Don't keep calm. Don't carry on.
So, this happened yesterday and the media response has been relatively predictable - photos of fires and police with riot shields, silly comments about "typical students" and sniffily superior pat comments about how "violence solves nothing"* - neither of which are especially helpful. What galled me most were these comments - from people who in the most part had already had their education, some of those people had received full grants** and earning nice salaries in jobs that will be unavailable to those marching in Whitehall - I pity anyone graduating now and looking for work, it's a nightmare. Worse yet to come with the systematic unpicking of anything resembling "art" or "humanity" in higher education and in the public realm. But that's a rant for later.
For now, the students.
Frankly, I applaud them. As the rest of the country is weighed down under the lies that cuts must be made and accepting any old garbage as a solution, the students, much maligned, much underestimated, have actually made the biggest and most direct challenge to the coalition. I want to support this action, not because I want violent protest on every street corner (from either the students or the police) but because I am sick of the tired, frustrated and above all ineffectual responses to these unreasonable and un-needed policy decisions.
I've had enough.
I am angry.
Angry enough to kick a window in Tory HQ certainly, but I'm at my desk right now so I need other options.
Below are some of the things that I will be doing:
Join a Union, or other group body and work with other like-minded people in direct action, where possible.
False Economy - keep track of the cuts, find out about the ones that affect you and challenge them
Write to your MP - old fashioned, but they have to read your letters (or emails) and they do have to respond
Let me know if there are other things that you have found out about and are working on.
* Actually it does. That's why we have an army. It's not always the best solution, nor is it often big, hard and clever, but sometimes a kick up the arse is in order.
** The stuff of legend.
For now, the students.
Frankly, I applaud them. As the rest of the country is weighed down under the lies that cuts must be made and accepting any old garbage as a solution, the students, much maligned, much underestimated, have actually made the biggest and most direct challenge to the coalition. I want to support this action, not because I want violent protest on every street corner (from either the students or the police) but because I am sick of the tired, frustrated and above all ineffectual responses to these unreasonable and un-needed policy decisions.
I've had enough.
I am angry.
Angry enough to kick a window in Tory HQ certainly, but I'm at my desk right now so I need other options.
Below are some of the things that I will be doing:
Join a Union, or other group body and work with other like-minded people in direct action, where possible.
False Economy - keep track of the cuts, find out about the ones that affect you and challenge them
Write to your MP - old fashioned, but they have to read your letters (or emails) and they do have to respond
Let me know if there are other things that you have found out about and are working on.
* Actually it does. That's why we have an army. It's not always the best solution, nor is it often big, hard and clever, but sometimes a kick up the arse is in order.
** The stuff of legend.