This is very sweet but quite inconsistent with most statistics about consumer behaviour.

There is little reason to believe that 'youth' are - or will be - committed to sustainable consumption: rhetoric about 'saving the planet' (or 'ending world poverty' by for example buying a bracelet) is not reflected in personal spending choices. Youth are into 'consumption' in a big way. They make less of an impact on the environment than their parents only because they have less money and because they can borrow the family car (or live in the family home).

For those who are skeptical about youth as an embodiment of Blakean innocence (idealistic, energetic, communitarian) and equipped to assist with viable ideas for sustainable consumption the Donahoo line sounds like the latest version of the Children's Crusade or a green version of Richard Neville. Why not encourage ALL people rather than putting yoof in a ghetto?

Whilst I think Daniel's concerns are admirable, I think Amoskeag's views are unfortunately closer to the mark.

Since the beginning of the 20th century each generation has consumed markedly more than its predecessors. Young people might spend more time talking about sustainable consumption, but I haven't seen any evidence to show that they are consuming less than their parents did. In affluent western nations there hasn't been any significant movement to lower consumption since the hippy scene of the 60's, and even this was only on a small scale.