National Preparatory Committee (NPC) in Quebec first heard about the festival through information kiosks on campuses or saw leaflets advertising one of the four public meetings that the NPC has organized over the past months.

During one of the public meetings, a young Chilean women explained that she and her band were going to Cuba this summer because they wanted to sing at the International Festival of Political Song, to be held at the same time as the youth festival. They want to take advantage of that event to protest the economic blockade Washington has imposed on the Cuban people for more than 35 years.

At a public meeting May 12, Miriam Monfide Jones, who was part of a voluntary work brigade to Nicaragua last winter, said she would attend the youth festival "because I want to break my political isolation and meet other fighters from around the world." She also explained that she wanted to learn more about the Cuban Revolution.

Young people who plan to attend the festival come from different backgrounds: some of them were part of struggles like student strikes against cutbacks, the fight for Quebec independence, and defense of gay and lesbian rights while others have done voluntary work in Cuba. The NPC in Quebec also includes organizations like the federations of university and junior college students in Quebec, who plan to send scores of students; the Quebec-Cuba Brigade, which will bring a group of 40 young people who will do voluntary work in the fields before the Festival; community centers; and political organizations such as the Communist Party of Quebec, the Young Socialists, and the Communist League in Canada. The NPC is open to all groups or individuals who want to be part of the gathering, except fascist, sexist, and racist organizations. As of mid-May, 29 people had registered.

Every week, the committee holds a meeting to discuss the next steps to get others to the festival. On May 9, seven new people showed up to the NPC meeting and jumped into the different committees that have been set up. Fund- raising possibilities include a car-wash, organizing a party, and making T-shirts to sell.

A group of students at the University of Montreal also plan to make a documentary on the Festival. Several young people said they would be available to do translation during the conferences.

The delegation also decided to launch a humanitarian aid campaign in Quebec that will aim to bring as many bicycles as they can when they fly to Cuba.

From Montreal, the cost for the festival is CAN$750. That price includes airfare, food, housing, and local transportation. Applications are due by May 30, with a Can$15 registration fee.

For more information contact the NCP in Quebec:
World Festival of Youth and Students:

P.O. Box 8888, station: Centre-Ville

Montreal, Quebec

Room J-M850, C.P. H3C 3P8 at UQAM

Tel: (514)987-3000 extension 6727 or (514)523-5496.

fax: (514)987-0239

E-mail: sshal@nobel.si.uqam.ca

For information elsewhere in Canada, call the Preparatory Committee of Canada at Tel: (204) 783-0787 Fax: (204) 783-7080.

Maria Isabel Le Blanc and Carlos Catalán are both members of the Young Socialists in Montreal.  
 
 
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