My nephew, 16 years old this year, in today's youth slang, is Gen Z. He just announced that he will be joining the district's Youth Union's weekend litter-collecting volunteer group. During dinner, he excitedly shared stories about his generation's green living community. This youth community has many groups developing nationwide, engaging in litter-collecting activities in parks, cleaning up trash in canals, and promoting collective efforts to protect the environment.
I remember once walking past the bridge over the canal, and seeing the canal overflowing with trash, I shook my head in dismay. For a long time, dumping trash into the city's canals has been considered commonplace, especially by those who trade around the canals. They think that rising water will carry the trash away, leaving their living areas free of it. Everyone thinks this way, so out of the city's dozens of canals, there are dozens of places where trash floats right up to the banks. Despite numerous renovations, dredging, and trash removal efforts, the canals remain overflowing with garbage. It wasn't until environmental groups launched their campaigns that things started to improve.
I follow the Green Community of Vietnam and am impressed by their dedication to environmental initiatives. Most of them are young people, united by a love for the environment and a hope for a greener, healthier Vietnam. Most of the Green Community's activities are linked to student union members from universities and high schools. These are the core force on the green living front, with concrete action programs. These young people are the next generation. Therefore, raising awareness of green living among young people is the right step towards improving the environment in the future. Their enthusiasm and youthful mindset make their environmental actions more diligent, creative, and practical.
Recently, the Nghe An Women's Union set a goal to establish over 2,000 "Transforming Waste into Useful Activities" models by 2027. Waste and scrap materials will be collected and sorted at the source. Then, through exchange and purchasing activities, the proceeds will be used to fund social activities. At least 20,000 disadvantaged families, women, and children will receive assistance with livestock, health insurance cards, and orphans will receive sponsorship. In addition, the Nghe An Women's Union is promoting the movement to reduce the use of plastic bags, minimize waste impacting the environment, beautify the area, and build "5 No's, 3 Cleanliness" families.
Among the myriad forms of weekend entertainment, choosing a green lifestyle is perhaps the most beautiful way of living for Gen Z and young women, a lifestyle that I feel needs to be widely promoted within the community. While many young people spend their weekends sleeping in bed, chatting idly over coffee, or immersing themselves in games and posting pointless videos online seeking likes and views, there are still young people out there who choose to wake up early and act responsibly and kindly, following their hearts.
I appreciate the kindness in the "Turning Waste into Use" approach, being kind to the environment itself, and in return receiving the greenery that society deserves. A good living environment creates a clean atmosphere, giving us cleanliness and freedom from pollution to maintain our energy. The positive energy from a clean environment also helps reduce stress, fatigue, and frustration. The impact of the living environment on human psychology and behavior is something many researchers have highlighted.
I believe that perhaps, starting from a small group of young people, from the Women's Union of a province, these acts of kindness for the community will spread a powerful green and clean message, because enthusiasm, youthful energy, new thinking, and dedication to society are the key to a truly green lifestyle. Acts of kindness inherently possess a universal and far-reaching power.
Article by: Tong Phuoc Bao
Illustration photo: TL
