Deciphering Greta's climate message (The full meaning of Greta Thunberg's activism)

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 Deciphering Greta's climate message (The full meaning of Greta Thunberg's activism)

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• More than mere passion: Greta Thunberg's movement over climate change is much more than mere passion and emotion. A key part of that 'extra' is the link between economic growth and state of the environment.
• Limits to growth: The idea of 'limits to growth' was explored five decades ago (in 1972), as natural limits to economic growth rates. But political leaders and businesspersons have ignored it. Younger people today may not even know it.
• Resonating with Gandhi: Greta reminded leaders at UNGA about their habit of talking only about money. Mahatma Gandhi too spoke of economics solely concerned with wealth being unethical, as it ignored justice as a human right.
• Indifference: Greta Thunberg blamed the world leaders of "having stolen her childhood with their empty words". She had lost her school attendance for sure, due to strikes!
• Collective future: It is not just her personal future Greta spoke of, but of all young people who have a common problem to face now. Poor economic growth can still be battled with, but climate change knows no boundaries. (that is a point some people question)
• The emotional part of it: We humans derive hope from our children, and hope for their best, but Greta reminded all adults of a dark future for her generation. She said "how dare you" to those adults who look upto the youth with hope!

1. Parents and nations invest heavily in younger people
2. Societies hope their pending problems are solved by the youth of today, tomorrow
3. In places like Delhi, carbon emissions (and pollution) are crippling the youth - so how can adults have high hopes for the future?
4. Water and air pollution are harming children across India, and Greta put that concern (of many nations) on a public platform

• What she said: She asked adults to stop being emotional about children, as they were the ones who had damaged their future.

1. The crisis is upon us, and not in some distant future
2. Present mitigation steps are too little

• Generic voice: Greta is trying to speak for all youth, many of whom may not have any complains about climate change! The consumer goods driven economic model appeals to many young people worldwide today. Many young ones may be "nationalistic" enough to consider their leaders capable of finding a solution, ultimately.
• The truth: Greta's Swedish education has truly opened her mind to the truth, the naked truth, of climate change, without any nationalistic curtains.
• Rattled: It is true that many adults are rattled by her plain speak. Adults may not accept that this can be an approach towards climate-change, as they are accustomed to routine, academic, ways of talking about it. They are happy with the long, distant targets of emissions reduction that the crisis lurking in the 'here and now‘.
• Summary : Greta Thunberg's plain speak about climate change crisis has rattled many adults, who are comfortable with emissions targets for a distant future.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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