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The International Union of Socialist Youth – IUSY – is deeply saddened and affected by the death of a man who with his struggle, values and courage managed not only to unite a nation under the flag of respect for human rights, equality and justice – in their most profound and substantial sense – but also to triumph and to become a reference to the world in achieving welfare independently of race, class or belief. This man is Nelson Mandela.

Madiba – as his people affectionately called him – is on top of that the example of what every young socialist must strive to be; a soldier at the service of the most beautiful causes that humanity should pursue, now and forever, an instrument for the permanent construction of Utopia: a world in peace, in justice, in equality and in brotherhood, with no distinction of an objective over the other.

Nelson Mandela was, ultimately, one of the best among us. A live example of struggle, conviction, coherence and humility who leaves several lessons to young socialists, social democrats and labour youth around the world. his lessons were not transmitted by mere words or good intentions but with concrete actions of struggle and leadership.

At first instance, Mandela taught us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Besides, fear should never limit our convictions. Convictions should never be traded-off, not even over the most tempting offer. There is no freedom if this one is not constructed from our convictions. His example is highly required today in a world where injustice, violence, segregation, inequality express in different forms. We are in need of even more brave people than yesterday.

Furthermore, Mandela taught us that no battle could be won alone. Only the people united for one cause can change the world. Solidarity and international pressure could be the key to profound transformations; transformations that the most needed people in our towns and nations can no longer wait for. We want to tell you Mandela, and tell the world, that this is one of the reasons why IUSY exists. Symbols like you confirm, ultimately, that en equal world is really possible and that it is worth fighting for!

For this reason, today in IUSY we firmly believe that the best homage we can pay to Mandela is to keep up with his cause, his fight and his example. Unity is the only thing that will make us invincible. Today, young socialists around the world are called to take the torch that he once ignited and to continue every day, in every corner of our planet, doing our own revolution.

Young socialists all around the world will not let Mandela die. He will live on in our memory, our values, our principles and in our actions.

 

Because we are IUSY, we are all around the world, to change it!

Forever Madiba!

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La unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas –IUSY- desea expresar su más profunda tristeza y conmoción ante el fallecimiento de un hombre, que con su lucha, con su valor y su valentía, no solo logró unir a una nación bajo las banderas del respeto a los Derechos Humanos, de la igualdad, de la justicia en su sentido más profundo y  sustancial, si no que además triunfó, y se transformó en un símbolo del camino que un mundo entero debe recorrer para lograr el bienestar para todas las personas sin distinción alguna de raza, clase o creencia. Ese hombre es Nelson Mandela.

Madiba, como afectuosamente le llamaba su pueblo, es además el ejemplo de lo que todo joven socialista debe trabajar por ser, un soldado al servicio de las más bellas causas que puede perseguir la humanidad, hoy y siempre, un instrumento de la construcción permanente de la utopía, de un mundo en paz, en justicia, en igualdad y en fraternidad, sin distinción de un objetivo sobre el otro.

Nelson Mandela fue, en definitiva, uno de los mejores entre los nuestros, por su ejemplo vivo de lucha, convicción, consecuencia y humildad, pero además por las enseñanzas que nos deja a todos los jóvenes socialistas, socialdemócratas y laboristas alrededor del mundo. Enseñanzas que no fueron transmitidas con palabras ni buenas intenciones, sino que con acciones concretas de lucha y liderazgo.

Mandela nos enseñó, en primer lugar, que la valentía no es la ausencia del temor, sino que la capacidad de conquistar y dominar ese temor. Además, que el temor no puede nunca limitar nuestras convicciones, y que las convicciones no se transan ni ante la más tentadora oferta. No hay libertad si esta no es construida desde nuestras convicciones. Y que falta nos hace hoy su ejemplo, en un mundo donde la injusticia, la violencia, la segregación, la desigualdad se expresa de diversas formas, y necesitamos muchos más valientes que ayer.

Además, Mandela nos enseñó que ninguna batalla se gana de forma aislada, que solo la unidad de todos los pueblos bajo una sola causa puede cambiar el mundo, que la solidaridad y la presión internacional pueden ser la llave de las más profundas transformaciones, aquellas que los más necesitados de nuestros pueblos y naciones no pueden seguir esperando. Queremos contarte a ti Mandela, y al mundo, que esta es una de las razones de existir para IUSY, y que símbolos como el tuyo son la confirmación, en definitiva, de que un mundo en igualdad es realmente posible, ¡y vale la pena luchar por él!

Por esto, es que desde IUSY hoy estamos convencidos de que el mejor homenaje que podemos rendir a Mandela es continuar con su causa, con su lucha, con su ejemplo. Que solo la unidad nos hará invencibles, y que hoy los jóvenes socialistas de todo el mundo estamos llamados a tomar la antorcha que alguna vez encendiera, y continuar cada día, en cada rincón de nuestro planeta haciendo nuestra propia revolución.

Las y los jóvenes socialistas del mundo no permitiremos que Mandela muera, pues vivirá en nuestra memoria, en nuestros valores, en nuestros principios y en nuestras acciones.

            ¡Porque somos IUSY, y estamos en todo el mundo, para cambiarlo!

¡Hasta siempre Madiba!

 

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The Hague, 5th May 2013

Dear Comrades,

Now 90 years old, your co-founder and first IUSY president in 1946, is no more able to travel. It is therefore via my computer and internet that I have to send to the Dortmund Festival my fraternal greetings and best wishes.

