Green Gurus
I often think of this, and the fact that the decisions we make today will affect the planet of tomorrow. I have had the opportunity to speak to a number of classes and groups of students and I find that they are always very excited and interested in helping the environment. They have great ideas about changes they need to make, and are often the ones to encourage their parents to make changes.
I read a news article today with the heading Importance of the environment lost on kids. It sort of bothered me. Kids these days spend a lot of time in front of the computer or the television, and much less time outdoors enjoying nature. When I was a child, my siblings and I were always outside, playing in the yard, walking, and building forts in the woods across the street. We spent time on the beach - and still do - exploring our great environment. That being said, children and youth are much more astute than they once were. They use technology to research about the environment, and use Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other social medium to encourage peers to make a difference. Not only do they encourage people to make a difference, they are leading the charge themselves. A local high school student here in town just recieved a national Toyota Earth Day Scholarship for his efforts to protect the environment, and in particular his work in the education on the value of the bur oak tree.
And he is only one example of exemplary youth in the area. One university student was trained by Al Gore to give his Inconvenient Truth presentation when she was only in high school, and has been to UN Climate Change meetings as part of the youth delegations. One girl started a recycling program at her high school and used the money from the returnables to purchase equipment for the local hospital. Students of all ages have Green Teams at their schools, and even elementary students have garbage pick-up clubs to keep their playgrounds clean and green. We hold an annual essay contest where students are encouraged to share their environmental hopes and dreams, and their writing and ideas are always very impressive.
So, while one headline about youth concern about the environment may be a little disconcerting, I have the utmost confidence that if we work hard to reduce our impact on the environment, and clean up our act and the earth the meantime, the planet will be in good hand with future generations!
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