Greta Thunberg is a Pain in the proverbial

And by the way - she doesn't have to come with a plan. They all signed up to a plan in Kyoto and Paris, but now they're ignoring it. She's telling them to do what they promised.

I’ve noticed this thing on GN, that people often think any criticism at all must be directed at them personally. Like for instance, a young woman successfully highlighting that in 26+ years of COP meetings no government in any country has done anything to avert the climate crisis, in fact they’ve lied and made it worse. So no matter how clever your granny was with mince, that’s not going to cut it. If it was all so perfect and environmentally friendly 50 years ago, why did the first results of climate change start being felt in the 70s? Because all our saintly personal economies and making do and mending didn’t prevent that, did it?

The scariest thing is people saying I know what the problem is then wittering on about recycling and carbon offset, which is a drop in the ocean. Worse – carbon offsetting allows us to polish our haloes while the problem is just exported to another country.

But its comfortable to think that big business, or something must be behind Greta. Prevents us having to think that this shouty little Swede actually knows what she’s talking about. And realises that "now" is too late anyway, but we still need to try.

Good points Katek. I would certainly be impressed if GT came on and explained how she would set about solving the need for use of fossil fuels in India and China for example.
Even if she was only trumpeting what she has been fed, it would mean she would have learnt more about the problems with trying to provide what she wants ‘now’.

Plus I refuse to be lectured, harangued, harassed and talked down to as if I’m a total idiot by an 18 year old. I would not expect or accept this behaviour from my own children and to be frank, Ms Thunberg’s attitude and behaviours are becoming counterproductive for some of us. The shouts of “when do we want it? Now!” exhibit little understanding of the intricacies and sheer scale of the systems she/they want dismantled, and the magnitude of the task. (Does wanting things done “now” remind you of a stroppy child/teenager perhaps?) Like most of you here I was brought up in a family where nothing was wasted. Everything was recycled, from string to tinfoil, and what my granny could do with a pound of mince was amazing. Practiced in wartime, these attitudes extended into the remainder of people’s lives and rubbed off on us. I know things have to change, I’m not stupid, but I will do my own research and decide for myself which is the most appropriate course of action for my circumstances. I’m not rushing to stand with the crowd but I’d dearly love to know who is working behind the scenes in Ms Thunberg’s camp.

Anyone remember Bob Geldof and his Live Aid concert in 1985? It raised $127 million to aid famine in Africa. I expect some people thought he was rude and Emily Davison probably upset a lot of people when she threw herself in front of the Derby in 1913 and so on. Peaceful protest is all very well but when vested interests are involved, sometimes it's not enough.

As for keeping the economy going so that people don't go hungry, well if climate change continues unabated it won't be long before 1.2bn people become climate refugees (and many will cross the Channel despite UK laws), many food crops fail and life will not resemble the apparently settled state we have now.
Young people have so much to offer and of course, their opinions are different, are expressed in a different way and sometimes they appear rude which is probably fed by frustration at the indifference and rudeness that comes from some of the older generation. I agree with those expressing disappointment at the attacks on Greta, what an unpleasant thread.

One third of Netherlands is already below sea level, in places it’s 7mtrs below. Amsterdam itself - including airport - is 2 mtrs below. The Dutch have metaphorically had their finger in the dike since the 15th century - I think they know what they’re doing. Lessons to be learned perhaps??

Baggs

^But she didn’t say blah blah blah TO anybody! She comments that that’s what all the politicians talk amounted to^

How does she know? Has she sat in on cabinet (or equivalent) meetings in various countries?

I don't care about the rudeness, if that's what it was. I do care about ignorance but pretending you know better than people whose job it is to keep national economies going so that people don't go hungry like in failed states when you really don't.

Well of course she knows. We can all see what the outcomes are - no effective policies or mitigations. From anybody. Anywhere.

I think people seem to be expecting her to turn up with a costed plan for how to save the world. Well that's not going to happen. People are already going hungry in far off places, as well as seeing their homes destroyed. But its not happening in front of our noses so its easy to say, "Oh that's awful" and carry on washing our yoghurt pots.

At least when Miami and Amsterdam become uninhabitable, Greta won't be sitting at home saying "Oh well, at least I was polite"

But she didn’t say blah blah blah TO anybody! She comments that that’s what all the politicians talk amounted to

How does she know? Has she sat in on cabinet (or equivalent) meetings in various countries?

