The Echo

Campaigning for action on the global environmental crisis and

pushing for the declaration of a climate emergency, Swedish

teenager Greta Thunberg has gained international recognition as a

climate activist, and some say a rather deranged one.

 

From climate sceptics to Trump, many believe that Thunberg is a

child with serious mental disorders whose is very misled.

 

As usual, the right-wing has launched its smear campaign, with

words straight out of the misogynist's book such as hysterical,

mentally ill, emotional and unstable. They assert that she is a victim

of child abuse and a political pawn for her parents.

 

Many accuse her of giving paranoia-inspiring messages that make it sound like the end of the world. But in truth, scientists have been virtually doing that very thing for years. And despite the threat of imminent danger looming over us, we seem to have done very little. Imagine if we were told that there was no impending threat. In giving a message of fear and despair, she has chosen the right path. For too long we have been riding on the hope and trust in our technological innovations. Sure, they have helped considerably, but they have not helped enough.

 

Some claim that Greta hasn't put forward a plan of action. But she said it herself, she doesn't speak about such things because "no one would take me seriously." Besides, she isn't a policymaker, that's the government's job, to make region-specific policies for the areas they govern. After all, what works in India, doesn't in Switzerland. Others, in an act of despicable desperation, have decided to attack on her Asperger's Syndrome, calling her mentally ill, and suggesting that she gets treated. However, their insults don't make a difference and they know it because Greta stands behind something we all hold in high regard. Facts. Science. Something that the right has chosen to turn a blind eye to. Something that she repeatedly turns the focus back to.

 

Our world is dying, and there are plenty of facts to back it up, but all the right seems to be interested in is the possibility that climate activists are socialists in disguise and that Greta Thunberg's speeches have an alleged resemblance to Nazi propaganda. It's funny to note how carried away they are in their ungrounded assumptions. Even if they win and suppress the environmental movement, there probably won't be a world to celebrate their victory.

 

Some leaders (a specific American president) seem completely oblivious to the climatic crisis. As Trump has slowly realised, "I think something's happening. Something's changing and it'll change back again. I don't think it's (global warming's) a hoax. I think there’s probably a difference. But I don’t know that it’s manmade. I will say this: I don’t want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don’t want to lose millions and millions of jobs.”

 

Where few are willing or interested in taking definite action for the global environmental crisis we are in, we must support those who do. In this view, let us stop criticizing her and finding faults with her. We are not doing it, let someone who can do it. The problem with humankind is that it criticizes those who are doing it a necessary service, not realising that it is a loss for the community as a whole until it is too late.

 

Opinions expressed in this article are not those of The Echo nor of CHIREC International School’s, and our publishing of opinionated articles is not an endorsement of them.