JUNUL.ARO ESPERANTISTA - m. n , ^, „ rt ^ „ , IORD-AMERIKO (JEN) Grants at-to» o/ Esperanto-Speaking Young Americans DE N< #f ^5 Digest 4 Central Street__________________________Millers Falls, Massachusetts 01349 No. 13 December, 1968 U.E.A. WALKS OUT OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ESPERANTO BODY PROTESTS LANGUAGE DISCRIMINATION AT PARIS MEETING: A mid-September conference on human rights, attended by representatives of 118 Non-Governmental Organizations accredited to UNESCO and to ECOSOC and held at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, became the scene of controversy when one of the participating organizations withdrew early in protest over what it described as the denial by the conference of the very human rights it was called together to protect. The walk-out was staged by the four-member delegation of the Universal Esperanto Association, after what it insisted was the indefensible suppression of an amendment to the rules which it had1offered. The proposed change, in addition to adding Spanish and Russian to English and French as working languages of the conference, would have permitted any delegate to speak in another tongue as long as he himself provided for interpretation into one of the working languages. According to a statement issued in U.E.A.'s journal Esperanto, U Thant in his opening speech to the conference twice mentioned equal rights for all re- gardless of language, yet the chairman of the business meeting where the working rules were considered resorted to a variety of parliamentary manipulations so as to prejudice the outcome of the U.E.A. ' proposal. Following the rejection of the amendment, U.E.A. sent the chairman a letter of protest demanding either the re- consideration of the question or the recognition by the Steering Committee of the principle that no person should be arbitrarily denied the right to represent his organization at a conference because of the language or languages which he does not speak. The chairman refused these'demands, and U.E.A. withdrew from the con- ference on Sept. 18, announcing that it would not attend "any future conference which does not recognize in one form or another the basic principle of linguistic equality." UNESCO SAYS NO TO INDIA ON AID TO YOUTH EXCHANGE REQUEST FOR RESEARCH ON EASING LANGUAGE PROBLEM MEETS REBUFF: A pro- posed resolution on the language problem submitted by India to the 15th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, which opened Oct. 15 in Paris, was rejected by UNESCO Director General RenĜ Maheu as "completely undiscussible." Noting the "need of the peoples, especially youth,," for easier international communication, and the burdens placed on young people'by the necessity of learning a variety of languages and writing systems, the Indian proposal asked the Director General to "organize and co-ordinate research and'studies in the field of linguistics which will deal with practical reforms to find a common writing system to join together the peoples." Maheu alleged in reply to this proposal that it violated UNESCO's "unbreakable principle" of "respect for the diversity and originality of the cul- tures" of the world, and that in any case the subject fell outside the competence of UNESCO. On October 15, after the publication of Maheu's reply, the Universal Esperanto Association, which is in consultative relations with UNESCO, sent the Director General a note objecting to his response to the Indian proposal. U.E.A. wrote that the development of a common'script or language for international use would in no way reduce respect for cultural diversity and would certainly advance "international co-operation to open to the peoples of all countries access to the printed and published materials produced by each of them," which is also one of the organizing principles of UNESCO. Page 2 December, 1968 RECENT EVENTS LANGUAGE ROW ALMOST DOOMS SCIENTIFIC PROJECT: Insistence by scientists from Germany that their language be recognized along with English and French in the operations of the European Molecular Biological Organization (EMBO) prevented the fledgling group from coming into existence for six months, according to a re- port in the September 16 issue of Scientific Research. EMBO's organizing council "was unable to hold an important conference at which the mechanisms for financing its activities were to be established." Finally a compromise, providing for the publication of some documents in German and simultaneous interpretation at EMBO meetings, was arranged, and it is now expected that the organization will be able to develop its program of fellowships, research