What is the Alternative London Summit ? [update - one of the academics at the University of East London, Chris Knight, professor of anthropology, has been suspended from his post for speaking out on bankers and for implying that if the police use violence against demonstrators they will be repaid in kind. Pretty senseless bravado on his part but it is hardly cause for being suspended from your post. Such are the limits to democracy in Britain in the age of the war on terror.] On April 2nd 2009, Barack Obama and the G20 ministers including World Bank and IMF governors will be arriving at a conference centre some 500 yards from the Docklands Campus of the University of East London. Lecturing staff and students at UEL have responded by hosting the ‘G20 Alternative Summit’. The G20 Alternative Summit will be a popular assembly or ‘teach-in’ in a densely populated, working class area of London. It is being hosted at the national level by Britain’s University and College Lecturers’ Union (UC...

The University of East London have won all of their demands. To remind people, the demands were: 1. Issues a clear statement condemning Israel's blockade of Gaza and the recent atrocities committed against the civilians of Gaza. 2. Immediately divests itself of any and all interests and investments in companies directly or indirectly linked with arms sales to Israel and to make publicly available all UEL current and future investments. 3. Grants five Palestinian students every year full scholarships funded by UEL (similar to the Commonwealth scholarships) 4. Twins itself with the Islamic University of Gaza and provides support for the rebuilding effort following the recent destruction. 5. Provides any surplus equipment to Universities in Gaza i.e. books, computers etc. 6. Authorises, facilitates and promotes an official DEC collection day around campus. 7. Grants free access at all times to all participants in the occupation and takes no reprisals against any participants in the oc...

picture: Byam Shaw under occupation From UEL occupation blog Just a quick plea to all of you who are in support of our occupation and following our blog to email our acting vice chancellor stating that you unconditionally support our demands and our occupation! This will be extremely helpful to us, particuarly as we are meeting with the vice chancellors group on Tuesday morning and have to have support from them over our demands. Our Vice Chancellor Professor Susan Price can be contacted at s.price@uel.ac.uk and her phone number is 020 822 34159. Any pressure we can place on them will help us win success on each of our demands. Please be polite in your emails. It doesn't have to be long - just a clear message that you admire our actions, and believe that the University should meet our demands - and be proud to do so, as so many institutions did in reponse to white South African Apartheid. Byam Shaw College of Art had a meeeting with their principal A. Warman and R. Imeson theDean...

picture from UEL occupation Byam Sham School of Art Negotiations ongoing. A. Warman (Principal) and R. Imeson (Dean of Students) – yesterday and meeting this morning with Jane Rapley, senior resource manager. University of the West of England (UWE) Security threaten to call in the police yesterday but had second thoughts and nothing came of the threat. Tony Benn MP sent message of support Thursday. Video from UWE occupation Western Eye student newspaper report University of East London (UEL) Occupation has moved to the East Building, increasing the visibility of the protest and in close proximity to the Vice Chancellor's office window!. Please send all messages of support to 07532104575 (Kitty Webster). Outcome of first round of negotiations 'very positive'. 500 students have signed petition in support so far. Received letter of support from lecturers' union on campus. St Andrews University University still saying they will not open negotiations while building is bei...

University of East London (negotiations have started already), St Andrews in Scotland and Bryan Shaw, part of St Martins, are all now in occupation. VC Alan Gilbert is still refusing to negotiate at Manchester University where students are occupying the John Owen's Building for the 15th day - see their upcoming activities below. At the Universtiy of East Anglia where the occupation has ended the management has kept to its promise and is opening negotiations over the occupiers' demands. And of course, UWE has gone into occupation. ueloccupation.blogspot.com We have had an encouraging wave of support, not only from UEL students and lecturers, but also from members of the Stop the War Society and other universities that have been or still are under occupation for the same cause. Currently, more than 30 people are in the lecture theatre and we are busy preparing for tomorrow. We are looking to organise film screenings, talks and discussions every day to raise awareness on the issue...