As the green revolution continues, the effects of climate change are being felt on a worldwide scale – most notably in China (http://www.pri.org/science/environment/chinese-students-take-up-environmental-cause1730.html).
As President Barack Obama is currently touring Asia, and the Copenhagen climate summit is approaching as well, young Chinese kids are taking the opportunity to voice their honest opinions about keeping the environment intact. Thousands of Chinese have even traveled many miles around China to spread the word about energy and climate change, known as the Green Long March.
As one student mentioned, China’s population can be looked at either a positive or a negative. With so many people inhabiting the nation, these kids believe that working together and using all surrounding sources are the most productive ways of achieving a greener world.
However, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies.
As China keeps growing and the population continues to expand, it is almost inevitable that more pollution and environmental recklessness will take place; yet, that is the exact issue these students are fighting for. They want to educate their fellow countrymen on the hazards of taking advantage of the environment.
Although, such “green” rituals are nothing new for these kids. This is the third year the march has occurred, and the education portion of the march has included different things every year. For example, students set up information stands in a park and tell passers-by about how much carbon dioxide they are emitting. It gets outsiders involved even if they are not really aware of the effects of energy use on the physical world.
As the years have passed by, it has not only been young Chinese children informing the public about the environment. Such environmental awareness is taking place around the world on a daily basis – schools, businesses and organizations are just a short list of those who are spreading the word about the effects on Earth from energy and climate. It is nothing new, but it is a topic which continues to grow in importance year after year.
And as for students being so environmentally conscious in China, it is a very enlightening feeling for others both in China and around the world. What is that old motto – “The children are our future”? Well, these kids are exemplifying that and should serve as an inspiration to other youngsters worldwide. In a decade or two, these young people will be presidents and big business CEOs and astrophysicists, and they will be called upon to make a difference in the world.
Learning to make an impact at an early age is a great trait to have, and it should bode well for the future.
As Zhang Long Shuai, a university student studying science and technology, said: “I hope the government does more to advocate public participation in environmental protection, energy-saving and emission reducing activities, and that they implement the policies so it’s not just a conference, or an empty slogan.” Truer words were never spoken.
