What stands out here to me is when the interviewer asks Greta what she would say to people who think climate change isn't real or that it is an opinion, not a fact and she says, "I don't say anything to those people. They have nothing to say to me and I have nothing to say to them." At this late point in time with global warming, this makes perfect sense to me. I try harder and harder these days to ignore the foolish people who still cling to the notion that global warming is not real. Any more, trying to talk to them is a waste of breath.
Although Greta shows incredible poise its unfortunately futile to speak of "those people" since "those people" have a disproportionate share of power in the american Senate and the Electoral College.
So convincing many of "those people" might be the only game left in the North American "town."
It's so depressing and infuriating to see the smug masses of morons who barely passed high-school science classes slagging on this brave, passionate girl and calling her misled and duped. Real bummer.
It's so depressing and infuriating to see the smug masses of morons who barely passed high-school science classes slagging on this brave, passionate girl and calling her misled and duped. Real bummer.
Right on and well said.
But, my god, she is tough! She can take them all on and she knows we stand with her!
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
"Try to not spook the horse."
-Neil Young
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,297
This is not a “mentally ill Swedish child.” as the conservative pundits are saying.
She is so brave, impassioned and knowledgeable beyond her years. Only a fool would call her mentally ill. Only a very disturbed, stupid, and fucked up individual would say that.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Here in Australia, people are saying teachers are brainwashing kids to attend climate protests. I saw one guy say teachers should be bashed.
They should at least be ashamed. These kids are fighting for their future, possibly their lives. When their elders try to shut them down, they are being totally selfish. They might as well say, "Shut up you brats, your spoiling our party!" I stand with the students.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
There should be a "Greta doctrine" established for companies to choose adhere to and live up to.
I these times we are living in, and with her socialmedia power and everything - that would have a bigger affect than old-fashioned countries and there old-fashioned Paris Agreements they don't really in an old-fashioned way needs to live up to (they can even leave it, it seems without much consequence - not to lose any privileges on here but that is fact).
I bet a lot of people would have it easier boycott a company that do not live up to that "doctrine" than their own sustainability agendas and whatnot.
Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
Let's also be clear for the "poorly educated" who Trump loves - Asperger's or being on the autism spectrum isn't a mental illness. Fuck Michael Knowles (whoever the hell he is). Greta is more sane and aware than anyone who casts a vote for Trump in 2020.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
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brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,297
Let's also be clear for the "poorly educated" who Trump loves - Asperger's or being on the autism spectrum isn't a mental illness. Fuck Michael Knowles (whoever the hell he is). Greta is more sane and aware than anyone who casts a vote for Trump in 2020.
I totally agree, Jeff- fuck that guy and anybody else who bad-raps Greta or anybody else with Asperger's. What kind of dip- shit would do that anyway?! Michael Knowles needs to be fired and made to clean pig stalls for a living. He'd fit right in.
Here's a list of some of the marvelous people who have Asperger's and other autism spectrum disorders:
Greta Thunberg
Temple Grandin
Stanley Kubrick
Dan Aykroyd
Daryl Hannah
Sir Anthony Hopkins
And it is suspected that Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham- Bell among others did as well.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!" -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Let's also be clear for the "poorly educated" who Trump loves - Asperger's or being on the autism spectrum isn't a mental illness. Fuck Michael Knowles (whoever the hell he is). Greta is more sane and aware than anyone who casts a vote for Trump in 2020.
I totally agree, Jeff- fuck that guy and anybody else who bad-raps Greta or anybody else with Asperger's. What kind of dip- shit would do that anyway?! Michael Knowles needs to be fired and made to clean pig stalls for a living. He'd fit right in.
Here's a list of some of the marvelous people who have Asperger's and other autism spectrum disorders:
Greta Thunberg
Temple Grandin
Stanley Kubrick
Dan Aykroyd
Daryl Hannah
Sir Anthony Hopkins
And it is suspected that Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham- Bell among others did as well.
That's a great list, Brian. Lots of thoughtful, intelligent, talented and creative people there!
