They roll out of bed, tired but ready to take on the world. Pulling on their bamboo cotton shirt adorned with recycling logos and slogans, they stumble into a bathroom lit by energy-efficient light bulbs.
These are the eco-friendly youth. Determined to help our world – they are self-labelled global citizens part of the new "green movement." But for every step they take in the direction of environmental sustainability, it seems they take one back to where they started.
Later that day this same teen might beg their parents for a ride to school. They'll then buy a bottle of water, making sure to recycle it later (not knowing the extensive amounts of carbon produced in the recycling process). They'll then grab lunch at the nearest fast-food joint, not giving a second thought to the garbage left behind.
John Macdonald, a high school geography teacher and environmentally aware citizen, says some students are genuinely "trying to implement small changes in their family's lives," and even half-hearted support can be a good thing as "even the partly committed people will raise awareness of the issue."
Amelia Pipher, a 16-year-old student at Markham District High School, says the media plays an important role in the growing environmental trend, but, ultimately, we are also responsible.
"We all like to feel good about ourselves and what we're doing, and we all like to appear that way to our friends."
With predictions of the impact of global warming spanning timelines into the next century, it is becoming evident that this issue will not be going away anytime soon. If these projections of melting ice caps and rising sea levels ring true, there's no doubt something must be done. These youth lending their support to the green movement may not be fully invested in their cause now, but they might not have a choice in the future. With climate change threatening our existence, there might not be the option of backing out.
Kelly Hobson is a Grade 11 student in Markham. She is an aspiring journalist who hopes to one day travel the world writing about important social issues.
