Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
There are a host of big issues facing young people, but lowering the voting age to 16 is not one of them. Student debt post-graduation is one of the biggest: as Gavin Williamson says, 'Saddling young people with eye-watering debts before they have even begun their working lives is more than unfair: it amounts to a levy on ambition'. Why can politicians not get out of the mindset of pandering to the elderly at the expense of the young? They need to learn what inter-generational rebalancing means. Background music: 'Something Is Wrong' by Sir Cubworth
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Starmer has learnt the hard way that without truth there can be no trust. But throughout society people feel that they cannot take anything at face value, and the deception and dishonesty which riddles social media are significantly exacerbating this problem. The need for a moral compass is heavily tested without faith: GK Chesterton said, 'When people stop believing in God, they'll believe in anything’. Is this really where we want to be? Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Universal Basic Income is frequently cited as the way to cope with the growing spectre of AI-driven mass unemployment; but there are few, if any, workable ideas on how to fund such welfare subservience. Universal participation would not only enable all to share in tech wealth creation, but also allow tech companies to benefit from people's involvement. Background music: 'Forever Yours' by Wayne Jones
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
There's been much discussion about the social media and NEET challenges for young people over the past week: the Bigger Picture reports on debates in parliament and The Hypnotist reflects on the importance of experience built up during childhood: experience that can be severely handicapped by social media addiction. Meanwhile the steady erosion of a moral compass for young people could result in serious instability for adult generations to come. Background music: 'Don't Look Inside' by Biz Baz Studio
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
We're getting increasingly used to Donald Trump's bullying tactics; it's time to encourage U.S. tech leaders to persuade him to back off, by applying the same (Greenland-based) level of tariffs on their exports to Europe and the UK. Meanwhile, ID verification should not be used so much to restrict young people from work in the UK as to help them make a good start to adult life in their countries of origin. Background music: 'Dance of the Mammoths' by The Whole Other
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
We're looking forward to a significant step forward towards inter-generational rebalancing as a result of Share Alliance's two-day conference in May: the first day focused on academic research and the second on policy options. Please let us know if you're interested by visiting this 'Save the Date' page: https://www.sharealliance.org.uk/ig-rebalancing-conference-registration/. This will hopefully be a refreshing contrast to the mix of nostalgia and charisma which seems to be driving so much of politics at present, and which was the subject of an interesting discussion between Amol Rajan and Louisa Munch in his BBC 'Radical' podcast last week. Background music: Generations Away' by Unicorn Heads'
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Trump's assault on Venezuela casts a major question mark over his claim to be a peacemaker — resorting to military action to deal with criminal activity is a poor substitute for international law and order. We urgently need to listen to Xi Jinping's call for global leadership — on a new basis of participation, not dominance. Background music: 'World's Sunrise' by Jimena Contreras Image source: Wikipedia
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The first year of Trump's Mark 2 presidency has seen huge swings in critical areas for the future of humanity, including climate change, the risk of existential conflict and wealth polarisation. Where are the statesmen who can look ahead further than the next election, and at the interests of future generations? And is Rutger Bregman right to claim that a moral revolution can be delivered by national governments? Background music: 'Hopeful Freedom' by Asher Fulero
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There's not much love being shared between Russia and Ukraine this Christmas. Putin calls for respect, but respect for others doesn't come naturally for him. Meanwhile, it's time that Rutger Bregman should see evolution as the essential process of continuous creation driven by our conscious creator who is unconditional love. Background music: 'O Holy Night' by DJ Williams
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Few would disagree with St. John's conclusion that the nature of our conscious creator — of God — is love. In the Christian faith, it's at the heart of the two great commandments and inspires the whole amazing journey against all odds. But the word is totally absent from the Nicene Creed, repeated each Sunday in Churches. Christmas is the time to celebrate love in all its many splendours, but particularly to share love with children and young people. Let's hope that strategies announced by the UK Government over the last few days for children and young people are just the beginning, in terms of showing love for the generations who will follow us. Background music: 'Carol of the Bells' by Quincas Moreira
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