Youth is usually seen as a time to be carefree and reckless, this is an advantage as well as a disadvantage. In almost every setting (workplaces, government, society) people who are older are regarded as more experienced and their views take precedence.

While I do admit that some things in life are better learned with experience wouldn't it be great to see the stigma of young people engaging in civil society disappear? Like the author says, young people are always affected. Whether it is war or something as domestic as taxes and education.

There are, unfortunately, elements in our society that want to agitate young people into violent protests. We see it during anti-war demonstrations, WTO meetings and recently in Greece, London and Rome. We saw it in Australia during the Cronulla riots.

The only ones that benefit are the agitators themselves as they secure another few years of loyal supporters while governments and society at large continue to "worry" and think up new ways to deal with the issue of "violent" youth - apparently a few hundred or thousand people is enough to label all youths violent, but then again this happens to other sections of the community.

http://currentglobalperceptions.blogspot.com/

"Achieving a more peaceful world - that is, one free of armed conflict - is the stated goal of Western governments and the United Nations." This may well be the case Catriona, however words are cheap and both institutions are controlled behind the scenes by the financial/economic 'interests' of the corporate executives and wealthy shareholders of rapacious multi-national corporations. Do your homework!

"Conflict and aggression will always exist, but with strong institutions, transparent governance and an active civil society, stopping these conflicts going "hot" becomes possible." Ongoing conflicts around the world and a faux 'War on Terror' disprove your thesis.

As indicated above, the 'strong institutions' have been bought and paid for and incorporated into the now global(ised) system of ENDLESS Capital accumulation by a rich and powerful elite few who control 90%+ of the world's wealth. Among them are those calling for the 'assassination' of young Mr Julian Assange for providing the rest of us - free of charge - with the 'transparent governance' we are continually promised, but never delivered. The even younger man who provided much of the information which the world's 'leaders' wished to be kept secret was arrested seven months ago and is today being held at a military base in Virginia and faces a court martial and up to 52 years in prison for his alleged role in copying the cables. Check him out on Wikipedia to begin with or http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/bradley-manning-health-deteriorating.

Conflict and aggression WILL INDEED always exist Catriona ... as long as the political economy extant - Capitalism and the tiny (minority) class of obscenely wealthy predators who profit from it are allowed, by the rest of us, including the narrowly-educated youth of the world, to continue their unfettered (de-regulated) exploitation of the god-given natural and human resources of OUR fragile planet.

Sowat, what you state is the current state of our world right now but I think you missed the point of the article.

And if capitalism is so bad (and I agree there are bad points with capitalism - nothing is perfect), then what would you propose we use as its replacement?

http://currentglobalperceptions.blogspot.com/

Out of the mouths of babes comes;

Naive baby talk.

It is not only the kids with guns that are being manipulated.

Catriona:

God love ya. I admire your soft centre and brave outlook. Sadly to focus on humanity as you do I predict, will lead to disappointment.

Concentrating your efforts on reducing world poverty is a much more achievable goal and will have the secondary benefit of reducing war and preserving global youth too.

jorge wrote "And if capitalism is so bad (and I agree there are bad points with capitalism - nothing is perfect), then what would you propose we use as its replacement?"

Various observers and thinkers have advocated the development of a 'steady state' economic system or mode of SOCIAL production, distribution and exchange. That is, one driven by the ethic of production to meet and satisify human NEED as opposed to the insatiable GREED of a minority of predatory exploiters of other people's labour ... the basis of all 'wealth creation'.

This they do through the promulgation of various ideas or ide(a)ologies such as 'trickle down theory', 'level playing field', 'a rising tide raises all boats', and the unsustainable notion of 'growth' or growing The Economy to make a bigger pie!

Yet despite the increased productivity of workers around the world and the massive over-production of every conceivable 'good' or commodity, social inequality just keeps on expanding. The resultant social division creates social unrest and conflict, as witnessed in the violent outbursts in Greece, England, Ireland, the U$A and other 'rich countries' in response to mass un-employment and under-employment, housing foreclosures, and 'austerity measures' targeting the health and education of the Working Class and Lower Middle Class in the face of 'tax relief'(cuts) for the wealthy