1st issue of Reclaim Education - an ISM newsletter details: http://ism-global.net/newsletter

1. Monday, 1st November 2010
R e c l a i m Ed uc ati on vol.01 issue.1
international o n t h e g l o b a l st r u g g lmovement
N o t e s student e
October 7th: The "Global Wave" kicked off !!
The "Global Wave of Action for Edu­ it until the night. "While attending a meeting at the
cation" kicked off with a massive Almost everywhere speeches were Ruhr­University of Bochum, activists
"Day of Action to Defend Education" held. To give you an example a discussed the idea behind the "Global
in the U.S.A. on October 7th. Tens of speech held by Eva v. Dassow on be­ Wave of Action for Education" and
thousands of people participated in half of the "Faculty for the Renewal decided to express their solidarity on
about 80 protest actions against the of Public Education" during a rally at October 7th. In order to raise aware­
privatisation of public education, the University of Minnesota has been ness of the International Student
budget cuts, the de­democratisation published inside the forum of the "In­ Movement, two banners were hung
within universities and constantly in­ ternational Student Movement": ht­ and flyers with the joint statement and
creasing tuition fees in 25 states tp://emancipating­education­for­all.o an additional mobilisation text were
across the country. rg/eva_drassow_speech distributed at the university.We wish
Various rallies, sit­ins and teach­outs In Bochum (Germany) students the very best to all the activists who Details on the day of action in the U.S.A.: www.defendeducation.org
were held. One of the biggest sit­ins marked the kick­off with a banner organise protests around the world.
took place at the University of Califor­ drop. The following statement was
nia (Berkeley) with about 600 stu­ sent in: One world, one struggle!"
dents storming a library and squatting About this newsletter
This newsletter is part of the communication infrastructure of the inde­
October 8th: Pupils & Students flood streets pendent platform "International Student Movement" (ISM). The ISM is
being used and shaped by education activists and groups around the world
across Italy + "Democracy Rally" in London who are struggling against the increasing privatisation of public education
and for free emancipatory education for all.
Currently the "Global Wave of Action for Education" is being coordin­
Almost 300,000 pupils and students science), which will result in budget On the same day people gathered in ated, which explains the focus on protests related to that inside this edi­
in about 80 cities across Italy took to cuts and the increasing privatisation London (UK) for a "Democracy tion.
the streets in protest against new re­ of education. Rally" which was organised by the The "Global Wave" kicked off with a huge "Day of Action to Defend Edu­
forms (pushed by Gelmini, the minis­ At least four activists were arrested Democracy Village Peoples As­ cation" in the U.S.A. on October 7th and will continue with various ac­
ter for education, universities and after an attack on the demonstration sembly (DV PA). The DVPA is also tions worldwide at least until the end of November. It mainly consists of
by police forces among the groups endorsing the inter­ three elements: an international "joint statement", a "united symbol" and
in Milan. national "joint statement" and see its communication/coordination on the global level (e.g. using the infrastruc­
The protests were action in context of the "Global ture of the ISM).
called for by Uni­ Wave". This newsletter is the result of voluntary work done by a few individuals
one degli Stu­ About 100 people came together for who are passionate about this issue. The positions expressed are not in
denti (UDS), who music, food, discussions, assemblies any way representative for any group or the "International Student Move­
also confirmed and a rally. ment" as a whole.
that this day of ac­ For further details:
tion is linked to website for further details: website: http://emancipating­education­for­all.org
the "Global www.democracyrally.org contact: united.for.education@gmail.com
for details in Italian: www.unionedeglistudenti.net/sito Wave".