You are having an impressive, and in the selection of themes widespread, agenda. Perhaps I might add another item that throughout the world asks young socialists to take, both collectively and personally, effective action. We have to fight and condemn discrimination, Treaties, constitutions and laws ban discrimination. In spite of that, it is still alive. Not only in some countries still having xenophobe laws or practices, but also nearby.

Look at the Sports section of your newspaper. Somewhere a club, because of the attitude of its fans or of a player, is criticized or gets to pay. But are you sure that in your own club there is no discrimination? It not only exists because the colour of a skin is different, or because another member is known to be homosexual. It can exist simply because someone is considered to be a bit different. Why? Often nobody knows, but he or she is felt to differ from the average figure in the crowd.

Discrimination occurs because he or she is considered not to fit into the general pattern. In school, in the university, in the club, or also at work, amongst the colleagues. And bullying is being found, and felt, too often, sometimes even nearby. In this little country on the North Sea coast last year twice youngsters committed suicide as they were continuously plagued. They felt never to be safe from the attitude of other pupils. They could have been saved if other youngsters would have gone against the general trend and had taken their side. Are you sure there is no bullying in your school class, in your club, in your university faculty, in your job?

Sometimes social democracy demands not only action against authorities, against employers, against exploitation throughout the world, but in your own little world. Do not hesitate to go against discrimination nearby!

So far another theme for your Festival, and afterwards back at home. But have now a good time at Dortmund and celebrate the jubilee!

Just as at the end of our first international IUSY camp, in 1948 at Ebensee in Austria, I end this greeting with

FREUNDSCHAFT !

BOB MOLENAAR
The Hague, Netherlands

IUSY sorrows for its deceased friend and comrade Bob Molenaar, who died on the 17th of November 2013 at the age of 90. He was our first IUSY President after the Second World War and the first one for the re-established International Union of Socialist Youth between 1946-1948.

We will always remember him as a leading light fighting for social justice, human rights and international solidarity for a lifetime.

In September 1946 Bob Molenaar became our first president in our founding congress in Paris, the first congress of the International Union of Socialist Youth, which he participated as a representative of the New Course, the former organisation of the Young Socialists in the PvdA. Ever since he had played a major part in the history of international socialism, and he has influenced the lives of young socialists all over the world.

Besides from his work for the IUSY, Bob Molenaar had always been a very active member of The Hague’s Labour Party (PvdA) and the European Movement Netherlands. He had been president of the European Movement Netherlands for more than twelve years and held various positions in the International European Movement, from 1987 to 1992 as Secretary General.

For a lifetime he abhorred parochialism and stood up for international solidarity. “Solidarity does not stop at the border. It is shocking that politicians turn their backs on worldwide poverty and oppression.” On the question of whether there is a difference in the way young people used to be politically active then and now, Molenaar said: “The flags and banners have been replaced by T-shirts and caps, but the atmosphere of being critical towards the party has still remained.”

For us, he will remain forever a model of a true young socialist. A man who, in a time when it didn’t seem obvious, saw that international cooperation between youths is vital for the development for a social and democratic world. A real inspiration for many young socialists, and someone we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

With him, we will always remember: over a century, all around the world to change it!

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IUSY is looking ahead to 2014!
Next year IUSY is aiming organizing its World Festival.

In case your organization is interested in hosting the IUSY World Festival, please look into the organizational needs for the event listed in this call, so you can discuss them with your leadership and party. We are looking forward to receiving your proposal as an official letter from the leadership of your organization, addressed to the IUSY President and Secretary General by December 2013.

We are looking forward to hearing from you in the near future. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the IUSY Secretary General Beatriz Talegón at iusy@iusy.org or beatriz.talegon@iusy.org.

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¡IUSY tiene ya la vista puesta en 2014!
El año que viene nos gustaría organizar el Festival Mundial de IUSY.

Si vuestra organización está interesada en acoger el Festival Mundial de la IUSY, os pedimos que por favor estudiéis las necesidades de organización del evento junto con el ejecutivo de vuestra organización y con vuestro partido. Las necesidad están descritas en esta convocatoria. Esperaremos una carta oficial del ejecutivo de vuestra organización que vaya dirigida a la Presidenta y la Secretaria General de la IUSY antes de que termine diciembre de 2013.

!Esperamos vuestras propuestas! Si tenéis cualquier pregunta o duda no tardéis en poneros en contacto con la Secretaria General Beatriz Talegón: iusy@iusy.org o beatriz.talegon@iusy.org.

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IUSY a déjà la vue mise en 2014!
L’année qui vient nous plairait organiser le Festival Mondial.

Si votre organisation voudra accueillir le Festival Mondial de la IUSY, prenez en considération les exigences d’organisation de l’événement décrit en continuation de cet appel, pour en discuter avec l’exécutif de votre organisation et avec votre parti. Nous nous réjouissons de recevoir la proposition officielle de votre organisation, dirigé à la Présidente et la Secrétaire Général de la IUSY avant décembre 2013.

Nous sommes impatients de recevoir vos réponses. Si vous avez des questions n’hésitez pas à contacter la Secrétaire Général de la IUSY Beatriz Talegón au iusy@iusy.org ou beatriz.talegon@iusy.org.