Greta Thunberg — Simply Amazing

Posted on by under Environmental Issues, Global Issues, Political commentary, Social commentary

I have written before about the young Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, and in fact she was one of my ‘good people’ one Wednesday last December.  Sometimes an activist will start like gangbusters, and then after a few months you hear nothing more about them, but not so Ms. Thunberg.  I see her name in the news at least once a week, and she has been inspirational to many young climate-conscious groups around the world.

Today, she is back in the news, and in a big way! A couple of big ways, actually.

Greta-Thunberg

Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and The 1975’s Matty Healy pose for a photo. (Photo: Jordan Hughes)

The first is that she is featured on the first track of the forthcoming album of British pop-rock band The 1975.  In the track, Greta delivers a speech about the global climate emergency, against an instrumental background by the band.  Now, I have never heard of The 1975, but I give them two thumbs up for this effort, as well as the fact that all proceeds from the track will be going to the climate action group Extinction Rebellion.

The full text of Greta’s speech on the track is at the end of this post.

In an interview with The Guardian, Greta said …

“I’m grateful to get the opportunity to get my message out to a broad new audience in a new way. I think it’s great that The 1975 is so strongly engaged in the climate crisis. We quickly need to get people in all branches of society to get involved. And this collaboration I think is something new.”

The second thing is that Greta has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize this year.  She was nominated by Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, a parliamentary representative in Norway …

“We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict.”

greta-2.pngThe Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its latest laureates in October, and those selected will receive their prizes in December.  I do so want to see her win it!

And the third thing that has put Greta in the news this week is that she will be coming to the U.S. next month to attend a United Nations summit meeting on global warming in New York!  Now, you may remember from my previous post about Greta that she does not fly on airplanes because of the CO2 emissions, so you may be wondering how she plans to get here.

“Good news! I’ll be joining the U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York. I’ve been offered a ride on the 60ft racing boat Malizia II.”

Malizia-2

Malizia II

Malizia II, is outfitted with solar panels and underwater turbines to generate electricity. That should make the entire trip possible without burning any fossil fuels.

Boris Herrmann, who will skipper the boat, said the voyage would not be the luxury cruise that a high-tech yacht might conjure in the popular imagination. The Malizia II is built for speed, not comfort. It has no kitchen, refrigeration system, air-conditioning or showers.

Think about this one for a minute, folks.  This young woman is so committed to saving our planet that she is willing to spend two weeks on a small boat, eating mostly freeze-dried and vacuum-packed meals, in order to do her part to save the environment.  Greta is sixteen years old … most kids her age are attached at the hip to their cell phones, ipods, laptops, and wouldn’t dream of missing a shower or a hot meal, let alone spend two weeks in a small boat on choppy seas!

Greta will be accompanied on the trip by a filmmaker; her father, Svante; and Pierre Casiraghi, the head of the Malizia II racing team who is also the grandson of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the American actress Grace Kelly.

Greta is, with her parents’ approval, taking the year off from school to campaign against climate change, also plans to attend the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change talks in December in Santiago, Chile.

I was impressed by this young woman when I first wrote about her eight months ago, but today … the only word I have is “WOW!!!”  She puts us all to shame, and particularly those who would “deny” climate science in order to justify their own greed.

I would like to end with a quote that was sent to me tonight by a very special friend:

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” – Helen Keller

Ms. Thunberg is doing something that she can do … let’s all try to do just one thing more that we can do to help heal and protect our home, planet Earth.

Full text of Greta’s speech on The 1975 track:

We are right now in the beginning of a climate and ecological crisis.

And we need to call it what it is. An emergency.

We must acknowledge that we do not have the situation under control and that we don’t have all the solutions yet. Unless those solutions mean that we simply stop doing certain things.

We admit that we are losing this battle.

We have to acknowledge that the older generations have failed. All political movements in their present form have failed.

But homo sapiens have not yet failed.

Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around. We can still fix this. We still have everything in our own hands.

But unless we recognise the overall failures of our current systems, we most probably don’t stand a chance.

