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THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SWEDISH climate change activist Greta Thunberg addressed the European Parliament’s environment committee to tell them to use “cathedral-thinking” in tackling climate change.
At one point during an impassioned speech, Thunberg became visibly upset when she listed how humans were causing “climate economical breakdown”, such as deforestation, air pollution, the extinction of animals and the acidification of oceans.
Accusing world leaders of being too relaxed in tackling climate change, she said that she wants leaders to panic, evoking an image of a house on fire.
“A great number of politicians have told me that panic never leads to anything good, but when your house is on fire, then that does require some level of panic,” she said.
But when your house is on fire and you want to keep your house from burning to the ground, then that does require some level of panic.
Speaking about the fire that destroyed the main roof and spire of the Notre Dame cathedral, Thunberg said that “Notre Dame will be rebuilt, I hope its foundations are strong, I hope that our foundations are even stronger, but I fear they are not.”
If our house was falling apart, our leaders wouldn’t go on like the way they do today [in tackling climate change]. You would change everything you do.
Criticising EU leaders for flying around the world in business class, or for not phasing out coal immediately.
“You wouldn’t hold three emergency Brexit summits and no emergency summit regarding the breakdown of the climate and environment,” she told MEPs.
You wouldn’t be celebrating that one single nation like Ireland may soon divest from fossil fuels…. It’s 30 years too late for those types of celebrations.
“If our house was falling apart the media wouldn’t be talking about anything else. You wouldn’t spend all your time arguing about taxes or Brexit. Well, our house is falling apart.”
At 16, she said that she is too young to vote in the upcoming European elections, but said that people needed to “unite behind the science”.
You need to vote for us, for your children and grandchildren. You vote for the future living conditions of mankind.
“You cannot ignore the scientists or the science, I beg you please do not fail on this.”
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As a species we seem in capable of seeing the bigger picture and the long term, instead to many of us are focusing on what benefits us here and now rather than what the world will be like in 50 years.
We are doomed
@Barry Somers: twas ever thus! despite our self-vaunted evolutionary intelligence (hubris), in the end we’ve the same inherent tendency as every other species – myopia -over-consume, over-populate and ultimately destroy our own habitat and ourselves. In the end, we shouldn’t be sentimental about it. Its just the way things have always been and will be.
@Gavin Daly: Come on guys, let’s park the grandstanding for a day. This little girl’s heart is in the right place but she doesn’t understand the art of persuasiveness.
@Gavin Daly:
I have to agree with ya. Loads of species before us became extinct and there is no reason why we wont. In fact, it’s looking ever more likely with every passing year. Just enjoy the ride anyway. Profits over people humanism will never let the climate get in the way of dollars. and yet we still don’t get it!! When the planet is goosed, the money will be irrelevant anyway.
@Nollaig Elliot: Native American proverb; When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.
@Barry Somers: One of many reasons is because we are enslaved to death, which invariably sways us toward the ever popular YOLO movement unfortunately.
Get what you can while its coming mentality.
@Gavin Daly: other species tend to live in harmony with nature. Humans are uniquely destructive.
@Nollaig Elliot: Other species become extinct because they can’t adapt to the change in their surroundings . Humans can that’s why we always be here .
@John Smith: except it’s humans who are causing the change.
@John Smith: you mean other species become extinct because of humans – the background extinction rate is very low compared with what humans are inflicting upon other species.
@E: other species just haven’t managed to be so destructive as us, that’s all
@E: thats why I used the word ‘tendancy’. All other species would do the same if they had no natural predators
@Simon O Flaherty: That proverb says it all.
Put your own world in order before advising others. Help me understand what does she really know about climate change and mans contribution to it for either good or bad? The science is far from convincing at this point if you take really examine all the evidence and carefully examine all the conflicting computer based models. More critical thinking and less drama is required but then that is not much fun.
She’s right.
Climate change. Is just a convenient topic. For the purpose of raising taxes and burdening small countries like Ireland.
There are plenty of climate scientists that say the climate change theory is very doubtful.
@Dathi O Nualláin: Real climate scientists say climate change is a real problem- not internet conspiracy theorists, REAL scientists
@Dave Harris: “Internet conspiracy theorists”
Aah that’s so lazy.
Is that your argument?
@Dathi O Nualláin: The sheer weight of credible evidence and studies supports the climate change consensus. You posting the poorly formed opinions of others is an even lazier argument.
@Dathi O Nualláin: The sheer weight of credible evidence and studies supports the climate change consensus. You posting the poorly formed opinions of others is an even lazier argument.
@SteoG: no point in reasoning, he could be waste deep in water in his living room and still tell you it’s just the ‘natural cycle’ of the planet
@SteoG: Do you think that if there was any real threat governments the world over would be taking steps to remove all fossil fuels and plastics instead of using them as an excuse for revenue raising. When you see rent a gob Mary Robinson spouting climate gobbledegook you know it’s BS
@Dathi O Nualláin: Several leading scientists have questioned the rate of change and certain dynamics being published and rightly so. However, the vast majority of scientists and evidence is now overwhelming in its conclusions. The argument from deniers is so similar to the tobacco question decades ago. Very very similar arguments from pseudo scientists. Taxing fossil fuels is sadly a given and sadly it is only one small step in reducing emissions. Ideally we would be in a better place if we could use a widely available alternative to fossil fuel but global industry will not let that happen until it is too late. I personally have stopped using my stove. I use oil based heating and currently seeking to reduce that by saving for solar panels. Doing my best to reduce my carbon footprint. I would ask everyone to try their very best to do the same.
