YCL BC eBulletin - December 2009

The December 2009 eBulletin can be viewed here

E-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca to subscribe.

On the State of BC Electoral Politics

YCL BC Executive Committee
November 25, 2010

British Columbians were recently pleasantly surprised when, in an obvious attempt to put the brakes on a popularity free fall, the BC Liberals forced the resignation of their leader, Premier Gordon Campbell. While trying to shake the scandal of undemocratically instating the HST payout to big business this government has publicly flogged and booted the Energy Minister, Bill Bennet, for being critical of the failing regime. But cracks are showing in other areas of Liberal policy, including the question of BCs shameful $8 minimum wage. While we welcome the resignation of the Premier, the firing of the minister, and the possibility of a minimum wage increase, this must not be used as a way to divert public attention from the lies and failings of the BC Liberal government. Full, complete, and immediate, resignation of the entire government is the only remedy to the political problems facing BC.

Meanwhile, the opposition BC NDP has begun to prepare for election. But the division around the leadership of Carole James has broken out into a public fight. While it is not our place to advise our NDP sisters and brothers on who ought to lead their party, we do express concern with James' moves to distance the NDP from labour and to reach out to business. We reject the politics of "fairness" between business and labour and maintain that one cannot represent both the working people and their bosses. Two NDP MLAs have left that party recently, Bob Simpson and Katrine Conroy, in public protest over the unwillingness to hold a leadership convention. We hope for a strong, united, NDP with progressive policies going in to the next election. The danger from the right is too great to risk.

This danger comes not only in the form of the disintegrating Liberal Party which is struggling to find legitimacy in the wake of its own collapse, but also in the increased popularity of both the BC Conservative Party and the BC First Party, both of which have been given increasing media attention in recent weeks. These parties represent the same backwards, big-business interests as the Liberals and will undoubtedly continue their anti-worker, anti-youth, anti-student offensive.

The Young Communist League re-iterates its call for resignation or recall of the BC Liberals. We reject wholeheartedly the Conservative and BC First Parties. Our schools, ours hospitals, our libraries, our collective agreements; our province and everything that working people have fought for in BC are at is at stake. It's time for progressives across the province to unite and ensure that every pro-corporate candidate is defeated in the next election so that our province can begin down a new path. It's up to us as workers, you, and students, to stand up before, during, and after that election and actively make sure that our interests are looked after - no matter what government takes power. The economic hardship of Canada's lowest minimum wage, highest child poverty, and increasing barriers to education must be stopped or BC is in trouble for a generation to come.

Drop the 2010 Olympic Legacy of Poverty!

Young Communist League – BC Executive Committee

On November 17th it was announced that Millennium Water, the developer responsible for the 2010 Olympic Village, had gone into receivership. This means the value of the frivolous of excessive high-cost condos will be shouldered by the people of British Columbia. Yet another blow to B.C., the fightback must advance to block the further misuse of tax money.

British Columbians cannot shoulder the $750 million dollars for this housing, most of which is out of the reach of regular working people. The Young Communist League demands that corporate taxes be raised to cover the cost of the housing, and the project be transitioned into low-cost units for working class, low-income families.

Furthermore, corporate income tax should bare the complete burden of all low income housing. Dedicated homes for students must be provided at no cost for a truly accessible education system. Instead of paying out for the 2010 Olympic Circus, money must be used to fund real people and their immediate needs.

The fate of Millennium Water proves both that the poor planning of the Olympics is going to leave a lasting economic scar on B.C., and that the interests of working people are not being advanced by the Provincial and Vancouver Municipal governments. Now is the time for change, British Columbians cannot wait until the next election to boot out corporate politicians. Affordable, accessible housing now!

Discussion Group Postponed

Tonight's discussion group is postponed. Details of the new date and time will be coming shortly.

Upcoming meeting and discussion group

Historical Materialism Discussion Continued

Part three of our study groups on historical materialism will be November 17th at 7pm at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.). If you couldn't make it for previous parts don't worry you can still catch up! Reading material will be Historical Materialism by Maurice Cornforth chapters 5 and 6.

Read Historical Materialism for free online: http://leninist.biz/en/1971/HM147/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163933273627200&num_event_invites=0


YCL Vancouver Meeting

We will have a meeting of the YCL Vancouver Club on November 27th, at 1130am. It will be held at our office in the Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Dr. The meeting is open to all members of the YCL and those interested in finding out more/getting involved.

Draft Agenda
Roll call
Previous minutes
Membership

Old Business
- World Festival of Youth & Students

Standing Items
- Student movement
- Peace & international solidarity
- Young workers movement
- Rebel Youth
- Culture & Agit-Prop

New Business

- Next meeting
- Next discussion group

Adjourn

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=179823175365609

YCL BC on Gordo's resignation

November 4, 2010
STATEMENT OF THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE - BC PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Young Communist League celebrates today alongside our fellow British Columbians. The resignation of Gordon Campbell, anti-worker, anti-youth Premier, has been a long and hard fought campaign of many. For the exiting Campbell we say, "Good riddance".

Working people in British Columbia may have one less corporate lackey in the Legislature, but the fight continues. The BC Liberal government supported Campbell on each and every draconian labour law to come to the legislature in nearly a decade. Within the government there are those equally committed to advancing the interests of the capitalist class as Campbell was - this cannot be tolerated. Now is the time to increase political activity and block the development of the BC Liberal agenda.

British Columbians shouldn't have to wait for a year to abolish the HST. We say the people have already spoken, abolish the HST now! Youth need increased wages, reduced tuition, and better access to education immediately. The YCL calls for the immediate in-statement of a 16$ minimum wage indexed to inflation. Cost for post-secondary education must be halved including tuition, books, dormitories and rent, and food. Grants must take the place of loans, and all student debt must be cleared. Anti-environment schemes like "run of the river" private power must be canceled.

Simply because Gordon Campbell has left office does not mean that the BC Liberal government will abandon its destructive neo-liberal principles. A new Premier with similar goals and politics is certain to replace him as long as the Liberal Party remains in power. Waiting for the next round of elections to take action will mean the continuation of Campbell's hated policies in the interim. The fight must be in the streets to make the changes necessary, British Columbians must vote with their feet!

Statement by the Communist Party of British Columbia on the resignation of Gordon Campbell

The three terms of the Campbell Liberals have been characterized by implementing the lowest taxes for the wealthy and corporations in North America at the expense of the standard of living, wages and social programs of BC residents. His forced resignation is a compliment to a tenacious and awakened electorate who has had enough.

In his devotion to corporate welfare Gordon Campbell kept the minimum wage at the lowest level in Canada while presiding over an economy where the top ten CEO’s collectively in 2009 earned $70 million dollars. Upon the imbalanced scales of extreme wealth and extreme poverty Gordon Campbell’s weight was always on the side of extreme wealth.

For seven years British Columbia has had the worst child poverty in Canada. After nine years of tuition fee increases BC takes in more from tuition fees than it does from corporate taxation. The massive privatization of Healthcare services, with parallel cutbacks in quality and accessibility, has channeled hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into corporate bank accounts while rolling back healthcare wages 15% and then freezing them at that level.

The Campbell Liberals repeatedly broke election promises that had value to the public and steadfastly adhered to every policy that gave away public resources to private business. They have brought almost every school board in BC into funding crisis that has put 200 schools on the closure list so far. They broke their promise not to privatize BC Rail and in the corrupted bidding process implicated cabinet ministers in a scandal currently hidden behind two scapegoats and a plea bargain that hides the extent and involvement of elected officials in betrayal and corruption.

The Campbell Liberals have gutted the Environmental Assessment Act and created Cabinet powers that overrule municipal by-laws and autonomy to the point that municipalities can only govern if they don’t interfere with corporate interests. They cut the transfer of gambling profits to Charities and the Arts from 33% to 10%. They made massive funding cuts to Women’s Shelters, closed down homeless hostels and cut and slashed their way through almost every social or special needs program in the province.

For Gordon Campbell to whine about a vindictive public and the strain on his family after ruining so many lives is typical of the arrogance and contempt he and his government have exercised. The NDP MLA’s and Party Leader who stroke him on his way out with platitudes about “years of public service” should tell the truth and expose the years of “corporate service” if they don’t want to appear as members of the same club.

