"the march of the penguins", the beginning

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jun/07/chile.schoolsworldwide?INTCMP=SRCH

Still in the Michelle Bachelet government, this news is about the beginning of the "revolutions of penguins" in June of 2006. It show us a women president just elected in January owing to the fact her proposal focused in human rights, social justice and limiting the powers of the police and intelligence agencies. The entire proposal gives rise to many expectative from the country's middle class. 

For this reason, Coordinating Assembly of Grade School Students called a national strike and the students occupied schools to demand free use of public transport, lower fees for college entrance exams and a voice in government policy. The principal demand is for a potent upgrade of the public school system. The march was called "the march of penguins" owing to the fact that the protesters' school uniforms. In this march has been around 370 persons arrested and the while riots raged for 10 hours in Santiago as police used tear gas and water cannon on marching students.

This marchs and nationals strike has been nearly universal admiration for the students, 87% of Chileans polled saying they support the movement. Moreover, the organisers are very young and organise forums and debate the right to a free education, turning their break into a civics lesson.

Hundreds of colleges are occupied and classes have been cancelled. Alliances between the state schools and pupils in the private education system have erased the usual class lines that mark Chilean social protests.

 The goverment efforts to reach a quick agreement, but the students are insisting for improvement and better solutions.