grants, and an international lab- oratory. According to the report, EMBO is not the only organization so affected: one source states, "'The Germans have been campaigning to get their language ac- cepted in various international organizations.'" GERMANY, FRANCE PUSHING THEIR LANGUAGES ABROAD: The New York Times reported from Mannheim, West Germany, on Sept. 24, that Germany is computerizing its efforts to spread the popularity of the German language abroad. With support from Bonn and a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation, fifteen researchers at the German Language Institute are preparing a wide variety of German fiction, news- writing, and other literature and computer analysis so that the most frequent structures can be selected and presented to the foreign learner with the most efficient set of rules. At the end of October, French President Charles De Gaulle made a state visit to Turkey, where he took part in that nation's Republic Day celebrations. In one of his speeches De Gaulle urged the Turks to improve their study of French as a vehicle for better Franco-Turkish relations. News dispatches did not reveal whether De Gaulle proposed an expansion of Turkish studies in France as well. It is uncertain whether such efforts are meeting positive responses in other countries. Recent offers by the French and German governments to staff de- partments of French and German at Siliman University in Dumaguete City, Philip- pines, were rejected by University authorities on the grounds that departments teaching the languages of "small and distant states" must wait until after the establishment of facilities for teaching Japanese, Chinese, and Bahasa Indonesia, languages of "large, important, and nearby countries." ESPERANTO ACTIVITY CONTINUES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA: In spite of fears_to the contrary, the use of the international language by individuals and official agencies in Czechoslovakia seems to be continuing unabated, as yet, after last August's Warsaw Pact invasion of the country. On Sept. 14 and 15, a meeting of 154 Esperanto speakers took place in Dudince, in southern Slovakia. The Prague Esperanto Club has been resurrected after 16 years of oblivion, and now has a few hundred members who meet weekly under the leadership of Dr. Rudolf Horsky, accor- ding to a mid-November report. Demosta, a bulletin of demography and statistics published in Prague, has begun to use Esperanto as well as four other foreign lan- guages. A 4 9-page handbook for Esperanto organizations has also been published in Prague. And the News Digest has recently received two travel folders printed in Esperanto from Czechoslovakia - one showing the castle and gardens of the city of Kromeriz, the other advertising the 10th international industrial fair held in Brno in September. TWO NEW ESPERANTO GROUPS FOUNDED HERE: Young Esperanto speakers have organized recently in two more American communities: Baltimore, Maryland, and El Cerrito, California. JEN's Treasurer Peter Benson has been elected President of the newly formed Esperanto club in Baltimore, which will include members from the entire Chesapeake Bay area. The club is sponsoring one beginner's class and is planning more. On the West Coast, JEN member Denis LeCam is editing the bilin- gual newsletter of the new Esperanto-Klubo de El-Cerrito, many of whose members are students at El Cerrito High School. Page PUBLICATIONS JEN-BUL little magazine in accomplished. The and supporters of boa constrictor in of correct Espe entertainment. To yourself (or your rant.o December, 1968 TENO REBORN: The long-awaited revival of the JEN-Bulteno, JEN's Esperanto written by and aimed at the young, has at last been autumn, 1968, issue, which has already gone out to all members JJEN, contains an interview with a college student who keeps a his dorm room, some cinquains by Mark Mandel, tips on the use , a "Deziras Korespondi" column, and plenty of other news and get (or give) the JEN-Bulteno from now on, be sure to enroll riends) as a member or supporter of JEN for 1969. DICTIONARY MANUSCRIPT DELIVERED TO PRINTER: The largest all-Esperanto dictionary in history, Plena Illustrita Vortaro, has been pre-ordered by a large enough number of people to ensure publication, and typesetting has already begun, according to a statement by the publisher in Paris. All those who placed advance orders, and anyone else who wishes, should now transmit the pre-publication price of $19.00 to the American agent of the publisher: Mark Starr, 3940 47th Street, Long Island City, New York 11104. Payment must be made by December 31; the price is to