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146 Greek Academics Shows Solidarity With Quebec Students / Message de solidarité de la communauté académique grecque aux étudiants en lutte au Québec

Message of solidarity of the Greek academic community to the students in struggle in Quebec

Greek anti-austerity protest
Greek anti-austerity protest

The following is a message of solidarity for the students of Quebec signed by nearly 150 Greek academics. They provided French and English versions of their message of support (both listed below), along with a list of signatories.

Message de solidarité de la communauté académique grecque aux étudiants en lutte au Québec

Nous, enseignants aux universités grecques, expriment notre solidarité à la mobilisation extraordinaire des étudiants au Québec : la grève étudiante la plus longue et la plus massive dans l’ histoire de l’Amérique du Nord qui est en train de devenir une des campagnes les plus importantes dans le monde contre l’austérité.

La communauté académique en Grèce suit avec indignation, mais aussi avec espoir, la lutte des étudiants afin de bloquer l’augmentation des droits de scolarité universitaire et résister à l’attaque néolibérale sans précédent aux charges sociales.

Nous suivons avec indignation, parce que la répression draconniene exercée par le gouvernement a menacé non seulement la libre expression et les droits démocratiques, mais aussi la vie même des étudiants en lutte, ainsi que celle des enseignants, du personnel  administratif des universités et d’autres citoyens solidaires. Les lois qui limitent fermement le droit de manifester menacent la démocratie et tentent de bâillonner toute voix qui résiste aux réformes néolibérales de l’éducation. Quand la démocratie est en jeu, la désobéissance devient une obligation.

Et nous suivons avec espoir, parce que la voix du mouvement étudiant de Québec donne au monde entier des leçons précieuses de combativité et de persévérance contre la marchandisation de l’éducation et pour la défense d’une éducation publique et démocratique.

Dans cette lutte, nous sommes nombreux. Notre mobilisation est trop forte pour contenir. Du Québec à Londres et à Rome, de Santiago à Vienne et à Athènes, la communauté académique mène le même combat. En Grèce, nous avons déjà réussi en 2006 à bloquer un amendement da la Constitution qui visait à abolir le caractère exclusivement public des universités. Ensuite, en 2011-2012, nous avons réussi à délégitimer et rendre inactive une loi qui visait une réforme néolibérale de l’éducation supérieure. Nous sommes nombreux et dès lors optimistes et confiants. Tous ensemble continuons le combat pour que l’éducation redevienne un bien public dans le monde entier.

Nous, les universitaires Grecs, déclarons notre solidarité à vos luttes magnifiques, qui sont nos luttes.

Message of solidarity of the Greek academic community to the students in struggle in Quebec

We, academics in the Greek universities, express our solidarity to the extraordinary student mobilization in Quebec: the longest and largest student strike in the history of North America, which is now evolving into one of the most powerful anti-austerity campaigns in the world.

The Greek academic community is watching in indignation but also in hope the struggle of Quebec’s students to block the tuition increases and to resist an unprecedented neoliberal attack on social welfare.

We are watching in indignation, because draconian government repression has threatened not only freedom of expression and democratic rights, but also the life itself of students, faculty and administrative staff as well as of other citizens who express their solidarity. The law-and-order administration, which restricts the freedom of protest, threatens democracy and attempts to silence every voice resisting neoliberal education reforms. When democracy is at stake, disobedience is a duty.

And we are watching in hope, because the voice of the student movement of Quebec offers valuable lessons to the world concerning resistance to education commoditization and the defense of public and democratic education.

In this struggle we are many. Our mobilization has become too strong to contain. From Quebec to London and Rome, from Santiago to Vienna and Athens, the academic community gives the same fight. In Greece, we were successful in 2006 in blocking a constitutional amendment aiming at abolishing the exclusively public character of universities. Recently, we managed to delegitimize and inactivate a law aiming at a neoliberal restructuring of higher education. We are many and therefore optimistic and confident. All together, let us continue the fight for rendering education a public good in the whole world.

We, Greek academics, declare our solidarity to your wonderful struggle, which is our struggle!

LIST OF SIGNATURES

1.            Kyrkos Doxiadis, Professor of Social Theory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

2.            Vassilis Anastassopoulos, Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras,

3.            Nikos Barkas, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture Engineers, Dimokritos University of Thrace

4.            Lela Gogou, Professor, Dimokritos University of Thrace

5.            Konstantinos Kavoulakos, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Crete.

6.            Dr Angeliki Spiropoulou, Lecturer in Modern European Literature and Theory, University of the Peloponnese

7.            Evangelos Nikolaidis, Assistant Professor, University of Crete

8.            Athina Stavridou, Lecturer, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

9.            Dimitrios S. Patelis, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sciences, Technical University of Crete