Gordon Campbell was not brought down by the parliamentary opposition; he was not brought down by a caucus revolt. He was brought down by massive public rejection of the Liberal Government’s record of lies broken promises and deceit that made it impossible for him to continue. The HST debacle and the transfer of $1.6 billion from the public to the private purse has become the catalyst, the glue of all the diverse forces screaming betrayal. The historic pending referendum is evidence of the public rage.

Gordon Campbell is going, he should be gone and his entire caucus that supported him doggedly should leave with him.

* 30 -

Some November Events to Check Out

1. YCL Vancouver Meeting
2. Historical Materialism Discussion Continued
3. October Revolution Banquet
4. World Peace Forum Teach-In

1. YCL Vancouver Meeting

We will have a meeting of the YCL Vancouver Club on November 9th, at 7pm. It will be held at our office in the Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Dr. The meeting is open to all members of the YCL and those interested in finding out more/getting involved.

Draft Agenda
Roll call
Previous minutes
Membership

Old Business
- World Festival of Youth & Students
- Club elections

Standing Items
- Student movement
- Peace & international solidarity
- Young workers movement
- Rebel Youth
- Culture & Agit-Prop

New Business

Adjourn

http://www.facebook.com/events/create.php?gid=170610470581#!/event.php?eid=162400957127833

2. Historical Materialism Discussion Continued

Part three of our study groups on historical materialism will be November 17th at 7pm at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.). If you couldn't make it for previous parts don't worry you can still catch up! Reading material will be Historical Materialism by Maurice Cornforth chapters 5 and 6.

Read Historical Materialism for free online: http://leninist.biz/en/1971/HM147/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163933273627200&num_event_invites=0

3. October Revolution Banquet

The annual October Revolution Banquet will be held this year on Saturday, November 13th, at the Peretz Centre (6184 Ash St.) in Vancouver. The event will be a celebration of the struggle against fascism and war.

Features will include guest speaker Roger Keeran, Professor of Labour Studies at Empire State College in New York and co-author of the book "Socialism Betrayed". There will also be an international buffet, audio-video presentation, live music, door prizes, and book displays.

Doors at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. Call 604.254.9836 for information or e-mail cpbc@telus.net

4. World Peace Forum Teach In

This years World Peace Forum teach in will be held at Langara College on November 11, 13, and 14.It will focus on the decade and a half between the end of World War Two and the 1960's. The YCL encourages participation in this event and will be participating in the teach in. The following is from the teach in website:

The ‘Fifties’
Reconstruction vs Revolution
and the First “War on Terror”
November 11, 13, 14
Langara College

The decade and a half between the end of World War II and the 1960’s is full of lessons that resonate strongly in the world we live in today. While it is regarded by some as a period of grey and repressive reaction, where any nails that stood out were hammered down, it was far from that. Revolutions rocked the colonial world and shook the old order from China to Algeria, Egypt to Cuba. Cultural rebellions–rock and roll, folk music and the beat generation; feminism and the beginning of the ecology movement- changed what we read thought and heard. The ‘Quiet Revolution’ transformed Quebec and Canada. From the first cracks in the ‘socialist’ world to the unprecedented boom in the capitalist, the fifties was a time rich in struggles that shape the world we live in. Both the victories and defeats of movements against war and oppression and for a socially just and sustainable world have much to teach us. That is exactly what the World Peace Forum is planning. The third Teach-In will be held on Nov. 11 and 13 and 14 at Langara College. Details will be available in September. Keep your eye on www.peaceforumteachin.org or get on our mailing list by contacting us at info@worldpeaceforumbc.ca

November eBulletin

Check out the November eBulletin here. To subscribe, e-mail us at ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

YCL Vancouver Upcoming Events!

1. World Festival of Youth & Students Fundraiser
2. Communism 101 Educational
3. Historical Materialism Discussion pt. 3
4. Left Film Night: Occupation 101
5. October Revolution Banquet
6. World Peace Forum Teach-In

1. World Festival of Youth & Students Fundraiser

The Vancouver & District Labour Council Young Workers Committee is hosting a fundraiser this Wednesday, October 13th, at 9pm. All money raised will go to help send young workers to the 17th World Festival of Youth & Students this December in South Africa. The YCL supports all efforts to organize and fundraise for the festival and encourages everyone to check out this event.

Tickets are $10 and include VIP entry and a free drink. DJ's will be providing entertainment throughout the night. The event will be held at The Cellar in downtown Vancouver.

Check out the Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=117473434977919
Learn more about the Festival here: http://www.wfdy.org/tag/17-wfys/

2. Communism 101 Educational

On September 17th we will be hosting an introductory educational on communism at our office in the Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Dr. All YCL members are strongly encouraged to attend and all those who are interested in learning more and warmly invited to join us. The educational will begin at 6pm.

3. Historical Materialism Discussion pt. 3

Part three of our study groups on historical materialism will be October 26th at 7pm at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.). If you couldn't make it to part one, fear not, you can still join us for part three and get caught up. Reading material will be Historical Materialism by Maurice Cornforth.

Read Historical Materialism for free online: http://leninist.biz/en/1971/HM147/index.html

4. Left Film Night: Occupation 101

"OCCUPATION 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority"

Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, 7 pm
Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver
...Donations will be accepted for the Canadian Boat for Gaza

**************
Directed by Abdallah Omeish and Sufyan Omeish, 2006, 90 minutes

Occupation 101 is a powerful documentary on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts surrounding the issues, and dispels many long-perceived myths and misconceptions. Occupation 101 also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are examined by leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have often been suppressed in North American media outlets. The film covers a wide range of topics - the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880’s, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - as well as heart-wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy.

COLLECTION FOR THE CANADIAN BOAT FOR GAZA! At the conclusion of the film, donations will be accepted for the Canadian Boat for Gaza project. This cross-Canada campaign aims to raise $300,000 to send a Canadian boat as part of the next international flotilla to break the Israeli siege of Gaza. For more information, visit canadaboatgaza.org.


No charge for admission; donations welcome. Coffee and refreshments available. Left Film Nights are presented by the Centre for Socialist Education, Young Communist League, and the Vancouver East and Montivero Clubs of the Communist Party of Canada. Call 604-255-2041 or email for further information.

5. October Revolution Banquet

The annual October Revolution Banquet will be held this year on Saturday, November 13th, at the Peretz Centre (6184 Ash St.) in Vancouver. The event will be a celebration of the struggle against fascism and war.

Features will include guest speaker Roger Keeran, Professor of Labour Studies at Empire State College in New York and co-author of the book "Socialism Betrayed". There will also be an international buffet, audio-video presentation, live music, door prizes, and book displays.

Doors at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. Call 604.254.9836 for information or e-mail cpbc@telus.net

6. World Peace Forum Teach In

This years World Peace Forum teach in will be held at Langara College on November 11, 13, and 14.It will focus on the decade and a half between the end of World War Two and the 1960's. The YCL encourages participation in this event and will be participating in the teach in. The following is from the teach in website:

The ‘Fifties’
Reconstruction vs Revolution
and the First “War on Terror”
November 11, 13, 14
Langara College

The decade and a half between the end of World War II and the 1960’s is full of lessons that resonate strongly in the world we live in today. While it is regarded by some as a period of grey and repressive reaction, where any nails that stood out were hammered down, it was far from that. Revolutions rocked the colonial world and shook the old order from China to Algeria, Egypt to Cuba. Cultural rebellions–rock and roll, folk music and the beat generation; feminism and the beginning of the ecology movement- changed what we read thought and heard. The ‘Quiet Revolution’ transformed Quebec and Canada. From the first cracks in the ‘socialist’ world to the unprecedented boom in the capitalist, the fifties was a time rich in struggles that shape the world we live in. Both the victories and defeats of movements against war and oppression and for a socially just and sustainable world have much to teach us. That is exactly what the World Peace Forum is planning. The third Teach-In will be held on Nov. 11 and 13 and 14 at Langara College. Details will be available in September. Keep your eye on www.peaceforumteachin.org or get on our mailing list by contacting us at info@worldpeaceforumbc.ca

YCL Vancouver meeting

Hi everyone,

We will have a meeting of the YCL Vancouver Club on Friday, October 8th, at 7pm. It will be held at our office in the Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Dr. The meeting is open to all members of the YCL and those interested in finding out more/getting involved.

