Rebel Youth Network

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Rebel Youth Network
Rebel Youth Network Logo
Formation	November 9, 2003
Headquarters	Canada

Rebel Youth Network (RYN) was established as an Organizing Committee November 9th, 2003.

The goal of the organizing committee was to form a coalition of various revolutionary youth organizations from the First Nations, Quebec and Canada. They hoped to gain membership in the World Federation of Democratic Youth.

The project began in November of 2002 after members of Young Left met with members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Collective, who agreed that a multi-national youth organization was needed, but that it would be unlikely any one organization would ever expand enough to meet those needs. The solution: try and unite existing youth organizations under one umbrella.

[edit] Original Organizing Committee Founding Groups

• Young Left - Toronto
• Toronto Native Youth - Toronto
• Kitchener Waterloo Youth Collective - Kitchener
• Fredericton Youth Collective - Fredericton
• Saint John Youth Collective - Saint John

The organizations agreed to unite under the Young Left 12 Point Program, and soon disagreements began to surface over the national question. Toronto Native Youth wanted to exclude all references to Canada, as they considered Canada to be an illegal state built on Native land. They were also felt that many members, especially those in Young Left had colonial mentalities, used "colonial language" and were insensitive to Native issues. Young Left members replied that they were referring to "Canada" only as a geographical area and state boundary inside which they were carrying out struggle and not in the colonial sense of "Canada" as being a single nation - which would negate the legitimacy of the Quebec nation and First Nations.

A compromise was attempted, but TNY resigned from RYN in 2003, only saying that Native issues took priority for their members over the RYN project.

Other issues, such as including animal rights within the 12 Point Program were also brought up. These disagreements may have caused discouragement in many, as one member of the organizing committee after another resigned. YL and KWYC members stated that disagreement and debate was good, and that it should continue, however TNY, FYC and SJYC members were not used to the same process of discussing, debating and criticizing and self-criticizing that the YL and KWYC members were.

After the main organizer from New Brunswick moved to Toronto, FYC and SJYC fell apart. With many KWYC members in jail, or out on bail with conditions against any revolutionary or even general political activity, and the loss of "The Spot" youth drop-in centre, the KWYC was unable to effectively participate in RYN; effectively ending the network experiment.

Rebel Youth Network faded away in 2004.

The Rebel Youth Network had originally adopted the 12 Point Program of Young Left as its basis of unity:

[edit] 12 Point Program of Rebel Youth Network

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD

We believe that the federal government should not participate in the violent subjugation of the oppressed peoples of the world on behalf of Western imperialism. We seek an immediate halt to all wars of aggression and arms exports and the retooling of military production for civilian purposes.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION UP TO AND INCLUDING COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

We believe that education is vital to the participation of youth in democratic struggle. Education must include the critical analysis of our history and society with non-Eurocentric and multilingual curriculum.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL

We believe that if the slum lords and developers will not provide shelter fit for human beings, then housing and land should be turned over to the people in the form of cooperatives so that they can, with government aid, create and maintain appropriate housings.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO PUBLIC RECREATION, ARTS, CULTURAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES

We believe that the people must be able to have access to public space and activities that are affordable and free of corporate control and decadent consumerism.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO GUARANTEED UNIVERSAL FREE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

We believe that the capitalists must not be permitted to profit from human suffering and illness. Healthcare must include both advanced medical procedures and preventative medicine and education campaigns to counteract the damaging lifestyle promoted by corporate advertising.

WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT WITH A LIVEABLE WAGE, DIGNITY AND SAFETY

We believe that the government must enact policies that promote full employment through public works projects and a 36-hour workweek with no loss in pay. If the capitalists will not provide decent jobs in our communities then their technology should be expropriated and turned over to the communities.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, CLEAN AND SUBSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

We believe that our society must function in harmony with the environment on which all life depends. The corporations must be made to pay for the clean up of the toxins they have created and end the production of unnecessarily wasteful and destructive technologies.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN VIOLENCE FREE COMMUNITIES

We believe that the police must be accountable to the communities in which they operate. The government should create a zero-tolerance policies for police brutality and corruption and promote alternatives to incarceration in poor and oppressed communities, such as addictions counseling and psychological treatment.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO FULL EQUALITY REGARDLESS OF COLOUR, NATIONALITY, LANGUAGE, SEX, RELIGION OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION

We believe special measures should be taken to overcome the historic and present discrimination against oppressed peoples and nationalities, particularly the First Nations, black, and recent immigrant communities and women.

WE WANT AN END TO THE CORPORATE CONTROL OF ALL MEDIA AND PRESS

We believe that the government must create real public media that is accessible to the communities so that critical voices can be heard without the censorship of corporate owners and advertisers.

WE WANT THE RIGHT TO FULL CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES

We believe that students and young workers should not face unwarranted search and seizures or restrictions on the freedoms speech, privacy or other constitutional protections. Alternatives to suspension, expulsion, and termination such as counseling, conflict resolution, and job training should be fully funded.

WE WANT REAL DEMOCRACY WITH THE RIGHT TO YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION

We believe that governing bodies must reflect the diversity of the populations they serve. Youth must have the right to vote on the issues that affect their lives.