-DATE- 19780717 -YEAR- 1978 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- SPEECH -AUTHOR- F. CASTRO -HEADLINE- CASTRO ADDRESSED PIONEERS ON CHILDREN'S DAY -PLACE- HAVANA PROVINCE -SOURCE- HAVANA DOMESTIC TV -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19780716 -TEXT- CASTRO ADDRESSED PIONEERS ON CHILDREN'S DAY Havana Domestic Television Service in Spanish 0201 GMT 17 Jul 78 FL [Speech by Cuban President Fidel Castro at ceremony held on 16 July at Jose Marti pioneer city, Tarara Municipality, Havana Province, to mark Children's Day--recorded] [Text] Distinguished visitors, comrades of the party and government, delegates of our youth to the 11th Festival, dear pioneer comrades: This afternoon we had some problems. It was something unexpected but probable in the spring season. I was told that torrential rains fell for more than 2 hours. When we arrived the water was still running down the streets. They looked like rivers. I do not know if some of you had to swim to get here. We were worried about the event. I was told the auditorium was flooded. What a problem! Despite the inconveniences, the event was not canceled. As far as I know, with the exception of a group I saw as I came in, no one got wet this afternoon, that is, from the knees up. Quick measures were adopted. The location was changed. All electrical connections were moved here, and instead of using the auditorium, we are using this area. Let me say that the cultural event will also be held. Unfortunately, not all of us will be able to see the cultural event. As you know, the cultural event was going to be presented on the auditorium's stage, and now it has been changed to the House of Culture, which has a capacity for only 300 persons. I understand that the comrades from the television station will record it and you can watch it tomorrow--perhaps today--on television. Is that acceptable? [children respond affirmatively] All problems have a solution. [applause] I believe that despite all that has happened the event is very beautiful. We watched a large group of children preparing for it. They are well behaved and well organized. Up there on that hill where the House of Culture is located, there is also a large group of children. I find it very difficult to put together an act more beautiful than this one, despite the rain. [applause] In addition, if it rains, then we will have more sugarcane, more fruit, more milk, more agricultural products. Our agriculture has to produce a lot in order to be able to build a Pioneer camp such as this one. As Maria Luisa [who spoke at event prior to Castro] stated, 2 years ago Children's Day was observed right here in this camp. Another anniversary was marked at the main camp of Cuba's central region. I believe it was at the Ismaelillo camp. Is that correct? On another year it was marked at the international Pioneer camp in Varadero. Where else could we mark it on this year? There were several possibilities. For example, we have the Pioneer central palace under construction at Lenin Park which is about to be completed. There are some things that remain to be done there. Which other place could be used? Well, we decided on this camp as the only one. It is not a matter of our dedicating the same camp twice; on the first occasion we marked the beginning of the project, the first phase of the camp, and today we are dedicating the three new phases of the camp. The first time it had a capacity for 5,000 children and it now has a capacity for 21,000 children. [applause] At the time we talked about what we were planning to do in the following 3 years--to increase the capacity by 5,000 each year. Do not think for one moment that it was an easy task. You cannot imagine how much effort was made in this camp. This camp has a history. Do you know what was here before? This was a recreation area--it cannot be called tourist--mainly for the rich. This was a camp for the rich. There were some 523 houses. I want to be honest about it and tell you that not everyone who lived here was bad. There were some living here who were not rich and who even cooperated in building the camp when the need arose to expand it. Of course, the majority who lived here left the country. Nobody told them to go; they left on their own. They did not want to be associated with socialism and communism. What do you think about that? The majority of them left the country because they were afraid. Later on, using those houses that were left abandoned, a great school was organized. It was the school for primary school teachers. Many of your teachers at tended that school. Several generations of teachers attended what was then called Tarara school. That was the name this place had in the old days. It was not called Jose Marti; it was called Tarara. There were houses with families residing in them. Those that were abandoned were used as school housing. Classrooms and restaurants were built. Of course, not all houses were used as dwellings because in some cases some were given to the workers. The time came that we needed everything for the camp. We could foresee the need for dedicating the area for the camp even though some thought it could be used for tourism, others for a Pioneer camp. But the idea of using the area for a Pioneer camp was successful. When