UK General Election 2024 Hub

A wish for the next government - Vice-Chancellor Karen O'Brien

“I am always so concerned that young people today face disadvantages and challenges that are far greater than my generation, and that they are outnumbered by us older folks. As the 4th July approaches, I have been recalling the words of Thomas Jefferson, the leading author of the American Declaration of Independence: ‘I am increasingly persuaded that the earth belongs exclusively to the living and that one generation has no more right to bind another to its laws and judgments than one independent nation has the right to command another.’

"I worry that we have become a backwards-looking country. We are right to pride ourselves on what we can build on from the past, but we cannot dwell on our past. We need to focus on the needs of this generation and future generations as they face an economically and geopolitically uncertain future in a context of climate crisis.

"My wish is that the incoming government looks to the future through the eyes of our students and young people. They should re-read the 1997 UNESCO Declaration of the responsibilities of the present generations towards future generations.  I hope we can all put the rights, education and needs of children and young adults first, and do everything we can to give them an earth that is in a fit state to belong to them.”

Professor Karen O’Brien

Vice-Chancellor, Durham University

In response to The QT’s interview question ‘one wish that the next government could make come true’. Link to article: https://theqt.online/one-wish-one-paragraph-100-people/