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THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK
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WHY GEN SHOULD CARE MORE ABOUT POLITICS
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rom Brexit to trump to the covid-19 pandemic the world has changed dramatically since I left high school.
Young people born at the turn of the century, and especially students, are seen both as the group which disengages politically, yet is also at the forefront of major political movements. These include the extraordinary response of Liverpool’s reaction on June 21 last year when Liverpool’s students, locals, and LGBT+ community rallied in support of LGBT+ rights, even though multiple members of that community had been viciously attacked only a few weeks before the Pride rally. The year before, following the murder of George Floyd, hundreds if not thousands of locals and students gathered around St. George’s Hall to show their support for the black community and against police brutality.
He aadded: “Coming to university I’ve met people from a variety of communities and cultures I’ve never thought about prior to my time here. Knowing that so many students like myself have had the same experiences we must all become more interested in the daily affairs that govern our and those around us lives. “From immigration laws affecting foreign students, LGBTQ+ rights affecting our mates, spiking threats, and rape culture affecting the women in our lives and a variety of others to numerous to name. We must each, all of us become involved in helping to protect the people who we have come to meet, shape our university experiences and love as friends, course mates, and more. That is why I believe students should be more involved in politics”.
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allum Barrie a 22-year-old campaigner for greater democracy rights ‘North West Power’ and a final year politics student from Liverpool said: “Politics affects everything in our lives from who we vote for, the TV we watch, the friends we make, the universities we study at. “Politics affects every decision whether we realise it or not, it is always present. To recognise that and the effect that our actions have especially as young adults who are expected to change the world, we need to be involved in politics to be aware of what’s going on in our lives as well as what’s affecting the lives of those around us who we care for and love”.
m Barrie
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hile the world of politics can be intimidating, by getting involved in politics at a young age, students and other Generations Z-ers are creating opportunities to learn and grow. Many young adults already have a foothold in the world of politics and all they need is just a bit of guidance to make them feel more confident about their knowledge and what they stand for. An important thing to remember is that activism isn’t the only way to be politically involved. At every university, undergraduates should be encouraged to listen to debates, read and research current political issues and figure out their perspective on them. The generation of which I’m a part have a powerful ability to make a difference. They need to realise that they will be the backbone of the political landscape in the future and that every political decision made today by the government will affect everyone’s tomorrow, so it is crucial for the younger generations to be involved and have a voice.
Barrie
Words by RADVILE SAKENAITE
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