@SteoG: when most people will say it’s a lovely sunny day , you would be thinking the complete opposite. If things are so critical, why aren’t you doing something urgent to make you on contributions to elevate it , like stop using fossil fuel all together now. You wont because you just want someone else to do something about it.
@Cathal: I don’t think you are in any position to criticise anyone especially Mary Robinson. That especially applies to you when you’re the one expressing counter factual nonsense.
@Dathi O Nualláin: It seems that you are deluded thinking that you can read people’s mind’s or know their actions from simply reading a post that challenges your opinion. Really? You haven’t got any argument so you engage in a strawman fallacy. Maybe you have a problem with grasping the facts because the weight of evidence still stands. Climate change is real and you are still making lazy arrangements.
@Dathi O Nualláin: still making lazy arguments.
@SteoG: No government is doing anything other than revenue raising, if there was a genuine threat they’d be doing a lot more. Robinson has no credibility, running round doing oil sheiks bidding.
@Dathi O Nualláin: where do you get your info. Who are these plenty.
@Cathal: The threat is genuine alright, there is no doubt about it. The problem is the political will and people like you who dismiss the problem because you are most probably not going to be around to have to deal with problems caused. There are other silly reasons why people dismiss the problem but let’s not lower the tone of the debate.
Obsessing about taxes is childish. There are plenty of government initiatives to help people minimise carbon taxes.
@Cathal: When you see major investment In China and India in renewable energy sources and battery technologies doesn’t that contrast with the US where the emphasis is on old fuels like coal.
Saying something isn’t a problem doesn’t make it go away. We are good at burying our head in the sand. I am sure you, like I, know of lots of people who ignored physical symptoms and are now lying 6ft beneath the ground.
Only wen we cut down the last tree and eat the last animal, That is when we will release it’s to late
@Karllye kripton: Ancient caveman proverb?
I agree we need a tax but I do not trust our incompetent government to actually govern us correctly. The money will be used for something else and in a few years there’ll be an enquiry as to where the money went. 3billon on a children’s hospital when our birth rate has plummeted, when by 2050 we will need more elderly care than a children’s hospital.
@Nurse on call: The birth rate has fallen but not the number of births. An increase in life expectancy has lead to an increase in population including a much larger number of elderly people. A birth rate per 1000 people age 18 – 40 would give a much more accurate reflection over time. It would probably show the birth rate among that age group, the age group during which most births occur, has remained stable. Twice as many people are being born each year than are dying.
Climate change comments section challenge
no comments about ‘Tax’ please!
@Gavin Daly:
Or homelessness.
The future generations will look back at us as the selfish generation that where only interested in materialistic gain that destroyed the planet . It’s the developed countries that are destroying the world . Only 5 percent of the worlds population have flown in plane . One of the biggest contributors to climate change .
@John Smith: surely that’s the point there will be no future generations,no environment US….
@John Smith: 20% percent of the worlds population has flown on an aircraft. When you state in accurate facts or just lie you weaken the argument. This does no one any good.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/07/boeing-ceo-80-percent-of-people-never-flown-for-us-that-means-growth.html.
@Darren Byrne: That depends where you get your facts from . https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-only-5-of-the-world-s-population-has-taken-a-flight-on-an-airplane
Whilst her heart is in the right place, let’s see what her views are like in 10/15 years when she has experienced the realities of the world.
@Graham Murphy:
the realities of the world with, or without climate change?
Maybe we older ones are the ones with the clouded judgement?
@Tim Pot: She’s easy led, some crusty puppet master is making the snowballs for her. Exploited by the Greens, should be ashamed of themselves.
@Cathal:
any evidence of this?
is it not possible for a 16 year old to make her own judgement and decisions and not be manipulated by others?
@Cathal: muppet
We can all do our bit. A few minutes’-worth of ideas:
Give up planes.
Give up oil heating.
Give up food/drink from over 500km away.
Use public transport/walk/cycle.
Give up working for finance/fossil fuel companies.
Live near your work.
Give up fossil-fuelled cars.
Don’t even think about replacing with another car.
Give up taxis.
Give up Chinese crap.
Give up plastic.
Eat organic.
Give up bottled water.
Get rid of your bank account.
Think where your money ends up.
Dump the tv.
Severely limit internet use.
Insist that energy you use is renewable.
Move to the smallest house practicable.
Insulate, insulate, insulate.
Give up credit/debit cards.
Never take a cruise.
Get stuff repaired, not replaced.
Holiday nearby.
Buy second-hand.
Limit offspring to two.
Convince others to do the above.
@Aileen McMahon: Be miserable,
@Cathal: I’m doing a lot from that list and working on the rest. I lead quite a comfortable, happy, sociable, stress-free life. Thank you for your concern.
@Cathal: What’s more, I missed loads of actions from the list. Those are the immediately doable ones. Let me know when you want to join in the fun.
It’s our consiousness that apparently defines us as the most intelligent species. It’s our lack of it that fails to stop us destroying our world.
politicians only look at how to tax and generate revenue with their policies. They forget money is a man made thing and controlled by men. Capitalism will not save our future we need to look at each other with the understanding that all parents only want their children to be happy and safe. Start there maybe
Worth noting that FG and FF politicians voted against the SIXTEEN year old girl from speaking at EU Parliament earlier this week!!!
@Black Tears: Disgraceful that…..
Let’s All Change Climate Change….
Wonderful except shes clearly a puppet. A child has no life experience whatsoever and despite her strong message it comes across as most desperate
@Alan: Mozart wrote his first opera at 11. Don’t judge everyone by your inept standards
have your say