© Nice Massena

25. 11. 09. - 13:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

25. 11. 09. - 13:00

Jean Ziegler backs student protests

By Thomas Hochwarter

Well-known globalisation critic Jean Ziegler drew a full house to a Vienna University auditorium last night (Tues) to tell students he was backing their protests.

Vienna University’s Audimax auditorium was packed as the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food delivered a speech in which he linked organisations running the global financial world with dissatisfaction of students all over Europe.

The 75-year-old Swiss – set to hold a reading of his new book "La haine de l'Occident" (Hate For the West) at the Volkstheater tonight – received rousing applause when he pointed out that current European students’ demonstrations had begun in Vienna.

Student groups have occupied auditoriums and classrooms at universities across Austria for weeks demanding better standards in education, abolition of access limits and protesting against oversubscribed courses.

But the number of students involved in the occupation has dropped drastically since protests – which also included street marches –started last month.

Asked whether the occupation of the Audimax auditorium would continue throughout the Christmas period, a student told broadcaster ORF: "I cannot think of anything more beautiful than celebrating Christmas at the Audimax."

- - -

Jean Ziegler’s book "La haine de l'Occident" (Hate For the West) is out now.

Its German edition, "Der Hass auf den Westen", has been published by C. Bertelsmann (www.randomhouse.de/cbertelsmann; ISBN: 978-3570011324).

Austrian Times

Related articles: EU

1. Spanish Riding School honoured by UNESCO

   » Panorama 2010-03-12

   Vienna’s Spanish Riding School has been put on the list of Austrian immaterial cultural objects by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

2. Kika's Czech subsidiary reports good results

   » Business 2010-03-12

   Austrian furniture chain kika/Leiner reported today (Thurs) that its Czech subsidiary kika Nabytek had enjoyed good results during its 2008/2009 business year (1 March to 28 February).

3. New express passport to cost €220

   » General News 2010-03-12

   The new Austrian express passport, ready 24 hours after application, starts on 15 March will cost 220 Euros for adults.

4. Austrian Peter Löscher named top-earning German company boss

   » Business 2010-03-12

   An Austrian has been named as the best paid CEO among German companies listed by the country’s stock market index DAX in "crisis year" 2009.

5. Car fuel prices lower than the EU average

   » General News 2010-03-12

   The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).

6. Salzburg flight school is bankrupt

   » Business 2010-03-12

   Salzburg flight school Flight Track Trainings GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Fri), the Alpine Land Creditors Association (AKV) reported.

7. Two more people develop listeria infections

   » General News 2010-03-11

   Two more people have been hospitalised with listeria bacteria infections, the Agency for Health and Nutrition Safety (AGES) announced today (Weds).

8. Two Austrian food firms to expand abroad

   » Business 2010-03-11

   Delicatessen product producer Mautner Markhof and spice producer Kotanyi are planning to expand abroad, it emerged yesterday (Weds).

9. VIA has 5.4 per cent increase in passengers

   » Business 2010-03-11

   Vienna International Airport (VIA) reported today (Thurs) that it had had a 5.4 per cent increase in passengers year on year to 1,197,138 in February 2010.

10. Sepp Resch is Lenze's new GM

    » Business 2010-03-11

    The Austrian subsidiary of German transmission and automation specialist Lenze announced today (Thurs) that Sepp Resch would be its new general manager for Austria and Eastern Europe.

'Sudoku Day' in Vienna this Sunday
Around 1,500 people are expected to take part in Sunday’s "Sudoku Day" competition in Vienna.

Bosnian minister calls for Austrian investments
Bosnia-Herzegovina's Minister of Communications and Transport Rudo Vidovic has invited Austrian investors to play a bigger role in the Balkan country.

Vienna to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with cultural festival
Vienna will celebrate the 17 March St. Patrick’s Day this year with a 20 March parade on the Ringstraße and eight cultural events from 13 to 24 March, it was announced today (Fri).

Salzburg flight school is bankrupt
Salzburg flight school Flight Track Trainings GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Fri), the Alpine Land Creditors Association (AKV) reported.

Robber fails to be taken seriously
A 29-year-old drunk became a laughing stock after failing to rob a Spar supermarket and a Bank Austria (BA) branch yesterday (Thurs) afternoon, police said.

Austrian Peter Löscher named top-earning German company boss
An Austrian has been named as the best paid CEO among German companies listed by the country’s stock market index DAX in "crisis year" 2009.

Job anxiety slowly ebbing
Austrians’ anxiety about losing their jobs has been slowly ebbing, according to results of a new poll by Linz public-opinion research firm Spectra released today (Fri).

Blown-up explosives factory to reopen
The Austin Powder GmbH emulsion explosives factory that blew up on 11 March 2008 is going to reopen this April, according to firm chief Wolfgang Schuster.

Nurse goes loopy at Linz General Hospital
A nurse ran amok yesterday (Thurs) at Linz General Hospital (AKH), attacking her instructor after failing a further education course for the third consecutive time, police said.

Car fuel prices lower than the EU average
The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).