Decisions made today will effect the decisions we will need to make tomorrow.

Today, global leaders are faced with a decision of whether they should declare war as a mechanism for eradicating the imminent threat of terrorism.

In our increasingly globalised society, it is imperative that decisions facilitate peace between global neighbours, and it is crucial that these decisions are in the best interests of all of humanity.

War will inevitably result in the death of innocent people around the world, from all regions, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, and political ideologies. War has always resulted in a deepening of resentment long after the conflict is over, and it will not be any different this time. As a mother's painful memories of burying her child do not diminish with time, neither do the resentment and mistrust that scar a nation's consciousness following violent conflict.

Our concern is that we, the next generation, will be faced with a September 11, 2051. That war will inhibit our ability to fulfil our vision for a more peaceful future. A vision where, not long from now, discrimination, hatred, and war, exists only in history books.

Wealthy countries have the intellectual, economic, and political resources to choose a more peaceful option for combating terrorism.

As young people and as inhabitants of this planet, we demand that our leaders act in a manner that reflects respect for the right of people to live. We demand that violence is not once again used as a tool for political change. We have all seen the cost of such methods. A cost measured in blood and tears, reflected in the pain and the suffering of people who have experienced first-hand the brutality of war. We demand that instead of violence and war and suppression and murder, that the leaders of the world address the root causes of Terrorism. We demand that governments of wealthier countries undertake actions to acquire a more comprehensive understanding as to what fuels the manifestation of terrorist networks, with the aim to use this understanding in developing strategies for addressing the root causes of terrorist actions. Recognising that a more proactive response to terrorism is less likely to fuel further terrorist attacks in the future.

We demand that violence and war come to an end in this 21st Century. We acknowledge that terrorism is a problem, but like any problem it has its origins. We recognise that the root of this problem is imbued with complexity, and demand that governments adopt management options that reflect integrity, understanding and non-violence, to set an example through benchmarking sustainable strategies for dealing with conflicts affecting international security. The dire circumstances of many people in this world fuels the fear that has driven fundamentalism of all kinds. It is true that in this, the 21st century, too many people in the world live in circumstances where fear is an integral part of every day life.

We the young people, in loud voice, call for hatred and fear to be suppressed rather than manifested through the policy of governments throughout the world.

We can no longer ignore the condition of people in other places in the world. We insist that non-violence becomes the weapon of our leaders, that utopia becomes the goal of all, and that a war as unsustainable as any which preceded never eventuates.

Non-violence is not just an option. It is the road we must take to ensure this planet becomes a peaceful and safe place for all those who depend on it.