Students' question time - young voters put justice on the agenda
28 April 2010
Thanks to all of War on Want's student supporters who participated in yesterday's New Voters, New Politics event.
A total of 180 students from universities and colleges around the UK attended yesterday's lively debate. One of the first questions in the participation in politics theme was asked by Sohrob Kamali, a War on Want supporter and student at the University of East London. The question related to how there was meant to be trust in political parties following the expenses scandal and the Iraq War. Students were encouraged to wave their pink (agree) and grey (disagree) cards whenever they had a strong opinion on something being said by the panel or by a student. Many pink cards were raised in agreement with Sohrob's line of questioning!
There was also much pink card waving in support of questions which challenged the panel on nuclear weapons, climate change, corporate exploitation, global justice and government expenditure on the arms industry. Hilary Aked, War on Want supporter and editor of London Student, asked the corporate responsibility question on holding UK corporations to account:
"As John Ruggie, the UN's Special Representative on business & human rights, has said, the voluntary approach to corporate social responsibility has not provided people with the protection from human rights abuses that they need. Would you support the proposal drawn up by the Corporate Responsibility Coalition for a UK Commission for Business, Human Rights and the Environment, which would support corporate accountability and provide new avenues for redress in the UK?"
Watch this space for a transcript of what the politicians said in response! Read some of messages tweeted live from the event at #newvoters on Twitter
Students had one hour to submit questions before the debate was due to start. Issues were divided under the following themes: participation in politics, corporate responsibility, human rights, global health and international conflict.
Panel:
Chair: Adam O'Boyle – Student Hubs
Hilary Benn – Labour Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
James Brokenshire – Conservative Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
Simon Hughes – Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
Darren Johnson – Green Party Chair of the Greater London Assembly
Read more about What War on Want thinks candidates should be campaigning for this election.
What global justice issue is going to shape the way you vote? Tell us on our Facebook fan page or on Twitter@WaronWant.
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