Students demo in Rome to protest education reform
(12 Dec 2008) SHOTLIST 1. Covered truck passes with students in back, students on foot behind carrying banner, marching in protest at planned education reforms 2. Students marching in the rain 3. Two students standing, reading pamphlet 4. Close-up of pamphlet reading: (Italian) "Tsunami has hit all of Europe" 5. Students marching in the rain holding paper mache heads of politicians and carrying banner reading: "These are our barons" STORYLINE: Students marched through the rainy streets of Rome on Friday to protest the Italian government's plans for education reforms which include budget cuts to universities. The students were protesting at proposed changes to the education system backed by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government. The students complain such changes, including funding cuts, would damage education, while the government says they would target waste and corruption in the university system. It's the latest in a series of protests by university students. The students' demonstration was just one of several across Rome, and other Italian cities. Thousands of workers, students, pensioners and the unemployed were marching through Italian cities on Friday to protest the government's handling of the economic crisis. Heavy rain didn't stop the demonstrations that have been organised as part of a daylong general strike by Italy's largest union. Friday's walkout reduced services at hospitals and schools and shut down banks and post offices. The demonstrations disrupted traffic in Rome, Milan and other cities. Anger over Europe's economic woes has been bubbling over into protests and unrest across the continent. Greece is going through its seventh straight day of violence, which started over the fatal police shooting of a teenager, but which has turned into a wider protest against economic hardship. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
