Sometimes I have those evening that I get re-inspired about my work in the world and the people that stand by my side and do even bigger work. Last night that was Jason Clay, WWF vice-president who “works with big corporations to transform the global markets they operate in, so we can produce more with less land, less water and less pollution.”

Watch this and get inspired by the entrepreneurial commitment to changing the world, with bold courage and open thinking.

Who will follow up his work, and how can we support this great effort?

After getting incredibly inspired I take responsibility as a consumer and I commit to the following:

Buy only vegetarian, organic & natural food

Buy as local as possible, make a real effort

Always buy the the fair trade alternative

Buy nothing that I don’t need

Always separate and reduce my waste

Recycle as much as possible

Minimize water and energy usage

Buy only natural cosmetics and detergents

Share sustainable solutions and practices with my network

Inspire others to take initiative

Join as many global actions as possible

Organise and support local events and actions

What else should or could I commit to? Invite me in the comments!

November 6th, 2009. I am turning 24.

In the Netherlands, the life expectancy of a male inhabitant is 77,6 according to UNFPA State of the World Population 2008.

I have lived 30% of my life.

Looking at the world today, the increasing global population and the increasing life expectancy show a fascinating demographic. When my parents were born they entered a population of about 3 billion people. Since then the population doubled to 6.8 billion today. I will probably see the same growth in my lifetime, up to 9.2 billion in 2050. (I will be 65 by then.)

In the countries with a rising life expectancy the median age is going up, and the population pyramid is turning into a population ‘vase’, and eventually maybe a straight column?

(http://charts.jorgecamoes.com/animation-and-demographic-information-visualization)

The bottom of the population pyramid is also called the youth bulge. We can maybe say that this time in history is the peak of youth. Population goes up, and life expectancy goes up. If population reaches a steady level, life expectancy will still rise, and the global median age will keep going up. Will the youth start aging in 2050, creating a decrease in the youth bulge?

Most worrying is the consequences of the current “youth bulge” (technically a situation where 15-29 year olds make up more than 30% of a population) for global security. (…) In Africa and the Middle East, for example, there are estimated to be 300 million people aged 15-30 (out of a total population of 2 billion). – The battle of the youth bulge

The about quotation is from an interesting article by Malcolm McIntosh, where he also refers to the possible darker side of a youth bulge. Some scientist have linked youth bulges to war, genocide, colonialism, fascism and terrorism. Youth without a direction can be directed by an ideology, join a movement. This is an opportunity and a challenge, because youth is being educated to look up to the previous generation, and follow their values and realities.

Youth Supplement to UNFPA’s State of the World Population Report 2008:
There are more than 1.5 billion people between the ages of 10 and 24, the largest generation in human history. Approximately 70 per cent live in developing countries, 60 per cent in Asia alone. They enter adult- hood in a time of transformations in the economy, education, communication, demographics, the environment, technologies and culture.
Globalization is this generation’s hallmark, with free flow of markets, capital and products; easier travel, instant connections, and rapid urbanization, with more than half of world population living in cities and towns. The result is economic and cultural integration on a scale never before seen, with a tremendous impact on every aspect of life.
This generation of young people is also shaped by a trend towards democracy and the rise of civil society, giving them much more opportunity to participate in local and national decision-making.
Young people, especially girls, are more likely to be healthy and educated than previous generations; except that they – especially adolescent girls and young women – have been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

So what?

No what do all these stats tell us, and what does this mean? And more important; why does this effect everyone, and why does it effect me?

My generation enters a world of global challenges, and it is up to us to do something about it. Climate change, economic crisis, population growth, HIV/AIDS, technological development, migrations, globalized markets, re-distribution of capital, and much more is on our plate. Challenges older generations has never seen before. And no one knows how to deal with them.

Could the biggest generation in history co-create the solutions?

Could the biggest generation in history come with a direction, instead of waiting for one?

Could the biggest generation in history start a movement, instead of joining one?

Could the biggest generation in history be the change we want to see in the world?

What about a Youth Renaissance?

Please join me in a discussion, here in the comments!

I wrote this article today, it might be published somewhere:

My name is Pieter Ploeg, I am 23 years old and I am taking part in the International Youth Initiative Program 2009/2010. For me this year is a joint search with pioneers of social change, a year of making sense where an international team of future change-makers comes together to explore human creativity in social development and to gain entrepreneurial skills to take action on a global scale.
When I look at my generation, born in the previous millennium but mainly living on this planet in the next 50 years, we are faced with the challenges put to us by the previous generations, and it is up to us to lead the next generation into the challenges we will be putting on them. We are the first generation that is born in a completely globalised world, where information is being shared in an ever accelerating speed, and where many young people struggle with the ability to respond to the world and it’s challenges. At the same time we are born in a time of strong individualism, where it is up to us to finally get rid of the “we and them” mentality.
People from all backgrounds, cultures, nations and societies join forces to rework this world into a future of more equality, equity, sustainability and radical optimism. I feel part of a movement, that some call the movement of movements, the earths immune system, or the civic sector. A global network of individuals, working together as people, living and striving for social change on all levels of society.

In this working together I find my personal ambition: Connectivity. Strengthening the togetherness and collaboration of all people. Finding inspiration in the leading pioneers of change, seeking empowering connections for grass-root initiatives and connecting engaged world-citizens with real work for a better world. Facilitating a network of real people working from a radical optimism, ready to face the most difficult challenges, with endless courage to bridge gaps in all layers of society.
Connectivity takes shape in many different ways, in the most concrete way in a conference, happening in 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference is really the celebration of the network, the “council meeting” of the civic sector, the  international gathering of the movement. A week of connecting, empowering, strengthening and inspiring.

During this year of making sense I strive to facilitate the preparation of that celebration, and to breath connectivity in all of my actions. The Youth Initiative Program in Sweden enables me to work and live with engaged young people, to gain the practical skills for social entrepreneurship, and to work full-time for social betterment.