An extract from The Carbon Diaries 2017... Laura Brown is at university and Student Protests are spreading like wildfire across the country....
Little did I know when I wrote this that the cuts would come so soon.
When I wrote the Carbon Diaries series I was looking at pressure - and how you react to it.
Look at the way this Tory government has gone - a crime against the younger generation.
I'm really proud of the way that students are getting on the streets to protest.
photo by Selina Sheridan
Extract from Carbon Diaries 2017
Mon, Mar 13th
When will it stop? I went into Uni today to hand my project in and the place was buzzing with the news that the Gov is going to slash student loans by 50% and take away our free travel. If it goes on like this education will only be for rich kids.
5 pm. 5,000 Oxford University students walked out this afternoon and in Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Oxford, kids are refusing to leave school. They say they’re gonna camp out over the weekend in protest. Like that’ll bring Parliament down.
Tues, Mar 14th
Hmm. 140 schools and 60 university demos happened today.
Weds, Mar 15th
Day 3. My uni, LCC came out today, so I’m officially on strike. I had no food in the flat, so I took the chance to sneak off and shop at a dirty old supermarket. You’ve got to do stuff like that undercover on the Docks, people round here’d crucify me if they knew.
Anyway, when I got off the bus at Beckton there were kids swarming about everywhere, all blocking the tube station exit and the bus stops. It was dead funny watching people trying to push their way through a bunch of school kids in little blazers. But the best thing was when I got to the store. I heard some shouting and peered over the biscuits to see a stand-off at the entrance. 3 black girls were leading a posse thru the sliding doors. A lady manager was trying to stop them, but they just pushed her corporate ass over before rushing inside, all with raised fists, chanting:
‘Every Little Lie Helps! Every Little Lie Helps!’
After that they zoomed all over the store. The nearest group to me had just started stomping on a crate of Israeli avocados when the whine of police sirens filtered inside and they all scarpered to the exit. I watched thru the window as a bunch of police vans screeched up and the feds jumped out. They ran all over with outstretched arms, trying to trap the kids, but there were like ten nippers to every officer, squirming all over, like escaped eels. It was excellent.
When I was leaving, I saw the kids had sprayed all down the long glass windows.
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHTEOUS
Who says schools are dumbing down? That’s some serious word play for the junior brain.
Thurs, Mar 16th
Day 4. The minister for education has ordered students to go back to study. He said the Government could not and would not be terrorised into changing its policy. The students have now called for a complete black-out strike and loads of teachers have come out in support. (Anything for a day off)
This evening on I slinked round to Stace’s to watch a movie. I pulled my hood down low to avoid the protestors.I asked Stace how she gets away with it.
‘I’m a drummer, Laur. I’m s’posed to be thick. No-one bothers me,’ she grunted, stuffing a fistful of popcorn in her jaws.I reached for the bowl. ‘We’re never gonna be ready in time for the Europe gig unless Claire and Adi quit spending their whole time picketing the campus.’
‘Ah, chill, it’s not for weeks yet. Now shut up, my mate told me this is the bit where she sticks an ice pick thru the dingo’s head.’I shut my eyes, but too late. A mournful howl filled the room.
Fri, Mar 17th
Day 5. The Gov and the students met, but all that happened was the minister repeated they would not back down, that the student demands were impossible, that we all have to make sacrifices in this difficult period.It’s alright for him, he’s got an education. Anyway, the whole things gone massive. 6,000 schools, colleges and Uni’s are shut down. The media are calling it the Tellytubby Riots.
Sat, Mar 18th
Claire’s just belled me to go to an overnight demo at UEL. I know I should go, it’s not that I don’t care, it’s just I really hate demos I hate all the people on them I hate all the slogans I hate all the herbal tea I hate all their eyes. But obviously I can’t tell Claire that so I said I had bad period pain. I locked off and there was a knock on the door. Sam. ‘Wanna play pool?’
He handed me something. ‘Quick put this cap on and wear it low. We’ve got to bust you out of here.’I laughed. ‘Hang on, I’ll get my jacket.’
Huh, I was on fire tonight. I got myself in the zone (2 double rum&cokes) and I just couldn’t miss. It was like I was controlling the balls with my mind. After I’d whipped his arse for the 3rd time, Sam threw his cue down on the table.‘You’re too good. This is embarrassing.’
‘Why, just cos I’m a girl?’‘No-o I don’t mind getting beat by a girl if she’s ugly. But when a cute girl beats you, it’s not right. It’s like the cosmos is out of balance.’ ‘Oh.’ I suddenly worked out what he said. The thing is I can never tell when he’s joking and when he’s not. He keeps flipping between flirty and dead straight. I blushed.
Mon, Mar 20th
Every single UK school, college and university is on strike. Nearly 5 million students and teachers. I haven’t seen Adi for like 10,000 years. Every time I call him it goes thru to voice mail cos he’s stuck in a meeting or wrestling with some police dog on campus.
Ooh, one piece of goodness today though; dad called to cancel the moths. Something to do with pig pressures. Every pig has a silver lining.
Tues, Mar 21st
Unbelievable! I am amazed. The Government’s backed down. We’re keeping our student loan and free travel. This is the first time I’ve ever seen something real happen from protesting;
makes me feel a bit guilty for not getting stuck in.