We are facing a disaster of unspoken sufferings for enormous amounts of people. And now is not the time for speaking politely or focusing on what we can or cannot say. Now is the time to speak clearly.

Solving the climate crisis is the greatest and most complex challenge that homo sapiens have ever faced. The main solution, however, is so simple that even a small child can understand it. We have to stop our emissions of greenhouse gases.

And either we do that, or we don’t.

You say that nothing in life is black or white.

But that is a lie. A very dangerous lie.

Either we prevent a 1.5 degree of warming, or we don’t.

Either we avoid setting off that irreversible chain reaction beyond human control, or we don’t.

Either we choose to go on as a civilization or we don’t.

That is as black or white as it gets.

Because there are no grey areas when it comes to survival.

Now we all have a choice.

We can create transformational action that will safeguard the living conditions for future generations.

Or we can continue with our business as usual and fail.

That is up to you and me.

And yes, we need a system change rather than individual change. But you cannot have one without the other.

If you look through history, all the big changes in society have been started by people at the grassroots level. People like you and me.

So, I ask you to please wake up and make the changes required possible. To do your best is no longer good enough. We must all do the seemingly impossible.

Today, we use about 100 million barrels of oil every single day. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground.

So, we can no longer save the world by playing by the rules. Because the rules have to be changed.

Everything needs to change. And it has to start today.

So, everyone out there, it is now time for civil disobedience. It is time to rebel.

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104 thoughts on “Greta Thunberg — Simply Amazing”

    • Well … I have no idea how that hit your mail box today, for it is an older post and I did not send it out today! WordPress had a burp, is the only answer I can come up with!

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  3. I’m so glad this was still up to read. I miss so many things when I’m buried in my own life. This was very good to listen to/read. I especially liked The 1975 work paired with her voice. Because I am reading this late, I did Google to see that Greta did not win the Nobel Peace Prize. Though, she certainly was worthy considering her efforts. I wonder if someday, someone will look back and say, “We missed an opportunity to applaud her vision and lift her that much higher.” One hopes there is much yet to come for such a strong, young visionary. And a future for her to build in.

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    • I am so in awe of this young woman, her courage and determination. This post will stay up as long as this blog exists. After a year, it still gets several views per week. Now, if only our politicians would listen to her words of wisdom!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I had a few thoughts after posting my first comment. The first book I remember reading about the environment was Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring published in 1962. The conversation has been going on for almost sixty years. Despite the hard work and huge sacrifices of leaders like Greta and former Vice President Dan Quayle, the progress we have made is insignificant in the face of the work that needs to be done. You make this point here as well as many of your readers.

    Unfortunately, it seems obvious that our government and world governments will not move quickly enough to take the radical steps necessary to successfully confront the environmental crisis. I’m not a rabble rouser, but once the coronavirus is substantially under control, we will need worldwide peaceful demonstrations like the racial discrimination demonstrations we are witnessing now to effect change.

    With universal issues like the environment, we wait until the pain is too great to bare to make the necessary changes in our behavior. It will be too late if the same is true of the environmental crisis.

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    • I fully agree with you. It seems that for every step forward we take, we then take 2-3 steps backward. People are so enamored of their conveniences that they are unwilling to make sacrifices, even small ones like turning the thermostat down a few degrees, or walking to the corner convenience store for a gallon of milk rather than driving. I have a theory that the human species is on a path of self-extinction if we don’t wake up and bite the bullet. The thing that bothers me most about that is the fact that we will also be extincting most other species as well with our greed and arrogance.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Before the coronavirus arrived, people in general were beginning to wake up to the environmental crisis. Now, the crisis is on the back burner again due to the constant news coverage of the virus and the racial demonstrations. I consider myself an environmentalist. I wrote a futuristic fiction book about the crisis two years ago. And yet, I’ve fallen into the same trap as so many of us have with current events dominating the news. So, thank you for writing this excellent post. It is a much needed reminder. I agree one hundred percent with the points you make.

