"Spring of Resistance" [March - May 2011]

[Agenda militant]

"Spring of Resistance" [March - May 2011]

http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org/SoR_2011

"Emancipation for All" Free and emancipatory education does not only benefit students in schools and universities, but also society at large. We, groups and activists around the world on the ISM platform, say "Our Fight is Your Fight just like Your Fight is Our Fight" and call upon labour and the community at large to join in the fight students, teachers and parents are engaged in.

Massive protests were organized in various parts of the world including Austria, Bangladesh, Chile, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, not to mention South Africa, the UK, Ukraine and the U.S.A. in the past few months alone (see e.g. "Global Wave of Action for Education"). The demonstrations were not only against austerity measures that effect accessibility to education, but also to fight the increasing privatization of education, growing pressure to succeed, and a rising wave of questioning of the fundamental structures and functions of education systems.

To further the pressure locally and globally, groups, associations and individuals on the International Student Movement platform, who endorse the "International Joint Statement" came together to initiate the "Spring of Resistance" (SoR) from March to May 2011. That period will include a "Global Week of Action" (March 21-26th) as well as a "Global Day of Action" (May 2nd).

The framework of the SoR basically consists of the following three elements:

• "International Joint Statement" (consider endorsing it!)
  
• a united symbol (different versions are still being made)
• common slogans

Individual groups and associations will organize their own actions during this period while the ISM provides the platform and the infrastructure to coordinate the mobilization across and between the regions. The timeframe of the "Spring of Resistance" marks an opportunity to strengthen the network between groups and activists and unite worldwide for free emancipatory education for all. Various social movements can be joined by the timing as well as by the framework of the "Spring of Resistance".

In addition to sit-ins and demonstrations, events such as workshops and street theatre are planned by some to mark the resistance against the currently dominating education systems around the world. We want education for emancipation - not for profits!

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.

Contacts:

ISM Global: united.for.education@gmail.com (to announce actions to be listed as part of the SoR and send in reports)
ISM - North America: ismna@lists.riseup.net

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The following protests and events as part of the "Spring of Resistance" have been confirmed so far:

Africa:

• South Africa (March 4th): Marches for Free Education organised by SASCO (South African Students Congress) in one city of all 9 provinces. For example for the Eastern Cape province a march will take place in the city of East London. => fb event page

ASia:

• Manila, Philippines (March 4th): Students from different colleges and universities in Metro Manila will marched to the Commission on Higher Education to protest against tuition and other fees increase. (sent in by the League of Filipino Students - University of Manila)
• Dhaka, Bangladesh (March 22-24th): The 34th National Conference of the Bangladesh Students' Union (BSU) taking place at Dhaka University. The main focus will be the struggle against the increasing commercialisation of education.

Central America:

• Puerto Rico (March 11th): Networks of sympathizers with the ongoing student strike at the University of Puerto Rico announced that thy will stage simultaneous demonstrations in solidarity with the UPR in cities around the world, and invite all supporters to join them, coordinating their own activities in their respective towns. more details: ism-global.net and redaccion-pr.net => fb event page (spanish and english)

Europe:

• France (March 25th): Students across the country will ring a buzzer during lectures at 2pm. This will be a call to Wake Up! A call for a different education (not commercialized, but free and emancipatory) to arise. A call for people to rise up! The actions will be recorded and all are asked to publish their footages on two facebook walls: Le 25 mars 2011: faites sonner vos réveil (group) + Les Pas de Noms (profile). => lespasdenoms.over-blog.com

• Vienna, Austria (March 26th): Demonstration organised by UniBrennt, details to be announced.

• Dijon/Besançon, France (April 28-30th/May 5-7th): Counter-Summit on Education (parallel to a G8,G20-Summit) => ism-global.net + contreg8db2011.lautre.net

North America:

• New Brunswick, Canada (March 1st): March against fees and cuts organised by Unite! and the student union of Saint Thomas University. => march1wemarch.wordpress.com + fb event page

• U.S.A. (March): March 2nd marks kick-off for a Month of Action to Defend Public Education across the country => DefendPublicEducation.org

• Montreal (Quebec), Canada (March 12th): Students from across Quebec will join in solidarity with comrades from labour, health, anti-poverty, and First Nations movements to denounce Premier Jean Charest's neo-liberal budget which proposes substabtial hikes in user and tuition fees which will erode years of work to ensure the education and health systems remain accessible to all. => nonauxhausses.org + fb event page (english - french); contact: roddy.doucet@gmail.com

• New York City, U.S.A. (March 24th): Day of Rage against Cuts - Students/ Labour/ Community rallying at City Hall. => fb event page

• Canada: Various groups in Canada announced protests for free education as part of the SoR in March as well; more details to be published as soon as available; probably after the regional meeting in Montreal.

• U.S.A. (March 31st): National Day of Students Walk-out and Strikes to Defend Public Education => fb event page

• Chicago, U.S.A. (April 14th): Student Occupation at the City Colleges of Chicago District Office and March down to City Hall => fb event page (contact: cccoccupation@gmail.com)

(...)

Make sure to announce your actions by sending an e-mail to united.for.education@gmail.com, so people worldwide will be informed.