Yet Europe really matters, and the people who are at the negotiating table, or who have their fingers on the voting buttons, will have a huge impact on our lives for decades to come. The EU is far from perfect, but it can be a force for good, and that’s something to be built on, not destroyed. Many big decisions will be taken over the next few years – on issues from energy policy to food safety to free movement. The decisions will affect our rights, our public services, our jobs – and the protection of the land, sea and air that we share. So it’s crucial that everyone who has a vote makes sure they use it.

Perhaps one of the most positive influences of the European Parliament has been on human rights. Our shared parliament has been at the forefront of the battle for a fairer society for all, both within Europe and around the globe. The European Union was built on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy and equality. But these values are at stake in this election.

After years of austerity, we have seen some politicians trying to scapegoat immigrants and non UK citizens for the deepening poverty and inequality the country faces. This is not the fault of our international communities, but caused by corporate greed, reckless bankers, and damaging policy decisions which are designed to protect the privileged few. The xenophobic rhetoric which was once the reserve of the far right is becoming almost mainstream, and this is deeply worrying. London is a mega diverse city at the centre of Europe, and I’m proud of this fact. We must celebrate our many cultures, not create more division.

There is a real danger that we will see far-right parties gain ground across Europe. These are politicians who pretend to speak for everyday people, but who do not work for the common good. They see workers’ rights and fair pay as a luxury to be dismantled in the interests of corporate power. They deny the reality of climate change, and would destroy our planet for short term profit. They would remove our right to free movement – something enjoyed by the 1.5 million UK citizens living elsewhere in Europe, as well as the many citizens from other nations who choose to live here. Their rhetoric stirs up distrust and racism, closes borders and cuts choices – we will all lose out if they gain.

Make no mistake – these elections will decide the future direction of the EU. The far right are motivated and if they gain power it will damage the fabric of our society. All progressive voices, no matter which party you support, no matter where you come from, are needed to help ensure the MEPs who return to Brussels are people who will defend diversity, build sustainable jobs for the future, and protect decent standards of welfare, housing and human rights for all.

So these elections are incredibly important for us all, and everyone who can get involved should do so. We must make sure we don’t sleepwalk into a situation where the far right gain in strength. We need to back a positive vision for the future of Europe, with respect and dignity at its heart.

The post Why Europe Matters appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Presented by acclaimed theatre company iceandfire, which explores human rights stories through performance, the production gives a voice to Britain’s older generation who have struggled to retain their identity and dignity in a youth-focused society. The play was produced as part of the company’s Outreach project, Actors for Human Rights in collaboration with Age UK .

Jean, who is a patron of iceandfire and Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Ageing, said:

“All too often people are overlooked, undervalued and disregarded because of their age, with far too many pensioners living in poverty and isolation. London in particular is a major offender in terms of age discrimination, with more than 60 per cent of older residents experiencing ageism of some form [1].

“We need to turn around this prevailing attitude in our culture to ensure that citizens should be treated with the respect they deserve, however old they may be and by innovative arts companies such as iceandfire engaging in this important discussion we can really push forward the debate.”

Co-artistic director of the iceandfire, Sara Masters, who wrote the script based on interviews with the protagonists, said:

“It’s ridiculous that we lump this huge, diverse group of people together and call them ‘older people’ as though it is a one size fits all. How can this label describe a group that ranges from sixty-year-olds holding down full time work, to 100-year-olds who live in residential care? There are many issues about how we treat people who fall in to this group in the UK, I hope Getting On humanises some of them.”

After the launch, the script will be available as part of iceandfire’s Outreach project. Groups can request a rehearsed reading of any of their Outreach performances, for little or no cost. For more information, go to http://iceandfire.co.uk/

The post MEP FOR LONDON HELPS HUMAN RIGHTS THEATRE COMPANY RAISE AGE AWARENESS appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

No-one active in politics is satisfied with the status quo: we all want to see change, although we would might disagree as to what needs to change and the policies necessary to achieve it.

Our passion may be fuelled by a burning sense of injustice: the treatment of young people by the police or children dying from hunger in a world where we can spend millions on weapons. We may have been moved to action when we have seen a relative poorly treated in hospital or put out of business due to cheap imports and no one has seemed able to respond to our anger or concern. Virtually everyone I know in politics has had something which has triggered them into action and made them stand up for their beliefs.

There are many people who will find such activity bizarre. I am sure you have friends who cannot understand why you are bothering; who will tell you that politics changes nothing and that all politicians are the same. They may also say some other, very uncomplimentary things!

