Build A New Revolutionary Youth International

In an era in which neoliberalism is working remorselessly to tear down all barriers to the plundering of corporate capital, when imperialist armies have bombed or invaded Serbia, Afghanistan and Iraq a mighty movement of spontaneous resistance has arisen on all continents. Young people, workers, peasants, indigenous peoples have been organising an international fightback across borders and continents.

Young people have been absolutely central to this new internationalism. In Porto Alegre and Mumbai tens of thousands participated in the youth camp of the World Social Forums. On February 15th 2003 tens of millions many of them young answered the call of the European and World Social Forums to demonstrate against imperialist war and occupation.

It is no surprise that we take up this role given that the brutalities of capitalism often hit us first and hardest. We are the first to be sent off to die in capitalist wars, we are obliged to work in sweatshops or in lowest paid jobs , we are denied economic and social rights until we have 'grown up'.

In Argentina young piqueteros were in the forefront of the uprisings of 2001-02. In Palestine young people led the intifada. And in Iraq they fill the ranks of the resistance. In the Basque country, in divided Kurdistan, in Chechnya young people are in the front ranks of resistance to brutal national oppression. In the townships of South Africa and Latin America they are fighting privatisation of their most basic necessities like water and electricity. On all continents we are demanding the right to a free education at all levels.

The World and continental Social Forums give us space to meet make links, debate strategy and plan action. But this alone won't be enough to get rid of the system that stands for war, racism and social cuts. We have to unite young people in the workplaces, schools and colleges across national borders and continents around a common political strategy for radical social change.

We demand the ending of the monstrous blockade of Cuba. We defend Venezuela against US threats. We stand with the people of Colombia against that countries puppet regime and its dirty war against its own people. We solidarise with the resistance of the Palestinian people against Zionism, of the Iraqi people against the occupation of their country. We will oppose the spread of a cruel sanctions regime to Iran. We want to make our solidarity even more concrete and coordinated.

But international expressions of sympathy are not enough, gatherings where we share a common space are insufficient unless we use that space, that precious time to build , to organise, to create an ongoing and permanent instrument of struggle.

We agree with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez when he said that the WSF must urgently address the question of power - just talk utopian plans for "another world" are not enough.

We need a revolutionary strategy to achieve it. The leadership of the WSF is increasingly in the hands of open reformists, like those in the PT loyal to Lula who have shared power with neoliberals and betrayed their promises to the workers and poor peasants who elected them. In addition the WSF leaders exclude young people from the platforms of the biggest meetings.

They don't want us to be heard because we are the really revolutionary voices inside the social movements. They suppress our voices because we fight the enemy not negotiate with him. Young people are natural fighters against all half-heartedness, all rotten compromises with the class enemy. Therefore within the worldwide anti-capitalist or antiglobalist movement we have a duty to give a lead against reformism.

What can we do NOW? We can lay the foundations of a world wide anticapitalist and revolutionary youth movement. If we do this we will be greeted with great enthusiasm not just by young people but by the mass membership of the trade unions, the peasants organisations, the rank and file of the workers parties and will encourage them to unite and throw off the chains of pro-capitalist leaders and policies.

The building of an international organisation of youth active in every struggle of the workers and oppressed in the fight against the system is the burning question posed by our central role in forging this new internationalism.

That's why REVOLUTION, the socialist youth group, calls on all youth sections of trade unions, political parties and social movements to convene a conference for the foundation of a revolutionary youth international that channels all the strengths of this new global movement into a concerted organised fight against the capitalist system.

We invite groups and individuals to discuss with us now the political basis and policy upon which we can unite. WE appeal to all youth organisations and individuals to contact us if they agree with our proposals, to work with us to create a youth conference or assembly at the continental WSFs in 2006 and at the WSF in Africa in 2007.

REVOLUTION believes that our fight can only be successful if it is based upon a revolutionary action programme that sets as its goal the complete overthrow of capitalism, the empowerment of the working class and the establishment of socialism.

We do not for one minute seek to separate or isolate ourselves from our older working class and poor peasant brothers and sisters, also fighting for their emancipation. We do not believe that young people can change the world alone. That's why we must fight too to build a new global party of social revolution. Four times before workers fighting against capitalism have founded a global party of resistance. We believe that now, the "new internationalism" of our movements of resistance creates the opportunity to found a Fifth International.

We propose:

*A youth space and assembly at the Athens ESF

*A pan European network of youth organizations towards an international network

*An open democratic discussion of strategy on how to take forward this movement

*Agreement around common action in defence of our rights against the brutalities of globalisation

REVOLUTION