Whilst reading the April issue of Dazed&Confused earlier today there was one article that really hit me. Artists Jake and Dinos Chapman have formed a campaign to "interfere" with the recent Tory-Lib Dem coalition's decision to triple university fees; they were furious with the government and media reaction to the student protests where many innocent teens were injured. The campaign's petition is called 'Can't pay your fees? We'll pay your fines' - it's already had support from over 80 actors, designers and artists including Stella Mccartney and model Lily Cole, who have been contributing clothes and artwork that'll be auctioned off to raise funds. The money made from the auctions will then be used for the fines students receive for their protests and as Jake Chapman calls it, "civil disobedience." I think the campaign also aims to correct some of the things the media fabricated in order to tarnish the student's message; some innocent teens needed emergency surgery after being hit by the police yet it was the paint thrown back at them that was "outrageous". The auctions will launch sometime this week and I really hope it does make a difference, even if it just encourages young people to fight their cause. Photo above shows controversial work from Jake and Dinos Chapman.
- Zoe