Dear readers,

We, the editorial board, are proud to announce that our chief editor has received the Stalin Medal (Gold) from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukraine (Bolsheviks). The CC-CPU(B) gives the following reason for the award:

"For personal devotion to the ideas of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin and for the revolutionary practice for the formation of communism. For editing and publishing the journal "Northstar Compass." NSC is playing a role as a unifying force between communists and workers parties on the planet; by publishing articles in defense of the Soviet Union and its dedication to proletarian internationalism, and for the formation of an International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People."

We are also proud to announce that the journal too received a Stalin Medal (silver) from the Central Committee of Communist Party of Ukraine (Bolsheviks) CC-CPU(B). It gives the following reason:

"For publication dedication that is devoted to the teachings of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin. For defending the revolutionary theory and practice and for future road towards communist civilization. The journal, edited and published by Michael Lucas, is leading an active propaganda work in support of the communist movements of the territory of the USSR. It shows courage and optimism for rebuilding socialism and return back to Soviet Union role in human society. The journal promotes contacts between different communist movements of the world."

It is nice that all this hard work is recognized somewhere. These have been ten long years of struggle, yes ten long years! This month we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of Northstar Compass. Let me use this editorial privilege to take stock of our work and to reflect on the challenges facing us.

The journal comes from a long history of friendship and solidarity with the Soviet people. Our forefathers formed the "Hands Off Russia" committee in the early years of the Russian revolution to help defend the young Soviet republic. This work led to the formation of the Canada-USSR Friendship Association whose 42 chapters spanned the breadth of Canada. This association was lively. It continued on despite increasing questions and reservations over what was happening in the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. Eventually the revisionist betrayal of socialism from the leading heights of the CPSU and the Soviet state led to the destruction of socialism and the Soviet republic itself. With that destruction, the Association itself collapsed to five members; the rest were scattered into inactivity by depression and despondency over what happened.

During that dark period, this journal was born to continue the work of the Association as well as the new Canadian Friends of the Soviet People. It had for its goal the shedding of light on what befell socialism and the once mighty USSR, and to aid the Soviet People in the reestablishment of the USSR under socialism. The journal started off as a few stapled sheets of paper to a monthly printed magazine read in over 117 countries. Eventually by last September, the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People was formed after much discussion. 116 signatories from around the world supported its foundation.

In this decade, we have been faced with all sorts of intrigues and provocation, attempts to waylay us into the wrong and reactionary directions, plus the constant pressure of financial difficulties but we have prevailed and prospered ideologically and politically even if not financially. Financially, it goes without saying that we would not have survived had it not been for a generous benefactor. It has been said before but it bears repeating that without the generosity of the Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians, paying our rent and for many issues, we would not have survived long enough to make any accomplishments. Many kudos to this organization. The source of our strength has been devotion to anti-imperialism. We are not a communist organization but an anti-imperialist organization. In that capacity, we can contribute greatly to anti-imperialist solidarity around the world and to friendship and solidarity with Soviet people. Our work has advanced in many quarters since our founding congress but one place it has seriously lagged is on the part of our comrades in the former USSR. We are under no illusions about the possibilities of unity amongst the various left forces in the USSR. Alas, history, personal conflicts and interests stand in the way. While we do not think that unification of all these forces is possible all along the line, we believe that greater unity is possible on a tactical level. We are calling on our comrades in the former USSR to put aside their petty differences to build real unity on tactical questions. Maybe it would be a good thing amongst the mass organizations there to organize some sort of secretariat to take care of their part of the work in the International Council.

For the Editorial Board
Redmond Guerrero

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