Women in the Third World

Most of the day's activities were taken up with forums and discussions. The first forum, on women in the Third World was addressed by Kathy Lee, who is involved in the Australian Overseas Women's Activities movement. She stressed that although women in societies like New Zealand are oppressed, the plight of women in the third world, especially Asia, is made even more acute by economic circumstances. When you can't get enough food to feed your family it is difficult to become directly involved in struggling for many of the rights claimed by New Zealand women.

But unlike many of the feminist groups in New Zealand women in the third world do not see their enemy as simply being men, but the social conditions at large. An understanding of the economic nature of women's oppression is important for all people, women and men, and all must join together if change is to be achieved.

The organisers had built in a session dealing with New Zealand. This consisted of a forum on the Maori land question (addressed by Grant Hawke from Bastion Point) and New Zealand's economic crisis. This turned out to be a lively session, although it was dominated by the New Zealanders present.

The sports day in the middle of the Congress was an eye opener for the New Zealanders present. Most people in this country consider themselves to be sports conscious. The Asian students at the Congress however, showed a great enthusiasm and skill for sport that would embarrass all but the best kiwis.

The evening session following the sports was, not surprisingly, a film and slide show. These were on Thailand and New Caledonia and presented the situation in those countries in some depth.

The second of the Congress's guests from the Australian Overseas Student Service, B. Ang, addressed the session on the overseas student movement in Australia. He pointed out the disadvantages of an overseas student organisation becoming dominated by the host organisation. The Australian Union of Students have recently thrown out the OSS and blocked their funds. OSS now operates without any money, although it still gains wide support from the overseas community.

The theme was carried on by Lisa Sacksen who spoke on the New Zealand situation. She urged overseas student to develop a self reliant organisation which would have fraternal ties with NZUSA but not be entirely dependent on it. These calls have not fallen on deaf cars — plans are afoot to make the National Overseas Student Action Committee (NOSAC), presently a standing committee of NZUSA, more autonomous.

The last forum was on education. The main feeling which came from the discussion was that university education should serve the interest of the peoples of that country rather than train people to fit into the top layer of society.