Address to the Federation Chamber, Grievance Debate - Youth Voice in Parliament Week 

Tuesday 8 October 2024

This year, I'm participating in Raise Our Voice's Youth Voice in Parliament campaign, and tonight I am proud to read out some speeches, or grievances, if you like, written by three students from the Charles Weston School in Coombs. Angela, aged 11, says:

My name is Angela, and I am a student at Charles Weston.

I am writing to express my concerns about the health and well-being of teenagers, particularly regarding smoking and vaping. I frequently see teens engaging in these activities, which worries me because of the potential health risks, including lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory issues.

Many teenagers are influenced by peer pressure, online content, and even family and friends, leading them to smoke or vape.

If this trend continues, we could see a significant increase in the number of young people who smoke or vape, which would have serious public health implications. I urge the Parliament to take action to address this issue, online and at all schools tell teens about the health risk, to protect the health of our youth and the future of our country.

Shreyam, also 11, says:

Respected Members of Parliament, I am Shreyam, a concerned student from Charles Weston School in Coombs. At only 11 years old, I am deeply troubled by the escalating issue of cybercrimes and cyberbullying. It's time to take decisive action to tackle this growing threat.

Every day, people are falling victim to online harassment and hacking, and it's an imperative that we put an end to it. Recent research has revealed that the likelihood of being hacked online is a staggering one in five. This unsettling statistic is a cause for great concern, and it's clear that immediate action is needed.

Furthermore, the presence of hackers within online communities is deeply alarming and has led to a pervasive sense of fear and vulnerability among internet users, myself included. If we fail to address this issue now, we risk a future where online spaces are overrun by hackers and viruses.

Finally, Sahasra, says:

Hello, my name is Sahasra and I am 11 years old. I am writing from Charles Weston School Coombs.

Deforestation is an important matter that needs to be discussed as it impacts many people and creatures. My hope is that in the next 10 years, parliament will do its best to plant trees, as a replacement for the chopped down ones.

This impacts us humans as we will have good oxygen to breathe through. This will also impact animals in good ways by having a habitat to live in. This is an important matter because we and animals depend on trees as a source of good, fresh oxygen. Parliament can help by encouraging people and maybe even schools to plant trees.

Thank you, Angela, Shreyam and Sahasra, for taking the time, sharing your concerns and raising your voice to parliament. You have raised issues which have been incredibly relevant this year and the subject of much ongoing debate.