YCL-LJC - International Commission

The United Nations International Day for Peace, September 21st, is a day to remind youth and students of the urgency for action to end all wars, aggressions and imperialism and for solidarity, peace and friendship in the world.

The Young Communist League of Canada takes this occasion to re-affirm our demand for an end to Canadian involvement in the imperialist intervention in Libya, withdraw all troops and para-military police forces from Afghanistan and Haiti, and for an independent Canadian foreign policy based on peace and 
disarmament, and Canada out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

We also join with the World Federation of Democratic Youth in highlighting the campaign for a sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital and the right of return for refugees.

Imperialist war, occupations, blockades, sanctions and other attacks not only causes needless death, injury and suffering, but also, food shortages, famines, instability, displacement,  ecological catastrophe. It perpetuates poverty, gender oppression, and social inequality among the people of the world.

Imperialist aggression can take many shapes and forms, including:

-        territorial conquest, like the full-scale US occupation of Iraq or supporting Morocco’s domination of Western Sahara; 
-          facilitating internal crisis such as the famine in Somalia or the coup in Honduras; 
-          promoting secessionist insurgencies such as in Kosovo or Bolivia; 
-          supporting organized criminal violence and the drug trade such as in Mexico; 
-          expansion of military bases like the new US bases in Columbia and AFRICOM; 
-          intimidation such as the constant ‘war games’ against the DPR Korea; 
-          blockades and sanctions like those imposed on Cuba; 
-          ecological destruction such as the poisoning of Vietnam by Agent Orange; 
-          the formation of military alliances such as NATO

Although these conflicts seem very different, they are linked not only by the violence used by imperialism against the people but also the driving force of profits.

This is the reality of imperialism, of global capitalism and the cost is the lives and livelihood of the youth, the working class and all the non-corporate population. Fundamentally, it is the countries, nations and peoples that have dealt with the legacy of colonialism that continue to suffer the destabilizing and horrific consequences of war. The YCL-LJC condemns any form of aggression that is used by the hand of imperialists against the people and we express sincere solidarity with all those suffering and in resistance against imperialism.

Youth and students in Canada must also never forget that militarism comes at a tremendous moral, political and economic cost back at home, with massive  resources wasted on destruction. The Harper Conservatives have clearly shown Canadians and the world that their government is dedicated to spreading imperialist roots all over the world including through NATO. They have committed to expanding Canada’s military budget at the cost of health care, education and social programs -- including the purchase of fighter jets (misleadingly priced, in contempt of parliament), the extension of Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan, participation in the bombing of Libya, as well as staunch support of the Zionist apartheid state of Israel.

We call upon young people to forcefully condemn the Harper Conservatives unacceptable policies that do not represent Canadian youth!  We call for a Charter of Youth Rights, to guarantee the right of youth to a world at peace.

Life and livelihood are fundamental rights. Peace is the only way to achieve this basic right. Anything less will not stand!