I'm e-mailing live from the occupation!

Strathclyde University has been occupied, following a demonstration of about eighty students. The demonstration went around campus before taking the decision to occupy the finance office in one of the main parts of the University. Security was initially very heavy handed and there were a few scuffles as this proceeded but things have now calmed down. The students and security have come to an amicable arrangement, whilst negotiations have begun with the Principal.

The demands of the occupation are:
-No repercussions for the occupiers.
-Fifty scholarships for Palestinian students.
-An end to the contract with Eden Springs water company. This water comes from the Golan Heights, which is territory illegally occupied by the Israelis.
-An end to the involvement of BAE systems funding for the university. BAE are a private company, and a weapons manufacturer at that, who have sold millions of pounds worth of destructive machinery to the Israeli military. This has been used to rain destruction on the people of Gaza.

So far the students have been in good spirits. There has been support from local businesses, which have donated and provided discounts on food. The media has also been contacted and the occupation is due to receive coverage on Scottish television news as well as local radio.

It is quite clear from what I can see that this occupation is on a left wing footing, with most of the participants actively identifying as socialists and many as Marxists. The demands I think are somewhat less mild than most of the other occupations. The BAE demand has also been linked in with the question of the need for public funding for education.

Now there is a demonstration at Glasgow University, where I study, and which is also subsidised by BAE. Although it's started late the move towards occupations in Scotland seem to have started in earnest!