Welch and his peers join in the fight against euthanasia because they see their own passions and goals align with the cause. Welch wants to “care for people in general, but especially those who are sick, disabled or in some way marginalized.” He feels he must be proactive in his pro-life work, otherwise “euthanasia will take those people first.”
Like most students, Welch is busy enough securing his own future, with his school, work and co-op commitments. He gives much of his extra time to euthanasia prevention because the issue is so pressing for him.
“The way we treat our vulnerable populations is a judgment of how good our society is,” Welch said.
Welch and his pro-life peers help fund raise for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) .
Alex Schadenberg, EPC chair, has appreciated the fundraising support from Welch and his student peers. Nonetheless, Schadenberg is in no way surprised by such strong youth involvement in such urgent times. When legalized euthanasia first began in Nazi Germany, the Munich student movement led the public outcry, he said.
A growing number of people care, as is evident with the recent increase of activity online. Schadenberg’s Facebook site has more than 1,000 fans, most in their early 20s.
“Those same places where youth care, and have any hope, they get involved.”
Welch’s group, driving the momentum, organized an awareness banquet in late January, where Schadenberg spoke.
Dr. Michael Fox, a professor of philosophy at King’s University College and a mentor of Schadenberg, who also attended the banquet, stressed the importance of proper ethical reasoning.
Fox encourages students to put their opinions on the table. Only then can they “discern those opinions as true or false, from their authentic experience of what it means to interact with one another,” he said.
Fox insists that “what we do in the classroom is only preparatory” to forming a conscience.
“Ultimately students, and all people, have to do that on their own,” Fox said.
In the classroom, he sees some hope.
“More and more students are incredibly courageous, and are witnesses to these insights in their daily lives.”
Welch sees this sense of hope in his leaders but cautions, “Youth need to practise their skills, setting strong, clear goals.”
(Kupferschmidt, 22, is a Philosophy student at King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario.)
Youth focus on euthanasia
By Philip Kupferschmidt, Youth Speak News
{mosimage}With Bill C-384 slated for a second hour of debate once Parliament resumes, students are joining in the fight to prevent the passage of a bill that would legalize euthanasia in Canada.
Nathan Welch is one such student. Welch lives in London, Ont., and studies social work at the University of Western Ontario. He is a leader in his campus pro-life club.
Nathan Welch is one such student. Welch lives in London, Ont., and studies social work at the University of Western Ontario. He is a leader in his campus pro-life club.
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