ADZ link: http://adz.greenyouth.eu

On Saturday the 24th November 2007, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh - Green Youth organized a Public Consultation on a Green Manifesto from a Youth Perspective. At the end of the meeting Bernardette Mercieca and Mary Anne Zammit from ADZ Executive Committee presented the manifesto to Dr. Harry Vassallo, AD Chairperson.

The manifesto aims to address the everyday issues which directly affect young people in Malta. Youth organisations and people working with young people were invited to give their contribution in this policy.

ADZ-Green Youth believes that policies directed towards young people should look at the person as a whole and not as 'future workers'.

The manifesto deals amongst others with the following issues: Economy, Employment, young entrepreneurs, social issues, the family, housing, civil unions, people with disability, addictions, education, non-formal and informal education, creativity, culture and heritage, health and sports, sexual health, promotion of diversity, social inclusion, civil rights and mobility.

Amongst the proposals are:

* The empowerment of young people by lowering the voting age to 16 for Local Council Elections.

* The setting up of an 'open university' using e-learning technology to give young people who lost out on formal education another chance in life and to enable them to study while working.

* Free public transport for all young people who do not hold a driving license.

* The removal of registration tax on low powered motorcycles.

* A greater attention to the social problems associated with heavy drug use.

* Effective and targeted sexual health campaigns amongst young people.

Dr Vassallo said that the work carried out by ADZ merits respect, which it will certainly enjoy, when the proposals made by ADZ will be submitted to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the party to approve the Electoral Manifesto for 2008. "The young people who have contributed to this document have continued to confirm the conviction of Alternattiva Demokratika that the county's youth are not only the future but a valuable part of its present," Dr Vassallo said. "The document makes concrete proposals of the highest quality from a youth perspective, as well as innovative aspects of policy such as holistic youth development which are characteristically Green."