Delcaration of Dissent: No classes on July 10
Why Walk out?
Pooled editorial by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
As others have done before us, the youth is once again called upon to leave our mark in history's pages.
This July, we are walking out in outrage over unending and unjust price hikes. Oil prices have risen 18 times this year, and more weekly spates of increases are set to burden our countrymen for as long as this government refuses to impose and implement regulative policies to cushion the blows of soaring oil prices. Prices of food, electricity and other basic commodities likewise continue to be padded up by economic policies such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) and other burdensome taxes.
We are walking out of this administration's continuous extravagance amid scarcity and national disasters. The lavishness of Arroyo's most recent junket to the United States is a disgraceful excess in a time when the country is beset with economic hardship.
We are walking out of this administration's false promises of education reforms. We have had enough of this administration's deceitful ways. Instead of allotting more for the education budget, it thrusts school administrations towards further commercialization at the expense of students, even as President Arroyo announced a tuition hike moratorium for the present academic year.
We are walking out of this farce of a democracy. Years have passed and we are still counting the days when we see Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan and Jonas Burgos re-united with their families and friends. We condemn the unresolved and incessant extra-judicial killings of journalists, activists and civil libertarians that continue with impunity.
We are walking out of attacks on press freedom and freedom of speech and expression. We view the Philippines' election to the vice president post of the United Nations Human Rights Council as a sham and an insult to all victims of human rights violations, political repression and the Filipino public in general.
We are walking out of President Arroyo's unprecedented lust for power. We cannot muster tolerance for her continued stay until 2010.
In a time of great deceit, we choose to walkout for honor. In a time of lavish spending, we choose to walkout for austerity. In a time of apathy, we choose to walkout for social significance. In a time when the state's abandonment of the people's welfare is at its peak, the youth choose to stand steadfast against this administration's continuous neglect. In a time of greed for power, we choose to walkout for our democratic rights.
We are walking out for accountability in government and meaningful social change. Seven years of deceit, corruption, tyranny and social injustice has weighed its toll on the youth and the people. Enough is enough.
For the youth, walking out would mean entering the bigger picture and assuming our historical and significant role in society. We are asked at this point in time, 'Why walk out?' To which we reply, 'Why not?'
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Sabi nga ni Floyd, kung sumama na lang lahat ng mga nagsasabing 'rally nanaman?' e di kahapon pa sana nag-rebolusyon.
Pooled editorial by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.
As others have done before us, the youth is once again called upon to leave our mark in history's pages.
This July, we are walking out in outrage over unending and unjust price hikes. Oil prices have risen 18 times this year, and more weekly spates of increases are set to burden our countrymen for as long as this government refuses to impose and implement regulative policies to cushion the blows of soaring oil prices. Prices of food, electricity and other basic commodities likewise continue to be padded up by economic policies such as the Value Added Tax (VAT) and other burdensome taxes.
We are walking out of this administration's continuous extravagance amid scarcity and national disasters. The lavishness of Arroyo's most recent junket to the United States is a disgraceful excess in a time when the country is beset with economic hardship.
We are walking out of this administration's false promises of education reforms. We have had enough of this administration's deceitful ways. Instead of allotting more for the education budget, it thrusts school administrations towards further commercialization at the expense of students, even as President Arroyo announced a tuition hike moratorium for the present academic year.
We are walking out of this farce of a democracy. Years have passed and we are still counting the days when we see Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan and Jonas Burgos re-united with their families and friends. We condemn the unresolved and incessant extra-judicial killings of journalists, activists and civil libertarians that continue with impunity.
We are walking out of attacks on press freedom and freedom of speech and expression. We view the Philippines' election to the vice president post of the United Nations Human Rights Council as a sham and an insult to all victims of human rights violations, political repression and the Filipino public in general.
We are walking out of President Arroyo's unprecedented lust for power. We cannot muster tolerance for her continued stay until 2010.
In a time of great deceit, we choose to walkout for honor. In a time of lavish spending, we choose to walkout for austerity. In a time of apathy, we choose to walkout for social significance. In a time when the state's abandonment of the people's welfare is at its peak, the youth choose to stand steadfast against this administration's continuous neglect. In a time of greed for power, we choose to walkout for our democratic rights.
We are walking out for accountability in government and meaningful social change. Seven years of deceit, corruption, tyranny and social injustice has weighed its toll on the youth and the people. Enough is enough.
For the youth, walking out would mean entering the bigger picture and assuming our historical and significant role in society. We are asked at this point in time, 'Why walk out?' To which we reply, 'Why not?'
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Sabi nga ni Floyd, kung sumama na lang lahat ng mga nagsasabing 'rally nanaman?' e di kahapon pa sana nag-rebolusyon.