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    • I absolutely agree. A personal example … I use re-usable canvas grocery bags, rather than the plastic bags grocery stores provide. But now, in light of the coronavirus, one of my local stores refuses to even allow me to bring my bags in, and the other refuses to touch them, so I am told to ‘pack your own groceries’. I don’t mind doing that, but it seems as if the environment has taken a backseat to all else. Those of us who try to be aware and do the right thing are actually punished for our efforts. I have said more than once that long after the coronavirus pandemic is but a memory, the environment will still be a critical issue … let’s not just forget about it. Thank you for reading and commenting … I greatly appreciate it!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Such a lovely blog! Greta is truly extraordinary and proves that there is hope for the future. She is an eloquent speaker and with her in the forefront fighting for our planet surely this is a battle we can win!

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    • She is, indeed, an amazing young woman! She was asked by a reporter earlier this week if she would meet with Trump while she’s in the U.S., and she responded, “Why would I waste my time?” Love it! Thanks for dropping in, Teagan! Hugs!!!

      Liked by 2 people

  13. Jill, I shared with you the comments by Andrew Bolt in Australia. I put this comment on my latest post:

    Note to Readers: Like a certain president, an Australian conservative writer named Andrew Bolt attacked Greta Thunberg, the person, rather than her views. His focus was on her being on the spectrum of Autism, which is a surprise to me, as she does not let that hold her back and is quite the force.

    Here is her and others’ responsed per The Guardian:

    “Andrew Bolt showed ‘absolute ignorance’ when he mocked the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in a column for the Herald Sun, an autism awareness advocate says. The high-profile columnist for Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers and Sky News commentator attacked the 16-year-old campaigner as ‘deeply disturbed’, ‘freakishly influential’ and ‘strange’ in the piece published on Wednesday.

    Thunberg responded on Thursday, turning Bolt’s words back on him to say she was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the ‘hate and conspiracy campaigns’ run by climate science deniers.”

    It puzzles me why people do not ask questions of leaders and pundis who criticize traits of people rather than what their views are. Regardless of the subject, more “why” questions are, not fewer. Keith

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yes, and I have a piece about Bolt and his vicious attack on Greta Thunberg in the works. Turns out he has quite a history of being a jerk … surprise. More ‘why’ questions would require more people to actually think, and it seems that in this day and age, people would rather someone else to the thinking for them, and tell them what to believe. Sadly, they are willing to listen to the loudest squawker rather than the one who has done the research and knows of what they speak. Sigh.

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      • Jill, I have long detested the president’s attacking of people rather than their arguments – as you know, he is not big on detaild or facts. But, attacking a young girl for her imperfections rather than her argument is a new low. If that makes this person feel like a man, then he does not understand what a man or responsible human being is. As a matter of course, when I see rebuttal attacks on a person, it makes me think the attacker’s argument is poor. Keith

        Liked by 3 people

  14. I just hope that they will not be used as an instrument, as some have already be done, in the past. I don’t like to write it, but who had fraudulently ruined the climate for over 20 years?
    Our dear German automotive industry. Suddenly, Germany jumps on climate protection as a model country. Best wihes, Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    • Hey Michael! Good to see you, my friend! It is not only your country that has been damaging the environment for decades, but also the U.S. At least Germany is now on the band wagon, where as the U.S., led by a damn fool, is still denying that it exists, and putting the entire globe in danger. Let us hope that more and more nations listen to Ms. Thunberg and eventually force the U.S. to act with conscience.

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  15. Greta has an effective blend of firmness, urgency, and hope. Whatever happens, I admire her strength and intelligence, and I’m glad the Nobel Prize committee is recognizing her. Thank you for spreading her message.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you! You’re right, that no cause is going to appeal to everyone. But this goes beyond being just a cause … this is the very core of continuing life on this planet, and it’s too important for anybody to ignore.

      Liked by 2 people

  17. do you know what really gets under my skin about some of these environmental groups? The total and complete hypocrisy of them. Take for example, the google 4 day climate change camp where a bunch of elite celebrities flew to a private island for the conference in their private jets? If they really believe that this is such an important issue, why would they contribute more to the problem by doing something that they say that the rest of us shouldn’t be doing?