2. October 12th: Day of Action across the Ukraine Short notes
More than 20,000 students in 15 cities They call to resist this development Solidarity”, “Down with social barri­ ment" explained, as well as leaflets October 15th
across the Ukraine protested against and want to extend their struggle. ers!” and in Orwellian­style “War is calling on students’ self­organization More than 100,000 teachers, staff,
the decision by the government to al­ In Kiev 2,000 students participated in Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance and struggle were distributed. parents, students and workers took
low public universities to introduce a demonstration demanding free edu­ is Strength… Knowledge is Commod­ The demonstration in Lviv was prob­ to the streets across Italy
new fees. They were organised by the cation for all. Slogans included ity?”. A solidarity greeting from the ably the largest with up to 7,000 following a day of strike within
left­wing syndicalist union "Direct “Liberty, Equality, Student Solidar­ well­known author Serhiy Zhadan people joining. The building of the re­ the education sector called for by
Action", striving for libertarian educa­ ity!”, “Knowledge not for sale!”, was read, the international context gional administration was attacked by COBAS (Confederazione dei
tion and the "Foundation of Regional “Universities aren’t markets!” and with the "Global Wave of Action for unknown people who threw smoke Comitati di Base) in defence of
Initiatives". “Rebel, love, don’t give up your Education" and the endorsement of bombs, tomatoes and eggs. However, public education as a common
Only last year students prevented sim­ rights”. Some banners stated “Student the "International Student Move­ ultimately no arrests were made and good.
ilar reforms by staging mass­protests. everything ended peacefully. www.cobas.it
Now, in late August, the new Azarov In the Transcarpathian city of Uzh­
government passed another set of re­ horod, the protest organized by the October 20th
forms that allow university admins to "Foundation of Regional Initiatives" Over 120 students attended an
install fees for missed classes, for the was attended by about 1,000 young urgent rally on the University of
use of libraries and gymnasiums as people, an enormous number for the Essex (UK) campus in opposition
well as internet access among others. smallest of 24 regional centers of the to the further marketization of the
The authorities are about to increase Ukraine. It was definitely the biggest United Kingdom's education
the fees for dormitories and reduce demonstration the city has seen in re­ system in the form of proposed
the number of students able to study cent years. devastating cuts and unlimited
for free, although the Ukrainian Con­ Facing the rage of the students, pres­ tuition fees. The International
stitution (like many others as well) ident Yanukovich initially announced Student Movement was
formally guarantees free access to that the government reforms would mentioned, and a list of the recent
higher education. be suspended. However, this was re­ global events taken as inspiration
Unlike the Ukrainian far right blam­ vealed to be a lie to calm down the re­ for future action.
ing some people in the government as volutionary students. The campaign
‘Un­Ukrainian’, independent student against commercialization of educa­ October 20th
activists emphasize that the problem tion isn’t over. The struggle contin­ PEMBEBASAN was among the
is not in personalities but in the sys­ ues! leading actors calling for protests
tem itself. They see the introduction for free education and against
of new fees symptomatic to the cur­ for details: increasing prices for basic
rently dominating economic system. during the demonstration in Kiev www.direct­action.org.ua necessities in Indonesia! They
mobilised for these protests as
part of the "Global Wave" in
General Assemblies/Demonstrations across Austria various cities such as Jakarta,
Yogyakarta and Samarinda.
More than 20,000 students, profess­ ­ was re­occupied by more than 800 caimed for about 12 hours. The fol­ At the Johann­Kepler University in Activists declared the day of action in
ors, parents and rectors took to the students. Why "RE"­occupied? Be­ lowing morning the remaining Linz a resolution was passed by the Austria as part of the "Global Wave".
streets in Austria as part of a day of ac­ cause the exactly same lecture hall squatters were escorted outside by the 1,000 students who attended the gen­ details: www.unibrennt.at
tion including general assemblies at was already squatted for almost 3 police. Once on the streets about 60 eral assembly rejecting any sort of tu­
all 21 public universities in the coun­ months by thousands of students in protesters gathered for a spontaneous ition fees and restrictions to the
learning unit no 42315
try. About 15,000 protested in capital the fight against tuition fees, budget demonstration to the ministry. They access of higher education.
Vienna alone. cuts and for free emancipatory educa­ were immediately surrounded by po­ 3,000 people rocked the streets in the
The "Audimax" ­ largest lecture hall tion one year ago. lice forces and eight students had city of Graz, 1,500 in Innsbruck and
of Austria at the University of Vienna This time the "Audimax" was rel­ their IDs recorded. 1,000 in Linz and Salzburg each.