Youth with homeland sea and islands

(Baonghean) - Responding to the campaign "Sentiment of border and islands" and the program "Nghe An youth with homeland's sea and islands", in recent years, the youth of the whole province have been carrying out practical activities towards the sea and islands, towards the soldiers who are day and night firmly holding their guns "at the forefront of the waves and winds" to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity...

The love of the sea and islands of the youth is concretized through actions such as: presenting the national flag, encouraging fishermen to stay at sea to both develop the economy and contribute to affirming the sovereignty of the sea and islands of Cua Lo Town Youth Union; launching a movement to preserve the marine environment of the youth of Dien Chau and Quynh Luu districts; supporting the freshwater tank project worth tens of millions of VND for officers and soldiers of Mat island by the Youth Union of Nghe An province's business sector; and the movement of writing letters to encourage officers and soldiers of Truong Sa in the school sector.

Many Youth Union organizations also sent members to participate in trips to Truong Sa; trips for the homeland sea and islands of Ly Son - Quang Ngai; exchanges with officers and soldiers of Squadron 137, Region 1 of the Navy, exchanges and gifts with officers and soldiers of Mat Island... thereby sharing and understanding more about the hardships and sacrifices of soldiers on duty to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands. Many students confided: "After visiting the soldiers on the islands, we all promised ourselves to try to practice and study better to contribute to protecting the sea and sky of our homeland"...

Students of Nghe An University of Economics visit the exhibition “Sea and Islands - Sacred Sovereignty of the Fatherland”. Photo: Manh Hung

Mr. Dang Quang - Deputy Head of the Provincial Youth Union's Propaganda Department said: To arouse, foster and light up the love for the sea and islands in the hearts of young people, in addition to promoting the dissemination of the Party's resolutions and policies and the State's laws on borders and islands in many forms, the Provincial Youth Union's Executive Committee also launched the contests "Borders and islands in my heart"; "Legend of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea"; the exchange program "The Fatherland seen from the sea", "Youth with the homeland's sea and islands"; the photo exhibition "Truong Sa, Hoang Sa in my heart"... These activities have created a strong change in the awareness of the young generation about the strategic position of our country's sea and about protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

The campaign "Contribute stones to build Truong Sa" has been actively responded to by all levels of the Youth Union - Association - Pioneers. Up to now, the youth of the whole province have donated and supported nearly 700 million VND to build Truong Sa. Youth Union organizations at all levels regularly promote activities of "Repaying gratitude", "Drinking water, remembering its source", giving savings books, helping, visiting, and giving gifts to families with relatives on duty at the border and islands... The Provincial Youth Union Executive Committee coordinated well with Thanh Nien Newspaper to organize gift giving to relatives of 8 families of martyrs on Gac Ma island in Truong Sa archipelago with a total value of 80 million VND...

These days, when the situation in the East Sea is tense due to the event of China illegally placing an oil rig and continuously taking aggressive actions in the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone - violating Vietnam's territory. Together with the people of the whole country and the people of the whole province, Nghe An youth have expressed their indignation at China's arrogant actions and unanimously turned towards the East Sea with practical and meaningful activities, expressing the message of peace and patriotism in the right way as called for by the Prime Minister. On the evening of May 19, with the consensus of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the school, the Youth Union of Nghe An University of Economics organized the program "Students with the sea and islands of the Fatherland" and launched a campaign to support the people, cadres and soldiers who are protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland in the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

In the program, on behalf of the School Youth Union Executive Committee, comrade Nguyen Manh Hung - Deputy Secretary of the School Youth Union called on union members, youth, students to contribute to protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland in accordance with Vietnamese law and international law. Promote the spirit of alertness, vigilance, avoid being lured, provoked and demonstrate patriotism by striving to compete, practice, study well, participate in scientific research, review well during the exam season to achieve high results. In addition, the school also organized for students to visit the "Sea and Islands - Sovereignty" Photo Exhibition at the Museum of Military Region 4. At the recent opening ceremony of the 2014 ViDa Cup Youth Football Tournament for cadres, workers and civil servants, the Organizing Committee also launched a call for young union members to participate in supporting "Joining hands for the homeland's sea and islands".

From Truong Sa, Ms. Nguyen Luong Hong - former Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, now President of the Provincial Red Cross Society, called to inform us: Upon receiving the news that the leaders of the Provincial Red Cross Society would be visiting Truong Sa with the Central Red Cross Society, many organizations and individuals, including union members and youth, sent gifts to officers and soldiers on duty on the island. Typically, the "General's Warm Coat" Club sent 100 T-shirts with the image of Dien Bien Phu Victory, Viettel cards worth 16 million VND. The total value of the gifts was 26 million VND. The Vinh Medical University Youth Union sent a 43-inch Samsung LCD TV, 2 DVD players, Viettel cards with a total value of 13 million VND; and sent letters to soldiers in Truong Sa.

As a school with thousands of students from inside and outside the province, recently, the activities of the reporter club, updating, discussing and raising awareness about the sea and islands have become regular activities maintained by Vinh University. The message "need to have a warm heart to show patriotism and a cool head" to respond properly to the developments of the current situation has been widely disseminated. Kieu Thi Hao - a student of the 52nd class of the Faculty of Political Education expressed: In my opinion, there are many ways to show patriotism. For Vinh University students, actively studying, practicing, and doing scientific research to become young intellectuals with "courage, intelligence, civilization, and volunteerism" to contribute to building a rich people and a strong country in the future is a practical way to show patriotism.

Talking to us, Dr. Nguyen Anh Chuong - Secretary of the Youth Union of Vinh University said: "For a long time, the Youth Union - Student Association of Vinh University has had many activities towards the sea and islands such as: Exchange of the Fatherland seen from the sea, contest to learn about the sea and islands, movement to write letters to soldiers on duty on remote islands... At present and in the near future, the Youth Union of Vinh University will continue the activities as before, at the same time launching the emulation movement to study, practice, and do scientific research; increase activities to provide information, orientation, and raise political awareness for students... Make young people understand that there are many paths and ways to express patriotism. For students of Vinh University - a national key university, it is necessary to show patriotism associated with implementing Directive 03 of the Politburo and the campaign "Nghe An Youth Study and Follow Uncle Ho's Teachings" through diligently studying, cultivating political qualities, and responding to activities "For the Border Love" - The island was launched by the superior Union…”.

Thus, it can be said that the love for the sea and islands, for the sovereignty of the Fatherland, has been and is being concretized by the youth of Uncle Ho's homeland through practical and meaningful activities, in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Party, Government and the patriotic tradition of the Vietnamese people that has been forged over thousands of years of history.

Gia Huy