Over the last decade, it seems that youths have become disengaged with politics. The reasons for this:
– Less economic security for youths
– Our politicians seem to not care for the problems that youths face
– Collective identifications replaced through processes of individualisation
However over the last couple of years, there has been a new movement that has taken over the way we see politics.
Occupy Wall Street began on September 17 2011 and is a “people-powered movement… fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process.” Occupy can be followed twitter with the hash tag #ows. Since this Australia has joined the Occupy movement with the slogan ‘Solidarity, Unity & Respect.’
One of the many issues that is currently debated around Australia is schooling, in particular the change of funding to Universities around the country. The 2014 Budget will see 20 per cent of funding for each course cut, and the caps that prevent universities increasing degree prices will be abolished from 2016. This budget cut will cause a strain on many current and future students. Labour’s education spokesperson, Kim Carr, believes that this isn’t a good decision, as it will become difficult for disadvantaged people to study. “They can’t [study] if you are starting to put huge financial barriers in their way,” Senator Carr said.
A recent protest occurred on the well-known show Q&A where a group of university students hijacked the show and started chanting “No cuts! No fees! No corporate universities!” on the deregulation on universities and increased fees. But It was argued by ABC Radio host Jon Faine whether “this is an effective way of getting your point across? ” he wondered. “Does it actually work?”
This form of protesting isn’t effective, a bunch of students yelling at Education Minister Christopher Pyne isn’t going to solve the issue at hand. Protesting needs to be well though out, and needs to be organised so the best outcome occurs, unfortunately what happened on Q&A wasn’t one of those times.
References:
Glenday, J 2014, ‘University funding: Student fees may rise as Government considers major shake-up, ABC News, 23 April, viewed 10 May 2014, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/federal-government-considers-uni-funding-shakeup/5405252 >
Natasha Nikoloska 