    This would be like these people showing up at a gun control rally with armed security.

    If climate change is so vital of a topic why don’t these people reduce their carbon footprints more? Why don’t they give up their private jets and luxurious yachts etc.? In other words, don’t be hypocritical and maybe people would take them more seriously. maybe they don’t care that their obvious hypocrisy totally obliterates their credibility in the eyes of the average person.

    This is the problem I have with almost all of their positions. They want gun control but won’t give up armed security. They want open borders but do you ever hear of any of these celebrities allowing immigrants into their luxurious mansions to provide them temporary housing?

    Hell, we opened our home to victims of hurricane Harvey and compared to these obnoxious annoying Hollywood types, we have nothing so you’d think they would step up to the plate and actually put into practice some of the sanctimonious crap they spew on a daily basis to the rest of us who don’t know any better.

    Liked by 2 people

    • The problem Sklawlor isn’t just these hypocrites but the vast unwashed who won’t think, won’t change and who continue to fawn after the same psychos and elect them or cheer them on.

      Liked by 3 people

    • ‘Lead by example’ is a concept that all too many of the privileged elites seem unable to grasp. It’s “one rule for you… but another for me” in their book. And I don’t know whether the rest of us can get them to recognise this, it’s too deeply ingrained in their psyches. Our only recourse is to keep rubbing their noses in it.

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  18. Thank you for letting people know about Greta. Actually, I have asked people if they know about Extinction Rebellion, the Sunrise Movement, the student climate strikes, and, of course, Greta. They usually haven’t heard of any of the other groups, and Greta is usually referred to as, that girl. She, of course, is not just THAT GIRL. She is GRETA!!! She is a prime example of what one person can do! She is amazing!

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  19. Hi Jill, and thanks so much for this post! I am online so little that most of the world news zooms by and I stay in the dark. Many times it’s better that way, as so much of the news is negative and un-encouraging. Reading about Greta’s nomination (here) brought tears to my eyes! I was reading off line and so grateful that you shared it – otherwise it might have been weeks before any ‘good news’ crossed my reading field! I think that she has a huge chance of winning. She inspires many, and sets an example to all that one person can indeed make a difference. I’m unfamiliar with the musician/group and look forward to hearing the song. They will reach a bigger audience!

    I don’t think she will end up like Chico Mendez, murdered for protesting about logging… She’s too high profile, and she has an amazing future! Thank you again for this post!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I feel I have to say something Jill. My thoughts about apathy among many, many people younger than myself, say 20’s and 30’s is not based AT ALL in the media but in my personal every day experience. I do feel that a large city tends to attract a greater population of individuals who are mesmerized by progress, fast paced lifestyles and distraction. I have four sons with many friends who are very conservation conscious and live it every day. The entire city of Lincon, NE is filled with such young people and adults like. But visit the university across town and you will find just the opposite as a majority. Sadly I don’t work with but three people that I know who really care about saving our planet. If I mention these things most of them get a glazed look in their eyes, smile weakly and find a quick way to exit our conversation. I don’t trust the media for squat these days. I really am old enough to miss quality hard-hitting news reporting. These days any who try to follow in those footsteps always need to look over their shoulders. This is quickly becoming a nightmare. 😞

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    • Quote: “If I mention these things most of them get a glazed look in their eyes, smile weakly and find a quick way to exit our conversation.” That’s my experience also and that’s why I don’t get excited when some exceptional individual takes on the task of being a way shower by linking to the System in some way or other. Greta Thunberg means well, that’s a given. Should she be encouraged? Sadly, no. She is facing two obvious choices: she can get a Nobel Peace prize (they’re actually quite cheap to get nowadays, even drone king O-Bomber got one for giving away zillions of tax payers money to the most corrupt of zillionnairs or was it for turning Lybia into a wasteland and murdering its legitimate leader) and maybe get some post or position at the UN, which means total sell-out through political power, or choice number two: she can forge ahead as a Gandhi, move millions to follow her and get herself martyred as she turns the world upside down. Choice number two is unlikely for the reason you mention: the blatant apathy of the Muggles, the Deplorables, the “silent” majority, the Sheeple, call them what you want, that just wants things to keep on keeping on. Neither Christ, nor Gandhi nor Greta could, or can, provide a mind for billions devoid of one. Either you will have a totalitarian world government where no individual choice is permitted (think Middle Ages Catholic church), or you will have increasing chaos (think India and Pakistan after Gandhi was murdered). There has never been any room for the likes of Greta Thunberg on this world and always plenty of room for the likes of Trump. Why? Apathy and lies. It is much easier to fool someone that it is to try to convince them they’ve been fooled.

