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* conferences insofar as the evils of capitalism are not eradicated, prostitution cannot be eliminated, but refused to legitimise the sex trade or pose the problem in terms of male "necessities" and female "purity."
The current fashion of being anti-party was evident throughout the discussions. The majority of women spoke of a transformation of society to attain equity, although many still spoke of equality of the sexes. But almost no one spoke on the types of organisation that would be necessary to carry out such a change. The proposals were ambiguous, along the lines of 'a women's organisation which would fight for women's demands and a better quality of life."
One Swedish delegate did stress the need for women to participate in political parties. She said that the fight for women's rights had to be carried out within a democratic-centralist organisation with a programme and a plan, where, doubtlessly, women's rights would be supported. She admitted the difficulties of this approach, including the need to confront some backward comrades, but argued that this is the only way of transforming society so that women would be taken into account. This approach was supported by some of the delegates, above all those who were members of political parties.
The discussions on Trotskyism also provoked considerable interest. Cuban and Mexican comrades discussed their analysis of the key moments of the development of the Cuban revolution, and the participation of Trotskyists at all stages of modern Cuban history. There was particular interest in the themes of the exchange of ideas between Ernest Mandel and Che Guevara over Cuba's economic strategy, during the period when Che was Minister of Industry. Cuban youth excluded
Those delegates who came to Cuba hoping to be in contact with Cuban youth were severely disappointed.
Young Cubans are unhappy. Many resent or regret many of the measures which the government has been obliged to take in response to the economic blockade. Like the exclusion of Cubans from certain tourist sites, or the existence of hospitals reserved for foreigners. Young people also complain about elements of corruption in the education system. The public transport system is overloaded, a privileged bureaucracy imposes an exaggerated level of minute administrative controls over daily life, and so on. Disillusionment with the revolution is growing.
Nevertheless, the festival did stress the need to construct an alternative to the present society, with its barbarian system of capitalist development. There is no doubt that the alternative is some form of democratic socialism with a human face. This general perspective received wide support at the festival. The resistance of Cuban women and men reinforces this alternative, and inspired all the foreign participants to work for social change in their own countries.
Delegates returned home with one of the slogans of the Mothers of the Plaza de May ringing in their ears. "The dream of Revolution is still vivid." *