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October 18, 2012

Spanish Students Protest Education Cuts 
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Students protested across Spain Wednesday as part of a student strike
that has seen thousands take to the streets to protest education cuts.
In the capital Madrid, more than 1,000 people chanted and blew whistles
to protest fee hikes and reductions in scholarships under government
austerity. One student said cuts would impact the quality of education.

Barbara, pharmaceutical student: "We will finish our studies without
learning things and we won't be able to find work because if they are
going to have interns working for free for nine months, who are they
going to hire?"

Pedro, songwriter: "What we have to do is chase down the rich and take
their money now. It's the only solution because with the Troika and what
they impose from Europe we will be lost here if we do as they say."

The protests come as European leaders gather in Brussels for the opening
of a two-day summit on the future of the euro zone. Ahead of the talks,
French President Françoise Hollande signaled his opposition to the
strict austerity approach backed by Germany. In an interview with
European newspapers, Hollande said: "The time has come to offer a
perspective beyond austerity."

 

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