10.            Kostas Bassioukas, Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of Ioannina

11.            Leonidas Oikonomou, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

12.            George Tsimouris, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

13.            Tasos Anastopoulos, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

14.            Kostas Stamatis, Professor, School of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

15.            Dr. Yeoryios Stamboulis, Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly

16.            Maria Karamessini, Associate Professor, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

17.            Iphigenia Kamtsidou, Professeur Assistante de Droit Constitutionnel, Université Aristote de Thessalonique

18.            Marianna Kondyli, Associate Professor, University of Patras

19.            Dimitris Seremetis, Assοciate Professor, Department of Applied Economics, University of the Aegean

20.            Kostas Gavroglu, Professor of History of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

21.            Michalis Psimitis, Associate Professor, University of the Aegean

22.            Vassilis Christophides, Professeur, Université de Crète

23.            Dr. Alexandros Kioupkiolis, Lecturer, School of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

24.            Spyros Karavas, Associate Professor, Department of Social Anthropology and History, University of the Aegean

25.            Stavros Stavrides, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

26.            Christina K. Kitsaki
 Assistant Professor, Agricultural University of Athens

27.            Dimitris Psillos, Professor, School of Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

28.            Alexandros Baltzis, Assistant Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

29.            Dr. Christina Adamou, Lecturer in Film Theory, Film Department School of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

30.            Maria Giannisopoulou, Université de Crete

31.            Pandelis Kiprianos,Professeur, Université de Patras

32.            Alexandra Ioannidou, Associate Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

33.            Dimitris Papalexopoulos, Professor, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

34.            Dimitris Fassouliotis, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

35.            Andreas Notaras, Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

36.            Dimitris Damigos, Assistant Professor, National Technical University of Athens

37.            Aspasia Velissariou, Professor, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

38.            Eliza Anna Delveroudi, Professor, University of Crete

39.            George Xylomenos, Assistant Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

40.            Rania Astrinaki, Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

41.            Dimitrios Anastassopoulos, Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Patras

42.            Dimitris A.Sevastakis, Assistant Professor, National Technical University of Athens

43.            Yannis N. Krestenitis, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), President of The Union of Academic Teachers of AUTH

44.            Alkis Rigos, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

45.            Dimitris Dialetis, Professor, Department of Philosophy and History of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

46.            Stavros Konstantakopoulos, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & History, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

47.            Polymeris Voglis, Assistant Professor of History, University of Thessaly

48.            Ilias Santouridis, Associate Professor, Technological Educational Institute of Larissa

49.            Ada Dialla, Assistant Professor of History, Athens School of Fine Arts

50.            Athena Athanasiou, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

51.            Katia Fotinopoulou, Assistant professor, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

52.            Anastasia Politou, Medical School, University of Ioannina

53.            Spyros Georgatos, Medical School, University of Ioannina

54.            Helen A.Thanopoulou, Associate Professor, Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean

55.            Pavlos Pantazis, Assistant Professor in Clinical Social Psychology, School of Film, Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

56.            Iraklis Mavridis, Lecturer, Department of Social Policy, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

57.            Efthymios Papataxiarchis, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of the Aegean

58.            Spyros Marchetos, Assistant Professor, School of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

59.            Takis Geros, Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

60.            Nikos Kotaridis, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

61.            Panagis Karazeris, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Patras

62.            Panos Papadopoulos, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras

63.            Georgios Agelopoulos, Assistant Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki

64.            Fragkiskos Kalavasis, Professor, Department of Preschool Education and Educational Design, Aegean University

65.            Sia Anagnostopoulou, Associate professor, Department of Political Science & History, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

66.            Maria Papadopoulou, Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Thessaly

67.            Xenia Chryssochoou Professor, Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

68.            Riki van Boeschoten, Associate Professor, University of Thessaly

69.            Harris Athanasiades, Associate Professor of History of Education, University of Ioannina

70.            Maria Paradeisi, Asssistant Professor, Department of Media, Communication and Culture, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

71.            Maria Markou, Lecturer, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

72.            Rena Klabatsea, National Technical University of Athens

73.            Sofia Avgerinou, National Technical University of Athens

74.            Yiannis Theotokas, University of the Aegean

75.            Gerassimos Kouzelis, Professor, Department of Political Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

76.            Giorgos Papakonstantinou, Department of Architecture, University of Thessaly

77.            Spyros Benetatos, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

78.            Angeliki Dimitrakopoulou, Vice-Rector, University of the Aegean

79.            Pothiti Hantzaroula, University of the Aegean

80.            Tonia Kioussopoulou, Associate Professor, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Crete

81.            Efi Avdela, Professor, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Crete

82.            Alexandros Koutsouris, Associate Professor, Agricultural University of Athens

83.            Anna Matthaiou, University of Thessaly,

84.            Cimon Anastassiadis, Professor, Technical Education Institute of Athens

85.            Aliki Angelidou, Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

86.            Elena Tzelepi, Doctor of Philosophy

87.            Anna Chronaki, University of Thessaly

88.            Eugenios Angelopoulos, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, National Technical University of Athens

89.            Manolis Dafermos, University of Crete

90.            Spiros Kriwas, University of Patras

91.            Yiannis Papatheodorou, Assistant Professor of Modern Greek Studies, University of Ioannina

92.            Christos Dermentzopoulos, Assistant Professor of Anthropology of Art University of Ioannina – Dept. of Fine Arts and Sciences of Art

