Sounds like a stupid politics again .. Ahh..

I’ve read about problems in Austria & students in Romania are still debating whether they should do the same here, but for different reasons.

Do you think the occupying of universities and marches will eventually bring a solution?

On my opinion this depends on how, why it is done and what is support from media, rest of society.

I feel that this is one of good ways to do, but not only one Ways of protest should be consistent. If it is one day - that doesn’t bring any change.

it is most likely not a way to bring a “solution” on everything thats wrong. but it worked really well here in austria to bring the problem on the table.

we have reached to be a topic in the media for three weeks now, forcing all parties, media, etc. to show their cards on the topic. the ministry already agreed to add 34million euro to the budget - which is not much compared to what is needed - but at least it’s something. also the parliament today had an emergency session on the topic and the ministry invited for a broad conference on the whole topic. also we had about 50.000 people on the streets after the first week, which is really a lot compared to what demonstrations use to be in Austria.

and then there is the international reaction. the occupation now spread to germany, switzerland, poland, albania, serbia, italy and england. i think such an international aproach to address a certain problem has not come out of the civil society for a long time now - not even on the topic of climate change.

so if you define success as “getting everything you demanded” then no, such protests are not and most likely can never be successful. but in many many other areas, they are unbelievable successful and an important sign of an active civil society. a signal that we are not willing to let every bullshit just happen to us.

certainly it depends on many things, if occupations are successful - but they can be. i think you need a broad base for it to be heard. in austria it isn’t the usual small groups of marxists that occupied the universitie, but a very diverse group of people from far left to the center.

oh, and dont rely to much on media, especially in the beginning. use social media to get the protests growing, then old media will follow. we were ignored or bashed for about a week.

Strange. I always have thought that the situation in Austria is better then for example on the Balkans.

I don’t know. Maybe it is. Still there seems to be a lot of space for improvements in all of those countries. I am having seminars with 120 people and at my university in Austria there is 1 (most likely poorly paid) teacher facing about 400 students. in comparison: at elite universities 1 teacher faces about 8 studends.

@Tom: I doubt there’s any case when people get everything they demanded. The way I see things in Austria, from what you’ve just written & what I’ve heard & read here, I think you’re on the right track.

If the ministry agreed to add 34 more millions to the budget you’ve reached a critical mass that no longer could be ignored.

In Romania, strikes are hold every autumn right after a new school year starts, but the syndicates are filled with cowards & students never go out in the streets to ask for better educational system.

So yes, in comparison, you sure made a point and found a solution.

don’t get frustrated at your fellow students. people in Austria also swallowed the crap for a long time. there is a tipping point though, when anger errupts into action. Nobody would have guessed 4 weeks ago, that such things could happen in Austria anytime soon. They did.

I have found for you this video of a passivehaus made in Canada by Austria about olympic games:
http://www.maison-passive-nice.fr/461-la-premiere-maison-passive-devoilee-au-canada-est-autrichienne.html