Draft Agenda
Roll call
Previous minutes
Membership

Old Business
- World Festival of Youth & Students
- Central Convention
- Club elections

Standing Items
- Student movement (including high school and campus work)
- Peace & international solidarity
- Young workers movement
- Rebel Youth
- Culture & Agit-Prop

New Business

Adjourn

Also, if you haven't seen it yet, check out our October eBulletin at http://yclbc-lowermainland.blogspot.com/2010/10/ycl-bc-ebulletin-october-2010.html

YCL BC eBulletin - October 2010

Check out the October edition of our eBulletin at http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/445432/c982086e64/1623006065/6c0c9d641e/

If you would like to received the eBulletin by e-mail please e-mail us at ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

YCL Vancouver meeting - Sept. 16th

The YCL Vancouver (Red Star Club) will meet on Sunday, September 19th, 6pm, at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.).

Draft Agenda
Roll call
Previous minutes
Membership

Old Business
- World Festival of Youth & Students
- Central Convention

Standing Items
- Student movement (including high school and campus work)
- Peace & international solidarity
- Young workers movement
- Rebel Youth
- Culture & Agit-Prop

New Business

Adjourn

YCL Vancouver meeting/Convention report back tomorrow

The YCL Vancouver will hold a meeting/Convention report back tomorrow night, 7pm, at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.)

Greeting from CEC to Convention

Greetings from the Central Executive Committee to the YCL BC 2010 Convention.

Dear comrades, members of the BC YCL Provincial committee, friends and allies,

It is a pleasure to be greeting you on the occasion of your two important meetings this weekend, the BC Provincial YCL Convention and your annual summer school.

We would like to comment on the political context of your meetings. Across Canada this summer, we have entered ‘round two’ of the economic crisis. The economic crisis, which we did not create, has deepened the misery and suffering of the working people. The corporate media, however, is claiming that this crisis is over. This is not true.

In fact, the capitalists find themselves facing a volatile situation. Take the debt crisis in Greece, for example. This is now a Europe-wide problem. Big business is trying to save capitalism through aggressive austerity measures. We have seen this across Canada. The Federal and provincial budgets are vicious attacks. They attack labour and worker’s rights – and the youth.

It is time to say: Enough is enough! We must stand up, and fight back!

The fight-back in Canada has been uneven, but not silent. And two protests have seen significant mobilizations by the youth and student movement: The recent G20 meetings in Toronto and the anti-Olympic demonstrations in Vancouver.

In Toronto there was a mass-march. 25 thousand people hit the streets. This included a YCL and Party delegation of over a hundred comrades. But the corporate media did not focus on the mass action. The corporate media focused on the burning of police cars, and the ‘black-bloc’ direct actions that confronted the fence.

There are two main stories here. First, the secret, anti-people, decisions within the G20 meeting. Secondly, the historic mass arrests.

Over 1,000 people were arrested. This was a violent, historic and dangerous attack on democratic rights. People were arrested for simply walking on the street, people who did not even know what G20 stood for.

Three of our comrades were arrested just after the mass action. The police tried to intimidate and break them. They assaulted them, breaking one comrades ribs. They whispered in the ear of a young woman comrade: ‘don’t worry, we are taking you to a place where there are no video cameras.’ They denied them a toilet. They held them for over 24 hours and prevented sleep. They mocked them.

Now we are fighting back through the courts. We are supporting our comrades. The YCL Ontario has joined the campaigns against the mass arrests and charges, demanding a full public inquiry!

But there is also a concrete question here for the youth and student movement: what strategy and tactics are better?

The mass united march which the YCL participated in? Or the ‘diversity of tactics’ with the ‘black-bloc’ direct action?

There is an excellent article about this in the latest People’s Voice. It has been revealed that many of the anarchist groups were infiltrated by police. Many of the ‘direct actions’ featured provocateurs. The point here is NOT that organizations were infiltrated. Any organization can be infiltrated. The point is that the anarchist direct action tactics leant themselves to provocation; while mass action builds the powerful unity necessary for social transformation.

This is not to close a discussion but to open a debate.

The discussion here is, in our view, very relevant to the last two chapters of our Central convention documents. As those documents say, the unity of the youth and students is essential for revolutionary struggle. The unity of the youth and students can not be formed just out of fear – for our jobs, our right to education, for our future. It must be placed in the positive, in terms of a youth and people’s agenda. Our proposal is for a Charter of Youth Rights.

There is a reflection, also, of this question of tactics into alliance building – like we are doing with the Youth festival project.

In closing we would like to salute the YCL BC Provincial Committee for its work on developing the BC School into a special event. This year the YCL is also holding schools in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. We regret that more members of the Executive can not attend the BC school, as in past years.

Good luck and may your debates be successful and build your struggles!

See you in September, in Toronto!

Johan Boyden

Gen. Sec., YCL-LJC CC

LEFT FILM NIGHT - CRUDE: The Real Price of Oil

LEFT FILM NIGHT

CRUDE: The Real Price of Oil

Directed by Joe Berlinger, USA, 2009, 100 minutes

Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7 pm
Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver

In the wake of massive oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and Michigan,
this month's Left Film Night is particularly timely and relevant. CRUDE
is the story of a landmark case in the Amazon jungle, pitting 30,000
rainforest dwellers against the U.S. oil giant Chevron. The plaintiffs
claim that Texaco -- which merged with Chevron in 2001 -- contaminated
one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, creating a "death zone",
resulting in cancer, leukemia, and birth defects. Chevron charges that
the case is a fabrication by "environmental con men". The case takes
place not just in a courtroom, but in a series of field inspections at
the alleged contamination sites, with the judge and attorneys for both
sides trudging through the jungle to litigate.

No charge for admission; donations welcome. Coffee and refreshments
available. Left Film Nights are presented by the Centre for Socialist
Education, Young Communist League, and the Vancouver East and Montivero
Clubs of the Communist Party of Canada. Call 604-255-2041 or email
for further information.

August 2010 YCL BC eBulletin

Click here to read the August 2010 YCL BC eBulletin. E-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca to subscribe.

A couple of events coming up from the Fraser Valley Peace Council.

A couple of events coming up from the Fraser Valley Peace Council.

CELEBRATING PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
Commemorating Lost Lives and Hopes

On the anniversary of the independence of Pakistan and India

Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) and South Asian Network for Secularism
and Democracy (SANSAD)

Present a two-day event

Public Educational Forum on South Asia Today
Talk by Dr. Hassan Gardezi

"Discovery of Independence: South Asia at 63"

August 14, 2010 (2.00 pm-5.00 pm)
Newton Library Hall
13795-70th Avenue, Surrey, BC

Dr. Hassan Gardezi, is a political activist, sociologist and
anthropologist, a well known writer and an intellectual. He earned his PhD
at Washington State University, USA and has served as Head of Department
of Sociology, Punjab University, Lahore. He wrote several journal articles
and books on the political economy of Pakistan and South Asia and also
published translations of and commentaries on Sufi poetry written in
Punjabi, Siraiki and Sindhi languages. Hassan has taught and lectured at a
number of North American colleges and universities as well as Pakistani
institutions.

Also
THE SKY BELOW

A Best Film Debut Award winner documentary on the Partition of India and
Pakistan by
Sarah Singh
August 15, 2010 (2.00 pm-5.00 pm)
Simon Fraser University-Surrey Campus (SUR 2600)
13450 102 Avenue, Surrey, BC

Sarah Singh will be present at the screening to introduce the film and
conduct a discussion with the audience.

Sarah Singh was born in Patiala, Punjab and now living in US since 1974.
She is an artist, filmmaker and an accomplished photographer. Much of her
fine art from the last 15 years is included in private collections. Sarah
has worked in the film and television industry in New York for over 5
years. Her work as a cinematographer, editor, director, and writer has
been featured on MTV, Showtime, and the History Channel, along with many
independent films

Admission by donation

This screening is organized by South Asian Film Education Society (SAFES)
and supported by SFU, Surrey Campus and Simon Fraser Public Interest
Research Group (SFPIRG) and co-sponsored by SANSAD, Pakistan Action
Network, Fraser Valley Peace Council (FVPC) and Progressive Intercultural
Community Services (PICS).

