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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Greta Thunberg?

999 replies

onalongsabbatical · 22/09/2019 10:34

AIBU to ask everyone who can to get behind Greta Thunberg, even if only online, as she's now getting a lot a lot a lot of hate. She clearly threatens people - especially her polar opposites, men, rich old men, powerful men (did I mention men?). Let's all give her the lurve and support she needs.
So on FB I challenged one just now - Why are you attacking a young woman? - and he disappeared. Funny, that.

OP posts:
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5
LaPeste · 22/09/2019 15:41

What has Greta achieved?

She has contributed to a movement that has put tackling climate change on the front page of the world's press. I only noticed this week that the Economist's front page was dedicated to climate change.

I think that Greta's work has contributed to that.

AIBU Greta Thunberg?
Chatt3rb0x · 22/09/2019 15:41

Her USP isn’t cute child it’s stunning speeches and somebody getting off her backside to do something.

I have 15 year olds they’re not cute.Hmm

And at16 she will be educated. She can go to uni whenever she wants.

MarshaBradyo · 22/09/2019 15:43

She did something and started a global movement.

She’s graduated why can’t she attend university at a later date?

opalinksi · 22/09/2019 15:44

She's obviously a very intelligent girl. I'm sure she'll be fine.

QualCheckBot · 22/09/2019 15:44

Her USP isn’t cute child it’s stunning speeches and somebody getting off her backside to do something.

She is being let off with a lot because she is too young to have the education to back up her points.

And at16 she will be educated. She can go to uni whenever she wants.

Oh gawd.

opalinksi · 22/09/2019 15:47

I could be wrong but didn't the school strikes start well before Greta came to the fore?

Chatt3rb0x · 22/09/2019 15:47

Let off what and what was the “oh gawd” for?Hmm

QualCheckBot · 22/09/2019 15:50

Let off what and what was the “oh gawd” for?

Proper questioning on the research that she has personally done to back up her scientific points. Hard, concise questioning that is normally applied to everyone else who puts themselves up as an expert.

If you can't work it out for yourself, I'm afraid I cannot assist you further.

Birdsfoottrefoil · 22/09/2019 15:50

She didn’t start a global movement. It is not as if climate change talks/conferences have not happened for years. A best she galvanised an existing one and raised its publicity. But what actually impact has this had? Has there been any changes that will help the environment arising out of the recent protests?

MarshaBradyo · 22/09/2019 15:51

In August 2018, when she was 15, Thunberg took time off school to demonstrate outside the Swedish parliament, holding up a sign calling for stronger climate action. Soon, other students engaged in similar protests in their own communities. Together they organized a school climate strike movement under the name Fridays for Future.

Chatt3rb0x · 22/09/2019 15:52

Why can’t you assist me further it’s not hard to explain a point you’re trying to make? It’s obviously a point a simpleton should know so...

MarshaBradyo · 22/09/2019 15:53

Every radio station started with reports of last global gathering last Friday. Put the spotlight on it. Give companies and others the license to talk about it.

Chatt3rb0x · 22/09/2019 15:53

Give her a chance Birds she hasn’t been campaigning long but look what her speeches have done already.

ArnoldWhatshisknickers · 22/09/2019 15:53

if you want "the developing world" to raise it's standards to ours, presumably you want everyone to have nuclear?

Nuclear is the only viable alternative to fossil fuels in the short to medium term, so yes, I want poorer countries to have it.

In the long term it may be possible to find a renewable alternative, which is why I think tidal energy research should be prioritised, but wind and solar are never going to cut it.

LaPeste · 22/09/2019 15:53

I could be wrong but didn't the school strikes start well before Greta came to the fore?

Yeah, you're wrong. As I understand it, there was one school strike in 2015, but the recent movement was started and led largely by Greta Thunberg.

MarshaBradyo · 22/09/2019 15:56

I don’t get why you’d sneer at what she’s done and is doing. At 16

Hollycatberry · 22/09/2019 15:56

So the major issue people have with more environmentally-friendly living is that they don't want to sacrifice their standard of living?

I think this is the heart of the issue. Mumsnet is hugely hypocritical for this. Two threads in the past month spring to mind, one about reusable nappies (loads of people said they couldn’t or wouldn’t use), 4x4s (loads of posters need them apparently) and in addition i recall old threads about tumble driers (people don’t have time to line dry).

So if Greta’s call to action means governments propose things like banning SUVs, tax on tumble dryers and ban on disposable nappies are people going to actually vote for that? As these are all the little changes needed to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and plastics, right? If people show such resistance to easy change like this then all this supporting Greta is nonsense. It’s like everyone agreeing we should all do something as long as it doesn’t affect us personally.

LaPeste · 22/09/2019 15:56

She didn’t start a global movement.

Yes she did.

It is not as if climate change talks/conferences have not happened for years. A best she galvanised an existing one and raised its publicity.

But that's really, really important. It's like saying Rosa Parks didn't achieve anything because people had been protesting for civil rights before.

But what actually impact has this had? Has there been any changes that will help the environment arising out of the recent protests?

The amount of coverage is an impact. Climate change isn't a problem that is going to be "solved" just like that, but it cannot be said that GT isn't having a massive global impact

opalinksi · 22/09/2019 15:56

@LaPeste thanks! I recall the one last year or so when all the students got in trouble but wasnt sure.

ImGoingToBangYourHeadsTogether · 22/09/2019 15:58

Bang goes nuclear weapon disarmament then. Widespread nuclear capability would have a much larger impact on climate than anything else I could think of.
Wind and solar are cutting it, right now. They're becoming more and more affordable by the day.

opalinksi · 22/09/2019 16:00

To be honest, I don't think my teen has even heard of her or the strikes...must ask

LemonGingerCakes · 22/09/2019 16:00

I agree with her message, but it’s not her that’s especially special. It’s because the media et al have got behind her. It could be anyone. Or not. She’s become a figurehead, but it’s the people behind her that are influencing and deciding the agenda.

ChicCroissant · 22/09/2019 16:00

Agree with the PP who have pointed out that schoolchildren strike to get a day off school not to promote the cause!

If people didn't want to fly they'd probably take a ferry not sail across the sea in a small boat.

MarshaBradyo · 22/09/2019 16:03

She started it that’s why she’s the figurehead

I don’t agree school children want a day off school. Usually the opposite ime. Missing out in lessons stops them. Ds’s School don’t allow it anyway.

Birdsfoottrefoil · 22/09/2019 16:08

It won’t be Greta that will reduce the use of fossil fuels - it will be their increasing cost. A tax on tumble drivers will have nowhere near the same impact as an oil refinery getting blown up in Saudi Arabia and increasing hostilities in the Middle East. Which, ironically, means Trump is more likely to have an impact.