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      • I have to respectfully disagree with you … I fully support Greta Thunberg’s efforts and think she certainly should be encouraged, as should all those who are fighting to have their message heard, whether it’s for gun control, environmental protections, or human rights. You say “there has never been any room for the likes of Greta Thunberg”, but … what of Martin Luther King? What of Gandhi? What of Mandela? Yours is a bleak view, my friend … if we all take that view, then we would just jump off that big cliff now, for it would mean there is nothing left to strive for.

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        • Carefully here… I expect people who believe they want change in the way “change” has always been heralded, to disagree with me. But hear me out… Christ’s legacy is institutional Christianity and we know its track record through 2 thousand years of history. Gandhi managed to start an endless civil war by the partition of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, he did not bring Hindus and Muslims to embrace in brotherly love: now they look at each other through nuclear weapons eyes. Mandela, let’s see: South Africa is an economic mess and the whites are still in control of the economy, hence of the real politics, armed to the teeth and facing violent attack at any time. Martin Luther King Jr. – he died to end segregation and that was quite a thing… for a while until, well, here you are, with fascism and racism on the rise and anyone can see all that happened was a band aid was applied to an open wound and the band aid was left on so no one could see that the wound never healed. On and on through history, it’s been this way. Some gains are made, then the elites take over and it’s same old, same old, and often worse. As far as I’m concerned, Greta is indeed a shining light to the world but the world gets easily blinded by shining lights and puts them out – history. Greta is being fed to the wolves. Either they will adopt her with a Nobel prize and some ‘important’ position within a system she is asking us all to dismantle, which adds to mega compromise, or they will eat her alive. Greta is not the answer we need for no one is looking for the real answer which is spelled self empowerment, chosen by every individual. That is the next necessary step up that mental evolution ladder. Earthians won’t take it because they will always raise for themselves either a Trump or a Greta to fawn over or cheer on.
          Point: if anyone, anyone at all, even attempted to follow through on Greta’s “speech” as posted here, that person would know for a fact they s/he never needed a sacrificial child to lead them. They had it within themselves all along. But it’s easier to let Greta carry the water and when she fails, as she most certainly will, she will be forgotten, at best a footnote in man’s sad history and some people will look for another Greta (or another Trump). I’m basing my comment here on your own Earthian history and track record. People don’t want change, they want security, comfort, relief, hope springing from promises and demagoguery. They don’t want the swamp drained, they just want the alligators kept back from the shore. I fully understand the ‘romantic’ lure of having an exceptional child leading a world class verbal ‘rebellion’ against a failing system and wanting it to be the real thing… this time. Problem is, everyone of us is the real thing we look for in an exceptional other. So we pass the buck, we disempower ourselves and we throw a burden on an individual s/he cannot possibly carry. How many of your scapegoats did not end up crucified, burned alive, jailed for life, tortured or shot on the street like a mad dog? And why? Because “the real thing” let someone else stand and be the target. Personally I have enough integrity not to let a child become a sacrifice, a scapegoat or a martyr for something I am supposed to be doing. We all know what needs to be done. Are we saying that our children have to be martyred because we won’t stand up for them? It is shameful in the extreme that a child must stand up basically alone to try to save the world from rapacious greed while the adults continue to play the economic and political games of predators. There you have it, hope I didn’t repeat myself too much… it’s late and I’m tired. I’m sorry if my words seem harsh, that is not my intent. My intent is to communicate a basic truth.

