When I first encountered the topic of “Imagining Europe in 2050” the first thing that crossed my mind was that oh wow, I have not even existed as a person for 31 years. It currently seems to me like an entire lifetime, and let’s face it, there’s so much potential, opportunity, dreams we can accomplish. But then, 31 years seems so little. Is it enough? Are we enough to put an end to this cyclone of problems?

Fake news and post truth politics… George Orwell had claimed that “political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind”. Do we actually solidify pure wind? If not how do we explain the rising threat of extremism, xenophobia and populism across the Union?

Dear 2050 vision, I hope you come fast. Because:

I envision a European Union which invests in humanities in its educational system, so that future citizens cultivate critical thinking, and empathy, so they can distinguish between valid and illegimate news, and do not promote hatred and antagonism. I envision a European Union which has media fact checkers preventing the dissemination of inaccurate information I envision a European Union were the freedom of expression is capitalized to its fullest and all constituent pieces of the EU mosaic can present their views without censorship or violent criticism. I envision a European Union where diversity and inclusion are fostered through inter European cultural exchange programs, more history and art in school, the integration of refugees into local classrooms and peer mentoring among students

Environmental pollution, emanating from CO2 emmissions and immense plastic deposition in our ecosystems, is one of the most severe issues that we face as a Union. Biodiversity is in peril, as animal populations and the flaura are debilitated.

Dear 2050 vision, do you even exist? Will 2050 exist? I envision an EU investing in innovation and technology, so that pioneers can develop novel applications which will help alleviate the strain on the natural world I envision an EU where a model of circular economy has dominated, in which single used materials have been eliminated, and all of our items enter a cycle of usage, modification and then re-usage as a new object. I envision an EU where environmental sustainability and economy are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other

31 years. This is it. The future. My advice for the EU is to invest in its tangible future: children.

Kids who envision a better tomorrow. Kids who embrace diversity and dialogue. Kids who defy absolutism and fear, Kids who promote diversity.

Kids who imagine a green planet.

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