moneypenny20

She's young and understands the problems and more importantly, whist she herself may not have the answers, her entire premise is to tell the world to listen to those who do have the answers, the scientists. Not the politicians, not the lobbyists, not the multi nationals, not the FB 'experts', just the scientists. I think you've missed her point entirely.

Jingsamichty

FFS. She's a teenager, how can she be expected to have solutions? What she has done is to say, very effectively, to us adults, "STOP PRETENDING THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM".

And by doing that, over and over again, she has done more for the environment than all of us put together. You need to stop drinking the establishment Kool-Aid.

spouse of scouse

Agree. And so did the 4 million people in 161 countries who participated in the climate demonstration last September.

Ms Thunberg's greatest service, in my opinion, is how she's raised awareness of climate change. She has the ear of world leaders and hasn't been shy in using that.

I can't even begin to fathom why some people are so antagonistic towards her. Is it because they disagree with her views? Is it because she's a teenager? Because she has a disability?

Or is it because she doesn't dress her message up in platitudes and politeness, instead speaking fiercely and fearlessly?

spouse of scouse

Has there ever been a successful activist who stands in the corner and whispers?

She offers many solutions. Do some reading.

Paul_Shepherd

I don't think I missed her point, millions of others make the same point, she just put it across in a very vitriolic way..I agree with regards to your "not the FB experts" though, thats where most of the BS comes from these days and people take it as gospel!!

LOL! I need to stop??
FFS Boyon Slat was teenager, he was the same age...just 16... he had a solution, why isn't he recognised?
As i said in my story, I was also a teenager when my boss told me he didn't want to hear problems....only the solutions, or at least an attempt to give a solution. He was right.

Tumbling_Dice

Greta seems to have grasped the low bar required to be successful in the modern era. At least she has the excuse of being a teenager. What excuse do the so called grown ups, irrespective of political bent, have?

moneypenny20

That's not Greta's fault though is it? The fact that she's pushed through and been recognised should be celebrated not castigated just because others haven't got their message across as well as she has. Right time, right place. Thank crunchie for her. I put my hand up for never having heard of Boyon Slat. I will go and google. There's presumably a reason he's not recognised but blame his supporters, his methods, the time etc etc, not Greta. As has been said activists from day one wanting change have only managed to get their voice across and changes made by being 'vitriolic'.

Edit: Ok I'd heard of his company but not his name. It seems to me from the quick Wiki look that he has been recognised quite widely. Not on the level Greta has but they're doing different things for the same long term result.

Paul_Shepherd

No, its not her fault, it’s the crazy media, they latch on to an idea or someone or something and they decide what will become of it. Added to this social media too (which you mentioned in your previous post; and I acknowledged) contributes an inaccurate skewed view on news and current affairs, and many misguided people see it as an official news source.

I guess the media just latched on to her as she's an angry person that wanted to be heard, and the media knew she would provoke opinions from those that are for and against her method of delivery. Whereas Boyon Slat, just had an idea and a belief and just got on with it, he wasn’t interested in telling the world about it, a very modest young man, so the media didn’t see him as someone who would generate significant viewer ratings.

Both Greta Thunberg and Boyon Slat are on the same team, one makes hateful statements and the other gets on with what needs to be done. Just my opinion though, based on my personal life experiences.

BristolUK

Strong statements, not hateful ones.

And which of the two do you think has inspired most younger people to take the necessary future actions?

Paul_Shepherd

Well its open to interpretation I guess...she was making some pretty hateful expressions.....and the statements come across as personal and hateful to many, as though people chose to live life the way we do, its just evolution and the world is nothing wthout an economy, she should be old enough to understand that, but I guess thats just part of her delivery, to make people listen I guess, however I am not an activist or protestor, all that is alien to me, and young people are already well aware of the point she was making.

Personally I have a lot more admiration for Boyon Slat, maybe because its closer to my own persona. I admire not only his commitment but, but his actual contribution and importantly the modest unassuming way he has gone about it, I admire a traits like that, which brings me to that well known old saying "actions speak louder than words" if you feel strongly enough about something, don't just stand there and complain, do something. Again as another old boss used to say to me "no one likes a whiner Paul" Maybe I have all my old bosses to thank in the way I see things!

,

BristolUK

Well, when the scientists say that we need to take a particular action within 12 years (or however long it was) and a year later they say we've got less time - much less time - than originally thought, I think niceties go out the window.

Teaandtoday5

At one point I would have got your POV, many of the students on ‘climate strike’ at my kids school were honestly and openly skiving. Also I have followed Boyan Slat (if you’re going to laud him you might want to spell his name right) for a while. I was sucked in by the solutions not complaints argument too, but there is more than one way to help. After all, however laudable clearing the oceans of plastic (at least the visible bits) may be, it doesn’t stop global warming. In the end we are all going to have to make changes to make the world a viable proposition for future generations. Greta is about a month older than my youngest child, and frankly the more parents/grandparents who make a connection between their actions and the prospects for the rest of their family tree the more likely any change that is attempted is to succeed.

scilly

Autumn Peltier is a Canadian First Nations teenager, now 15, who has been quietly activating for the last 8 years for more attention to climate change, as well as being active in campaigning for clean water on reserves. She's worked on getting clean water near her reserve, has petitioned the Canadian government, taken Trudeau to task for not acting fast enough, spoke to the UN General Assembly in September 2019, and was on a panel at the Economic Panel in Davos last January.

I've paid more attention to her than to Greta.

Anyone else heard of her??

BEVS

Yes . Me. There again I am interested in all these young people looking to the environmental future. All of them ! It gives me some hope .
Those youngsters need to shout loud and long. They need to be hard hitting. Get themselves right out there and galvanise their generation to own their world.
I really don't care which individual paths they take. What their individual strengths or weaknesses are. Just act and speak. Act and speak NOW.

What does Greta Thunberg bring to the table. She brings her voice and she brings truths that have long been conveniently ignored . She gives others empowerment to have their voice too. That their words & deeds count. She is absolutely correct in what she states. I want more of this. I want all young people who only have this one planet to turn around and shout Enough !

Oh - and - anyone of them has the right to their emotions and to express that. We all do.

BEVS

Yes you do. You really do. Get behind these young people. All of them.

and that is precisely her point. It needs to change.