No-one can tell me that young people are not interested in politics! On Friday I was one of a panel of politicians listening to the views of over a hundred young people from all over Wales on climate change, immigration and poverty. Their messages came across loud and clear. They wanted more information about the real issues, more honesty and more action from politicians.
This European Youth Forum was organised by the European Parliament office in London and held in the Assembly. Since I was elected in 1999 I have campaigned (unsuccessfully so far) for a European Parliament office in Wales. If we had that, we could have so many more events like the one on Friday to really involve young people in the political process. They’ve got one in Scotland already. I suggested that it could have been built into the new Senedd, but no-one listened. I won’t give up!
I found the youth forum very interesting, challenging and inspiring. I promised to listen and I did listen.
I do believe that actions speak louder than words and that’s what guides my political work. I made a Friends of the Earth pledge last year that whenever I voted in the European Parliament I would put the environment first – in other words, put our future on this planet first. I’ve kept to that pledge although I’m often attacked for it by people who would put business and profits first. I think the students I met last Friday would be with me on this one.