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
Recently I’ve seen many rumors circulating about me and enormous amounts of hate. This is no surprise to me. I know that since most people are not aware of the full meaning of the climate crisis (which is understandable since it has never been treated as a crisis) a school strike for the climate would seem very strange to people in general. So let me make some things clear about my school strike. So let me make some things clear about my school strike. In may 2018 I was one of the winners in a writing competition about the environment held by Svenska Dagbladet, a Swedish newspaper. I got my article published and some people contacted me, among others was Bo Thorén from Fossil Free Dalsland. He had some kind of group with people, especially youth, who wanted to do something about the climate crisis. I had a few phone meetings with other activists. The purpose was to come up with ideas of new projects that would bring attention to the climate crisis. Bo had a few ideas of things we could do. Everything from marches to a loose idea of some kind of a school strike (that school children would do something on the schoolyards or in the classrooms). That idea was inspired by the Parkland Students, who had refused to go to school after the school shootings. I liked the idea of a school strike. So I developed that idea and tried to get the other young people to join me, but no one was really interested. They thought that a Swedish version of the Zero Hour march was going to have a bigger impact. So I went on planning the school strike all by myself and after that I didn’t participate in any more meetings. When I told my parents about my plans they weren’t very fond of it. They did not support the idea of school striking and they said that if I were to do this I would have to do it completely by myself and with no support from them. On the 20 of august I sat down outside the Swedish Parliament. I handed out fliers with a long list of facts about the climate crisis and explanations on why I was striking. The first thing I did was to post on Twitter and Instagram what I was doing and it soon went viral. Then journalists and newspapers started to come. A Swedish entrepreneur and business man active in the climate movement, Ingmar Rentzhog, was among the first to arrive. He spoke with me and took pictures that he posted on Facebook. That was the first time I had ever met or spoken with him. I had not communicated or encountered with him ever before. Many people love to spread rumors saying that I have people ”behind me” or that I’m being ”paid” or ”used” to do what I’m doing. But there is no one ”behind” me except for myself. My parents were as far from climate activists as possible before I made them aware of the situation. I am not part of any organization. I sometimes support and cooperate with several NGOs that work with the climate and environment. But I am absolutely independent and I only represent myself. And I do what I do completely for free, I have not received any money or any promise of future payments in any form at all. And nor has anyone linked to me or my family done so. And of course it will stay this way. I have not met one single climate activist who is fighting for the climate for money. That idea is completely absurd. Furthermore I only travel with permission from my school and my parents pay for tickets and accommodations. My family has written a book together about our family and how me and my sister Beata have influenced my parents way of thinking and seeing the world, especially when it comes to the climate. And about our diagnoses. That book was due to be released in May. But since there was a major disagreement with the book company, we ended up changing to a new publisher and so the book was released in august instead. Before the book was released my parents made it clear that their possible profits from the book ”Scener ur hjärtat” will be going to 8 different charities working with environment, children with diagnoses and animal rights. And yes, I write my own speeches. But since I know that what I say is going to reach many, many people I often ask for input. I also have a few scientists that I frequently ask for help on how to express certain complicated matters. I want everything to be absolutely correct so that I don’t spread incorrect facts, or things that can be misunderstood. Some people mock me for my diagnosis. But Asperger is not a disease, it’s a gift. People also say that since I have Asperger I couldn’t possibly have put myself in this position. But that’s exactly why I did this. Because if I would have been ”normal” and social I would have organized myself in an organisation, or started an organisation by myself. But since I am not that good at socializing I did this instead. I was so frustrated that nothing was being done about the climate crisis and I felt like I had to do something, anything. And sometimes NOT doing things - like just sitting down outside the parliament - speaks much louder than doing things. Just like a whisper sometimes is louder than shouting. Also there is one complaint that I ”sound and write like an adult”. And to that I can only say; don’t you think that a 16-year old can speak for herself? There’s also some people who say that I oversimplify things. For example when I say that "the climate crisis is a black and white issue”, ”we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases” and ”I want you to panic”. But that I only say because it’s true. Yes, the climate crisis is the most complex issue that we have ever faced and it’s going to take everything from our part to ”stop it”. But the solution is black and white; we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases. Because