GLOBAL GREENS YOUTH CONFERENCE
Although there was little coverage from major media groups the Global Youth Greens conference did actually happen ... and it just happened to go off.
The conference began on 7 April in Sydney. I've been to quite a few conferences in the past couple of years including NOWSA (National Organization of Women Students Australia), S&S (Students & Sustainability), and NUS (National Union of Students) national conference. However this conference offered something a bit different. The greens is definitely an incorporation of a vast group of people with many different ideas on how to achieve their common goals. The conference also had many international people who attended and spoke. It was great inspiration to look around at all those who were there standing up and out for social and environmental justice.
Senator Bob Brown, NSW MLC Lee Rhiannon and Greens Senate candidate Kerry
Nettle were all there representing the Greens. Kerry Nettle and Lee Rhiannon presented workshops and forums throughout the three days of the conference.
One of the topics workshopped was 'Do young people give a shit about politics?' An important question. What was meant to be a youth conference in fact didn't attract the attendance of those university students involved in the student movement. Not even a handful of high school students attended. I think most high school students don't have the knowledge about what is happening in their world except for what they may see through the rosy glasses of television's eyes and are subject to a somewhat conservative education. On the other hand, those involved in the student movement are as a group consumed by grass-roots activism and a lot feel that the parliamentary system is not one they want to reform.
While the Greens are acknowledged as supporting grass roots activism, they are also seen as a party which dedicates itself to parliamentary reform. I feel that perhaps both have their place and it is a shame to not bring together the left in a group that has representatives in Parliament but largely works at grass roots activism and through alternative media. Currently, the Greens provide a good alternative from Tweedledum and Tweedledummer, better known as labor and Liberal.
I was grateful that I had the opportunity to attend the Global Youth Greens Conference which was in Australia this year, and better yet in my home state on NSW.
The conference covered a broad range of issues. These included:
There were great presentations by Pauline Pantsdown, Insurge (a political rock band) and a political
cartoonist. I give my thanks to the Greens for organizing the conference. I was inspired and educated by some great speeches and by the turnout of around 300 people who also came, like me, to get involved in the movement to make social and environmental justice a reality.