For more information contact: Chin Banerjee 604-421-6752 or Supriya
Bhattacharya 604-937-396 or Shahzad Nazir Khan 604-613-0735

Info session on WFYS

Join us for an info session on the 17th World Festival of Youth & Students which will be held in South Africa this December! The Festival is the largest international youth gathering and the largest expression of youth resistance in the world. At the last Festival, over 16,000 youth and students from around the world attended. You're invited! Come find out more on Saturday, July 24th, 7pm, 200-5118 Joyce St in Vancouver.

Also check out the Festival website at http://www.wfdy.org/17wfys/

Let’s defeat imperialism, for a world of peace, solidarity and social transformation!

Let us work for a successful 17^th World Festival of Youth and Students in South Africa.

YCL BC July eBulletin

Click here for the YCL BC July eBulletin. To subscribe, please e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

Two important events tomorrow (June 23rd)!

First - A one-hour picket at the Polish Consulate from 11 am to noon. This will protest the new law in Poland which bans any symbols associated with communism. Similar protests have been held across Europe and in Toronto. Organized by the Communist Party in solidarity with the Polish communists and others in eastern Europe who are facing growing repression.

The address is 1177 West Hastings - this is between Bute and Thurlow. We will have leaflets to hand out, and some of the "illegal" symbols. Please Kimball know (by email or 604-255-2041) if you can join us.

Second - the International Trade Union Confederation is holding its global conference this week at the Convention Centre. This will include a rally starting at 12:30 tomorrow, on the theme "Now the people - from the crisis to global justice." The Communist Party/Young Communist League will be present with a banner and materials. It's just a couple of blocks from the Polish Consulate to the Convention Centre.

Defend Public Education! Oppose Bill 20!

Young Communist League of Canada, BC Committee

As students are beginning their summer break the B.C. Liberal government is hard at work to further strip them of privacy and proper education for the next semester. Bill 20, which had its first reading on April 30, would allow individual School Boards the ability to mandate surveillance equipment such as cameras in public schools. This comes as part of a larger attack on the democratic institution of School Boards and the entire public school system.

This carte blanche dictate is limited by very few rules. No restrictions on where cameras are deployed, how they should be used, how students' privacy rights will be safeguarded, and in which places they are inappropriate. There is no requirement to limit access to the images caught on school cameras.

All this expensive surveillance equipment has been given the green light at a time when School Boards face serious budget limitations due to inadequate provincial funding. In most schools in British Columbia text books have gone over twenty years without being replaced. Also, school councilors and support workers have been cut out of the budget which means that real problems, which a camera will not catch, will go unresolved.

The Vancouver School Board has come under heavy fire from the B.C. Liberal government for its vocal refusal to compromise standards to pay for tax breaks and the Corporate Olympic Circus. An expensive inquiry into the governance practices of the VSB by the Provincial Government accused the School Board of poor planning; however, the budget suggestions from the B.C. Liberals include only negative reactionary cuts such as layoffs and privatization.

Educators are taking a stance against the bill as well. The BC Teachers Federation has slammed the bill saying it doesn’t address the learning needs of students and further undermines the democratic governance of public education. Teachers are also concerned about the privatization of public schools, as the bill allows for the collection of user fees and even the conversion of schools into “specialty academies” by a vote of as few as three parents and the Principal.

The attack on students and School Boards is another step towards the privatization of schools that has always been the goal of the B.C. Liberals. Reduction of provincial funding is intentional to stress the ability of democratic bodies to govern the education system. Moves such as Bill 20, in which students are put under heavier surveillance, are intended to force resolvable school issues into the public eye in attempts to slander the public education system, and violate the rights of students and staff alike.

Support the Vancouver School Board!
Demand fully funded public education!
No surveillance cameras in our schools!

RAISE THE RED FLAG OF RESISTANCE! FOR A YOUTH AND STUDENT AGENDA

RAISE THE RED FLAG OF RESISTANCE! FOR A YOUTH AND STUDENT AGENDA

CALL TO ACTION BY THE YOUNG COMMUNIST LEAGUE OF CANADA

"Bloodsuckers, pirates, cannibals, murders, psychopaths, traitors, thugs, vultures, gangsters and terrorists!"

For centuries, these labels have been placed on everyone -- aboriginal peoples, workers, youth, women, racialized communities and countless more -- who dared resist the agenda of the ruling class. But isn't the truth the opposite from what we have been sold?

These words best describe the G8 and their host -- the Harper Conservative regime, the bankers, big business men, government leaders and the imperialist system they represent, meeting behind billion-dollar iron bars.

FLASH-POINT

The G8-G20 is flash-point for the peoples resistance. We fully support all those seeking to expose, denounce, confront and overcome the plans of the G8-G20 -- and bring about an alternative agenda for the people, by the people!

The capitalists’ plans are secret. They could not even stand the heat of public, democratic review. Unprecedented costly security operations hide the proceedings. We condemn the shut-down of the University of Toronto and the use of the "sonic cannon" weapon. And there is no such thing as a "Free Speech Zone" -- other than the world itself.

Major topics of discussion and the full decisions will likely never be revealed. Yet these decisions will impact millions across Canada, and billions of people around the world. These dangerous measures show imperialism’s fear of the people.

FOR A YOUTH AND PEOPLE'S AGENDA

The G8-G20 police brutality, the lack of democracy -- this is a crime. It is only one crime in many. Consider the Harper's remarks that global warming is a 'side-show' ; or Canada's decision to exclude abortion
from its global maternal health commitment and the Conservative Senator's "shut the fuck up" response to dissent.

In our view, this meeting has a special context, 'Round two' of the economic crisis: giant transfers of wealth to the corporations are now being paid for by the people. This is the main attack on the youth and the people today. Therefore we call for a youth agenda:

1. Books not bombs!
- No more $22 billions for the war in Afghanistan
- Troops out now, cut the military budget by half
- Ban military recruitment from schools

2. Make a job a right!
- No more poverty wages and union busting
- Raise minimum wage to $16, for shorter work week
- Massive job creation for youth -- start with build affordable, green housing

3. Climate justice
- No more supporting the tar sands
- Legislate emergency action to surpass Kyoto
- Nationalize energy -- shift to conservation and renewables

4. Free Education
- Eliminate tuition fees, grants not loans
- Reverse all school privatization and cutbacks
- National public, accessible childcare
- Protect free speech on campuses

5. Full equality now!
- Strengthen employment equity for Aboriginal youth, young women, racialized youth, youth with (dis)abilities
- Enshrine a women’s right to choice, close the wage gap
- Restore and expand all funding to programmes for women and girls
- Ban neo-fascist groups

6. Sovereignty and self-determination
- Justice for Aboriginal peoples and Quebec
- For a foreign policy of peace and disarmament

7. Democracy!
-
- No One Is Illegal -- democratic immigration policy
- Defend and expand the right of youth to leisure, sports and recreation

Now is the time to make a sharp break with the agenda of the Harper Conservatives and imperialism. If these meetings had even an ounce of integrity, the world ’leaders’ would redirect their energy and trillions (our trillions!) to the global crisis of unemployment, food, health care, education and childcare and ending imperialist war. They would immediately condemn the brutality of the Israeli regime and support a Palestinian state.

But capitalism is fundamentally driven by profits. Therefore all its activities will forever be morally bankrupt by any humanist measure. More and more youth will continue to reject capitalism and imperialism.

YOUTH RISE UP!

We appeal to all young people to join the mobilizations against the G8-G20. The YCL denounce Harper’s so-called 'youth-summit' of careerist children and stand with all our courageous sisters and brothers on the streets, who represent the real spirit of our generation. The fear-tactics of the Toronto police -- who have told parents "Your parenting has to be a key role" against demonstrators, "Ask your children to avoid the downtown core" -- will fail, rejected by the youth and parents together.

For inspiration, we look to Cuba and Latin America, and to the resistance in Greek workers today. The needs of the broad majority of the youth can never be divided from those of the working class and the people on the road to a better world. Provocation and other attempts to fracture the vital militancy and unity of the people can not reverse the fact that, on a global scale, the working class and progressive forces are strengthening.

These meetings are a historically developed strategy of imperialism, especially US imperialism. History, however, is not on the side of the oppressors. It is on the side of freedom, peace, ecology, and the people. We remain committed to joining with all those in the struggle on the streets, in our workplaces, schools, and communities, today while bravely championing a better future.

THE YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE IS SOCIALISM!

