Flemish environment minister Joke Schauvliege took the patronising tactic much too far when she said that recent school strikes across Belgium were a “set-up”, and that security services knew who was really “behind this movement”. Few endorse politics professor David Runciman’s recent suggestion that the voting age should be lowered much further – to six. There are sensible questions to be asked about the influence exerted by parents and other adults on children professing strong opinions. But we should respect and welcome efforts by children and teenagers to make their voices heard and influence decision-making. If children want to take to the streets and demand tougher action to avert disaster, who can blame them?

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2019 18:22 UTC