Her being portrayed by the media or the memes as the "whiny girl seeking attention" is also worrying as well. It really distracts from the real issue and diminishes her work as well.
I mean the scientists have been loud and clear. So have some politicians, but that's not a special "story" for the media. So it just happened that a very vocal (at the time) little Girl got a lot of attention, because it seemed so special.
But how does what she is saying distract from the real issue? That's not an attack, I'm genuinely curious what you think the real issue is and how she distracts from it..
Her argument for being vocal is that her and her generation will have to live with the consequences of our fuckups the longest and hardest. I think that's pretty valid. Also, she wasn't "elected by the central climate movement council to be their representative", if anyone, the media "elected" her and gave her a platform. So maybe be mad at them for not choosing someone "better"?
There are plenty of old white men with respectable titles saying the exact same thing as her. If a "climate change laggard" wants to hear the same message in a deeper voice, they certainly can. For those who can be moved to action at all (and there are definitely many who are "too far gone" in some conspiracy bullshit) she can be effective for many, especially younger people who have to be shaken from their stupor. So I think it's a bit critical to "tell the girl to shut up".
Her argument for being vocal is that her and her generation will have to live with the consequences of our fuckups the longest and hardest.
Surprise, but if you stop generate energy by oil you can't have hard industry. It is quite difficult to cast steel without huge energy consumption. And aluminum is even more difficult. But for some reason, no one wants to ride horses and abandon airplanes. Them can stop buy industrial products. And problem will gone.
And no, strangling heavy industry in your country until it is evacuated to China is not a fight for the global environment.
It is convenient, of course, to tell what idiots everyone around is without having worked a single day in heavy industry. And in Greta's case, without having worked a day at all, apparently. I suggest she work at the factory for a couple of years and then repeat her statements.
And it is better to live for a couple of years in a country with a less mild climate. Let's say where it is -30 in winter. Surely she doesn't hope that all 9 billion people will fit into the warm bosom of the Gulf Stream? Pollution from heating is also very significant. We don't even turn off cars here in some cities because then we just won't start them.
Ok. She's a vapid twenty year old with no life experience and nothing to say. She has no expertise, and she's never suffered any inconvenience to prevent climate change.
Never suffered any inconvenience? Like, have you seen how she travels? But also..
What expertise do you need to say "stop adding carbon to the atmosphere" at this point? Everyone lives here, we all should have something to say about what is inevitably coming down the pike - especially the young. You just come across as someone who has everything to lose wanting those with nothing to lose to sit down, shut up, buckle up, and just be grateful for the ride to whatever hell we're heading to.
Honestly no, but however it is it's part of her brand. She's a climate change super star, she could literally spend the rest of her life putting her name on books written by ghost writers and make 10 times the amount really achievable by the working class. Everyone does some backpacking with questionable modes of transport in their 20s. Not everyone builds a media empire out of it.
What expertise do you need to say “stop adding carbon to the atmosphere” at this point?
None. Sadly however there is no "stop adding carbon to the atmosphere" button, and we need to figure out how to do it. You can ride your bike to work all you like, but the kind of reduction we need is going to come from polluting industries. Technology and governance is going to solve climate change, not cycling.
You just come across as someone who has everything to lose wanting those with nothing to lose to sit down, shut up [...]
That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that Greta isn't promoting meaningful change.