either we limit the warming to 1,5 degrees C over pre industrial levels, or we don’t. Either we reach a tipping point where we start a chain reaction with events way beyond human control, or we don’t. Either we go on as a civilization, or we don’t. There are no gray areas when it comes to survival. And when I say that I want you to panic I mean that we need to treat the crisis as a crisis. When your house is on fire you don’t sit down and talk about how nice you can rebuild it once you put out the fire. If your house is on fire you run outside and make sure that everyone is out while you call the fire department. That requires some level of panic. There is one other argument that I can’t do anything about. And that is the fact that I’m ”just a child and we shouldn’t be listening to children.” But that is easily fixed - just start to listen to the rock solid science instead. Because if everyone listened to the scientists and the facts that I constantly refer to - then no one would have to listen to me or any of the other hundreds of thousands of school children on strike for the climate across the world. Then we could all go back to school. I am just a messenger, and yet I get all this hate. I am not saying anything new, I am just saying what scientists have repeatedly said for decades. And I agree with you, I’m too young to do this. We children shouldn’t have to do this. But since almost no one is doing anything, and our very future is at risk, we feel like we have to continue. And if you have any other concern or doubt about me, then you can listen to my TED talk ( https://www.ted.com/…/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_…/up-next ), in which I talk about how my interest for the climate and environment began. And thank you everyone for you kind support! It brings me hope. /Greta Ps I was briefly a youth advisor for the board of the non profit foundation “We don’t have time”. It turns out they used my name as part of another branch of their organisation that is a start up business. They have admitted clearly that they did so without the knowledge of me or my family. I no longer have any connection to “We don’t have time”. Nor has anyone in my family. They have deeply apologised and I have accepted their apology.
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
Comments
Although Greta shows incredible poise its unfortunately futile to speak of "those people" since "those people" have a disproportionate share of power in the american Senate and the Electoral College.
So convincing many of "those people" might be the only game left in the North American "town."
Real bummer.
‘This Is All Wrong,' Greta Thunberg Tells World Leaders At U.N. Session
This is not a “mentally ill Swedish child.” as the conservative pundits are saying.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
My little social media safe space bubble rocks.
I these times we are living in, and with her socialmedia power and everything - that would have a bigger affect than old-fashioned countries and there old-fashioned Paris Agreements they don't really in an old-fashioned way needs to live up to (they can even leave it, it seems without much consequence - not to lose any privileges on here but that is fact).
I bet a lot of people would have it easier boycott a company that do not live up to that "doctrine" than their own sustainability agendas and whatnot.
Such a great guy
ONE. DAY.
-EV 8/14/93
https://twitter.com/NebraskaMegan/status/1176374412490285057
Well played, Greta!
She's my state senator!!
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
So let me make some things clear about my school strike.
So let me make some things clear about my school strike.
In may 2018 I was one of the winners in a writing competition about the environment held by Svenska Dagbladet, a Swedish newspaper. I got my article published and some people contacted me, among others was Bo Thorén from Fossil Free Dalsland. He had some kind of group with people, especially youth, who wanted to do something about the climate crisis.
I had a few phone meetings with other activists. The purpose was to come up with ideas of new projects that would bring attention to the climate crisis. Bo had a few ideas of things we could do. Everything from marches to a loose idea of some kind of a school strike (that school children would do something on the schoolyards or in the classrooms). That idea was inspired by the Parkland Students, who had refused to go to school after the school shootings.
I liked the idea of a school strike. So I developed that idea and tried to get the other young people to join me, but no one was really interested. They thought that a Swedish version of the Zero Hour march was going to have a bigger impact. So I went on planning the school strike all by myself and after that I didn’t participate in any more meetings.
When I told my parents about my plans they weren’t very fond of it. They did not support the idea of school striking and they said that if I were to do this I would have to do it completely by myself and with no support from them.
On the 20 of august I sat down outside the Swedish Parliament. I handed out fliers with a long list of facts about the climate crisis and explanations on why I was striking. The first thing I did was to post on Twitter and Instagram what I was doing and it soon went viral. Then journalists and newspapers started to come. A Swedish entrepreneur and business man active in the climate movement, Ingmar Rentzhog, was among the first to arrive. He spoke with me and took pictures that he posted on Facebook. That was the first time I had ever met or spoken with him. I had not communicated or encountered with him ever before.
