Talkin' bout our generation: youth justice political panel

Young people today face some (very) big challenges: economic crisis, climate change, loss of confidence in our leaders not to mention rising personal debt and unemployment.  But we also have a unique chance to make a break with the past and create a more just and sustainable future.  This is essential to preserve our planet.  We want to seize this moment for change but are our elected representatives listening?  Will they stand up to the vested interests of energy companies and other corporations or stick to ‘business as usual’? With a general election just round the corner, this is your chance to make your voice heard and get answers from politicians and economists on the issues that concern you most from tuition fees to bank bailouts.  Find out what solutions they can offer to transform the UK and the world.

Allegra Stratton, Guardian Journalist (chair)

Allegra is senior political correspondent for the Guardian. She has an impressive background in news media and has reported extensively on politics and society in the UK and around the world from the fall out of the MP expenses scandal to women’s rights in the Middle East. Allegra has also authored a novel called Muhajababes, which explores the youth culture of the Middle East.

Ann Pettifor, Advocacy International

Ann is an advocate and campaigner well known for leading Jubilee 2000, a campaign to cancel approximately $100 billion of debts owed by 42 of the poorest countries. She is Executive Director of Advocacy International which works to promote positive development, investment and sustainability in developing countries. Ann also co-authored the Green New Deal.

Sajjad Karim MEP, Conservative Party

Saj was the first Muslim elected to the European Parliament as Conservative MEP for the North West region. Saj made his mark on the European stage working to tackle child labour, racism and extremism. He has also worked on European environmental policy. An outspoken critic of anti-terror legislation, Saj has used his position to tackle abuses of human rights and erosion of civil liberties worldwide.

Jane Davidson AM, Labour Party

Jane is Welsh Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing and leads on Climate Change and Sustainability for the Cabinet. In recognition of her work in this area, she was recently placed 3rd in the Independent on Sunday’s Green List of the top 100 environmental campaigners in the UK.

Jean Lambert MEP, Green Party

A former teacher from Walthamstow, East London, Jean has been London’s Green MEP since 1999. She works on a variety of human rights and diversity issues, and is spokesperson for the Green group in the European parliament on asylum and refugee issues. In October 2005 she was named MEP 2005 for her work on Justice and Human Rights.

Paul Rowan MP, Liberal Democrats

Paul entered Parliament in 2005 winning his seat from Labour. Since then he has campaigned against tuition fees, spoken out against Trident, questioned the Government’s stance on the “War on Terror” and campaigned for effective action on climate change. Paul is a member of the Liberal Democrat Work and Pension’s Team a position in which he aims shake up the benefits system to reduce poverty and tackle inequality.

Get your thinking caps on, we want some cracking questions!