World needs more Gretas

For its 2019 Person of the Year, Time magazine selected Greta Thunberg, then 16 years old, for alerting the world to global warming.

In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 42% of high school students, especially girls, experienced sadness, hopelessness or suicidal thoughts. Since study data was gathered in 2021, more weather events have been linked to climate change, relations between the United States and China have worsened, Russia invaded Ukraine and killed or kidnapped thousands of children, and the Russian autocrat has repeatedly mentioned nuclear weapons.

Now, various degrees of despair may be afflicting over half of all American teens. Many or most are likely to develop less than fond opinions of parents and grandparents who did or said nothing about global warming, equal pay, nuclear weapons or other prominent issues. Teens have an inalienable right to expect a healthy planet for their children and grandchildren.

Time notes that Greta learned about global warming at age

8 and was so depressed about it that she “stopped speaking almost entirely.” Greta said her depression abated when she became an activist.

Every Nevada high school has traumatized Gretas. Every Nevada middle school likely has students with budding Greta mentalities. Every Nevada school district should be increasing funding for appropriate mental health actions.

Greta addressed the United Nations, has spoken to world leaders, and founded an organization. For inspiring the multitudes, Greta is a contender for the greatest heroine in world history. Mark Bird, Las Vegas