On the 25th Anniversary of the 12th World Festival of Youth and Students, held in Moscow in 1985, the National Preparatory Committee organized a press conference with current and former leaders of the WFYS movement to remember the rich history and to mobilize the youth to the coming 17th World Festival of Youth and Students. in South Africa. Find a brief report below:

Citizens of modern Russia remember well the history of festival movement.

The 50th anniversary of the Moscow Festival in 1957 was widely celebrated three years ago.

This year it is the 25th anniversary since the 12th WFYS was held in Moscow. In this connection press-conference and round-table devoted to the festival movement were held in central press agency ITAR-TASS.

Among the great number of participants there were former leaders of the youth movement of Soviet Union, coordinators of the festivals’ movement, representatives of the Communist Youth Union of the Russian Federation.

All of them highly evaluated the contribution of the festivals to strengthening the bonds of friendship between young people across the world (consolidating the world youth).

Many ask why do people in quite another Russia remember about the festivals and continue to be loyal to their slogans and ideals.

Soviet young people were brought up in the spirit of international solidarity and friendship. Dozens of people took part in the preparation for the festivals. They keep remembering this.

Over 300 thousand people took part in the preparation for the 12th Festival. There were more than 1500 simultaneous interpreters. 157 delegations came to Moscow.

The National Preparatory Committee of the Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its own website. Check it out in:

http://fmjd2010rdcongo.blog.fr/

The Africa regional meeting successfully took place in Senegal on 28 August 2010, being hosted by UJDAN in Popenguine, Senegal.

The people discussed on the processes of further mobilizing the youth of Africa to attend the festival. It was interesting to note how the youth especially from Senegal wanted to fully participate in this festival and share their views on how we can defeat imperialism.

The meeting also managed to recommend organizations which will be part of the International Organizing committee to be presented during the 3rd International Preparatory committee in Cyprus.

The delegates appealed for African youth to attend in greater numbers such that their voices can be heard. The people recognized that it is high time that people expose the cause of conflicts in the continent especially in the Horn of Africa and the Situation in Western Sahara.

It was also noted that a number of organizations in Africa have created some broad-based National Preparatory Commitees.

Young people from different countries of Europe gather and appeal to the youth of the world to take part in the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students. Don’t miss it!

In Leon, Guanajato State of Mexico, the President of WFDY gathered with several young people and leaders of social movements of the surrounding cities, to invite them to take part in the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students.

After showing the video organized by the South African National Preparatory Committee to explain the context of the WFYS, Tiago Vieira explained the difficult situation of the youth of the world, the international capitalist crisis, the threats of new wars, the domination of imperialism on our world and the need that the youth of the world discusses and struggles to change the situation and achieve peace and respect for their rights.

It was also highlighted the democratic process of building the process, with wide participation of all WFDY members and friendly organizations as well as the preparations in South Africa for the very broad program of conferences, seminars, workshops and cultural and sports activities with an expected attendance of 30,000 delegates of all the world.

From Mexico, the responsible for Jovenes por el Socialismo, who just arrived from the continental preparatory meeting in Buenos Aires, informed all presents about the steps taken in the region, the workshops proposed by the day of America and the need of national coordination in Mexico for the definition of the proposals of the Mexican youth.

Different social leaders highlighted the importance of the WFYS movement and shared experiences of their own participation in previous Festivals, promising to support the youth of today to find ways to get to South Africa.

The young people present at the meeting were really enthusiastic as they heard the news and taken in mind themselves are engaged in the struggle against the oppressing capitalism, particularly in traditionally conservative area of Mexico, ruled by the right-wing and where the anti-imperialist, progressive and democratic organizations are many times prevented from achieving their rights to be implemented.

Finally, all committed to start working together right now to go South Africa as well as to spread the message to all their known organizations, places of study and friends and to be creative to find the necessary means to ensure the Mexican presence in South Africa this December.

Just few days the youth of Democratic Republic of Congo as joined efforts to establish the National Preparatory Committee for the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students.

Now the preparations will continue to promote the 17th WFYS in the country and mobilize as many young people as possible to take part in the event in South Africa, this December!

During the weekend of July 23-25, took place in Avis, progressive municipality of the south of Portugal, a camp of the National Preparatory Committee. This camp, named “Peace Camp”, had the participation of several hundreds of young people from all corners of the country and many of the more than 30 organizations that are members of the Portuguese NPC.

As this year Portugal will be hosting the Summit of NATO, a big part of the camp was dedicated to the discussion about NATO criminal nature, which bound to Portugal comes from the foundation of the Alliance, when the fascist dictatorship enrolled Portugal as full member. The need to reinforce the efforts for peace and the defeat of imperialism were present in the whole discussion, as well as the appeal for all the young people to participate in the demonstration of November 20, called by the promoters of the Campaign “Yes to Peace, No to NATO!”.

The values of friendship and solidarity were dominating in throughout all the activities held at the camp, such as football and volleyball tournaments, peddy-papers and quizzes, concerts or organized meals.

On the road to South Africa this was definitely a high moment for the Portuguese youth!

It took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 18, in the framework of the Sao Paulo Forum, the American Continental Meeting of preparation of the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students.

The participants at this meeting, coming from Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Venezuela, showed their happiness on the preparations for the upcoming Festival and reaffirmed their commitment to make it even bigger and better than the last edition that took place in 2005, in Caracas.

The meeting was great opportunity for exchange of opinions and experiences related to the work done in each country and each National Preparatory Committee related to the preparations of the Festival as well as how the Festival is deeply related to the struggle of the youth against imperialism, both in its national and international expressions.

Pleased with the outcomes and the unity felt in this meeting the participants have now returned to their countries to the last phase of the mobilization for the Festival which is expected to be in high numbers and great quality, as it will bring the revolutionary youth of Latin America to share their experiences with the anti-imperialist of all over the world.

On August 18, in the city of Malmo, took place a meeting of Scandinavian National Preparatory Committees and organizations together with WFDY to prepare a coordinate the participation of the Scandinavian countries in the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students, in South Africa.

In the meeting, that had the participation of comrades from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, the discussion was centered on how to mobilize even more young people to come to the Festival, as well as, how to cooperate in terms of propaganda, joint-events and joint travel arrangements to reduce costs.

As the enthusiasm is growing all over the world, also in the North of Europe the arrangements are continuing the cooperation will be even more fruitful from now on. Keep logged in to receive the news!

The National Preparatory Committee of Germany is now online, you can check it at all times in:

www.weltfestspiele.de