Central Committee, YCL-LJC
June 2010

YCL events this month

1. Red Star Club discussion of Provincial Convention documents
2. 17th WFYS meeting
3. Historical Materialism Pt. 2 - CHANGED DATE!
4. YCL BC Summer Camp
5. Strike solidarity
6. Slam the Gate on the G8
7. Left Film Night: Plunder, The Crime of Our Time


1. Red Star Club discussion of Provincial Convention documents - TONIGHT

The Vancouver YCL (Red Star Club) will meet on June 21st to discuss the documents of the upcoming Provincial Convention which will be held on July 30th.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126087964092238

Convention Documents: http://www.ycl-ljc.ca/images/bcconvention2010/bulletin1.pdf

Facebook Convention event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109441745747202

2. 17th WFYS meeting

The 17th World Festival of Youth and Students will be held this December 13-21 in Pretoria, South Africa!

The World Festival of Youth and Students is the biggest gathering of anti-imperialist youth in the world. It is organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth and the International Union of Students. The last festival brought together over 16,000 youth for a week of workshops, forums, cultural performances, music festivals, and more.

The second meeting of the Vancouver Festival Preparatory Committee will be on June 24th, 7pm, at 706 Clark. Dr.

If you are interested in attending the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students this December in South Africa, please attend, or contact us for more information.

3. Historical Materialism Pt. 2

Part two of our study groups on historical materialism will be June 25th at 7pm at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.). If you couldn't make it to part one, fear not, you can still join us for part two and get caught up. Reading material will be Historical Materialism by Maurice Cornforth.

Read Historical Materialism for free online: http://leninist.biz/en/1971/HM147/index.html

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events&s=1#!/event.php?eid=119955984703471

4. YCL BC Summer Camp

Once again this year the YCL will hold its annual summer camp on the sunshine coast, from July 31-August 2. Last year the camp was the largest yet since efforts began to re-found the YCL several years ago.

The camp is open to both YCL members and other youth who are interested in learning about the YCL, and about socialism. Participants will enjoys both education and fun at our beautiful Sechelt location near the beach.

This year the camp will be preceded by our BC Provincial Convention (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=109441745747202) at the same location on July 30th. All members are encouraged to attend and guests are welcome.

Educational topics this year include:
- Capitalism, the environment & climate change. Why working class power is the only solution to environmental crisis.

- Racism & the national question in Canada.

- Reform & revolution: what is social democracy, communism, revolution, and the role of the state.

Further information including camp program will be available shortly. If you would like to attend the camp or want more info, e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126087964092238#!/event.php?eid=104877929547930&ref=mf

5. Strike solidarity

The Vancouver & District Labour Council Young Workers Committee is planning another strike solidarity events this month. We encourage young workers including our members to attend and show solidarity with their sisters and brothers on strike at Extra Foods in Maple Ridge. Please see the link below for details.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126087964092238#!/event.php?eid=106541796059751&ref=mf

6. Slam the Gate on the G8!

The YCL endorses the following event:

A Rally & March in Opposition to the G8/G20 Summits

******************************************
Saturday, June 26th, 2010 @ Noon
Grandview Park

(Commercial Drive, between William and Charles St.)

Bring noise makers, banners, water and friends!
******************************************

Come join us as we march in solidarity with the thousands protesting the G8/G20 Summits in Toronto and around the world. Let’s send a loud and clear message to the G8/G20 elite that we wholly reject their unaccountable meetings. We know their decisions will only lead to further economic and social disparity, promote exploitation environmental degradation and colonization.

From June 25 to 27th, the so-called ‘leaders’ and bankers of the twenty richest countries are gathering in Huntsville and Toronto for closed door meetings. The outcome of this summit is predictable: more of the same. More trade deals that benefit only multinational corporations. More threats to the existence of the worlds most vulnerable. More impoverishment. More addiction to the consumption of energy – dirty or clean. More economic policies that value profit and expansion over community and health. These are the policies that brought us to the crisis now facing the world economically, politically, environmentally and socially.



We say NO! We say that a better world is possible, there is an alternative! Add your presence and voice to the thousands in Toronto and millions around the world demanding a new vision of social and environmental justice. Change the System, not the Climate!


Organized by the Vancouver Community Mobilization Network Contact: van.mobilize@gmail.com

On the web: http://vcmn.resist.ca/

SEE OUR PROMOTION VIDEO here: http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/video/3636


Endorsed by: Friends of UBC Farm, UBC Social Justice Center, Vancouver Climate Justice, Purple Thistle, Justicia for Migrant Workers, No One Is Illegal - Vancouver, Ugnayan ng kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (Filipino-Canadian youth alliance), SIKLAB (Overseas Filipino workers organization), Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group, Council of Canadians - Delta Richmond chapter, Streams of Justice, VANACT, Solidarity with Anti-Olympic Convergence Arrestees, Young Communist League.


7. Left Film Night: Plunder, The Crime of Our Time

Next Left Film Night: Sunday, June 27, 7 pm, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver

"Plunder: The Crime of Our Time" (directed by Danny Schecter, USA, 2010, 100 minutes) explores how the financial crisis was built on a foundation of criminal activity, uncovering the connection between the collapse of the housing market and the economic catastrophe that followed. It argues that the wrong doing committed by a few individuals distracts from the real story, implicating the institutions that financed and profited from fraudulent sub prime lending. These firms recklessly put trillions of dollars and the world economy at risk.

No war with Korea! For a made-in-Canada foreign policy of peace!

Central Executive Committee, Young Communist League of Canada
May 2010

Canadian youth and students should be quick to reject and denounce the war mongering stance taken by the Harper Conservative government with regards to the crisis forming between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea since the Mach 26th sinking of the Cheonan naval vessel.

In a statement released on May 24th, Harper announced the government’s intention to impose harsh sanctions, to support South Korea in a “decisive response,” which did not rule out military action. The statement also condemned the DPRK for “egregious violation of international law,” and “blatant disregard for international law,” statements are darkly ironic coming from a Prime Minister and a government implicated in war crimes and torture in Afghanistan.

Harper’s hypocrisy becomes further evident when considering the recent attack by apartheid Israel against the Freedom Flotilla which left several dead and dozens more wounded. The attack on the Flotilla, a group of unarmed boats bringing desperately needed humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, has incited no condemnation from the Conservative government. While quick to condemn supposed attacks and violations of international law by the DPRK, Harper is unwilling to criticize violations by Israel against the Palestinian people or their supporters.

Little evidence exists to implicate the DPRK in the sinking of the Cheonan. In fact South Korean sources, including the Defense Ministry, have made statements that no North Korean vessels in the area at the time of the attack. Despite this, the South Korean regime, backed by Washington, have presented the case as open and shut with the DPRK implicated in the crime.
The current Korean crisis is part and parcel of the cold war waged by US imperialism, South Korean ruling class, and their allies against the DPRK since the armistice which “ended” the Korean War in 1953. The demonization of the DPRK as part of an “Axis of Evil,” and as a “threat,” is ludicrous when placed beside the reality of the DPRK, a poor country struggling for survival against hostility and economic sabotage by the US and its allies. The goal of this campaign is to achieve the total collapse of the socio-economic system in place in the DPRK and the reunification of Korean on a capitalist basis under US hegemony. It is also interesting to note that fortunes are to be made in arms contracts by keeping tensions high in the region, and that these tensions provide the only excuse for the presence of thousands of US troops in the region including in South Korea and Japan.

Harper’s slavish parroting of Washington’s warmongering threatens to entangle Canada in a new military conflagration on the Korean peninsula. Such a conflagration would be an imperialist war for the benefit of multinational corporations and arms dealers which could cost innumerable lives.

The Canadian working class, youth and students, must categorically reject Canadian involvement in aggression towards the DPRK as they rejected Canadian involvement in the invasion of Iraq. What is needed is an independent and made-in-Canada foreign policy based on peace, disarmament, friendship, and sovereignty. It’s time to run the war mongering Harper Tories out of office and to fight for a new future for youth which is not based on imperialist war and plunder.

YCL BC eBulletin June 2010

To read the June 2010 eBulletin click here.

To subscribe to the eBulletin e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

YCL BC Convention 2010 - Discussion Bulletin #1

The first discussion bulletin for our upcoming BC Provincial Convention is out now! Check out the following link to read the bulletin. In this bulletin you will find the Call to Convention and other convention discussion documents such as the Political Report and the Plan of Work.

