Greta Thunberg

me too floisme, for both nuclear and lack of social media in the 80s!

Yes I am inching my way towards a nuclear power conclusion too, which is a very weird position for me to be in and makes me very grateful there was no social media when I was young and gobby.

Some of them don't have electricity

There are still people, and by people I mostly mean women, dying from lung disease because they cook over open fires due to lack of connected utilities.

Any solution has to include providing these people with electricity. If that doesn't come from fossil fuel the only viable, reliable alternative right now is nuclear. But environmentalists are often (not all) against that too.

It made me smile to myself as I described her as 'a strange little person' on the other thread, it was actually meant with affection. It was funny to hear her use the word to describe herself.

Hey Trewser how’s it going I missed that but she will have heard it a lot so good on her for dealing with it well. Which why I don’t think she’s as vulnerable as people say.

Hi marsha, what did you think of her describing herself as 'strange'

Many of the people who will be most affected do not have a comfortable, throw away lifestyle though. Some of them don't have electricity. But they may have coal reserves. What do we say to them because I don't think throwing them Half a Crown to start a wind farm is going to cut it?

And I’d be delighted if she wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

At the risk of being sucked into another Greta thread she is clearly focussed, writes extremely well (someone linked that letter) and may well be able to deal digs against her better than others.

coat brilliant posts, thank you. I'd never considered the impact of our love for the digital world/4 and 5g and I'm guessing many are the same.

And that video. I'm aware this sounds over dramatic but I could cry after watching it. It just feels like we're fucked and in reality nothing will be done to stop it.

I think we are so ensconced in our comfortable throw away lifestyle that it will take a massive overhaul and time is not on our side.

Also, the men who run the world are not about to come together and tackle it as a team. The solution will require cooperation and our world leaders are too quick to point the finger at other countries and say “they’re worse than us. Why should we do anything?”

Heh, nuance isn't fashionable unfortunately.

Arnold sometimes it's a curse to be able to see both sides of an argument.

Don't. I have done exactly this. The abuse I got was unbelievable

Bit late now, Trewser, it was best part of 30 years ago.

More recently I made the mistake of answering the question 'should hunting be banned?' with 'it depends'.

Hoo boy. There are some very black and white thinkers around.

It’s such a tall ask tbh. I’m not sure if it’s achievable

It isn't, which is why i worry that she's doomed

I recall having a huge argument with a conservationist when still in my teens over poaching

Don't. I have done exactly this. The abuse I got was unbelievable.

Thanks coatless

I've been trying to get to grips with the science behind climate change

Floisme me too! If you go to FutureLearn there is a very good free online course on Climate Change.

Also these two videos really helped me to understand the politics / economics behind the inaction.

Western environmentalists telling off people in developing countries is an old habit.

GT has always been clear that western countries need to scale back even more to allow developing countries to build their infrastructure.

It’s such a tall ask tbh. I’m not sure if it’s achievable

Western environmentalists telling off people in developing countries is an old habit.

I recall having a huge argument with a conservationist when still in my teens over poaching. She just could not get it through her head that people who were desperately trying to ensure their children could eat, access medical care or education today weren't going to be swayed by arguments about there not being elephants for their grandchildren to see in 30 years time. She could not get into the mind set that you have to ensure the basics first or there won't be any grandchildren.

Such an interesting thread, just the sort of thing I come to FWR for (I have nothing to add but am learning loads)

I got sucked into a thread about GT on AIBU only a couple of days ago so I'm going to try and be brief. I admire her enormously but have misgivings about the circus surrounding her which, to my eyes, has many hallmarks of a cult. I think Charlie and stumbled (and other posters since then) make some very pertinent points.

I've been trying to get to grips with the science behind climate change, instead of getting my facts directly from George Monbiot, and one thing I feel very uneasy about is the West telling off developing countries for using fossil fuels. And yeah, if any kids have had their childhood stolen, it's them.

coatlessinspokane not sure if its really the point but she's totally adorable in that video.

Isn’t she just? When she talked about going through her parents’ receipts with that cheeky grin.

And it helps that the Skavlan interviewer does his best to put her at ease. I don’t speak Swedish but I love his interviews.

Anyhow, bit of a detail. Sorry 😐!

coatlessinspokane not sure if its really the point but she's totally adorable in that video.

I wish people would watch this video of her in her native language. She is far more comfortable and relaxed and her personality really comes out. She doesn’t have that vulnerable awkwardness that shows when she’s speaking English. (Not surprisingly, very few people would be totally comfortable expressing themselves in a language that isn’t their own).

It also shows that she’s not a pawn of her parents, rather it’s the other way round.

Turn subtitles on. It’s a great interview.