we made the decision and looked into the matter, we found that many of the houses had been occupied over the years. But we needed them all, almost all of them. It then became necessary to build apartment buildings to relocate the families who had been living in those houses. That was not difficult because those who did not own the houses and who were workers could be persuaded to cooperate with the revolution by moving to a new apartment. But there were dozens of families who were legal owners of the houses. A major task of persuasion had to be carried out which has lasted 3 years. Proposals were made to buy the house from them if they had another one, or exchange houses with them. To do this we had to find a house they would like, and in addition we had to repair it and make the exchange. That was the task that was undertaken to free all the houses. The effort was successful, and we have only 53 houses left that are not yet part of the plan. But practically all of them are already committed. It is a matter of time. We did not want to use legal maneuvers or the right of expropriation the state has in cases of social interest. The whole process developed through negotiations and persuasion. In a few more months, I believe the 523 houses--all of them--will be placed in the camp's service. [applause] That is why this year we had to cram you a little bit to provide housing for the 21,000. That was just a little bit, not much. Next year we will have all the houses available and will have a capacity for 23,000. There will be more room for you. It was not just that: Lots of things had to be built here. First of all, practically all the dwellings had to be repaired. Many of them had to be rebuilt. Some needed painting, others furniture. It was necessary to build offices for the camp's supervisory personnel, buildings for cultural activities such as this one, polyclinics, more housing for 20,000 persons. Later on I will explain why we changed the goal from 20,000 to 21,000. Many buildings had to be constructed for housing, restaurants, recreational and sport facilities. It took very hard work to fulfill this program. Nevertheless, it has been fulfilled. The truth of the matter is that everybody cooperated in the task of building the camp. There have been very few things in which cooperation as extensive as this has been forthcoming from everyone. Why was it so? Because it was for the Pioneers, and everybody respects, admires and loves the Pioneers. [applause] Whenever something was needed for the Jose Marti camp, it was provided immediately, whether it be the giant kitchen or anything else. Do you know you have a giant kitchen? Everybody cooperated in building swimming pools, buildings, everything, gardens, sports camps. Many of the local residents and workers of the Alamar microbrigades, who are wellknown for their accomplishments, did an out standing job. The Alamar workers build fast, build well and build with enthusiasm. [applause] They were not the only ones. Many organizations--it would be impossible for me to mention them all; it would be a long list of names--worked and cooperated to complete what we have here today. I honestly believe...Maria Luisa recalled our suggestion that we must be modest. Is that not so? We must be modest. But without failing to be honest, we have the right to say that this camp is a great achievement, a great success, something very beautiful, something of which all of you can feel proud. That is pride in the good sense of the word. Please understand that. [applause] In the sense of joy, satisfaction, happiness, the happiness felt when a good job has been done. Now that the camp is almost completed--some details remain to be done even though we are not lacking capacity--we can observe that this camp is really marvelous. Do you not believe it to be so? Even though I have known the place for a long time, have toured it, watched it from the beginning, every time I come back, I find it to be better, better organized, more beautiful. [applause] There are some new things that I do not remember if they had been planned back in 1965, for example, the amusement part. Have you seen it? [children respond affirmatively] You probably know that in all of Cuba there are only three parks like that one, only three. There is one in Camaguey, one in Lenin Park and this one. [applause] Do you know what I have heard? I have heard that the best cared for and best kept of the three amusement parks is this one of the Pioneer camp. I have been told that all the equipment is operating despite its proximity to the sea. As you know, this close to the sea the air is impregnated with salt, making the equipment deteriorate rapidly, more so than in other locations. Despite that, the good efforts made in the park have had good results. It is not a matter of the material effort made, of the millions of hours of work to build this camp; it is the good administration of the Pioneer organization in this camp. [applause] When I arrived this afternoon, I was thinking about the director. What kind of condition is the director in? Is he thin? Is he fat? I believe he is on the heavy side. I asked myself: Does he feel well? Perhaps, he is crazy? You can imagine the task of supervising a camp of 21,000 Pioneers, what it involved. In