Netroots UK: activists discuss next stage of protests against cuts and fees

[Joanne98]

Source: The Guardian

Today hundreds of student and union activists are joining tax avoidance protesters and anti-racist campaigners at the Netroots conference in London.

It is the first gathering of its kind in the UK, although a similar event has been held in the US for several years under the Netroots Nation banner. Organisers hope today's event will bring traditional campaigners face to face with those behind the innovative street campaigns that have taken off in the UK over the past few months – from the student protests to the UK-wide tax avoidance demonstrations.

The conference, which has been organised by bloggers and is backed by the Trades Union Congress, will consist of a series of workshops and practical discussions focusing on a range of subjects, from the use of irony and humour in protests to the latest web tools and how to translate online activity into offline "boots on the ground".

There will be some big-hitting union figures in attendance, including Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the TUC, and some of the UK's leading bloggers will be there. But the focus will be on the thoughts and plans of those behind the recent student protests, as well as tax avoidance campaigners and anti-racist activists.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/blog/2011/jan/06/netroots-uk-student-cuts-protests

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