Yesterday started the first Queer Festival in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo with a opeing ceremony and an exhibition of Queer life and culture. The festival and its organizers had already received opposition from various sides, going so far as death threats along with the publication of names and addresses in anti-queer internet forums.

Student activists from various countries who are all struggling against tuition fees, the increasing influence of profit-driven companies and corporations on universities and the privatization of Education in general launch this international Call. During the last year alone, hundreds of thousands of students, teaching staff, parents and workers struggled together across the world to defend free public higher education for all. University buildings were occupied, roads blocked and petitions signed.

The Aegean Coast of Turkey is very close to Greece and many Greek Islands; it is one of the external borders of the European Union. Groups of refugees, seeking a close and relatively easy route, try to cross the sea, especially at night. Turkey has long land borders with countries like Syria, Iran and Iraq and refugees, especially from these last two countries, are among those trying to get across the sea. There is also a large number of refugees from Somalia, Mauritania,  Eritrea, Pakistan and Palestine who made their way to Turkey.