Snoopy:This is a very powerful message and one that's been ignored far too long.  Sure we've talked about these things, but when a person of the "future generations" speaks about it, it just seems to carry that much more weight.  In reality, we only pay lip service to the many points this young girl addresses.

I'm not a fan of the global warming scenario.  My view is that they (the global warming alarmists) utilize bad science and carry their conclusions too far even when using good science.  On the other hand, I totally favor being responsible for the health of the planet.  Pollution, in any form and any amount, is not ok.  I recycle.  Why?  It's the smart thing to do.  It saves resources and it's the most responsible thing to do.  Plastic bottles and be used and reused and reused.  It's totally irresponsible to put them in the garbage when a separate bin for recycling doesn't require much effort. 

Everyone should listen to this young girl's speech.  She speaks very forcefully, directly, and powerfully.  Her message bring total silence in the UN chambers - you can see it on their faces.  It is an indictment against all of us, particularly against the powers of government and the powers of industry.   She not only goes after the carelessness of our environmental attitudes, but also of the neglect of the needy.   I particularly like her comparison of how as children, we teach them to get along, to share, to be kind, to clean up their messes etc.  Then she asks, "Why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?"  The leaders just sit there in silence and I'm sure are convicted by her words.  I was.

Artful Dodger: Certain people having been saying about our children and how we are just borrowing this planet off them for years, decades and even century's.... When the American Indians were asked to sell their land.. they said how can we sell what we don't own!!

As said by one chief in 1854... us 'westerners' just seem to understand the concept that we don't own this planet.

(V):Agreed.  we are just care givers for the next generations to come. 

Artful Dodger: Then we should behave like that... I mean, in an age of 'recycling' I see more and more products aimed at us that are single use only. They cost more and generate more waste. And practically we've been been able to do the jobs without these products for generations.

All for a profit!!

(V):I agree.  I think we have at least come through the door.  But I don't get the plastic bags the grocery stores continue to use.  Although those are recyclable and at our school, we are a drop off point for those.  But still, so many things are as you say, single use.  OTOH, we are finding new and unique ways to reuse old stuff.  Hopefully that trend will continue.

Artful Dodger: Over here we get two bins supplied by our council, one for un-recyclable stuff (green), and one for recyclable items (blue)... Except for glass. That our point of recycling is less then 5 minutes away.

... We never chuck away stuff that could have a second life, or have items from within that are capable of being used for a repair job on an item. The number of assorted screws and fixings I've kept back from deconstructing ietms no longer suitable for our home fills a large plastic box.

We have a recycle point for clothes at the glass recycling point (as well as paper), for the third world needy. Charity shops always get our non-needed good stuff... Clothes, toys, etc. I gave them a router last week as since we changed our ISP the new modem comes with wi-fi bulit in.