A new generation of hope

Do you think our young people don't notice the gap between the rich and the poor, even if they don't personally feel its sting? The fees they pay and the debts they are saddled with for their university educations? The pool of underemployed and unemployed? The casualised workforce, often including themselves? The political monoculture? The political leaders engaged in tickling our innate prejudices? Do we really think that students don't discuss the commoditisation and privatisation of water, energy and biodiversity? Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke captures the mood with her song Politics in Space: "I'm a baby boomer's daughter. And I'm never gonna reach nirvana".

Even as the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 makes its way through parliament - to restore some of the important services lost on university campuses following the abolition of compulsory student unionism-- it is naive not to see that our country's university campuses harbour Australia's equivalents to Camila Vallejo and Mark Bergfeld. Born leaders, young people of intelligence and integrity, determined to make a difference.

I recently caught up with one young activist from Sydney University. She's bright, humorous and dogged, so I didn't come empty handed: I presented her with a megaphone - with batteries - that I had picked up from the local markets for $15.00 (a bargain). The only proviso, which she graciously accepted, is that she keep a full and accurate record of its use. I hope that record's a long one!

She forms part of our new generation of hope and well understands Julia Bacha's signal to pay attention to non-violence and the urgent need to be more than just a passive bystander.