Demonising climate teen Greta only proves that the truth hurts
THERE has is much hand wringing over the hounding and abuse of Greta Thunberg – those middle-aged, angry white men picking on a child trying to save the planet.
The attacks certainly have been appalling.
The Swedish teen who inspired the school climate strikes movement has been portrayed as some Village of the Damned alien, out to steal if not our brains, then our cheap flights and plastic bottles.
“Freak yachting accidents do happen…” said British Donald Trump ally, and Brexit bankroller Arron Banks, when Greta, 16, sailed in her carbon-free trip to America to attend the UN Climate Action Summit.
The far right, from the Brexit Party to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France, have rounded on Greta, too – the “teenage puppet” of “climate bed-wetters”.
Trump this week joined the detractors, tweeting a video of her blistering speech to world leaders at the summit.
He said: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”
As well as the sarcasm, used by the lowest form of twit, there has been a concerted campaign against Greta, orchestrated by big business, oil companies and the fossil fuel industry.
If she had the ego, she would be flattered. She is deemed a threat, a game-changer who has captured the zeitgeist, as great activists before her, from the civil rights protestors to the suffragettes.
Inspired by Thunberg’s solitary weekly protest outside the Swedish parliament a year ago, millions of children have followed her lead, striking and taking to the streets to demand action.
This has seen her demonised as a cult leader, the Pied Piper mesmerising the children. Greta isn’t as distracted as we liberals by the personal attacks and derision, since she has more pressing priorities.
Those of us who say we admire Greta, who are ready to hear her message, are served by the diversion of the booming voices of the bully boys. In all scenarios of doom, it is comforting to find a scapegoat but apart from children, no one is innocent in this disaster.
Traditional battle lines do not apply, from the liberal to the fascist, the regressive to the progressive, we stand collectively accused by children of gross negligence.
This is generation against generation. She accused us of pursuing an economic “fairy tale” at the expense of the planet.
In this fairy tale, we are the bogeyman scaring the kids and it is uncomfortable casting.
With tears in her eyes, Greta told the UN summit: “How dare you – you have stolen my dreams and my childhood.”
She was addressing not only world leaders but all adults in the organised crime gang, culpable in that greatest of thefts.
New data shows 2014-19 is the warmest five-year period on record.
Sea-level rise has accelerated significantly over the same period, as CO2 emissions have hit new highs.
Greta has told us we are suffocating her generation.
She said: “The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.”
She has been accused of hyperbole, of being over-dramatic – but she is in a burning house and someone has to scream “fire” .
We should defend her against her critics, it is the decent thing to do.
But the focus must be on acting on her message, not the distraction of her detractors.