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          • Interesting thoughts but let’s not forget two aspects here:
            1 She is not leading anything, she is just stating a fact, namely that we need to stop co2 emissions by not using fossil fuels if we want to avert climate disaster. When we claim that she is leading a rebellion, we forget that we had these facts for 30 years but chose to ignore it. When we hear/read it now in her direct words, we think wow, amazing, finally etc.
            2 I don’t believe she’ll be forgotten in the future because if we do not change (see 1), the changes will become more dramatic every year. If anything she’ll be forgotten because we will struggle with our own survival in a world of climate catastrophes.

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            • While the rest of the world quibbles over trade wars, racism, taxation, nuclear proliferation and more, Greta is trying to get us to wake up and realize that if we don’t do something VERY SOON about our excesses and the damage we have done to this planet, none of the rest will matter, for there will be no life on earth, likely by the end of this century. I commend her for her efforts and hope she succeeds!

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            • […] we had these facts for 30 years but chose to ignore it.

              Correction: we had these facts for 130 years but chose to ignore it.

              Tyndall’s discovery was followed in the 1890s by Svante Arrhenius, the Swedish physical chemist and Nobel laureate, who calculated if the level of CO2 was half its existing value, the earth would be 4 °C cooler, and if doubled, the earth would be 4 °C warmer.

              — https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/the-engineer-who-discovered-global-warming

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          • Your words are yours, they are your opinion, and I can respect it, even though I disagree with most of it. Humans are a disorganized lot, and they look to strong people to motivate and inspire them. Yes, on the whole humans are largely arrogant, lazy and greedy, but I don’t think you can paint the entire species with such a broad brush, for there are exceptions, some notable, others barely causing a blip on the radar, but still trying to be a little bit better, to treat others and the earth with a little more kindness. If we all took a cynical view, we would give up hope and stop trying for a better world. I’m not a rosy cockeyed optimist, but neither am I convinced that people cannot make a difference. If we think that, then … why bother trying? We might all just as well drink some of Jim Jones’ Kool Aid and lie down and die right now. Sigh. As I said, you and I see the world a bit differently, but I respect you and respect your opinion.

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                • It was an attempt at levity… or as Robert DeNiro says in “Analyze That!” “just trying to introduce a little levitation to the occasion…!” I am always surprised when anyone agrees with me because, well, my ‘flossofy” is too ‘out there’ for most people. Lots of time I don’t agree with you either but you maintain a fascinating flow of ideas on a great blog. I unfollow sometimes when I get buried in comments but I always return to the “Follow” button. You present painstaking research and I appreciate that.

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                  • Ah … then all is well! I was afraid you were saying “Sayonara” and I would be sad if you left. Yeah, you are a little far out there for most of us who have been “conditioned”. I am different than many, for I am a pragmatist, a realist for whom seeing is believing. This is why many years … nay, decades … ago, I figured religion to be a hoax, or as Marx called it, the “opiate of the masses”. It keeps people behaving. Sort of.

                    Thank you, my friend … I don’t need to tell you for what. I’m glad, for over the years, I’ve come to think of you as a friend. One I often find puzzling, but a cherished friend nonetheless.

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    • I agree that there is a great deal of … oh, I’m not sure I’d call it apathy as much as greediness. Or laziness. Waiting for someone else to take the lead, to fix the problem. But, I’m still encouraged by the young people … no, it isn’t all of them, but a lot more than we think … who are taking climate change seriously, who are saying, “You guys had your chance and you blew it. This is our future and we’re not going to sit back and let you wreck it”. Now, I’ve run into a fair share like the ones you mention at work, those who suddenly have someplace to be when you mention climate change, or how ’bout replacing that plastic bottle with a re-usable cup. They’re lazy, comfortable, complacent, and unwilling to make any lifestyle sacrifices until they are forced to, and then they will grumble and whine. I share your thoughts on the media … they are letting us down, but yet … I will not criticize them overly much, for a couple of reasons. First of all, WE are the ones that dictate their content by our preferences. Sadly, the public seems to LOVE to hang on Trump’s every ignominious tweet! And the other reason is that without them, we are toast. We must guard and protect the media against those who would stifle them. Yes, we can demand that they do a better job, dig deeper and hit harder, but again … I will protect their freedom to do what they do, for I don’t want to live in a world of state-run media. Hang in, my friend … we are fighting, and that’s the best we can do for right now.