93.            Giota Touloumi, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

94.            Socrates Petmezas, University of Crete

95.            Giorgos Divaris, Associate Professor of Faculty of Fine Art, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

96.            Maria Nikolakaki, Assistant Professor, University of Peloponnese

97.            Takis Politis, University of Thessaly

98.            Ria kalfakakou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

99.            Anna Spyrtou, Assistant Professor, School of Education Department of Primary Education University of Western Macedonia

100.            Vicky Iakovou, Lecturer, University of the Aegean

101.            Panagiotis A. Kanellopoulos, Assistant Professor of Music Education, Department of Early Childhood Education, School of the Humanities, University of Thessaly

102.            Nikos Belavilas, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

103.            Zambia Katsanevaki, (laboratory teaching staff) National Technical University of Athens

104.            Tassis Papaioannou, Architect-Professor School of Architecture, National Technical University of Athens

105.            Giorgos Fourtounis, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & History, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

106.            Aglaia Kasdagli, University of Crete

107.            Georgia Aslani, University of Ioannina

108.            Michalis Spourdalakis, Professor Dept. of Political Science & Public Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

109.            Rea Delveroudi, Professeure Associée, Departement de Langue et de Litterature francaises, Universite d’Athenes

110.            Aristotle Tympas, Assistant Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

111.            Emmanuel Angelidis, Professor, Department of Political Science & History, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens

112.            Antoniou Katerina, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Ioannina

113.            Savvas Christoforidis, Assistant Professor, University of Ioannina

114.            Rosa-Maria Polymeni, Assistant Professor, Sect. of Zoology-Marine Biology, Dept. of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

115.            Arvanitakis Alekos, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, National Technical University of Athens

116.            Nikitas Mylopoulos, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly

117.            Filareti Zafiropoulos, Ass. Professor, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Patras

118.            Alexandra Koronaiou, Professor, Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens

119.            Rika Benveniste, Professeur, Dpt d’Histoire, Archéologie et Anthropologie Sociale, Universite de Thessalie

120.            Thanasis Daradoumis, Assistant Professor, Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean

121.            Androniki Dialeti, Department of History, Archaeology and Social Anthropology, University of Thessaly

122.            Fotini Vaki, Lecturer, Department of History, Ionian University

123.            Alexandra Mouriki, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Science and Early Childhood, University of Patras

124.            Demosthenes Stamatis, Professor, Department of Information Technology, Technical Education Institute of of Thessaloniki

125.            Giorgos Plakotos, Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology and History, University of the Aegean

126.            Lina Venturas, Professor, University of Peloponnese

127.            Evgenia Sifaki, Lecturer, University of Thessaly

128.            Dimitris Chassapis, Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

129.            Stephanos Dimitriou, Associate Professor of Political Philosophy, University of Ioannina

130.            Jina Politi, Professor Emeritus, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

131.            John Milios, Professor of Political Economy, National Technical University of Athens

132.            Nikos Pasadakis, Associate Professor, Technical University of Crete

133.            Angeliki Konstantakopoulou, Associate Professor of Balkan History, University of Ioannina

134.            Theophanes Grammenos, Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly

135.            Stavros Goutsos, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras

136.            Theano Fotiou professor  National Techical University of Athens, School of Architecture

137.            Evangelia  Antoniou Lecturer of Midwifery, Midwifery Department,  Technological education institution of Athens

138.            Stratos Georgoulas, Assistant Professor, University of the Aegean

139.            Ioannis K. Zarkadis, Assoc. Prof. School of Medicine University of Patras.

140.            Leonidas Maroudas, Professor University of Patras

141.            Kanellaki Sofia Assistant Professor of Psychology. Panteion University

142.            Dimitris Papageorgiou, University of the Aegean

143.            Emmanuel M. Papamichael, Associate Professor, University of Ioannina,

144.            Costas Gaganakis, University of Athens

145.            Alexis Benos, AUTH Medicla School, Thessaloniki, Greece

146.            Tina Zormbala Department of Mathematics University of the Aegean


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AGMarshall (Andrew Gavin Marshall)
Montreal
Member since April 2012

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Andrew Gavin Marshall is a 26-year old independent researcher and writer based in Montreal, Canada. He has written for a number of publications, including AlterNet, Truthout, CounterPunch, Roarmag, and Occupy, among others, and has done a number of radio and television interviews, including with Russia Today and CBC Radio. He is Project Manager of The People’s Book Project, head of the Geopolitics Division of the Hampton Institute, research director of Occupy.com’s Global Power Project, and hosts a weekly podcast show at BoilingFrogsPost.

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Comments

Democracy is intact

While I fully support the student protests, these austerity measures by the Quebec government are fully legitimate and democratic. This government was elected and it still has the majority of public support on its side, regarding this issue of tuition prices. Perhaps if more media organizations presented the point of view of students better, public opinion would be different.

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