Hi All,
Following ISM global and regional chat/meetings and discussions, here's a draft of the statement that can eventually be used to distribute within our networks. It's also a work in progress so feedback and constructive criticisms are welcome! This version is supposed to serve as a basis for discussion.
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Spring of Resistance
“Emancipation for ALL”
Free and emancipatory education not only benefit the students in schools and universities, but also the society at large. Students in the UK rightly say: ‘Our Fight is Your Fight’ to call upon the labour and community at large to join the fight students are engaged in.
Massive protests were organized in various parts of the world including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Greece, Chile,
South Africa, Austria, the Ukraine, not to mention the UK, Puerto Rico and Italy. The demonstrations were not only against the austerity measures that effect accessibility to education, but also to fight increasing privatization of education, growing pressure to succeed, and rising wave of questioning of the fundamental structures and functions of education systems."
To further the pressure locally and globally, groups, associations and individuals part of the International Students' Movement platform, who endorsed the Joint Statement came together to initiate the "Spring of Resistance" from March to May 2011. The period would include a “Global week of Action” during the first week of May which encompasses the International Labour Day.
Individual groups and associations would organize their own action during this period while ISM would provide the platform and the infrastructure to coordinate the mobilization across and between the regions. The timeframe of the “Spring of Resistance” would be an occasion to organize coordinated action at both local and global levels showing solidarity with others in similar or worse situation. Various movements of resistance can be joined by the timing as well as by the slogan of “Spring of Resistance: Emancipation for ALL”
In addition to protests and demonstrations, events such as workshops and street theatre would be planned to mark the resistance against the measures that are to detriment of the society.
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.