Friendship News

FROM WROCLAW
POLAND

Dear comrade Michael Lucas and friends:

I am sending to all members and to friends of the International Council, greetings from Poland, as well as to the Editorial Board of Northstar Compass and to its many writers. Greetings on May Day and on the 60^th Anniversary of Victory Day of the Second World War. I‘m greeting all of you who are in the struggles against imperialism and in the struggle for socialism.

The defeat of fascism by people and by the mighty Soviet Union, who had defeated the mighty Nazi scourge and liberated the people of Europe from Nazi slavery and barbarism. It is necessary forever to remember that the Red Army lost over 600,000 of its sons and daughters liberating Poland.

We are in solidarity and in agreement, with the holding of the Second World Congress this coming September in Toronto, Canada. I have passed the invitation on to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Poland.

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend myself. I wish you comrades great success. I embrace you all!

Professor Zbigniew Wiktor
Member of the International Council

Dear friends:

The Communist Theoretical group "Marxist Platform" supports the decision to call the Second World Congress for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People, which information was published in the last issue of our "Marxist Newsletter".

We cannot send a large delegation from amongst our midst due to financial problems. We wanted to send from Ukraine a well-known Komsomol, who is a political prisoner, E. Semenov, but he cannot go because he has only a Soviet passport which is not recognized by the present Ukrainian regime.

The "Marxist Platform" decided to send the vice-chairperson of the "Movement for freedom of political prisoners - against the regime extremism" (the organization of which we are members) – Elena D. Varfolomeeva. We suggest that Varfolomeeva will present two documents at the Congress: about the "Marxist Platform" and also about the "Movement for freedom to the political prisoners – against the regime extremism". We are going to take steps in order to become members of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People.

In the very near future we shall open up a campaign to collect finances for her trip to Canada, but making certain that this does not take away the much needed finances for helping the political prisoners, which is our main work.

We are sending you by mail our latest publications for your information.

With Communist greetings.

Vice-chairman of "Marxist Platform"
V.F. Isaychikov

FROM A SOVIET POLITICAL PRISONER

Dear comrades of NSC and of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People:

The question my comrades ask and other friends across the former USSR with which I correspond from my jail cell through my contacts is this:

Seeing that NSC is spreading its influence across former Soviet republics, and seeing that there is going to be held the Second World Congress this September in Canada – there is a need for Northstar Compass to be published in the Russian language, in order to have our people know what NSC and the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People are doing in order to help us resurrect the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The friends of NSC have undertaken to come up with price of publishing NSC monthly in Russian and distributed to the other former Soviet republics.

Am sending you the details and costs of doing this important work. My comrades and I suggest that this question be put on the Agenda of the Second World Congress, so that the delegates from around the world and those who will be coming from former USSR, fully discuss this important topic and come to some concrete decision as to the necessity and responsibility to do this.

Since of course I cannot come to the Congress, I would like to send greetings on behalf of all the political prisoners.

Comradely yours
Igor Gubkin
Vladivostok

FROM BRISBANE
AUSTRALIA

Dear friends:

I guessed that the publication by the Unitarian Church here isn’t a working class publication. I’ve lived in Australia nearly eleven years (I’m Irish) so I’ve seen all the "left" publications in this country.

There is a big problem with the article that NSC had published before, in that its premise is based on a common and indeed widespread fallacy among petty-bourgeois Australians. The fallacy is that the "Westminster System" is been eroded (by one world government etc.) and that it should be "restored" to return Australia to prosperity.

This view on the "erosion of the Westminster system" is common amongst all sorts of right-wing fanatics and political innocents, who reject a class based understanding of society.

Fraternal regards
Mike Cunningham

Dear comrades:

We learned from an Internet news group and the letter you sent us that the Friendship House, where the NSC office is located was seriously damaged by fire. We found out that it was arson. We hope that no harm came to the people inside the Friendship House.

We can well understand some of the losses of documents and photographs are irreplaceable. NSC is doing exemplary work in building international links with the revolutionary forces in Russia, which has earned appreciation and support from the progressive and revolutionary forces all over the world. We express our full solidarity with Northstar Compass. We are sure that the revolutionary zeal of you Michael Lucas and your comrades will help you get over the present difficulties and that NSC would continue its work for socialism with renewed vigor in the coming days.

With revolutionary greetings

Manik Mukherjee
All India Anti-Imperialist Forum

Dear friends:

I am very sad by the misfortune which happened to the Friendship House and you personally. I admire your courage to continue the preparations for the World Congress and keep on going. I hope that you will be able to overcome the difficulties.

Yours truly,
Dr. Adelard Paquin, Canada
Editor of French edition of NSC

Dear friends:

I received the sad news about the extensive damage by fire, smoke and water to the Friendship House. What a shock! What a loss! I recall my many visits to that heritage building in Toronto and my admiration in seeing how nice it was to have such a wonderful facility for international bridge-building and peace. This is a resource that we dearly need in this country.

It is sad that some historical books and photographs have been damaged. What sick personality(s) could have started that fire?

I trust that friends will soon come and support the restoration of the Friendship House. Although down, we are not slain, but will rise up from the ashes to see the light of day – and again contribute to global understanding and peaceful resolution of conflicts around the world.

All the best
Koozma Tarasoff
Canada

Dear friends:

I found out through your letter that a fire was caused by arson to the Friendship House, which caused damage to the contents. I am certain that you and our comrades will put things in order and renovate the Friendship House, so that Northstar Compass publication will continue to be published as organ of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People.