I don't care about the rudeness, if that's what it was. I do care about ignorance but pretending you know better than people whose job it is to keep national economies going so that people don't go hungry like in failed states when you really don't.

growstuff

I hope they're back in stock soon. They'd make perfect Christmas presents for a couple of people I know.

I bought a similar t shirt for one DD many years ago because someone was annoying her very much but she wouldn't wear it (perhaps she's too nice ?)

Chardy

Pammie1

Sick of being lectured about everything under the sun by young people with little experience of life. She may have a communication disorder, but that doesn’t excuse her rudeness and intolerance. And I’d like to know how she’s offsetting her own carbon footprint because she certainly gets around !!

What about being lectured to by older people on here with lots of experience of life. What excuses their rudeness and intolerance?
Climate change is not an opinion, it's a fact. As the vast majority here are grandparents, we are supposed to care about the future.
This has been far and away the most unpleasant thread I've ever read here. Someone trying to do something positive being castigated for not being likeable enough?

And this is a lecture in itself methinks !! I have expressed an opinion, that’s all. I know we’re in crisis due to climate change, I do care about the future and I agree with what Ms Thunberg is trying to do, and I don’t need to be lectured about the importance of the issue. My post was simply expressing frustration with this, and other myriad issues being forced on us by young people who seem to think that being loud, unpleasant and rude is the only way to get their point across.

I hope they're back in stock soon. They'd make perfect Christmas presents for a couple of people I know.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-854692-51ipmro4l-ac-sl1200-.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202111/medium-895701-c415d640-d6d5-4d53-b100-8796580ba9a0-1-5d7e654a6941e3fad4fdd0efbe37fa0e.jpeg

All out of stock ?

eazybee

*But she didn’t say blah blah blah TO anybody! She comments that that’s what all the politicians talk amounted to !etc*

Which was extremely rude.

Extremely true,, unfortunately.

Possibly we do Mamacaz since we are all different and come from all walks of life.
Which is fine too..

We must have very different ideas about what constitutes 'extremely' rude!

But she didn’t say blah blah blah TO anybody! She comments that that’s what all the politicians talk amounted to !etc

Which was extremely rude.

Sorry that was Reply to Lemongrove

But she didn’t say blah blah blah TO anybody! She comments that that’s what all the politicians talk amounted to !etc

As for being polite I’m all for that but it’s hard when a thread describes someone as a pain in the proverbial

It really doesn't matter if she's rude and upsets people. I dare say Mrs Pankhurst was a bit annoying.

lemongrove

Look, for all those getting so worked up.....this is a forum for opinions mainly, and now and then, depending on the thread for some facts.
So....be tolerant and have your opinion and allow others to have theirs.If it doesn’t accord with your own, then so be it.
Stop the digs and insults, it’s ridiculous.

I agree so much with this. Why have a Gransnet if you shoot down people you do not agree with. You can politely say you do not agree and give your opinion.
If you continue in the same vane people will stop posting and the small cabal that seems to think they rule will be left arguing with each other.
I know if anybody teenager or adult said Blah, Blah, Blah at me I would question their manners and who had taught them. Am I being contentious not in my opinion others might accept being spoken to so and I accept their view.

Whether you like Greta Thunberg or not, whether you agree climate change is caused by humans or not, Greta is right on two counts. One, world leaders don’t seem to be actually doing very much on a global scale, hence her blah, blah, blah quote. Two, companies are now engaging in greenwashing, trying to make themselves look green and advertising that, even if they aren’t that green, so that they get business.

I agree with you Chardy. Some of the posts on this thread are appalling.

Pammie1

Sick of being lectured about everything under the sun by young people with little experience of life. She may have a communication disorder, but that doesn’t excuse her rudeness and intolerance. And I’d like to know how she’s offsetting her own carbon footprint because she certainly gets around !!

What about being lectured to by older people on here with lots of experience of life. What excuses their rudeness and intolerance?
Climate change is not an opinion, it's a fact. As the vast majority here are grandparents, we are supposed to care about the future.
This has been far and away the most unpleasant thread I've ever read here. Someone trying to do something positive being castigated for not being likeable enough?

She does mean well, certainly covers some miles, but she always looks so cross and full of angst. You like to think teenagers can have some fun in their lives and I know it’s a very important thing, climate change, but I do wonder if she gets enjoyment out of life too, I very much hope so.

I agree some people aren’t holding back on directing insults at this young woman who isn’t afraid to call out her elders, not betters, for dragging their feet on the climate emergency. Yet they get their knickers in a twist over perceived slights to themselves.