go up after that date. SERVICE BOOK Coast Esperanto Esperanto Academy 1963-1967, a 75- last five years ($1 beautiful color ill Pantoflo-Katino , a acquisitions in about life on an Is translation by Ota is F. Faulhaber's now available is word by Mario Pei ( Book to -page nd adult Esp Ivy FINNLA New Finnish Brochure ANNOUNCES NEW ARRIVALS: New items in stock at the West Service (address on p. 4) range from a publication of the children's fairy tales. The former is Aktoj de la Akademio, paperback which records the Academy's decisions during the .75). The three fairy tales, each eight to ten pages and with ustrations, are from Yugoslavia and are entitled Mojoa Etuiino, Mia Ombrelo Povas Esti Balono (40«? each). Among its recent fiction, the Book Service recommends Fresa Mateno, a novel raeli kibbutz by Reuven Kritz in a widely cheered Esperanto Ginz (282 pp., $2.00). A witty discussion of Esperanto style eranta Mozaiko (119 pp., $1.50). Also just published and Kellerman Reed's Esperanto: A Complete Grammar, with fore- 166 pp., $5.00) . NEW TRAVEL BROCHURES ISSUED: Travel litera- ture in Esperanto has recently been published by the Finnish Tourist Association; Mainz, Germany; Hokkaido, Japan; and several communities each in Hungary and Spain. Shown in the picture is a new color-illustrated brochure from Finland, with maps and other useful information. NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA LAUNCHED: The Universal Esperanto Association has announced plans to sponsor a new Enoiklopedio de Esperanto, edited by Ulrich Lins of Germany and with contributions from eminent experts on Esperantic studies throughout the world, including the United States. The new multi-volume work will succeed the long-unavailable reference of the same name that was issued 40 years ago, when Esperanto was only half as old as it is today. A special fund being set up by U.E.A. will receive contributions and finance the editing and publishing of the new encyclopedia. COMING UP --_--** INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP WEEK PROPOSED: An LuT.- international committee that includes Francis Helmuth, president of the Esperanto League for North America, has • ; proposed celebrating one week a year as "International ***' Friendship Week." Everyone will be encouraged to greet his friends abroad with a card or gift during this week, which will be first observed from Feb. 16 to 22, 1969. The international committee hopes to see the celebration gradually become a popular world-wide event. Page 4 December, 19 6 8 TO INFORM YOU . . . --RADIO WARSAW: Now broadcasts about Esperanto in English, German, and Italian programs, as well as in Esperanto thrice daily. —MAGAZINES FROM BRAZIL: Impulso is the new "JEN-Bulteno" of Brazil,- Literatura Kagero, just launched, will carry literary translation. —TEACHING ESPERANTO?: Get Do's and Don'ts of Audio-Lingual Teaching (75C) from West Coast Esperanto Book Service (address below). --PACIFIC N.W. ESPERANTO CONFERENCE: Scheduled for June 20-22, 1969, in Spokane. —MUSEUM APPOINTS: Int'1 Esperanto Museum in Vienna's Hofburg now has U.S. agent: Mrs. R. 0. Stone, 504 N. 5th St., Gallup, NM 87301. —THAW IN PORTUGAL?: Portugese Language Society has just set up an Esperanto section; Esperanto activity was suppressed under Salazar. —PEOPLE: Title of new newsletter of P-to-P & Town Affiliation Assn., $3.50/yr. Wants news of sister-city activities. 1612 K St. NW, Wash., DC 20006. —GANDHI HONORED: Week-end of lectures & other programs in Esperanto held Nov. 23-24 in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switz., honoring Indian leader in centennial. IMPORTANT ADDRESSES INFORMATION BOOKS Esperanto Information Center 156 5th Avenue, Room 821 New York, N.Y. 10010 Esperanto Book Center 156 5th Avenue, Room 822 New York, N.Y. 10010 Esperanto Information Center 410 Darrell Road Hillsborough, Calif. 94010 West Coast, Esp. Book Service 2129 Elizabeth Street San Carlos, Calif.. 94070 JEN: GENERAL INFORMATION, MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS COPJRESPONDENCE COURSE NEWS DIGEST PEN PALS Mrs. Julie Tonkin (Corresponding Secretary) 2131 Tryon Street; Philadelphia, Pa. 19146 University of Chicago International Language Soc. 1212 East 59th Street; Chicago, 111. 60637 Jonathan Pool (Editor) 5238 South Kenwood, Apt. 1; Chicago, 111. 60615 Miss Ellen Lewis (Correspondence Service Director) 15 Salisbury Road; Brookline, Mass. 02146 JEN 4 Central Street Millers Falls, Massachusetts 01349 Return Requested New Address Requested Non-Profit Organization U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 5 > MILLERS FALLS, MASS. 01349 DATED MATERIAL