The Provincial Committee encourages all YCLers to read these documents, to discuss them in
their clubs, and to submit to the upcoming bulletins. Submissions to the discussion bulletin can be changes, or additions to the convention documents, resolutions for discussion/adoption at convention, or simply your thoughts on a topic that you would like to see League.

Submissions should be sent to ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

Finally, now is the time to start thinking about your attendance at convention. This year convention is followed up immediately by our annual summer camp at the same location. Members are encouraged to do whatever they can to make sure they are able to attend these events. E-mail us if you have concerns or need assistance to help ensure you can attend. Guests are also welcome to attend both events by invite. If you are interested in attending, please contact us to register.

Read Bulletin #1 here!
http://www.ycl-ljc.ca/images/bcconvention2010/bulletin1.pdf

May 2010 eBulletin

Follow the link to this months YCL BC eBulletin. So be added to the list, e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/445432/1adc218ff5/1623005193/6c0c9d641e/

Militant Greetings for May Day 2010

Central Executive Committee, Young Communist League of Canada

The Young Communist League of Canada extends greetings of solidarity to the working people of Canada, and especially to young workers, on May 1st – International Workers Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, when police opened fire on workers protesting for an eight hour working day.

Today young workers must consider what kind of future is offered to them by our current capitalist socio-economic system.

Late last year, youth unemployment hit a 30 year high. While media reports trumpet “economic recovery,” in reality there is recovery for the capitalists but not for the vast majority of youth, women, aboriginal peoples, and workers. Unemployment remains high and those jobs which do exist are increasingly “McJobs” with minimal pay, no benefits or job security, and part time or casual hours. The process of deindustrialization is worsening this situation rapidly, while eroding Canadian sovereignty. Major ecological problems, especially global warming, are getting worse. And if the solution gets in the way of the drive for profits, it is not considered.

To the unemployed and underemployed youth, the government offers no jobs except the dangerous lure of military recruitment for education or a career. Canadian involvement in the disastrous imperialist occupation of Afghanistan has cost well over $18 billion dollars while Canada’s military budget is expected to run over $21 billion this year alone. 142 Canadian soldiers have died as have well over 32,000 Afghans. War is no solution to the problems faced by young workers.

Meanwhile, Federal and Provincial governments continue to carry out an all-out offensive on working and living conditions at the behests of their corporate masters. The recent Harper budget is a case-in-point. The Harper Conservative budget, passed with the complicity of the Liberals, provides for more of the same – tax breaks for the rich, and more spending on war, while cutting social programs, and ignoring the need for spending on education, environmental protection, job creation and other needs of working people.

All this part of a general offensive of capitalism against the interests of the working class, aimed at maximizing profits and salvaging this decrepit and crisis-ridden system through imperialist adventures abroad, lowering of working and living conditions at home, and eliminating the hard won victories of the past. In other words, this is an offensive against the future of the youth.

As in 1886, today the only path forward is struggle. All other paths lead only to an ever-worsening future for the country, and the world, that today’s youth will inherit. We salute the struggle of workers and students in Quebec, where protests have sprung up against the reactionary Charest Liberal budget, including one demo of 75,00 workers and another of 15,000 people including many students. We support the growing demand for a general strike. We stand in solidarity with workers who are fighting for their livelihood, such as the Sudbury Steelworkers who are defending their jobs from the union breaking efforts of Vale Inco. We note the efforts of young workers who have fought in campaigns for increased minimum wages, better on the job safety, and more.

What is needed is to unite all the various threads of resistance against the anti-worker offensive, to defeat it, and to reverse it in order to go on the offensive for progressive reforms which will benefit the working class including young workers.

Ultimately, we stand firm in our analysis that the capitalist system cannot be made to serve the interests of working people. It cannot cherish nature. Only socialism, a system in which the working people hold all economic and political power, can provide a real future for youth and students in Canada and the world. This is the future we fight for.

Jobs not bombs!
People not profits!
The youth are the future, the future is socialism!

YCL BC eBulletin April 2010

To read the April 2010 eBulletin online, visit http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/445432/1f210aafcf/1623005047/6c0c9d641e/

Please e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca to subscribe.

Reject the 2010 BC Liberal budget! Raise the minimum wage and reduce tuition fees!

March 2010

The BC Liberal government released its budget on March 2nd, a budget that leaves much to be desired from the working people of British Columbia. Finance Minister Colin Hansen’s remark that “This budget is about families” must have been referring to their disenfranchisement at the hands of the most destructive Provincial government in the lifetime of young people today. Young families, students, and young workers all face a heightened financial threat because of the backwards fiscal planning of Gordon Campbell and his cronies.

For families already pushed well below the poverty line there are spending cuts across the board from low-income housing to medical services. BC Hydro rates will go up 9.11 percent this year and are scheduled to increase by similar amounts over the next three years regardless of the fact that the BC Liberal government sells energy the United States of America for a reduced rate. With the incoming HST working families cannot escape massive cost increases, cost increase which will sink the people of BC into further debt. The privatization of power must be reversed and Oil and Gas must be nationalized for the benefit of all British Columbians!

Young workers continue to see no movement on the minimum wage. BC now has the lowest minimum wage of any province or territory in Canada. Increased user fees in transit and other government programs further push the cost of the capitalist economic crisis and the Olympic party for the rich onto working people. The YCL calls for reduction of user fees and increased transit services!

Students saw a 28% hit to StudentAid BC after BC Liberal election promises not to do just that. This year the government revenue from tuition fees will exceed corporate income tax by 200 million dollars. BC was already ranked the lowest for non-refundable student financial assistance in the country. Drop fees, education shouldn’t be a debt sentence!

The Young Communist League calls for the immediate reversal of the imposition of the Harmonized Sales Tax and the BC Hydro rate hikes. Minimum wage must be set to $16 and marked to inflation to ensure a living wage for all British Columbians. The so-called training wage must be abolished. Tuition fees must be reduced and a provincial system of grants must replace the backwards student loan system costing Canadians over 13 billion dollars in debt.

These policies are not just pipe dreams if workers, youth, and students are willing to stand up and fight to make them reality. The massive resistance to the anti-people measures of the social democratic PASOK government in Greece, which have included cuts aimed at workers wages, holidays, bonuses, and other benefits, demonstrate the way forward for all those who wish to protect and improve the quality of life of working people. The global offensive aimed at making us pay for the global capitalist economic crisis can only be stopped by mass, united, militant struggle in which youth and students must be a key component.

YCL Vancouver upcoming events

1. Anti-Racist Demo March 21st.
2. Left Film Night - Capitalism: A Love Story
3. Discussion meeting for 25th Central Convention documents
4. Cultural Night Fundraiser
5. Educational: Historical Materialism


1. Anti-Racist Demo March 21st

For the first time in almost a decade neo-nazi racists will attempt to hold a march in the lower mainland. The YCL adds its voice to all those who are calling for participation in a counter-demonstration against this despicable affront to the rights and interests of our multi-national, ethnically diverse people. The YCL will be participating in the demonstration against the nazis and will be issuing a statement on the issue. For more information please read on. The first message below is from local anti-racist activists while the second one is the call to the neo-nazi march from Tavis Annan of "Advocates for White Civil Rights."

------------------------------------------

For the first time in about ten years, a white racist neo-Nazi group is
planning to hold a public march in the Vancouver area. This "White Pride
March" will take place on Sunday, March 21, which is also the
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The
United Nations declared this date in 1966, to mark the sixth anniversary
of the Sharpeville massacre of anti-apartheid demonstrators by South
African police and troops. White racist groups in North America have
tried in recent years to claim this date for their own purposes. In
Calgary, the "Aryan Guard" group has held rallies on this date for the
past 3-4 years, usually with a couple of dozen participants. Opposing
groups have been much larger, but the Aryan Guard has been protected by
the Calgary police at these rallies. The Aryan Guard is linked to
serious crimes, such as an attempted firebombing of the home of two
leading Anti-Racist Action members in Calgary, physical attacks against
members of racialized communites, etc. The Aryan Guard has recently
divided; one leading member (Kyle McKee) is charged with attempted
murder after throwing a pipe bomb into the home of two other members.

Here in the Vancouver area, there have been several recent cases of men
wearing Nazi and racist items who have attacked people on the street. It
is possible that these incidents are linked to the sudden emergence of
this "white pride" group.

