"International Student Movement"

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"Global Weeks of Action for Education"
07 - 20th November 2011

   #OccupyEdu  #united4edu

Here you will find:

► the general framework of the "Global Weeks of Action for Education" (3 elements)
► the latest news on the coordination efforts (esp. for Nov. 17th)
► the to-do-lists
► activities announced around the world so far

After a few Global Chat Meetings and a call for feedback people involved in the struggle against the increasing commercialisation of education and for free emancipatory education at various locations around the world agreed to call for the Global Weeks of Action for Education (GWA) during November 7 - 20th. While November 17th (International Students Day) will mark a peak with globally synchronised actions.

► General Framework of the GWA (3 elements)

The common framework for the GWA consists of the follwing 3 elements:

• International Joint Statement (basis) - currently endorsed by about 80 groups worldwide
• common slogans:
  ► "education is not for $A£€; one world - one struggle"
  ► "free education for emancipation; one world - one struggle"
  ► "for the social revolution; one world - one struggle"
  ► "education is not a commodity; one world - one struggle"
  ► "abolish student debt; one world - one struggle"
• common symbols:

education barcode being attacked by two persons (with worldmap)

fist holding pen

fist holding half pen and half wrench

-> the slogans and symbols will help to visually communicate locally and globally that your action is linked to the GWA

► latest News on Coordination efforts (esp. for Nov. 17th)

Activists want to synchronise actions globally for November 17th (thursday).

Challenge: to (visually) connect the various activities linked to the Global Weeks of Action and promote the feeling of a common global struggle.

• Groups in Indonesia and on the Philippines already confirmed to synchronise actions.
• A "Social Media Newsroom" could providing updates in connection with the GWA activities around the world in real-time (incl. common twitter hashtag (still to be agreed on), page to collect videos and pictures) - probably scoop.it will be used
  => details to be discussed on the ISM techies mailing list (all who want to help are invited to subscribe)
• ideas so far:
  ★ "live casts" via skype or phone during activities such as rallies
  ★ page displaying "live-streams" of activities around the world linked to the day of action on November 17th/ GWA
  ★ everybody should record videos of their activities, so they can all be put together in a presentation afterwards!
  ★ groups could record short videos ahead of Nov.17th presenting their local situation and including greetings to activists worldwide - which could then be shown during rallies and other activities on Nov.17th itself
  ★ open question: some sort of symbolic action at various locations worldwide?
• To continue coordinations for November together, the next global chat meeting will take place on October 23th (sunday) - in the meantime all are asked to discuss the GWA on the local/regional level and brainstorm ideas on how to better link the actions especially on Nov. 17th.

 ► To-do-lists in the run-up to the GWA within the next few weeks

• things to do for the global level:
  ★ create mobilisation video(s)
  ★ translate the International Joint Statement and Latest News on the Coordinations for November 2011 into as many languages as possible
  ★ prepare the "social media newsroom" (scoop.it/ism-global)
  ★ calling for a "Global Virtual Assembly" (Nov. 12-13th) - with an open chatroom, voice conference and video conference channels?
  ★ brainstorm ideas on how to convey a feeling of global unity, especially on November 17th
  ★ everyone help to inform more groups and activists around the world about these coordinations (e.g. via twitter, social networks, homepages, mailing lists, latest Reclaim Education newsletter - DOWNLOAD,.pdf, 2.3mb, podcast on the ISM and GWA)
  
• suggestions for the local/regional level:
  ★ arrange meetings with fellow activists to inform about the GWA, discuss it and broaden the initiative
  ★ communicate updates on the local developments and plans in the build up for the GWA to the global level (e.g. through the ISM (global) mailing list)
  ★ record a video message going out to activists on the local and global level informing about the GWA
  ★ inform fellow activists on the local/regional level about the next global chat meeting in advance
  
  -> contact or send an e-mail to the ISM (global) mailing list, if you want to support the GWA by doing any of the points above or sharing further suggestions
  

► Activities announced around the world so far

• In Quebec (Canada) activists are planning a major demonstration on Nov. 10th and strikes against rising tuition fees province wide. Major teach-ins and orientation sessions filled with strike info and such are being prepared. Actions on Nov. 10th will be linked to the "Global Weeks of Action for Education".

• Most probably there will be rallies by students across Italy on Nov. 17th. If they will be linked to the GWA is still unclear. Activists are currently informing groups and movements in the region.

• Activists from across Finland will meet in Tampere on Sept. 24th to explore possiblities for activities linked to the GWA.

• Activists across Pakistan confirmed to arrange protest activities linked to the GWA. A page was set up on facebook. Details to be announced.

• Activists from across Germany met in Berlin between September 9-11th and initiated a call for action linked to the GWA, going out to groups and fellow activists across the country.
  Among others activists in Osnabrück are currently informing people about the GWA on the local level. So far a "political information week" ("Hochschulpolitische Woche") between Nov. 2-9th, which will hopefully encourage students to take action, as well as a general assembly at the university on Nov. 9th and a big rally together with unions on Nov. 17th are being worked on. Main slogan used will be "for Solidarity and Free Education" ("Für Solidarität und freie Bildung").

• Furthermore groups across Indonesia, the Philippines and the U.S. of A. confirmed to organise rallies, strikes and other actions linked to the weeks of action so far. Details on these to be announced as well.

=> You are also planning activities linked to the GWA? Then announce them by sending the details to and they will be added to the list here.

The "Global Wave of Action for Education" (Oct./Nov. 2010) already showed what great potential there is if we connect further in our struggle for free emancipatory education for all, especially towards the end of the year!

Subscribe to the ISM (global) mailing list to stay in touch with the latest coordination efforts and feel free to send an e-mail to , leave a comment below or simply participate in the next Global Chat Meeting to clarify questions and get involved.