That’s right. Kids and youth from America to China are fast becoming the primary force behind the green movement. Young people are the ones who hold the most power in shaping our world and the future. Articles like “Inconvenient Youths” prove that our environmentally conscious are pulling us parents and the adult generations to prioritize sustainable lifestyles and make smart choices.

However, as one of China’s most influential leaders states (see hyperlinks below), although youth are more than aware – even passionate about saving the planet, youth are asking for more guidance, education, and resources. That’s why we committed nearly half of www.greenbank.com to green learning.

Here are just a few links to some of the most intriguing subculture trends that have impressed and inspired me about our youth and the future lately:

• “Inconvenient youths,” Wall Street Journal, September 29, 2007
• “Youth should lead green consumption,” China.org.cn
• Wind the World Over, an adventurous and educational children’s book about alternative energy by Irene Boland and Vanessa Kellogg, a Houston-area wind industry leader
• American Youthworks (Austin, Texas), a charter school and green building vocational training program that transforms young people into self-sufficient adults through education, job training and community service
• Green Youth Farm (Chicago, Illinois), an old-fashioned summer job program for youth who want to learn all aspects of organic farming
• Recycle Mania, a nationwide friendly competition among colleges and universities to see which institution can minimize waste, recycle the most, and much more
• Green Maps, by which youth mapmaking teams pair adaptable tools and universal iconography with local knowledge and leadership to chart green living, ecological, social and cultural resources
• Go Green Initiative, founded in 2002, a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses across the nation
• GreenPlan Philadelphia, where city leaders invited youth leadership to the table for master planning the city’s future

Way to go, kids! Keep leading the way.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 5th, 2007 at 1:47 am and is filed under Green Bank. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.