Roles of Youth In Promoting Green Living

Youths play a big role to promote a new understanding, tolerance and unity on diverse issues of environmental concerns. Youngsters today are different than their forefathers in the way they think and act on topics that are close to their hearts. Being a youth myself, one of the roles that I want to play is to promote understanding within communities in Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College on the issues of the environment.

Economically, Malaysia countries belong to the developing world. Malaysia has been hailed as among the most dynamic economies in the world today and has joined the world's top 20 most competitive economies.

Youths can be the bridge in promoting sustainable development through responsible use of the natural resources and protecting the environment. Stretching across three time zones which makes it about as wide as Europe, Malaysia shares the monsoon climate with India. This region produces nearly all of the world's supply of abaca, more than 85 percent of its natural rubber, some 85 percent of its palm oil and more than 70 percent of its tin. The Philippines and Indonesia, account for well over two thirds of the world's supply of copra. Hence the role of the youths today is to take a leading role in thinking ahead about the future of the economy as they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Youths are more creative and they can use this ability in many ways such as in finding new ways of harvesting. With new developments in harvesting, the monopoly of producing with little capital can be maintained and also environmental friendly.

Three of the countries within ASEAN, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia are petroleum producers. It has also huge deposits of gold, copper and other economically important minerals. It is a major exporter of textiles, garments, electronics, sugar and tropical fruits. A major source of the world's timber supply, it boasts some of the few remaining tropical forests, the lungs of the world. These forest need to be preserved and the youth should try to raise their voices in this matter because they have the most to gain from a better and cleaner environment.

The immense wealth of the combined marine territories of countries within ASEAN that are rich with catch fishery and other marine resources are being diligently explored for petroleum and natural gas deposits. Petroleum and gas are not sources of renewable energy. Someday these supplies will be depleted and if we continue to rely on this source of energy, our economies will suffer and become less competitive. As youths, we should begin thinking on finding and researching alternatives in energy resources. It is critical that youths of today be proactive in developing renewable energy and also promotes the conservation of natural resources.

The roles of youths are more significant now and they will be the playmakers in the developing world. They will be the decision makers in the next decade and thus must be able comprehend the importance of sustainable development. Armed with the knowledge that youths had acquired as students in higher learning institutions, their role will be to convince the current leaders and the communities at large that science and technology is the key to sustainable economic growth.

Youths can also play the role as the conscience of a society. They should maintain the highest ideals and insist that the principles of a just and equitable society are adhered to. Communities see youths as the new wave who will be taking their place in history. Thus youths will have to gain the confidence and respect from their elders. They can be promoters to aware society about environmental issues where differences can be resolved through discussions, dialogues and healthy debates for the benefit of all man kind. History has shown that youths can be a powerful force and become a potent voice to pressure the elders in taking the right decisions.

Another significant role youths could play is as community activists. This means youths should initiate various community projects that bring benefit to the environment and also the communities. Being young and active, they can initiate great projects for the environment that need special care and attention. Kofi Annan once said “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”.

Indirectly this will also provide them leadership training as future leaders, as they will be able to understand better the need of greater assistance on environmental issues whether socially or economically.

Finally, youths can organize support groups such as forming their own non governmental organizations where they can help each other, exchange ideas, network and organize events that mutually interest the environment. As a collective body, they will have a greater and stronger voice in tackling issues that important and dear to their hearts. This support groups will be a blessing for youths who concerns for the earth and channel it to bring benefits to themselves and also to the environment.