addition, you have Pioneers coming in and checking out, rotating. Keep in mind the enormous organization required to receive that mass of Pioneers. The first year there were 5,000, then 10,000 and later 15,000, and now there are more than 20,000. I asked myself: What does the director do about that? He has to watch the operation of the camp, supervise the personnel. Of course, the director alone would not be able to do it. It takes the director, the assistant directors, dozens of responsible supervisors, hundreds of workers, the organization, the Pioneer guides--all of them together make this sort of miracle possible, for a camp as big as this one to operate and operate well. It is the first time that we in Cuba have a camp such as this. It is the first time that anywhere in Cuba more than 20,000 Pioneers are assembled in one location. Imagine the kind of organization, amount of supplies, maintenance, food, recreational and sports activities, even cultural, that are required. The thing that gives us satisfaction is that we can see that the camp is marching well, perfectly well. That is why the Pioneer organization, which has shown so much interest in this effort, the director, the employees and workers cannot be forgotten on a day like today. They must be congratulated and hailed. [applause] It is great to see what has been accomplished. The capacity of organization in our country has grown. It is good to see the great things that can be done with the Pioneers [applause], the great things that the Pioneers can do. [applause] This gives us great confidence in you and encourages us to continue to work, to continue to build Pioneer palaces--we have very few--to build Pioneer camps. [applause] We will not be able to build all the ones we would like to, not immediately; that costs a lot of money. We have to devote a lot of energy to the economic development of the country, to create resources that will make things like this possible. What we would like to see is a Pioneer camp in operation in each province. There are some small things everywhere, but not camps such as this one. In the central provinces there is a good camp. In Camaguey Province there is another camp. Other provinces have houses, places that have been adapted for occasional plans, but it has not been possible to build a camp in each province. We hope that in coming years, to the degree that [applause] the country's economy develops, it will be possible to build a camp in each province and a Pioneer palace in each province. [applause] All that does not come from heaven. It costs money. It requires the efforts and sacrifices of our workers. [applause] From a young age you can learn about the importance of work and the importance of getting an education, to help develop our country and increase the resources of our country. Work can do everything. With work [applause] many great things can be created. A good example of that is this camp. [applause] We have talked about work, but in your case work is study. Which is the first duty of the Pioneers? [children shout "to study"] That is what you said--to study. All of you said it. You have not doubt about that, do you? [children respond negatively] I imagine you are good students. know that this contingent and others which will come are selected in accordance with the efforts and work throughout the year. I know that this group will participate in the 11th Festival activities. It was selected for the activities. We do not want to see only l0 percent, or 20, or 50 percent of the Pioneers as good students; we want to see 100 percent of the Pioneers good students. [applause] That can only be achieved by the organization. You, of course, are contributing with your example so that 100 percent of the Pioneers, all of them, are good students. In reality we are satisfied with what the Pioneer organization has done. We note that we are making progress, that you deserve the confidence the revolution has placed in you. We are pleased with what the revolution does for you. The first duty of the Pioneer is to study. The Pioneer has many other duties. The Pioneer must behave well, respect his parents and teachers, must be well educated. Not only does a Pioneer have to learn mathematics, Spanish, geography, history, but the Pioneer must behave perfectly everywhere he goes. You cannot be satisfied until you do everything perfectly. [applause] This applies to school and at home. Another thing is that you must have good manners, stand up whenever it is necessary, offer greetings and to say good morning or good afternoon. This does not cost anything. You must know how to have a good appearance, to dress up, how to use the uniform. You must be educated in a communist consciousness. You must have patriotic and internationalist feelings. In addition, you must practice sports. You must practice recreational and cultural activities. We know that recreational, sports and cultural activities are advancing and making headway among our Pioneers. [applause] For example, you have seen what this camp has. It has more than 100 sports, recreational and cultural installations. In addition, it has a polyclinic. There is a large number of physicians and health workers in the polyclinic. Your health is guaranteed. Do not think for a moment