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  22. I love Greta’s determination. I think she has the ability to turn thinking around even as she comes up against big oil, and big politics. No one will silence her, because every child that follows her lead, is watching, and they will rebel if anything happens to Greta. That girl has more power than people give her credit for.

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    • I love it too! She is amazing, and I have to think her parents are too, for many parents would have stifled her, but hers are actually helping her, taking her seriously. I have you to thank for first introducing me to Greta way back when! I am a fan now! And I really hope she wins that Nobel!

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    • You’re right! If they didn’t feel threatened by her, they would never attack her. If there is any hope for this planet, it lies with her and others like her. If she fails, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying. I really hope she does win the Nobel Prize in October!

      Like

  24. Thank you so much for this post. I’m a big fan of Greta Thunberg and her work. I like to think that because of her, the next generation of leaders will have a different outlook and will give us some hope for the planet.Did you hear about this – “The September issue (of Vogue UK) has been titled ‘Forces for Change’, on which Thunberg will be sharing space with 14 other women from different spheres such as politics, sport, and the arts, all of whom have made an inspiring impact on modern life. Actress and activist Jane Fonda, at 81, is the oldest woman to be photographed in the magazine while Thunberg is the youngest, at 16. She is also the youngest person to ever be featured on the cover of UK Vogue.”

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    • I became aware of Greta and her activism through another UK friend, Colette, and have been a big fan ever since. This young lady has spirit, conscience, and humanity in spades! If there is hope for this planet, it is she and others like her, those inspired by her, who will bring about the change that saves us all. No, I had not heard about the the September issue of Vogue UK, but many thanks for the heads-up! I will keep my eyes open for it! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’ll come back!

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  27. I love stories such as this. One of the things I find troubling is there seems to be a belief by so many other people of my generation who feel kids are somehow less thoughtful and sensitive about the world. I believe that inspiring young people are all around us if you take the time to look. Great job, Greta!

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    • That belief that today’s youth are less thoughtful and sensitive about the world, comes from the media. As is the case with almost every group, the few bad apples get all the attention, and thus the general consensus is that all young people are drug addicts, self-focused, and shallow. Or, all African-Americans are lazy. Or, all Mexicans are rapists and drug dealers. Sadly, the media is for-profit, and bad news sells a heck of a lot better than good news. Sigh.

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  28. She’s truly an inspiration and tour de force. But like Sha Tara said, at some point she’ll encounter Big Oil special interests and the world’s political establishment hell bent on preserving their power, even if it means the end of humanity. Oh well… I guess they plan on taking their wealth with them??? *Gawd*

