Bon voyage Greta Thunberg

I don’t understand why so many are critical of this young woman. Maybe listen to what she is saying - she has explained her own views- do you not think she believes what she is saying and that it is an important message for us all? She is old enough to have her own mind. She has answered her critics but no, we can sit back and smear her because of her youth and say she doesn’t know what she is talking about, she only wants to make money, as if we are some sort of font of all knowledge . Listen to the message - we are destroying the planet and let’s all put pressure on our governments and work together to do something now.

Greta Thunberg is being used as a catspaw by unscrupulous, single issue lobbyists who are the equivalent of seventeenth century Puritans. They know they can attack anyone who criticises her as she is autistic and, ostensibly, a little girl.

The child, like many of the modern snowflake generation, wishes to tell her elders and betters what to do on the basis of selective information, no context, prejudiced education, no life experience, under the influence of flattery and manipulation of others and no responsibility for the consequences of her actions. In addition, she has never had to keep herself, live independently, pay taxes to support the state or others or do anything self sacrificing.

The idea that we should be listening to a child who will, in all probability, never be able to live alone, is ludicrous.

And M0nica I totally agree, the resistance to using the Severn barrage is so misguided. It is the only viable way for us to generate tidal electricty, if you're not willing to use it then you need to pipe down otherwise you are more aligned to Violet Elizabeth Bott who will just "thcream and thcream and thcream 'till I'm thick" Protests without suggestions for resolutions are as ineffectual as a chocolate teapot!

To be fair to Saetana Mark Twain's quote is quite relevant “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

Life experience and just the passing of time does tend to modify our "set in concrete" youthful views. No criticism of Greta's convictions, just an acknowledgement that time tends to bring reality as opposed to idealism into focus.

I remember being 16 and I think my thinking, while being moulded by the different stage of life, was as relevant as it was at 26, 36, 46, etc. Every individual is of equal value to me, whatever stage of life they are at. This the very age when she can fight for what she feels strongly about. Perhaps the odd young person who makes a million in their teens should not be allowed to keep it or the very young people who helped the resistance didn't know what mattered to them, or Joan of Arc who died at 19. I do think it's condescending to suppose our principles are higher, stronger, whatever you mean Saetana, just because we are older.

I hope the child makes it through the ocean voyage with no ill-effects. I do however feel she is being exploited by the adults around her. I'm sure most of us remember being 16 - and will admit we didn't know our a** from our elbow at that age, not to mention thinking in really black and white terms when, in reality, the modern world is endless shades of gray.

I just lost a longish post!
Try again.

M0nica I agree re the Severn Barrage and tidal lagoons and DH attended meetings about these years ago.

However, the people who express great concern about climate change, the Green Party, seem to be the same people who object to these schemes because of potential disturbance to wildlife habitats.

What is the answer?

The yacht was bigger than I thought.

If GT is going to do anything in life, she has got to accept and live with the knowledge that people will disagree with her and criticise her actions and some will be downright unpleasant.

I truly hope that fusion is with us with in 15 years, but fusion has been promised within a decade every decade since the 1950s so I am not holding my breath. When someone says they have done it, have detailed plans for a commercial plant. I will give one cheer. When they have got all the permissions and finance and announce they have started to build it and the plant will be operational within a decade, I will give a second cheer. When it finally goes on grid and is fully operational I will give a third cheer. But until then.......

Greta is in my opinion, being manipulated by many, but especially by her parents. She has well rehearsed speeches in almost perfect English,no doubt written by her Father.She was on a famous Swedish talk show not long ago and said she had Asbergers, on that programme she hardly looked up at the interviewer, since then she has able to look people in the eye more.I dont like the child, but I hope she has a good journey over the Atlantic, no doubt the Swedish delegation have a stand-by boat at the ready in case of trouble.Watch the papers!

Governments not supporting alternative energies? well DH has been making a healthy income since retiring advising on the installation of offshore windfarms, probable 1,000 wind turbines have been installed offshore with him involved in the installation and it has been government policy to encourage this.

The situation on tidal power is somwhat more complex as to date many of the small scale tidal systems have not been resilient enough for large scale installation and the cost of keeping them up and running has been prohibitive.

Where the government has been, I would almost say criminal, is in not supporting is the Severn Barrage and the tidal lagoons along the south Wales coast. These systems only work where there are big tidal falls and rises. In the UK the Bristol channel is the only suitable place for this technology, which could provide 20% or more of our current electricity demand.

I have visited a similar tidal barrage on the Rance estuary in Brittany. It was opened in 1966 and is still running and has an indefinitely long future, the 21 plus turbines have been replaced during its life.

I’ve been following Greta’s campaign for a while and support her. Apparently she suffered depression in the past and stopped eating for a while, which meant she stopped growing, which is probably why she looks younger than 16.

She is amazingly articulate - how many British 16 year olds would be able to express themselves so clearly? So taking a year off school certainly won’t harm her.

I heard her interviewed this morning- she knows this gesture won’t have any impact on climate change. She also said she doesn’t have any solutions but is asking those who might- scientists and politicians- to start addressing the issue more urgently.

Our Governments have not supported alternative energies over the years and the latest one even wants to invest in Fracking.

Tidal power, which is more predictable than either sun or wind, has been very successful in trials but hasn't been rolled out nationally due to lack of investment. You have to have more than an idea . You have to have support and if we don't support initiatives like Greta's and treat them as though her ideas are not valid how is anything ever going to change?

You have to use the carrot and the stick to make people's habits of a lifetime change. I'm as guilty as anyone of not considering more before every purchase or decision.

team-malizia.com/en/greta-thunberg-will-cross-the-atlantic-on-malizia-ii/
The crew are highly experienced sailors and offered GT their yacht

We're just having a discussion. Nothing nasty going on.

I wish her well and hope she stays safe but I can't say I agree with what she's doing although nobody can say it hasn't become a talking point.

I don't think posters are being nasty though - just questioning whether this publicity and the messenger are, in fact, detracting from what so many committed people are striving to do.

I think it's a shame more people on the thread aren't backing her. Don't understand the criticism. Especially from grandmothers.

It would be fantastic if fusion does come Callistemon though I probably won't be around to see it.

Not sure I understand it completely! although I've had it explained to me several times.

thoroughly nasty comments

I think there are few of those on here, more a reasoned debate on what we hope will be the best ways forward.

Thanks Gonegirl - interesting isn't it!

An amazing an very committed young woman. I wish her well and hope she never sees some of the thoroughly nasty comments that sadly are being and will be made against her.

....and also products and technologies that will enable us to to reduce energy consumption in every aspect of our lives.

We know, Happiyogi, we know!

You are speaking to us as if we have no clue!
We've seen The Ganges full of plastic, the dumps of plastic carefully sent for recycling by conscientious UK householders now languishing in Asia - with the Councils' names emblazoned on the bags.
We've seen the turtles with plastic bags in their stomachs, the birds feeding their young on plastic.

We haven't travelled to these places, we've seen them thanks to informed presenters on our tvs.
We know.
We now need solutions.

I agree with M0nica re the lack of experience. My brother and his family are all keen and experienced sailors, two of them recently being caught in the gale off the coast of Greece which meant ten hours of 'sheer terror'.

There will be a teenager, her father and a documentary maker on board all with no sailing experience in very cramped conditions and unpredictable weather.

I don't envy the skipper.

‘That’s why we need highly educated people to research what fuels we will be able to produce to keep society running smoothly without producing harmful emissions which damage the planet.’

Absolutely correct Callistemon, my point exactly.