that is easy to do. I have heard that the efforts of the physicians and health workers in this camp in caring for 21,000 children are equivalent to those needed in caring for a community of 250,000 persons. Of course, this might be a slight exaggeration, but the health care of 21,000 children demands a great effort, above all when you are given the treatment we want you to have in this camp. The camp has other new things that were not even imagined in July 1975. For example, it has an installation for diabetic children. It is very useful, very beautiful, very humane. There are always cases of children who have certain difficulties and they are assigned to that installation. There they learn about their health, about the measures that are necessary. They learn how to make a urine analysis, how to inject themselves. The building is very beautiful and houses 160 diabetic children. We also have a very good installation for 860 asthmatic children. The children stay there IS days. They learn about their problems, their health. They learn the exercises they should do and the measures required. This is something new in the camp. I believe that those two installations help to enrich the camp and make it still more humane. That is why, when the decision to build those two installations was made, it was agreed to expand the capacity by 1,000, that is, not to take part of the 20,000 for those purposes but to expand the camp's capacity by 1,000. That is why the camp now has a capacity of 21,000. [applause] In addition, the camp will have an important part in the 11th Festival. All of you will participate in the festival's activities. [applause] You will be receiving visitors every day. I believe that about 500 delegates will visit you daily from the beginning of the festival. You will receive them and show them the camp. I believe on 4 August you will have an important activity. Some 4,000 to 5,000 festival delegates will come to the camp, where the childhood and youth code of laws will be proclaimed. You will participated in many activities on that day such as recreational and cultural activities. I want to be honest with you: I feel that one of the best things we can show the delegates to the 11th Festival is precisely this Jose Marti Pioneer Camp. [applause] We are sure you will make your best effort to offer the best attention to the visitors. You will leave them with the best of impressions, an impression similar to this one we will take with us from this meeting. [applause] What other new things are there here in 1978 that were not in 1975? Maria Luisa recalled one which is very important--to raise the age of the Pioneers. The Pioneer organization now includes the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. This year it was increased to include the seventh grade, next year it will be eighth and in the 1979-1980 school term it will include the ninth grade. [applause] In this manner the organization grows in membership and changes in composition. In the past the Pioneer organization had children who were outstanding in many activities, but as soon as they graduated from sixth grade, they were gone. When the best artistic groups passed the sixth grade, they were Pioneers no longer. Now you will gain with that measure. Now you will continue to be Pioneers, because I believe you would like to continue being Pioneers. [children respond affirmatively] You will be Pioneers in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. [applause] After that, what would you like to be? Communist youths, is that correct? Well, you will have to work for that. You have to work hard for that beginning now. You must have a good report card from now on. It is very difficult to be able to join the Union of Young Communists. Our organization has a number of requirements to be a communist youth. As time goes by, the requirements will increase. You must begin preparing yourselves during your Pioneer life so that later on, when you are in the preuniversity institutes, technological institutes universities or factories, you will have the right to be communist youths. [applause] Something very important has been attained already, which is the expansion of the Pioneer organization and the strengthening the organization. Today we have here some Pioneers from the seventh grade, in urban and rural secondary schools as well as other educational institutions. [applause] What other new thing do we have? Can you guess what other new thing we have here that we did not have in 1975? Can anyone guess? It is the easiest thing. [voices heard answering Castro] It is not that. It is the uniform. In 1975 you did not have that uniform, those beautiful uniforms the Pioneers now have. It is the new uniforms for girls and boys. You know that when you reach fifth grade the boys wear long pants. You know that, do you? Did you know that short pants were not liked in fifth grade? There was a long discussion about it and at the end it was agreed to make a concession. When you reach the fifth grade, you have to put on long pants. Of course, that costs a little more, because new uniforms have to be purchased, more material is needed, all of that. But in the end a good agreement was reached. The urban secondary and preuniversity students also have uniforms. All