Socialist youth set goals

By Tim Stewart

SYDNEY -- More than 250 people attended the 23rd Resistance National Conference here from July 8-10. Activists from around Australia, including Darwin, Perth and Launceston discussed the crisis of global capitalism, campaigns for environmental justice, workers' and students' rights and building an activist youth organisation.

A special panel on the struggle for women's liberation featured activists from the Democratic Socialist Party, Resistance, and women's officers from University of Queensland and the New Zealand Students' Association. International guests included Tim Marshall from Solidarity in the United States and Moses Havini who spoke about the struggle for an independent Bougainville.

Discussions held during the conference took up challenges faced by the African National Congress in South Africa, the Brazilian Workers Party and the emerging democratic movements in Indonesia and the Philippines. There were also workshops on fighting racism, lesbian and gay oppression and on building an independent student and trade union movement.

This year's conference featured a special presentation on the history, production and distribution of Green Left Weekly highlighting the role of Resistance activists in maintaining and expanding the paper's profile in Australia and internationally.

One of the highlights was the news that a Resistance branch is to be launched in Darwin next month. Activists attending the conference spoke of the number of campaigners in the “Top End”, and the important role GLW plays in keeping them informed.

Resistance activists decided to continue campaigning around a number of issues including the anti-VSU legislation, young people in trade unions and reproductive rights.

Conference participant, Amy Phillips stated, “It was inspiring to collectively discuss and plan all the campaigns we're involved in. Young people are keen to get active and campaign for our rights, and, it's up to us to do it”.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
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