A resounding NO

 Photographer: Terri Lee-Shields

Today is the big day. The vote on the cuts in higher education is taking place in the afternoon of today, 9th December 2010. Students will be leading a massive demonstration that is expected to see at the very least 20,000 people.

College occupations and student demonstrations have been in full swing for the past month or so. Yesterday, many universities  had a walkout by students and lecturing staff.   Today my classes are cancelled and I will be there, demonstrating in Westminster, wearing my plaster - as it turns out I have fractured my left wrist, rather than just sprained it, so now it is in a plaster and I am wearing a sling. Damn nuisance!

Student occupations in the 21st century are a different affair from their 1968 counterpart.  The theme is not REVOLUTION but EDUCATION FOR ALL. So students have been surprising Londoners with a series of Teach -outs.  They gather in some well known square or station or public venue and deliver lectures. Faculty members join them.  Today, for example, a number of mini lectures took place on  tube trains from 3 till 5 pm.

This is a week when so many good things are happening to me, in my personal and professional life. I am grateful for this abundance of gifts, it goes without saying. But the best of all, yet to come, would be to know that we have defeated this insane government and its absurd policies. That's why today I will be demonstrating, plaster or not.

I posted about the cuts a few days ago. If they go ahead it will be the end of education in the UK. If they dont, it will be the end of the current government. Much is at stake.

Hetty Bowen, a Londoner who is 105 years old and who marched on the anti-Iraq war protests, has sent this solidarity message to the protesters:

"Education is the basis of civilised society. It is of primary importance for the future peace of the nations of the world".

That's why we are saying NO to the cuts.