SEMINAR ON GLOBALISATION & IMPACT ON YOUTH

 Youth Must Globalise Resistance

N S Arjun

SPEAKERS at an international seminar, held on the sidelines of the 7th all India conference of the DYFI on November 8, have called upon the youth to be in the forefront of the ongoing resistance against imperialist globalisation. They stressed the need to globalise resistance and to have broadest possible unity in the fight. The speakers underscored the importance of ideologically meeting this imperialist assault and the need to link the political fight with the local level issues.

“Globalisation and its Impact on Youth” was the theme of the seminar, which was addressed by leaders of youth movement of various countries attending this conference as fraternal delegates. A lively interactive discussion followed the presentations by the speakers.

Setting the tone for the seminar, former vice president of DYFI, Suneet Chopra, said the slogan of globalisation, free markets, outsourcing etc are nothing but a cover for the imperialist nations to indulge in the unabated loot of third world countries. He explained in detail how this loot was taking place.

The imperialist countries mantra of free market was limited only to the free flow of goods, that too only from North to South. However when it comes to the question of free movement of labour, these countries do not allow it. Saying that this reveals their intention of plundering third world nations, Suneet Chopra demanded the lifting of visa restrictions being imposed by the rich nations.

Referring to the disastrous impact of globalisation on our country, he cited the following figures:

45 million people became landless in the last ten years

The poor ration card holders are being given wheat at the rate of Rs 6.30 per kg while the same wheat is being exported to United States at Rs 4.30 for feeding to cattle and pigs.

The resistance to globalisation, which began in a big way in Seattle, must be taken forward and in this the NGO’s alone would not suffice and there is a need for the mass organisations to involve more forcefully, stressed Suneet Chopra.

The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) vice president Uday Raj in his address said that the WFDY is playing an active role in resisting globalisation. The c coming World Social Forum meetings in Mumbai will be utilised by the WFDY to take forward this fight, he said.

The Vietnamese fraternal delegate, Ngoc Thach, in his speech said the Vietnamese people could repulse the imperialist aggressors mainly because the people were united and there was international solidarity for their struggle. He stressed that the present resistance movement against imperialist globalisation should also have greater unity by involving broader sections of people. He ended with the slogan of Ho Chi Minh: Unity, Unity, Great Unity!!

Victory, Victory, Great Victory!!

The fraternal delegate from Sri Lanka, H P Dammika, explaining the impact of globalisation on his country stated that 83 PSU’s in his country, including those in the crucial sectors of Airlines and Ports, were handed over to the MNC’s during the last two decades. Even huge chunks of land was being acquired by the MNC’s, making one fear that the process of recolonisation is on in full swing.

Dammika noted how the imperialist forces were trying to destroy his country’s cultural heritage and identity and said that this was a deliberate effort to make the effort of subjugation more easier. Saying that what is going on was not just globalisation but recolonisation, he called upon the youth to wage national liberation struggles once again.

SFI general secretary Kallol Roy in his presentation dwelt on how the globalisation process is impacting the education. He said that education is being opened up in a big way for profit-seekers. Saying that the media is playing an important role in spreading the illusion that globalisation works for the benefit of youth and society, Kallol Roy called upon youth and students to link up the struggle against globalisation with day to day local issues.

DYFI leader Satyajit Roy in his speech highlighted the dangers of globalisation on the countries economies, sovereignty and unity. He said this process gives impetus to the fundamentalist forces in all countries and stressed the need to fight ideologically and politically this danger.

DYFI joint secretary Tikender Singh Panwar moderated this discussion.