Many people love to spread rumors saying that I have people ”behind me” or that I’m being ”paid” or ”used” to do what I’m doing. But there is no one ”behind” me except for myself. My parents were as far from climate activists as possible before I made them aware of the situation.
I am not part of any organization. I sometimes support and cooperate with several NGOs that work with the climate and environment. But I am absolutely independent and I only represent myself. And I do what I do completely for free, I have not received any money or any promise of future payments in any form at all. And nor has anyone linked to me or my family done so.
And of course it will stay this way. I have not met one single climate activist who is fighting for the climate for money. That idea is completely absurd.
Furthermore I only travel with permission from my school and my parents pay for tickets and accommodations.
My family has written a book together about our family and how me and my sister Beata have influenced my parents way of thinking and seeing the world, especially when it comes to the climate. And about our diagnoses.
That book was due to be released in May. But since there was a major disagreement with the book company, we ended up changing to a new publisher and so the book was released in august instead.
Before the book was released my parents made it clear that their possible profits from the book ”Scener ur hjärtat” will be going to 8 different charities working with environment, children with diagnoses and animal rights.
And yes, I write my own speeches. But since I know that what I say is going to reach many, many people I often ask for input. I also have a few scientists that I frequently ask for help on how to express certain complicated matters. I want everything to be absolutely correct so that I don’t spread incorrect facts, or things that can be misunderstood.
Some people mock me for my diagnosis. But Asperger is not a disease, it’s a gift. People also say that since I have Asperger I couldn’t possibly have put myself in this position. But that’s exactly why I did this. Because if I would have been ”normal” and social I would have organized myself in an organisation, or started an organisation by myself. But since I am not that good at socializing I did this instead. I was so frustrated that nothing was being done about the climate crisis and I felt like I had to do something, anything. And sometimes NOT doing things - like just sitting down outside the parliament - speaks much louder than doing things. Just like a whisper sometimes is louder than shouting.
Also there is one complaint that I ”sound and write like an adult”. And to that I can only say; don’t you think that a 16-year old can speak for herself? There’s also some people who say that I oversimplify things. For example when I say that "the climate crisis is a black and white issue”, ”we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases” and ”I want you to panic”. But that I only say because it’s true. Yes, the climate crisis is the most complex issue that we have ever faced and it’s going to take everything from our part to ”stop it”. But the solution is black and white; we need to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Because either we limit the warming to 1,5 degrees C over pre industrial levels, or we don’t. Either we reach a tipping point where we start a chain reaction with events way beyond human control, or we don’t. Either we go on as a civilization, or we don’t. There are no gray areas when it comes to survival.
And when I say that I want you to panic I mean that we need to treat the crisis as a crisis. When your house is on fire you don’t sit down and talk about how nice you can rebuild it once you put out the fire. If your house is on fire you run outside and make sure that everyone is out while you call the fire department. That requires some level of panic.
There is one other argument that I can’t do anything about. And that is the fact that I’m ”just a child and we shouldn’t be listening to children.” But that is easily fixed - just start to listen to the rock solid science instead. Because if everyone listened to the scientists and the facts that I constantly refer to - then no one would have to listen to me or any of the other hundreds of thousands of school children on strike for the climate across the world. Then we could all go back to school.
I am just a messenger, and yet I get all this hate. I am not saying anything new, I am just saying what scientists have repeatedly said for decades. And I agree with you, I’m too young to do this. We children shouldn’t have to do this. But since almost no one is doing anything, and our very future is at risk, we feel like we have to continue.
And if you have any other concern or doubt about me, then you can listen to my TED talk ( https://www.ted.com/…/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_…/up-next ), in which I talk about how my interest for the climate and environment began.
And thank you everyone for you kind support! It brings me hope.
/Greta
Ps I was briefly a youth advisor for the board of the non profit foundation “We don’t have time”. It turns out they used my name as part of another branch of their organisation that is a start up business. They have admitted clearly that they did so without the knowledge of me or my family. I no longer have any connection to “We don’t have time”. Nor has anyone in my family. They have deeply apologised and I have accepted their apology.