‘Canadian delegates at YC conference Peace essential to children’ S happiness Returning from the World Con- ference for International Year of the Child, held in Moscow, Sep- tember 7-11, five Canadian dele- gates are unanimous in their en- thusiasm in reports made to the Canadian IYC Preparatory Committee September 20. De- scribing the meeting of over 700 participants from 130 countries around the theme: For a Peaceful and Secure Future for All Chil- dren, the Canadians said: “‘unfor- gettable”’, ‘‘a unique experi- ence’, “I was profoundly im- pressed’’. Mary Dennis, president of the Congress of Canadian Women, elected to the Presidium of the World IYC Conference, said, ‘‘It was good to see and hear the representatives from so many dif- ferent situations, from advanced or colonial countries, all coming together around the need for the happiness of the world’s children, recognizing peace as essential for all children’s happiness.” Dr. A.T. Sheehan, professor in the Faculty of Education of the University of Toronto, and presi- dent of the Canadian College of Teachers for 1978-79, described the opening address by President Freda Brown of Australia, as “stirring, setting the tone for the work of the four Commissions, inspiring all participants with her dedication to peace and under- standing among all nations of the _ world, with particular attention to the health of the rising genera- tions. Her exhortation to the delegates to promote solidarity among all peace forces in unity and friendship elicited a warm response.”’ Freda» Brown noted that “‘man has walked on the moon but millionsiof children have never held a book in their hands.’’ And referring to the United Nations [YC declaration of 1979, she said that every year of our lives should be a year for the child. Startling Data Professor Sheehan quoted Dr. Estafania Lim of the United Na- Through anti-communist blinkers On October 2 the Toronto Globe Marxism-Leninism in Today’s World PHOTO — EDYA WEIR Dr. Hannah Polowy, professor of early childhood education at the University of British Columbia at the [YC conference in Moscow. tions Secretariat for FYC who ad- dressed the World Conference, giving startling data on conditions of children: 134 million not attend- ing school; ten million desper- ately poor children in Europe alone. Dr. Lim called for progres- sive and permanent action for the welfare of all children, for sub-. stantive programs and services on — the part of governments of de- veloped countries. For develop- ing countries, she pleaded- for basic services for children, outlin- ing such crucial issues as nutri- tion, education, deprivation and child labor. : Dr. Hannah Polowy, Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University of British Colum- bia, pervaret the feeling of the - _ strong expressions of delegates affecting her life and work, as to- gether they “‘recognized that we as adults must provide our chil- dren a possibility to grow in health, happiness and oppor- tunity ... The-world solidarity of expression for its children by democratic forces will hasten the possibility of every child growing in security and peace ... Cana- dian citizens must become more aware of the relationship between the needs and development of Canadian children and those of children in the developing nations.’’ Dr. Polowy is president of the Canadian Association for Young Children, a member of the Canadian Commission for [YC and a member of the National Council of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians. Divert Arms Production A Montreal teacher, Linda Bal- lantyne, said she was ‘‘deeply impressed’... speakers describ- ing the plight of children — suffer- - ing from hunger, lack of shelter, medical care, education, and without hope for the future. And others — among these the socialist states — telling how | children are cared for, their well- being a prime concern of their governments... Participants discussed in a serious way what is needed to be done to increase the chances of chifdren, the world over, for a better and longer life. . .concluding that resources, now. being devoted to arms, must be diverted to production of goods needed by men, women and above all children.” Carol Schwartz, of the Young Communist League of Canada, took part in the Youth Forum or- ganized as part of the World [YC Conference, with 250 people under the age of thirty. In a free exchange, the diversity of topics reflected the variety of their 145 — organizations children’s organizations, students, church, political, and liberation move- ments. A highlight at the plenary .beings, and to establish a By ALFRED DEWHURST transport session was the contribution ‘the new Minister of Social W fare of Nicaragua — a 28-year-0 woman — ‘‘an.eloquent and cl speaker, responsible for 40,000 children. orphaned in t Nicaraguan struggle.”’ Documents produced by World IYC Conference are be sent to the United Nations governments, and to the pub stressing: “The children are our fut Yet in many countries millions: children go hungry, millions them die from epidemics and la¢ of medical care, millions of the are illiterate and have no acce education. In order to solve t problems it is necessary to e cate the basic reasons for undé! development: colonialism and:4 forms of exploitation of hum international economic order . Concern for children’s well-beif must be constant. Let i. & strengthen our unity in the # terests of the tomorrow of © planet — our children and gran children . . . for peace, democ and social. progress, ‘‘For Peaceful and Secure Future for® Children’’. Sex educatic A study at the Johns Hopki School of Hygiene and Pub Health suggests contraceptiv: formation given preteens reduce the number of illegiti teenage pregnancies. findings pointed out the need reach young girls.with birth ce trol information and services 1 only before the first pregnan¢e but before sexual activity be It warned of waiting to give ® information to young women uf they’re 17 or 18 when many b sexual relations before the age 16. The findings indicated many pregnant teenagers were misinformed that many were. I aware that it was possible ™ them to become pregnant. services, and cultule and Mail published an editorial of two short paragraphs. Headed ‘‘Amnesty, Shamnesty’’, the editorial noted that to mark its 30th anniversary the German Democratic Republic has declared an amnesty for people ‘‘sentenced on crim- inal or political charges’’ and that ‘‘hun- dreds can be expected to be freed.”’ The second paragraph exposes the rabid anti-communism of the Globe which we quote in full: ‘Freed is perhaps a misleading word. * What it really means is that instead of having to stare at the local prison walls, they can come out into the exercise yard that is the Republic, and stare at a much larger and longer wall.” * * * For many, many years the Globe posed as the voice of objectivity in this country becoming known as Canada’s national newspaper, somewhat along the lines of the New York Times. But as the crisis of world capitalism deepened and the balance of world forces shifted away from imperialism it seems to have lost any sense of objectivity it may have once possessed. Now it seems possessed of a psychopathic fear of real socialism wherever it may exist. _ How else can one explain the last PACIFIC TRIBUNE— OCTOBER 19, 1979— Page 8 paragraph of the editorial quoted above? What is the real state of affairs in socialist GDR which the Globe apparently cannot see? Or rather, sees but prefers to ignore the better to spread its anti-communist virus among its readers. We have before us a very informative book ‘‘Introducing the GDR” full of facts, pictures and ex- planations about the GDR. * * * Ofcourse, this book is in stark contrast to the Globe’s view, as it views the GDR from the standpoint of existing socialism and the real state of affairs in that country after 30 years of existence as a state of workers and farmers. While the Globe expresses its opinion of the GDR from what it thinks will best serve the exploi- tive system of monopoly capitalism. It is equally obvious, that if ‘anti- communism serves the interests of monopoly capital, it certainly does not serve the interests of Canada or of the workers and farmers and, for that matter, the Canadian people as a whole. . > ee What is the truth about the GDR that the Globe rejects? First and foremost it is a socialist workers’ and farmers’ state. It is a stable socialist country which puts people first: The basis for the GDR’s na- tional economy is determined by the fact that the main means of production are - socially owned. This determines the na- ture of work which is free and creative. ’ In other words, the exploitation of man by man has been abolished forever. The Republic’s constitution decrees that what the people’s hands have created shall belong to the peofile. The constitution also decrees that a vital condition for liberty and human dig- nity is to give every person an opportun- ity to obtain secure income through his own work to sustain himself and his fami- ly. It looks upon the right to work as the basic right of human existence. Coupled with the right to education and care for the elderly and sick, the right to work creates a sense of complete material sec- urity from early childhood through to old age. * * * The right to work is assured in the GDR because all the land and natural resources, banks, factories, mines, fident that good work pays well amenities belong to the people in form of social ownership. It is the 5 guarantee why working people are © benefits the individual as well as soc asa whole. The right to work enshrined in. socialist constitution of the GDR mé it possible for the socialist state guarantee all its citizens political } doms«and social rights far beyond ability of capitalist states to provide guarantees also, through the grow econoimic potential of socialist so ci and the enhancement of socialist dé: a racy, that these rights can be fully ovo 3 cised in practice irrespective of sex, | or nationality. * * * es Every citizen in the GDR has ine il to express his or her opinion foil 4 publicly. Views from questions rr fe 1 to political, economic and cultural lif international affairs are aired and dis¢ sed in public. pape te fre expression may not militarist and revanchist proj roma , warmongering and the stirring up © f at ligious, racial and national hatred. abuses are punishable offences terms of the constitution.