Read, spread. This speech held #Swedish Greta Thunberg in London outside the Parliament, in front of over 1,000 people who participated in a peaceful action of civil disobedience by occupying the streets around the Parliament.
– When I was about eight years old in 2010, I heard for the first time about what was called climate change, or global warming.
Apparently, it was something that we humans had caused by our way of living.
I was asked to turn off the lights to save energy and recycle paper to skimp on the resources.
I remember that I thought it was very strange that we humans, which are a species of many, can alter the climate of the whole world.
Then in 2010, if it were correct we should not talk about anything else.
As soon as you turned on the TV or radio, all the programs should have been about the climate emergency.
Just like if there was a world war. But no one was talking about it.
If the use of fossil fuels was so dangerous that they threaten our existence – how can we let everything carry on, business as usual?
How can it still be allowed?
For me, it didn’t make sense. It felt unreal.
I have Asperger’s syndrome and for me, almost everything is black or white.
In many ways, we are autistic the normal and you others are strange.
You are saying climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue.
Yet everything goes on as usual.
If we are to stop releasing greenhouse gases, we must all change our way of living and ending our emissions.
To me it’s black or white.
When it comes to survival, there are no grey areas.
Either our civilisation survives or not.
‘We must change ourselves’
Countries such as Sweden and the UK must start to reduce emissions by at least 15 percent per year if we are to reach the target of two degrees in average temperature increase.
Now the UN panel on climate change says that we must aim at 1.5 degrees.
We can only imagine what that means.
The climate change issues should be at the top of decision makers and the media’s agenda. But it’s almost completely quiet.
Nor does anyone talk about the greenhouse gases embedded in “the system”.
If we stop burning all fossil fuels today, the average temperature will still increase by between 0.5-1.1 degrees.
Nor does anyone speak of equality or climate justice, mentioned in the Paris agreement.
This means that rich countries must reach zero emissions within six to twelve years.
It provides space for poor countries to increase their emissions as they raise their living standards and build infrastructure such as roads, schools and facilities clean drinking water.
How are we supposed to expect countries like Nigeria and India to care enough about climate change when we, who already have everything, do not even live up to our promises in the climate agreement?
So why are our emissions increasing?
Are we committing conscious mass extinctions?
Are we evil?
No, of course not.
Most people act as they do because they do not know the consequences of our actions or know how urgent it is that we act.
No one acts like we’re in a crisis.
Even the greenest politicians fly around the earth, eating meat and dairy products.
If I become 100 years old, I will be alive in 2103.
When you think about the future, there are few who can imagine the world after 2050, but then I’ve only lived half my life.
What happens next?
In 2078, I’m 75 years old.
How we act now will affect my whole life, my children’s and grandchildren’s lives.
When school started in August this year, I thought it might be enough.
I sat outside the Swedish parliament in a school-strike for the climate.
Some felt that I should be in school instead.
Others thought I should become a climate scientist to find a #CO2lution to the climate crisis’, but we already have enough facts to solve the climate issue.
All we need to do is wake up and change.
Why should I study for a future that is not available?
Children in Bendigo Australia Meeting with Politicians to Demand Climate Action.
Why should I study for a future that doesn’t exist?
What is the point of learning the facts when our politicians and our society ignore science?
Many say Sweden is a minor nation and that what we do does not matter. But if some school students can become world news just because we skipped school for a few days – imagine what we can accomplish if we all work in togethernessship.
Children in Canada Strike for Climate
Today, 100 million barrels of oil are produced every day. There is no political will to change it. There are no laws that force the companies to leave the oil in the ground. It shows that we cannot save the earth by following the rules of the game. Everything must change. And it must start today.
“To all of you out there: it’s time for civil disobedience. It’s time to rebel.” – Greta Thunberg
On November 30th, several organisations will support the national climate strike.
/Come you too! 😊💚🌎👊
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