students have uniforms, all of them. They are beautiful, well designed and made of good material. Is that not so? [children answer affirmatively] You agree, do you not? [children answer affirmatively] But the uniform is not always worn correctly. [applause] The uniform is not always worn properly. The tie is not always worn. Those who have to wear a tie some times do not put in on and carry it is the pocket. The shirt is not always buttoned when it is supposed to be buttoned. The shirt is not always worn the way it should be. Sometimes we see that the shirt, which is supposed to be tucked inside the pants, is worn hanging outside. In reality one of the manifestations of formal education is to care for the uniform and to know how to wear it. [applause] The uniform should be used to go to school, not to wear it down the streets. Some war the uniform under another shirt which is not the uniform. When we travel down the streets we observe these things. What the students are doing with the uniform, how they wear it. If it is supposed to be tucked inside, it should not be left hanging outside. Are you paying attention to me? [children answer affirmatively] I am not trying to criticize you but I have seen many who do not wear the uniform properly. I believe that when the Pioneers reach the eighth and ninth grades, the uniforms will be worn much better than now. Is that correct? [applause] All those things have to be of concern to the Pioneers. The neckerchief should be tied correctly. I do not know if I am wearing mine correctly, but I did not put it on, someone did it for me. It should be properly tied in a beautiful manner. The same thing should be done with the beret and all emblems. Everything must be work correctly. We, our party and our youth, expect the Pioneers to help us win the battle of wearing the uniforms and emblems correctly. Is that correct? Can we place our confidence in you? [children answer affirmatively; applause] Do you want to know something else? This is a very special day, because on this year everything has come together. This is the great Day of the Children. It is a special year. First, the camp has attained its maximum capacity; second, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Moncada; and third, something very important, the 11th Festival of World Youth and Students will be held in our fatherland. [applause] That is why there is a large delegation of our youth present here today. Present here today is the Cuban delegation to the 11th Festival. [applause] Do not think for a moment that those comrades are here by chance. The same is the case with you here in this camp. Do not think that a lottery was conducted to find out who would go to the festival to represent our youth and country. It was a very rigorous selection. Imagine the merits of the comrades who were selected from among hundreds of thousands to represent Cuba in the festival. First, the candidates were nominated and an election conduct. Then, the candidates were selected and, lastly, the delegates were elected. [applause] As we all know, the strictness with which the selection was made makes it possible for us to affirm that present here today is the most outstanding and meritorious example of our youth. [applause] The best of our youth is here. Our youth is magnificent. Our youth is very good. Our youth mass has great merits and, from that good, enthusiastic and revolutionary youth mass, the best has been selected to represent us. You must look at them as an example. I am sure that many of them, among the youngest--even though all are young--many of them were Pioneers like you. [applause] Let us see a show of hands of those who were Pioneers. See what I mean, almost all of them were Pioneers at one time or another. [applause] At the time the organization did not have what it has today. It did not have the resources it has today. It did not have the power it has today. You are lucky to live a better era of the Pioneer organization, because none of them had a camp like this one. Many of you will also represent Cuba in future world festivals. Is that correct? [applause] Every time there is a world festival we will have to elect a numerous Cuban delegation. So, today's Pioneers will be future delegates to world festivals. [applause] It must be pointed out that there are hundreds of students who gained that right for their attitude in all senses, their behavior and efforts at educational centers. It must be mentioned that there are 442 internationalist youths in that delegation. [applause] There also are numerous combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry. [applause] It must also be pointed out that out of the 2,000, more than 1,000 are workers. [applause] We are sure that they will very honorably represent our youth, our people and our revolution in the 11th Festival. [applause] Those happy coincidences make this day of our country's children more special, more joyful. [applause] On this year we also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Moncada. We were deeply moved when the little comrade who represented you on this day expressed with beautiful words her feelings of gratitude toward those who have worked and made efforts for your sake and, especially, toward those fallen in the revolutionary