The first message below is from a neo-Nazi Facebook group which is being
used to organize the racist march. Anti-racists are seeking more
detailed information about the exact times and places. But it appears
that the "White Pride" event will begin at 11 am, March 21, from the
Braid Skytrain station in New Westminster.
The message at the bottom is from a local Anti-Racist Action Facebook
group, giving details of a "fun, safe and positive"
counter-demonstration at the same time and place.

***********
White Pride Day March Through 3 Cities
Take part in the biggest White Pride March BC has ever seen
Date: Sunday, 21 March 2010
Time: 12:00 - 22:00
Location: Coquitlam-Burnaby-Vancouver BC Canada
Email: travis_annan@live.ca l.peacock@live.ca

We will march through Coquitlam, Burnaby and Vancouver on MArch/ 21st/
2010. This has never been done before, so we will make it an event to
remember. Everybody who believes in White Civil Rights are welcome to
join in on the beginning of the revolution. There are far too many
details for me to list on the group page, some I dont wish to divulge on
the internet, so e-mail me and I will make certain that you receive all
the information you require. After the March we will feast and celebrate
The one holiday devoted to the Beautiful, Wonderful, Masterful White Race.

For more info, Check out our website http://webstarts.com/WalkforWhitePride

Thank you Ahead of time.
Our Race Needs you.
Travis Annan

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=left+film+night&init=quick#!/event.php?eid=361527732338

2. Left Film Night - Capitalism: A Love Story

LEFT FILM NIGHT

Sunday, March 21, 7 pm
Centre for Socialist Education, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver
(Note: Pasta Dinner at 5 pm, see below for details)

"CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY"

In Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, political, corporate, and financial elites combine forces to channel obscene wealth to the rich at the expense of the working class. Moore focuses on the bailout of the U.S. financial sector by taxpayers, and scandals such as “dead peasant” life insurance policies taken out by corporations on their own workers. The pillaging by the U.S. ruling class is revealed in bleak, stunning, even hilarious detail. Those who missed the film during its short run in the theatres last fall have another chance to catch it at Left Film Night.

No admission charge, but contributions towards our costs are welcome. Coffee and refreshments available.

Our annual Left Film Night Pasta Dinner will take place before the Left Film Night on Sunday, March 21 (not the last Sunday of the month, for a change). Doors open at 5, dinner (vegetarian option available) will be served at 5:30, tickets $12, proceeds to the People's Voice Fund Drive. The film will be screened at 7 pm following the dinner.

Left Film Nights are presented by the Centre for Socialist Education, Young Communist League, and the Latino and Vancouver East Clubs of the Communist Party of Canada. Call 604-255-2041 or email for further information.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=left+film+night&init=quick#!/group.php?gid=8947029929&ref=tshttp://www.facebook.com/search/?q=left+film+night&init=quick#!/group.php?gid=8947029929&ref=ts


3. Discussion meeting for 25th Central Convention documents

Join us for a special meeting of the Vancouver YCL aimed at opening up discussion on the documents of our upcoming 25th Central Convention to be held this May in Toronto.

March 26th, 6pm, Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Dr.)

For the full draft political documents please visit: http://www.ycl-ljc.ca/index.php/en/ideas/central-convention/25th-central-convention.html

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/edit/index.php?eid=368683309783#!/event.php?eid=368683309783


4. Cultural Night Fundraiser

Come join us for a night of working class culture and fun at the Centre for Socialist Education on April 16th. Live music, food, drink, and good company!

A fundraiser for the Young Communist League of Canada, Vancouver Club. More details to come as they are finalized closer to the event.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=170610470581#!/event.php?eid=365693458193&ref=mf


5. Educational: Historical Materialism

Join us for the first of our upcoming sessions looking at historical materialism. Reading material will be Historical Materialism by Maurice Cornforth.

Read Historical Materialism for free on line: http://leninist.biz/en/1971/HM147/index.html

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=170610470581#!/event.php?eid=365078538223&ref=mf

All out to stop fascism in BC!

YCL BC Committee, March 2010

On March 21st, 1960, South African police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid pass law. Sixty nine protesters were killed. In 1966, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established by the United Nations General Assembly and has been observed around the world ever since on March 21st.

This year, a white supremacist neo-nazi group calling itself “Advocates for White Civil Rights” will attempt to hijack this day for the purposes of purveying their racist ideology. For the first time in almost a decade, fascists will be marching in the lower mainland. The YCL BC calls attention to the dangerous precedent that may be set if this despicable display is not stopped resolutely. For example, in Calgary, another racist organization call the “Aryan Guard” has been responsible for hate demonstrations and even violence against anti-racist activists, Communist Party members, and its own former members. We call on youth and students to join in the counter-demonstration being organized against this affront to the rights and interests of the people of Canada, a multi-national, ethnically diverse country.

The YCL opposes all manifestations of racism, national chauvinism, and xenophobia. We recognize that these manifestations are part and parcel of the capitalist system which perpetuates and utilizes these and other divisions within the working class to maximize profits and maintain their class rule. We fight for a socialist Canada where these social ills can finally be eliminated once and for all. We also call for the following immediate reforms:

• A ban on racist, chauvinist, and xenophobic propaganda

• The enactment of legislation to outlaw neo-nazi, white supremacist and fascist organizations

• Ensure the enforcement of affirmative action programs in employment and education

• Provide employment for all, regardless of nationality or ethnicity

• Eliminate racist immigration and temporary foreign worker policies

• All government agencies and businesses which turn a blind eye to, or promote, discriminatory practices must be severely punished

This March 21st, the YCL BC remembers the many young Canadians who courageously fought against racism, national chauvinism, and fascism both here at home, and overseas in conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War and World War Two. We note the efforts of youth and students across Canada who campaigned for an end to the apartheid system in South Africa, and who fight today against Israeli apartheid and for freedom for the Palestinian people. It is clear that the struggle against racism and fascism has not yet been won and must go on. All out to stop racism and fascism! For unity of the working class, youth, and students, across all national and ethnic lines!

In solidarity with the Okanagan Indian Band blockade

Young Communist League BC Committee, March 2010

In a heroic attempt to defend their territory, on February 22, 2010 the Okanagan Indian Band established a blockade of the Brown Creek watershed. The Brown Creek watershed is the OIBs fresh water supply which has been affected negatively from clear cutting. Tolko Industries Ltd is the logging company responsible for the blockade as it has been in legal battles for the past seven years to secure logging rights to the previously protected watershed.

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs has supported the OIB, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip saying, “The Courts failed to deal with the proprietary nature of Aboriginal Title to the lands and resources within the territory. With this decision, third party interests are protected at the expense of the community’s drinking water, archaeological history and their constitutionally protected rights. Consequently, the UBCIC will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Okanagan Indian Band to ensure their community’s water, history and rights are defended.”

Much of the OIBs territory has already been sold off to corporate interests, leading to fish bearing streams running dry in the summer. OIB Chief Fabian Alexis has said that this was not an action the band took lightly, but had no choice to defend itself against the advancement of devastating logging practices.

The situation is made all the more tense by Tolko’s continued lying in the media. Tolko has said that its mill will be forced to shut down due to a lack of available logs from the Brown Creek area. This tactic, meant to pit worker against band member, is pure dishonesty. The fact is that Tolko released a statement on January 19th saying the mill might have to shut down periodically due to market fluctuations surrounding wood prices. Also, OIB members have photographed stockpiles of wood at the Tolko mill, adequate to keep production up during the blockade. Tolko has sought court injunctions to have OIB members jailed so that the company can move along without the hassle of respecting human rights.

The OIB blockade is an example to us all of the need for militant struggle in defense of our rights and interests. Clean drinking water is a fundamental right which is being increasingly intruded upon by corporate interests internationally. The OIB is right to stand up against such an injustice.

This struggle highlights the genocidal colonial history of capitalism in BC and of Canada towards First Nations people. The actions of the BC government and the courts make clear the continuing racist nature of the capitalist system and its willingness to sacrifice the interests of the people for the interests of corporate profit. The Young Communist League of Canada calls for youth and students to stand in solidarity with Okanagan Indian Band! Stop Tolko! Protect Aboriginal Rights!

Oppose the Fare Hike! For an Affordable, Quality Transit System!

YCL BC Committee, March 2010

The YCL BC expresses its firm opposition to the 10% price increase for FareSaver tickets and monthly passes on Translink services scheduled to become effective April 1st.

