Karol Florek: Classroom warrior

BY
LAUREN CARROLL HARRIS

SYDNEY — “I believe that young people will be especially affected
by the war, and that is one of the reasons why opposition to the war among
youth and students is so strong”, Karol Florek told Green Left Weekly.
“The March 5 student strike is looking to be the largest mobilisation of
youth in many years and will help to advance the peace movement.”

Florek, who recently turned 18, is probably the youngest candidate running
in the March 22 NSW election. He is standing as part of the Socialist Alliance's
upper house ticket.

Florek first got involved in fighting for refugees’ rights in 2001,
when he was a student at Fort Street High School. He joined the socialist
youth organisation Resistance, and worked with others to organise protests
for refugees’ rights, against corporate tyranny and against war.

By 2002, Florek and some friends had formed Fortians For Refugees, a
school-based group involving some 30 or 40 students that is still active
on the school. In an interview with Green Left Weekly published
in June 2002, Florek explained: “I think that high school students are
mature enough to be able to make up their own minds on political, social
and ethical issues. And really, that's what education is for. It's not
just about getting a degree or a job, or going to university, it's also
about becoming an independent thinker and a conscious citizen.”

This year, Florek will start an arts degree at Sydney University, and
is already planning to organise student opposition to war, starting with
the March 5 student strike.

“Many of the soldiers being sent to the Gulf are young, and the 'enemy’
whom they will confront will predominantly consist of young conscript soldiers”,
Florek told GLW. “The bombs that will shower Baghdad and other cities
are sure to kill many children and youth. Many young people feel a sense
of moral outrage at the prospect of being party to this slaughter, and
stand in solidarity with the people of Iraq.

“The strike will leave students better organised, enable them to form
networks, and to be better prepared to take further action.”

Florek points out that the NSW election provides a platform to campaign
against war, because the issues are linked. Explaining the “books not bombs”
theme of the March 5 student strike, he argues that increased defence spending
has come at the expense of education funding, and a liveable youth allowance.

“In addition to being a humanitarian outrage, a war will be very expensive.
This will be paid for by further cuts to public services. The Socialist
Alliance believes the building of a strong anti-war movement is an integral
part of the election campaign. It is up to ordinary, working people to
get out onto the streets and stop this war.”

[To find out more about the Socialist Alliance’s election campaign,
visit < http://www.socialist-A HREF="mailto:alliance.org"><alliance.org>.]

From Green Left Weekly, March 5, 2003.

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home page.

From GLW issue 528