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  29. No denying it, that is a good speech and forthright. She’s calling for nothing short than an outright rebellion against the current system and supporting sub-systems. This is a call to individuals to REBEL AGAINST organized religion, governments across the board and all monetary systems. A call for individuals to forget being patriots and believers to become planetriots and creators. What she does not mention is the level of personal sacrifice she is asking everyone to make to achieve a victory over the establishment, the patriarchy. I meet and work with a lot of truly ordinary people everyday (even in retirement, maybe even more than before) and I can state from simple observation that what she is asking for is not in the reality of the vast majority of the Muggles. They continue to ignore the writing on the wall, rather mocking it. They continue to jet about the world; to buy their big and useless noisy trucks and Harleys; to support wars of aggression and racist ways. When they vote they turn their backs on change and seek comfort in establishing “populist” demagogues in power. Joan of Arc as burned alive at the stake at the age of 19 for doing what Greta Thunberg is advocating. Whether she wins a Nobel Prize or not, if she becomes too popular she will be silenced, just as Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning have been silenced and openly demonized for telling the truth.Truth is uncomfortable and the first casualty of demagoguery and totalitarianism. What the System wants to hear from people is one sound: the sound of silence.
    I take issue with one statement in Greta’s speech: “But homo sapiens have not yet failed.”
    Homo Sapiens failed from its very inception and its history spells it out in capital letters. An easily manipulated species ready to stampede at any call to collective mayhem and the violence of war and genocide. The pages of history books are not filled with the good “man” has accomplished, but with his acts of violence, oppression, extortion, conquest, subjugation,racism and misogyny.
    Greta Thunberg, likely unknowingly, has pitted her mind against man’s entire historical record and current mindset. Greta will get her Nobel Prize and join some “radical” political agenda already compromised to the Powers or she will be silenced… or she will become, like so many others, the voice that cries in the dying wilderness. Homo Sapiens, as a collective, is long irremediable; as individuals, sheep and victims of carefully crafted belief systems. We are witnessing the the end for HS. Some of us have seen the future and returned horrified but convinced. All I can say is I have seen man’s end, but it wasn’t THE end. Good luck Greta, you’re going to need a ton of it on the way to your own personal Calvary… or sell-out agenda.

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  31. Inspiring that such a young child can have so much intelligence and foresight into what the hell is going on with our planet. And we have a potus who thinks it’s all a joke. He’s the damn joke. Climate change is not

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    • It is, isn’t it? I think her parents are pretty great, too, for helping her instead of stifling her, as many would do. Let’s hope that more people listen to Greta and her message than to Trump’s bluster, for you are right … climate change is no joke. All anybody needs to do is pick up a newspaper, or really just step outside!

      Liked by 1 person

    • She is very much remarkable. I hope that she can make those who are in a position to take action, listen to her. It angers me that many politicians have mocked her and treated her as if she’s only a child who knows nothing and ought to be in school. If there is hope left for this world, it is in the hands of Greta and those like her.
      Cwtch

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  33. Jill, well done Greta!! Her notoriety to help our planet is exemplary as noted by the Nobel nomination. She stands in stark contrast to the person in the White House who is having his EPA delete forward thinking and peer reviewed documents on climate change from its website, transfer or force out climate scientists to other less-meaningful positions, try to water down reports on the impact of climate science from his own departments, and enable polluters and chemical companies.

    What will be interesting is how the tweeting person gets unnerved that she will be in New York to speak on climate change. He will do what he does and denigrate her, her country, her youth, etc. because he cannot argue facts. What I will say then is this young woman speaks the truth, a concept that is foreign to the US president.

    Keith

    Liked by 4 people

    • Yes, she is an amazing young woman and you are so right when you say she is in stark contrast to you-know-who. I had quite a chuckle last night thinking of her winning the Nobel Peace Prize and how you-know-who would react, considering he has always been jealous that President Obama received one and he cannot. But then, he promotes the opposite of peace. I do hope he keeps his mouth shut when she comes here next month, for I am incensed by any who would criticize this young woman who is doing what we should all be doing to try to save our planet.

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  34. Namaste, Miss Jill! It’s me, Benjamin! You get two thumbs up and 1000 gold stars, cause Greta is my hero! I love Greta! She does important work trying to save the planet. She is so brave. We have to listen and help Greta ‘fore it’s too late. I am sending neckbuster hugs and kisses, cause I love you too! Thank you for telling everyone about Greta!

    Liked by 4 people

    • Namaste, my young friend! Many thanks for the thumbs up and gold stars, but it is really Greta who deserves them. You are so right that we really must listen to her now! And you know what, Benjamin? I am proud of you, too, because you listen and you are trying to help save the planet! I love you too, and I loved the neckbuster hugs & kisses! You made me smile today! ❤

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  37. I see that third-rate right-wing politicians and commentators are destroying the last vestiges of their male dignity by making personal attacks on her….would that I could introduce their faces to a toilet bowl while lecturing them on the correct deportment in debate involving younger folk.
    Anyone, long may Greta Thunberg prosper, she is our future and will be around after these lesser creatures are long gone and feeding worms

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