The cost of transit fares in the lower mainland has skyrocketed out of control, particularly in the last few years. Far from a luxury, the public transit system is a necessity for thousands of working people and for the majority of youth and students. Increased fares continue to make the transit system less accessible for young workers and students. Already a trip to work and back for a young worker costs between $5 and $10 while minimum wages sits at $8 for over eight years. Monthly passes will now cost from $81 to as much as $151. Many students are not covered under the various pass programs which offer lower rates.

We can’t continue to pay the endlessly increasing costs of Translink operations. The YCL demands:
- A publicly owned and operated transit system
- Meaningful public input in transit expansion decisions
- Democratically elected governance and the right to recall
- Expansion of transit services to meet the needs of those who use it; working people, youth, students, and the poor
- Funding through progressive taxation, not through high fares. This means taxing the rich and the corporate elite, not regressive taxes like the HST
- A system of reduced fares for ALL students
- Reduction and eventual elimination of fares to make transit accessible for all

In the long term, our struggle is for a socialist Canada where the working class, including youth and students, democratically own and control the wealth of society which they alone produce. When society’s wealth is put to work improving the lives of the people rather than enriching a small group of elites, all manner of public services including public transit can be funded at never before seen levels to serve the needs of society as a whole.

YCL BC March 2010 eBulletin

To read the March eBulletin visit: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/445432/8fed4b0a50/1623004971/6c0c9d641e/

To subscribe to the eBulletin e-mail ycl_bc@ycl-ljc.ca

Reinforce the struggles of young women for full freedom and equality!

Young Communist League of Canada, March 2010.

The Young Communist League celebrates International Women’s Day and calls on youth and students, regardless of gender, to unite against the Harper Conservative anti-women agenda.

For around 100 years International Women’s Day (IWD) has been celebrated across the globe. In many places, including the socialist countries, it is celebrated as an official holiday. IWD is a time to celebrate the heroic struggles of women, including young women and girls, across the planet throughout history for equality and freedom. It is also a time to renew these struggles as they are still needed so long as patriarchy and capitalism exist.

The Harper Conservative government represents an immediate threat to the rights of women in Canada.

In 2008, the Tories proved their continued opposition to women’s reproductive rights by introducing the “unborn victims of crime act,” which would have opened the door to further laws limiting or prohibiting access to abortion. Young women need a pro-choice agenda which provides education and access to both birth control and abortion free and without harassment by anti-choice forces.

Harper has attacked women’s shelters and advocacy groups with funding cuts which have resulted in, among other things, 12 out of 16 regional offices of Status of Women Canada being closed, and the elimination the Court Challenges Program.

Pay equity is also under attack. Women in Canada still only make about 70% as much as men for comparable work. The governments has ignored and rejected recommendations, including those from a federal task force, to introduce pay equity legislation. In fact, Harper took steps to deepen pay inequity when he introduced the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act which allows public sector employers to use “market demand” in determining compensation to public sector workers.

Young women typically remain stuck in low paid work of a part time or casual nature with no benefits or job security. Low minimum wages, which is some instances come in below the poverty line, limit the economic independence of young women and are a barrier to young families. Many young women are forced to work multiple jobs to get by and face harassment on the job.

The inequity of pay means an unequal ability to pay the crushing debt sentence imposed on students when they leave campuses and enter the work force. Current student debt in Canada runs over $13 billion and much of this is carried by young women. Young women face sexist barriers in education and are streamed into traditionally female roles in high schools.

Prostitution and trafficking of women and children continue to be serious issues and were worsened by the recent Olympic Games which saw an influx in the sex trade aimed at wealthy tourists attending the Games. The majority of women entering the sex trade are youth.

The brutal and unjust occupation of Afghanistan is another tragedy for women. Thousands of Afghan women and girls have been among the civilian casualties. Afghan Parliamentarian Malalai Joya was suspended from office and met with threats of rape and murder when she criticized the warlords now ruling the country with the backing of Canadian and other imperialist troops. She continues to receive threats to this day. In 2009, Afghan Parliament introduced a bill which would legalize rape within marriage. The current troop surge is intensifying violence in the region and worsening the situation for women and girls.

While the Tories represent an immediate danger to women’s rights, the capitalist system itself is fundamentally patriarchal in nature. Patriarchy is not only a development of the class system but a tool of the capitalist class. Sexism is used to divide the working class, youth and students and create conflicts based on gender in order to obscure the fact that the true enemy of working men and women is not the opposite gender, but the capitalist class. Inequity increases competition between workers and reduces co-operation. Sexism is not just a gender issue, it’s a class issue.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this sexist system is violence against women. 51% of Canadian women have faced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 16. 31% of sexual assaults are reported as being perpetrated by a date or acquaintance. Many more are carried out through the use of date rape drugs. The majority of victims in these crimes are young women between the ages of 16-24. Every minute of every day, a woman or child is being sexually assaulted. In poor communities like the Vancouver Downtown East Side, one of the most impoverished areas in North America, women are particularly vulnerable. Over 3000 Aboriginal women are known to have been murdered or disappeared since the 1980’s. At least 18 women have gone missed or been murdered on the “Highway of Tears” in BC and Alberta.
The majority of these cases go unreported and almost all of them go unpunished. Violence against women is the natural outgrowth of the sexism inherent in the capitalist system which defines women as weak and helpless, as sex objects, as second rate people.

While there is never any excuse for rape or other violence against women, we must recognize that it is not only individual men who commit these crimes that are to blame, but the patriarchal capitalist system itself. The system that dehumanizes women, turning them into sexual objects while promoting the cult of male dominance and female subservience every day through the media, entertainment industry, pornography and even the education system. It’s on the cover of almost every magazine at the grocery store, in the lyrics of every song on MTV that described women as “bitches” and “hoes,” it’s in the 1.5% rate of eating disorder amongst young women.

Women who fit these stereotypes and play into the patriarchal capitalist system are promoted as role models while women who courageously stood up for their sisters and their class are forgotten or condemned. Real role models can be found all throughout the history of the working class movement in Canada and the world; like Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Annie Buller, Becky Buhay, Celia Sanchez, or Angela Davis.

The YCL fight for a socialist Canada where patriarchy will be ended and true equality will flourish. We also fight for changes that will strengthen women’s rights and equality in the present, such as:

1 Stop and reverse Harpers anti-equality agenda
2 Troops out now! End the occupation of Afghanistan. Solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and the world
3 Safe, public, accessible abortion clinics across Canada.
4 Affordable housing for all
5 Protect and expand LGBT-Q equality
6 Equal access to education. replace the student loans program by student grants; eliminate post-secondary tuition fees and pay students a stipend; massively expand trade programmes, including young women
7 A universal, affordable, non-profit childcare system with Canada-wide standards
8 A 30 hour week with no loss in pay and no reduction in public services; full benefits for part-time workers; raise the minimum wage to $16 an hour
9 Restore and extend employment and pay equity legislation; expand job creation programs, especially for disadvantaged young women; remove barriers to EI coverage; expand parental leave benefits to 52 weeks
10 Reinstate and expand core funding for equality-seeking women's organizations, including NAC; full funding for grassroots, feminist services to deal with violence against women
11 Enshrine within the constitution the rights of Aboriginal peoples, Quebec, and Acadians to self-determination and self-government, and guarantee the full economic, social and political equality of Aboriginal women
12 Restructuring of the way the legal system deals with violence against women, rape, and prostitution to better protect women from abuse

Capitalism is the root cause of the current attack on women’s rights. Corporations have everything to gain by paying women less, keeping working people divided, and promoting sexism and misogyny. Under capitalism, women face double oppression – as workers, and as women. Women work, study, and when they come home they do the majority of the housework. But they get the minority of the pay and recognition.

There is a strong need for a pan-Canadian women’s organization with a strong youth presence. Young women today can say “We won’t take it anymore!” and fight to end the oppression that their mothers and grandmothers fought against before them when they won such basic rights as the right to vote. We call for broad participation of youth and students in IWD demonstrations and activities as well as support for the World March of Women being held internationally from March 8-October 17. We look forward to a strong young women’s component to the Canadian delegation to the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students this December in South Africa. The oppression and inequality directed at women can only be ended once and for all by ending the capitalist system and building a new society where the working people, men and women together, call the shots in their common interests.