People have started to form opposition groups to the Fijian miltary coup and demonstrations are taking place, and the youth are up there in the vanguard of the protesters. A young friend of mine is particularly incensed about the military takeover and wants to become involved. He is at university - where demonstrations have begun for many causes, the Vietnam war being notable in this category.

He has a number of young Fijian friends amongst the student fraternity, and wants to help them and their families by creating overseas opposition to the military coup. He said to me that he remembers me in previous student demonstrations when he was younger. He asked me for help in writing up a speech for a coming demonstration march to Parliament in Wellington. I said that as long as you can put a few words together and memorise them its just a matter of the gift of the gab; even better if you have a microphone in your hand.There is something about a mike in your hand - once you start talking you can become transformed into an orator of some distinction.

He came round home with three of four of his demo mob to discuss their tactics for the coming demonstration at Parliament.I supplied the coffee and they had pens and pads, and a mini recorder to tape the final drafts of their speechs. After a few hours and a gallon of coffee the young demonstrators were all prepared and psyched up for their demo at Friday lunch time.They invited me down to witness the demonstration, but I declined. This is your little battle and you don't need some grey-haired old bugger getting in your way. Your speechs are great - just put your heart and soul into them and gain some credibility for yourselves and your cause, I told them as they prepared to leave my place, just before midnight.

I told them as they left, their success will be determined by the interest of the media. If they are successful with their demonstration it will be all over the television and on the radio stations. "Good luck!" I called out as they got into their cars.

Well their demonstration was a huge success, all over the TV networks and radio stations, frontpage in the daily papers; and my young friend's speech was a cracker! He has some talent as a speaker and I'm sure that he will be leading many demonstrations in the years to come.He also has some talent as a speech writer too; being in Parliament itself may be his forte after his university days.I felt quite proud of him; he actually reminded me of somebody I know quite well from days of yore.