On air: What is stopping young people from engaging in global challenges?

I`d like to widen the debate: beyond responsible consumption, why doesn`t youth take a more active role in finding local solutions to global issues? I believe there are 3 main barriers to youth becoming active:
1. The information youth receives about global challenges is mostly discouraging, focusing on problems rather than solutions
2. Young people are often viewed negatively and generally not encouraged by society to become active changemakers
3. Lack of orientation Young people who want to become active

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I guess its a question of everyone doing THEIR fair share.

I'm 26. A vegan. I don't fly. I don't drive.

BUT
I frequently leave a fan or my computer on overnight


Young people are more aware of fairness.
So they wonder why they should give up something they enjoy when no one else does - afterall one person doesn't make any difference do they?

I would also add two other barriers, lack of information and higher local costs.

1. Once I (depending on how you define youth . . . under 30?) was informed on who and where I could purchase local items, I started purchasing locally, going to my local farmers markets and purchasing locally but,

2. While it is less expensive to purchase many items locally and I can stand to pay a little more for better services, there are some items that are still much less expensive in the big box stores, although I have become more aware of what I buy-but that's because I know to be aware.

Do youth really know to be aware?

It also can't only be on one segment of the population to change spending habits. Parents need to set examples for their children and the youth need to be prepared to set an example for future generations. In addition, governments of the global north need to be responsible for requiring fair trade laws and corporations need to be responsible for who they are purchasing from in the supply chains.

The youth often have nice ideals, but lack the life experience to understand how to bring their ideals into practice and how those ideals will affect the world (good ideals can still have negative consequences).

There's also only so much you can do because you cannot be successful in society without participating in some bad habits.

Then there is division: the primary ideals of many people (peace on Earth and all that) are the same, but their secondary ideals often differ enough to make agreement impossible. For example, peace on Earth is only possible if you take things like tribalism and culturalism out of the picture and the same human rights standards are applied everywhere. This means a lot of cultures will have to change or disappear and not everyone agrees with that because they see cultural imperialism as a bad thing, even when it improves the standard of living and the human rights situation.

At 24 am I still a young person? I hope so!
For me it is a feeling of helplessness. Do my changes make an impact? I am only one person. How do I meet like minded people my age? It also seems there is no middle ground. You are a or b. Either you think exactly like us or you are part of the problem.

This young man is misinformed, the younger generation more informed? Maybe more informed on what Paris Hilton is up to or other ridiculous issues, but real world issues? The younger generation has the accessibility to the information, but is so apathetic, and it's not their fault. They have been conditioned from birth to be this way, to believe capitalism is the way of life and to buy, buy, buy. The young man who said he'd rather eat a steak and save money to have a good time is much more likely as the attitude of the younger generation, they're lazier and more apathetic than ever before. I speak of course as an American and this is my opinion of the American youth.

I try to steer myself towards choices that are both helpful to my community / environmentally friendly AND help me in another way. I am trying to do some of the following, whether or not I am succeeding is another matter:

Riding my bike to work / class instead of driving- I get a workout and save gas money.

Buying at a thrift store / craigslist- cheaper, and less environmental / social impact.

Buying at farmer's markets- more eco-friendly, and usually they taste much better.

If I am forced to choose between paying a reasonable price and helping my community, it's a tougher decision. If you feel like you're the only one making sacrifices for a cause, you just feel taken advantage of.

I think that language barriers exist. However, when looking at international issues you see inequalities that are beyond imagination. What is the purpose of helping when the root problem remains strong and supported by major international powers.

I'm 17 years old and i do care about the sorry state we seem to be in.
I wish there was something i could do to make a differance but there isnt really, i'm resigned to the fact im one person and the world doesnt revolve around me, what can i do about it? Thats fair enough.
But at the same time i've always thought thats why we have a government isnt it? To speak on behalf of all of us and get things done to benefit ourselves and the world. And given that im not deemed responcible enough to vote, when i finished school and was looking for work for 8 months the government would'nt give me a penny when i couldnt afford to eat and was looking at being homeless who cared then? yet im old enough pay the tax now i've finally got a good secure well paid job in local government, no thanks to them! I have to pay full price on a train or bus. I have to take full financial responsibility for an adult, without any of the benefits (literally) And then i'm asked to leave shopping centre and libraries and various other places becuase aparantly i look suspcious.
So no, you can deal with it. See if i care, i'll help out and act like an adult when im treated like one.