She is an advocate for change, an ambassador of climate activism and a champion for mother nature. Greta Thunberg — our one girl army — stands firm against all those who wish to trivialize the devastation of our planet. Our carbon emission will soon destroy us. We must act now or there will soon be no Earth to save. In a world where procrastination seems to be the order of the day, she declares, it will no longer be tolerated. Dear world leaders, “We’ll be watching you!”
Hail, Greta the Great!
The 16-year-old took a stand for what she believes in. She was passionate, eloquent and most of all determined. The increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels is destroying mother earth. A mother who, if we are not careful, won’t be able to protect or sustain us much longer. She speaks of the evasive measures employed by world leaders as they dance around the issue with “clever accounting and creative PR”. Her heartfelt speech not only urges the older generations to play their part in the fight to save our planet, but it makes everyone sit-up and pay attention to the dangers of climate change. “We”, the people, must open our eyes. The seas are rising, and weather conditions are becoming more extreme. We must reduce our carbon footprint.
Don’t worry, it’s just Meme.
Thunberg’s scathing speech in which she reprimands and scolds the extremely rich exposes her humanity. While on the verge of tears, she got her point across, which is that the older generations, world leaders, and the extremely rich are saddling the upcoming generations with the struggle to repair our Earth by regulating carbon dioxide emission and “reversing” the damages already done. She cries for our present state, she cries for our bleak future. Although she has managed to rally youngsters around the globe to protest and demand actions on climate change, a speech that should have inspired action is now being cut, spliced and made into a meme. When the average teen’s main concern is the newest makeup to hit the market or being noticed by the coolest guy in school, she was busy spearheading a movement that has made tremendous waves. To the many, she is just a meme, but to her peers and those who have stopped to listen she is the voice of the planet.
She’s Fantastic NOT a Fanatic… How dare you!
Even in the face of overwhelming critique, she has managed to do what many have failed to do; she has built awareness on climate change. Many people claim she detracts from the issue at hand, that her speech has usurped general interest in climate change and has made her, the individual, the trending topic of interest. However, what many fail to recognize is that her face is now synonymous with climate change and though few are willing to admit it, her very presence has built awareness for the cause. Prior to her speech, Thunberg was a nobody in many parts of the world. Her efforts were restricted and her message largely unheard. Now she has her own meme. She has attracted the attention of those who would never watch the UN Climate Change Conference nor tune in to the nearest news channel to keep abreast of current events. She is now renowned. Her popularity borders on infamy. She can now reach billions instead of just millions. She shows that there is no such thing as bad publicity, there is only publicity. She is steadfast, headstrong and willing to weather any storm to accomplish her task. She fights for a greater cause. Thunberg is considered a fanatic by many and a hero by few and I am proud to be one of the few.
Casting a long Shadow 
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