Nov. 5th International Day of Action Against Commercialism in Education

international | anti-capitalism | event notice Thursday October 23, 2008 10:19 by Mark C - Campaign for Commercial-Free Education - Pers. Caps. oscailt at indymedia dot ie

This is a call for "Live Greetings of Solidarity" for those performing actions on Nov. 5th.

Across the world on Nov. 5th different groups will perform actions against commercial influences in education (including the paying of fees for third level education). This Event Notice is a call for those who are not performing actions on that day to send a "Live Greeting of Solidarity" to those who are.

The "Live Greeting of Solidarity" could take the form of a simple phone call (Skype might be a good friend in this case) or a text message. Better still a picture message; or, go one step further and record a live greeting to send to other activists.

If you'd like to upload a video or your greeting, a dedicated site has been set up. Contact [email protected] for details.

A list of actions that are being performed on the day include:

Kentucky USA - Rally against Fees for Higher Education
Kentucky USA - Handing over of Petition against Fees for Higher Education to Local Congress Office
Columbia - Huge demonstartions are being organised - apparently death threats have been received about this already
Mainz, Germany - Flash Mob
Dusseldorf, Germany - Demonstration organised
Canada (various districts) - Huge demonstartions are being organised
England and USA - Smaller rallies being organised (that will hopefully turn in to huge demonstrations)
Croatia - Thousands have signed up to rally
Liberia - Massive demonstrations - help needed (see Extra Call Out Below)

For contact details of activists taking part from other countries you can contact me, using the indymedia.ie contact form.

Further information about these actions can be found on the coordinating website:
http://www.emancipating-education-for-all.org.

or the Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24722765003

Extra Call Out for Support for Activists in Liberia
Support for group in Liberia needed

There is an NGO located in the capital of Liberia (Monrovia) called Youth for Community Academic and Development Services (YOCADS). A friend of mine has been in touch with the executive director (called Alphonso Weah) for months now and he is very keen to organize protests on Nov.5th in Liberia
.
Unfortunately the situation for smaller NGOs in Liberia is really difficult. And the presence of the UN is boosting prices, which apparently makes it hard for organizations that hardly have any financial support, to get materials together to mobilize for a protest.

Recently Alphonso sent a list of things he urgently needs to organize protests:

* Posters (those of you who decide to print out mobilization posters and are willing to support the group in Liberia with a few pieces, then let me know)
* Pens and markers (those who are willing and able to send posters over to Liberia might then also just also put two or three pens/markers into the box)
* Cell phones (He added three handys to the list. If any of you has a used handy, which is still functioning well, but not needed anymore, then please consider supporting Alphonso with it.)

My friend will also send a box (incl. blankets and paint to make banners + pens + a used digital camera, so that he will be able to send us pictures of the protest).
Those who want to support YOCADS financially can do so as well using Western Union.

If anybody is willing and able to support YOCADS in one way or another, then just let me know and I will forward to you the appropriate address.