Greta: Grown-ups mock kids because world view threatened

TORONTO — Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg said Friday she doesn’t understand why grownups and world leaders would mock children and teens for communicating and acting on science, responding to attacks on her campaign as students conducted a second wave of global protests demanding action on climate change.

When asked about President Donald Trump and others who have mocked her, the 16-year-old activist said they likely feel their world view and interests are being threatened by climate activism.

“We’ve become too loud for people to handle so people want to silence us,” she said at a rally in Montreal after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “We should also take that as a compliment.”

The youth climate movement has drawn criticism from some who accuse the students of overreacting and say they would be better off going to school. In an apparent sarcastic jibe at Thunberg this week, Trump tweeted: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”

Thunbeg told the crowd in Montreal that “We will do everything in our power to stop this crisis from getting worse even if that means skipping school or work. The people have spoken. And we will continue to speak until our leaders listen and act.”

Her comments came as fears about the impact of global warming on younger generations drew protests in Germany, India, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands, a week after hundreds of thousands rallied worldwide before the U.N. summit.