Archive for the ‘Parliament’ Category
As many of you know, my political interest began when I was 26 years old and as I think about the 8 years of elections I missed out on, I ask myself how I was able to drift my way through all my teenage years and early twenties without a care in the world about politics?
I was not engaged at school or uni and my parents never mentioned to me the importance of voting, in fact my mum now votes because I told her to look in to it and vote for what she believes in, otherwise stop complaining!
Yes, I agree, it is very easy to be dismissive and say ‘they’re all the same’ or ‘nothing ever changes’ but ask yourself, what good does that do for US? It only then ensures that an even smaller group of people control how WE live and the decisions affecting OUR future.
I do believe in change, it is the reason I am so passionate about inspiring young people to play a role and create the changes themselves. At last week’s event in Parliament we had close to 200 young people come in, many of whom for the first time, and have their say! It was amazing. The thing that really stood out for me was a young lad who made the final comment and how that one comment proves we are doing the right thing… he said:
I had no interest in politics before tonight and thanks to you guys here (referring to the other young people attending) I now have a real interest and I will be voting in 2015!
That makes it all worth while.
I leave you with this thought. Another young person from last week’s debate said that direct action was the only way things will change. I challenged him and said that one thing that has never been done in history was a 60% turnout of First Time Voters on polling day – if it has never been done, how do we know if it can spark change? He and the rest of the guys agreed, so lets inspire each other and work to the biggest turnout of young voters ever for 2015 and in the meantime challenge those in power, to ensure we have something to vote for!
So in the words of Rocky Bolboa…
“If I can change, you can change… everyboday can change!”
Centuries ago, when Monarchs governed over much of our country, it was the English who first spelled out the rights and liberties of man in the MAGNA CARTA. Years later, through the struggles of slaves and immigrants, Chartists and women, former colonies and persecuted religions, we are now fortunate to live in a free and open society governed by an elected Parliament. But these rights didn’t just come about by accident or inevitability, they came about because ordinary Britons were willing to stand up and make an extraordinary difference.
Mother of all Parliaments & the Mother of Liberty
Nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened, except somebody somewhere was willing to hope. At each and every junction in our history someone’s always been audacious enough to say ‘WE CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME’, and more often than not, it’s been young people just like us. At a time when women couldn’t vote and were largely treated like second class citizens, it was young women who stood up and said enough, and reached for the ballot. When democracy was threatened in the Second World War, and our country was under threat of invasion, it was young men who got in those planes and defended the freedom of the world. And now it falls to our generation to stand up, and to CARRY THAT BRITISH DREAM FORWARD.
BUT luckily for us BITE THE BALLOT is answering that call – to pick up the democratic torch and to carry it forward.
Westminster Hall
Bite the Ballot is a non-profit, APOLITICAL, GRASSROOTS organisation created by young people, and our mission is to use music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and BUILD THE POLITICAL POWER OF YOUNG PEOPLE. We want to give you the tools you need to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect our lives, and eventually leverage your power in the political process. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
We need you to CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE; COME TO OUR YOUTH DEBATES (one coming up in the WELSH ASSEMBLY); COME TO OUR CELEBRITY SPONSORED EVENTS; FACEBOOK US www.facebook.com/bitetheballot; TWEET US @bitetheballot; RESGISTER TO VOTE and even possibly SET UP A BITE THE BALLOT BRANCH AT YOUR SCHOOL/COLLEGE.
WE NEED YOU.
Just like at previous moments in our history, this is OUR MOMENT, this is OUR TIME. Our time to reach out to a misrepresented generation; and to get them involved in the democratic process; as well as to bring new energy and new ideas to British democracy. This is our moment to make our mark in British history, and once more carry the dream forward to future generations.
WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS…
*** By the way the DRUMSTICKS AND BOTTLES OF7UP were for a BTB BARBECUE but I arrived late, and so I become the joke of the day because I had to go back home with them. So anyway if anyone wants them, let me know lol.***
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