They should meet some of those who I am privileged to meet in my work as a Member of the European Parliament, and particularly as a member of the sub-Committee on Human Rights. People who have been imprisoned and even tortured because they have dared to criticise their government or who have spoken out in defence of the rights of their people. Those who have no right to vote: those whose countries are in conflict and where elections are impossible or where can you can vote – but it had better be for the governing party or you will find your family threatened or without food.

People such as Ingrid Betancourt, abducted and held prisoner as a result of her political activities: Hu Jia, the Chinese environmental activist and campaigner on HIV/AIDS, currently serving a prison sentence and announced this week as the winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov prize for Freedom of Conscience. There are countless others who desperately want to have the same political rights and freedoms we have – including the right to choose not to use their vote.

Political choices frame our lives and decide our futures. Politics matters.

We need to do more in our schools and elsewhere to demonstrate the importance of democracy. Students need to be able to practice democracy in action. For example, a school near my home in London has a scheme that involves a group of pupils in helping to raise educational standards and this includes some of them being involved in interviewing prospective staff. As a former teacher, I find this a little unnerving, but I am told it works well! We have some London Boroughs which have a Young Mayor – elected by young people and who acts as their voice. There are countless examples of good practice throughout the EU.

We cannot expect young people to emerge from education as active citizens if they have no understanding or experience of what participation means. But the practice of democracy and acquiring the necessary skills needs resources, such as time, energy and money. You have at least some of them here.

You are meeting at a time of major political challenges:

– the financial crisis likely to affect businesses, jobs and tax revenues and the potential social consequences arising from that;

– the crisis of climate change, where we need rapid and effective action to reduce the threats to food production, major movements of peoples and conflict over resources such as water. If I could add a personal plea for a strong resolution from you on this which could send a strong message to the European Parliament and the Council, I would be very grateful;

– the need to meet our Millennium Development Goals and deliver greater equality in the world.

I look forward to your conclusions and can promise you they will be seriously considered. I noticed that a recent Parliamentary resolution on the financing of pensions has included the need for the financial education of young people – part of an EYP Resolution from your Liverpool session. We need to think about how to better develop these links.

We need people seriously interested in politics and in working for democratic solutions which respect human rights. Think of the political systems and outcomes where that is not the case. Your time is not wasted here: you are exercising a very precious right – the right to political action. Make the most of it!

Find out more about the European Youth Parliament and how to get involved.

The post Speech for the opening of the European Youth Parliament appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

The young people were invited to a panel at the Green party conference by Jean Lambert, the Green Party Euro MP for London. The session, held on Sunday at SOAS, University of London, was well-attended and a lively debate ensued which touched on the media’s negative reporting of young people and how relations within communities could be improved.

Jean Lambert MEP said:

“All too often young people are consulted on policy only in a tokenistic way; we need to listen and engage with young people to make a positive difference to their lives. There is currently a climate of prejudice and mistrust about young people and it has to stop.  

“Youngsters in London face high levels of child poverty, inequality and unemployment. Parents are often forced to work long hours on low pay and can find they have limited time to spend with their children to give the care and attention they deserve. One way the Government could make a difference to children’s lives would be by ensuring that everyone is paid a decent living wage.”

The stop and search policy came in for particular criticism and none of the students felt that it enhanced their safety. Their own experiences contributed towards a sense of unease towards the police and they felt that the police’s behaviour was discriminatory both on grounds of age and race. They said that they actively avoided the police to avoid being stopped and questioned.

Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy from Lambeth, who is the National Black Students’ Officer at the NUS, said:

“The majority of young people are not involved in gangs and knife crime, but the media paints a very negative image of us. It’s time for people to stop being scared of young people and stand up to those that seek to intimidate. The stop and search policy is failing young people and adding to the sense that young people are trouble-makers.”

Mikayla Forde from the Youth Global Concern Network in Camberwell also joined the panel and added:

“In the black community many boys do not have good role models to look up to; there is a high proportion of absent fathers and relatively few black male teachers. Many lessons at school do not seem relevant for black youngsters and too often black kids are not encouraged to develop their career prospects. The government needs to address this problem otherwise more young people will be turned off education and will continue to feel that their opportunities in life are severely limited.”

Jean Lambert MEP, Bellavia and Mikayla were joined by Sam Bradley and Aldaine Wynter, both students at the City of London Academy in Bermondsey.

Photo:  Jack Cassidy, Aldaine Wynter, Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, Mikayla Forde

The post South London young people slam stop and search policy appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.