I wish you success and stamina dear comrades!

Dr. Professor Mirko Svoboda
Czech Republic

Dear friends in Toronto, Canada:

Dreadfully sorry to hear of the fire and the damage and the injuries. I hope that my contribution as small as it is, will help. I will be at the Second World Congress and I’m trying to convince my friend, Pete Seeger to come also.

Comradely yours,
Aubrey Bowman
England

Dear friends:

Here is a small donation ($100.00) towards the renovation. I hope that those creeps that started the fire get caught!

Sincerely,
Irene Harbay
USA

Dear comrades:

I wish I could send more than $100, but please give this donation towards the awful cost suffered by fire to the Friendship House.

Onwards ever onwards!

Best wishes,
Paul Barrett
South Wales, UK

Dear comrades:

Comradely greetings on this the 60^th Anniversary of the Victory over fascism!

Enclosed is an article that we translated and published from NSC in our party newspaper, Al Baath.

Michel Mounayer
Damascus, Syria

Dear Michael, Helen and friends:

Very sorry to hear of the traumatic event which you both and friends experienced lately. I hope that the injuries you sustained are beginning to heal.

I appreciate that the damage to Soviet books and photographs might be irreplaceable, but my main concern as well as all comrades and readers of NSC that you two are OK – you two are not replaceable.

Best wishes – the fight continues!

Clifford F. Roe
England

Dear comrades:

The news about the arson to the Friendship House has saddened me, but action cannot wait. Enclosed please find my contribution of $500.00. As the American Reich pushed the world deeper into despair and darkness, its agenda must be clear to anyone with a trace of gray matter: fascism at home, imperialism abroad. Unlike its Third Reich predecessor, today’s regime does not face the Reds Army. Unlike its Third Reich predecessor, today’s regime has television and technological advancement to propel all its lies and warmongering on an unprecedented scale.

Bolsheviks, Revolutionaries, all real defenders of the working class should not waiver or cower, but step up their efforts. Neither Humanity nor Mother Nature can survive without a struggle against this capitalist onslaught.

Best wishes,
Alex Berg
USA

Dear friends:

Thank you for the great May issue of NSC. News of the alarming fire by arson next door to the Friendship House makes me angry, but it is a gage of what our opponents fear and your success. Enclosed please find some help of $100.00 towards the renovation.

Received Henry Morgan’s book "Pursuing the Dove". His relaxed conversational style made it an easy and enjoyable read. The work of the Morgan’s, Jeanette and John is another tribute to the "power of pairs". Also, well done to Michael & Helen, another mighty pair!

Good luck for the September Congress!

Howard Kelsey
United Kingdom

Dear friends:

It was with anger that I read the news of the arson at your Friendship House. It seems that those who dread the 19127 Revolution and Stalin, still maintain their presence eve after such a long time. They must really dread Stalin to commit this act and personal attacks upon Michael Lucas, but this does not stop the social forces that will eventually smash them.

We have the same type of people here in San Francisco Bay area, but they are the drags of Vietnam, Taiwan, Russian/Ukrainian scum, on the make in this country, after being helpful to the Nazis in this country. We have people from all over the world in this sump called a "democracy", by the fascists and retarded criminal capitalist elements.

That we will win is being shown by Bush’s retarded war in Iraq, that he is losing, because US is practicing genocide there, grabbing resources by our fascist capitalist elements.

Enclosed please find $100 towards keeping NSC moving along. I look forward to seeing you at the Second World Congress in September.

Sincerely yours,
Gerald Kucherenko
USA

Dear Editor:

I saw the advertisement of Northstar Compass in the Russian Economic and Philosophic newspaper #15. I’m really interested in the work of the Second World Congress that will be held in September ff this year in Canada.

I would like to apply for participation in the Congress as I also support the policy of the revival of the USSR and I’m not indifferent to the situation in the world.

I’ve beer a teacher of the English language for 23 years, so there is no language barrier for me, but – unfortunately, first I’m not a member of any political party or movement in my country (though at heart I am), but I’m an active member of our University newspaper. My mother is a member of the Communist Party, but she is too old to participate in the Congress.

The second problem is that I cannot afford to pay for my trip since the salary of a teacher does not allow this luxury.

My desire to participate is so great that I’d like to suggest the following ideas: not only to participate but to work before and during the Congress.

(1) I would be grateful if you would allow me to earn my flight ticket in this way: I could translate reports of participants from English to Russian and vice versa, if you can send them to me by mail

(2) I can also work with people as I’ve got enough experience in working with people of different nationalities.

After graduating from the University in 1982 I worked as a school teacher in Eastern Prussia (Kaliningradskaya Oblast) where I taught English to children from Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia. I worked as an organizer and interpreter when I participated in the International Ecological Project on monitoring water quality in 1994 (students were there from Ohio and Texas) and my hometown was involved in this project.

I’m a semi-finalist of the 2001 US-Russia awards for teachers of English and American studies.

I’m 48 and I’m sociable, frank and reliable person. If I was able to come to the Second World Congress, I would make a report on the theme: "Life and tolerance of older people in my town."

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely
Natalia Ryasnaya

From US Political Prisoner
Gatesville, Texas #384484

Dear Editor and collective:

I was awestruck by the news of the arson fire at the Friendship House, but yet unable to offer anything but half-hearted solidarity and sympathy. Hoping that most of the losses can be replaced!

Ana Lucia Gelabert