struggle. [applause] Many things have taken place in our fatherland during the past 25 years. But, what were we doing on a day like today 25 years ago? We were devoting our efforts to the last preparations, to acquiring weapons, to the very last training exercises and to the preparation of the movement to attack that bulwark of the oppressors and begin the struggle for the liberation of our fatherland. [applause] This has been a long path, but we cannot complain of the revolution's gains. They have been many. In many instances those gains have surpassed the highest expectations of the revolutionaries. [applause] We knew that everything could be attained with freedom and with the revolution. [applause] We knew that the possibilities of improving the lot of man, development and progress were boundless. But to be concrete, how could we be able to imagine a day like today? How could we imagine an event like this one? A Pioneer organization like this one? Children like you? Youths like you? [applause] At the time, of course, none of you Pioneers had been born. A great majority of our delegation to the festival had not been born then. What greater satisfaction than to know that these gains, these results are the fruit of the efforts of those who struggled and those who fell through out our history and, among them, those who fell at the Moncada and after the Moncada. [applause] That is why the best tribute, the greatest honor that can be paid to those who have fallen are you, youths and children, present here today. [applause] I say this with absolute conviction. It will always be worthwhile to struggle and die for a cause like this one. [prolonged applause] It will always be worthwhile for the peoples to struggle and make sacrifices to obtain fruits like these. [applause] When we say we are proud of the revolution's accomplishments, in the word proud we include the idea that our people's successes and our people's efforts could also be useful to other peoples. Here we talked about many peoples who do not yet have camps like this one or do not have what our youth and children have today. [applause] Unfortunately, there are many. We could ask: Is there a camp like this one in all of Latin America? But, let us not ask if there is a camp like this one, let us just ask if there is just one camp for children in all of Latin America. [applause] The same thing occurs in many other areas of the world. They have not achieved what we have, such as a teacher for every child, books for every child, schools for all children and all youths. [applause] In that manner every child and every youth may be able to fully develop his life in accordance with their efforts and merits. What you represent is the merit which determined the selection of being present this afternoon at this camp and that which determined the selection of that delegation to the festival. Merit is what succeeds. It is what should always succeed in our fatherland. [applause] There must always be equal opportunities for all so that it may be ratified that there is not a single abandoned child, without school, without books, without teacher, without physician. That is one thing we can affirm in Latin America and we are the only nation that can affirm it. [applause] That is what the revolution signifies. That is what socialism means. That is what the Marxist-Leninist ideas mean for the peoples. [applause] That is how, without great wealth and starting from great poverty, many things can be carried out in a country. And, above all, that is how justice can triumph in a country. [applause] These truths will be verified by the thousands and thousands of representatives of the world youth who will visit our fatherland on the occasion of the 11th Festival. [applause] Only one point remains to be decided before I conclude. What do we do with the camp? It now has a capacity for 21,000 children. What name do we give it? [children shout something unintelligible] You are saying city. You want it to be named Jose Marti Pioneer City. [children yell "Si"] Well, we sincerely believe you are right. [applause] Due to its size, beauty, efficiency and organization, we believe this institution is worthy of bearing the name Jose Marti Pioneer City. [applause] It will be difficult to build any more things in this place, even though some still remain to be done. It would not be wise to continue to expand it. In any case, other camps will be built in other provinces. It will be very important to care for, further embellish, maintain and improve the camp. [applause] The comrades who head the Pioneer organization feel that very valuable experiences have been gained in past years. So, we are sure that you Pioneers and the Pioneer organization's leaders, conscious of the importance of an organization such as this one, of the rich experiences gained not only for our country but for the entire world, will continue to make efforts to make this institution a real example and to make the Jose Marti Pioneer City one of the best and most perfect institutions of its type in the world. [applause] Long live the 11th Festival! [shouts of "Viva"] Long live the Cuban Pioneer Organization! [shouts of "Viva"] Long live the 25th anniversary of the Moncada! [shouts of "Viva"] Fatherøland or death, we shall win! -END-