The students of Catalonia want to join the solidarity initiatives with those affected by the DANA in Valencia. For this reason, the National Federation of Students of Catalonia (FNEC) has called a four-day university strike, from November 6 to 11, with the aim of allowing students to travel as volunteers to the areas affected by the storm in the neighboring community.
The initiative seeks to free students from activities that count for evaluation so that they can participate in the rescue and aid tasks in what the strike communiqué defines as “the worst human and material catastrophe in the Catalan Countries in decades”.
In its communiqué,the FNEC denounces a “completely negligent and criminal management” by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Spanish government. The students accuse the authorities of a lack of coordination and foresight, which has resulted in a “totally neglected” affected population.
Universities support the initiative
The FNEC reports that they are in successful talks with university rectors to suspend classes during these days.
For the time being, the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) has agreed to suspend the evaluative teaching activity from November 6 to 11 for students who mobilize.
The University of Barcelona (UB) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) will adopt similar measures, which will be communicated to students shortly.
Finally, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) is also expected to join the initiative.
General strike of students against the management of the catastrophe
In addition to this call, the SEPC (Sindicat d’Estudiants dels Països Catalans) has called a strike in solidarity with the Valencian Community on November 12 in high schools and universities.
In its communiqué, the SEPC explains that it wants to highlight how the DANA has triggered a social crisis“that evidences both the climatic emergency and the mismanagement of the PP government in Valencia” that highlights the “climate denialism of the last governments”.