Greta, why so serious?
As it seems I am writing this piece belonging to the generation in the middle. I am nearly 29 [in 2019]. Greta Thunberg is 16. She belongs to the younger generation. Everyone else older belongs to the older generation. This is deeply wrong…
The front photo shows a cardboard saying “SAVE OUR FUTURE”. This is not my message, because I don’t want to rely on others to solve my future. If we are talking about our future, then it is our responsibility. Ours. Not theirs. Who are ‘they’ tough? The common future is a common design. We are not living a life created by others. This a common issue. The message must be a praise to unified action instead.
Yes, I am constantly saying that the older generation caused all of this mess. Yes, I do believe that we, the younger, can save this world, turning it into a better place. Yes, I do say that change will hit everyone very hard. Yes, I am constantly blaming others and saving myself. One cannot escape human nature, and human nature is self-centered. Nature is self-centred. Everyone is playing their own interests in one way or another. But, hey…
Shit happens… and shit happened when we built our civilization based on linear exploitation of Earth’s resources. Like “we”, not them.
I believe that in the better world construction there is no them or we, there is only us.
And this is why I don’t get it why did you Greta start your last UN speech by sending a warning to them!
“We will be watching you!”
(…)
You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.
Of course we will forgive them! People don’t change easily. People change if the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same. As all people is self-centred, change will always be an issue. Those who feel most pain are the ones who will change. There is no betrayal here, and even if there was any, it would only matters if we judge the ones who perpetuated (and are perpetuating) climate change as criminals and jail them, avoiding their action for society. Let’s be clear, it won’t happen.
Moreover, what about if they choose to fail us? They already did, and so what? We can’t do anything about it, we can only work together for the future, not for the past. Past mistakes don’t bring future brightness. Our eyes, the eyes of all future generations must not be on the past but on the present, focused on the invention of novel and better solutions. Because the usual is not capable of doing it anymore, and perhaps it must be banned, thus giving space to flourishment.
If there is a label to insert it must be to distinguish those who are saving the world and those who aren’t. Us, the ones who are trying to solve the problem. Them who are causing it. But watch out, the line is blur. Which side is yours Greta?
Joker is a great teacher, you know.
“Their morals, their code; it’s a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They’re only as good as the world allows them to be. You’ll see — I’ll show you. When the chips are down these, uh, civilized people? They’ll eat each other. See I’m not a monster, I’m just ahead of the curve.”
We won’t get things as they were, we will evolve as civilization, using technology as the main societal progress driver. Innovation is the way. Not politics, not economics, not even science. And we will shall must do it with plenty of humanism.
There is no other way.
So, Greta, I am against your type of message. I will not be watching them. I will work with them to solve this problem. A common problem. Thus a common action. Together. Not divided.
Your are becoming their weapon, not our weapon
Us, the ones who are trying to solve the problem. Them who are causing it. But watch out, the line is tiny.
I recommend this article. In it there is some explanation how Greta’s message can backfire: How 16-year-old Greta Thunberg’s rise could backfire on environmentalists.
Don’t get me wrong. I agree with your entire speech Greta. No one can be happy with the current state of constant ecosystem damage, climate change traumatic effects, biodiversity loss, human suffering, climate migration. But we should not let anger get in. We shouldn’t. That is the wrong message.
Here comes Joker again:
“Never go to bed angry, stay awake and plan your revenge.”
For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you’re doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.
You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. But no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil. And that I refuse to believe.
No, no, there is evil, oh yes, there is. All the ones who know better options, better behaviors, and choose not to act are evil. This is the heart of the issue. Our current society is full of evil — the night is dark and full of terrors. Accept that Greta. They must accept science to believe it (the problems), you also should accept evil to eliminate it. This means, understanding all the nuances of problems is part of the solving process.
Final message
We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.
We already let them get away Greta. We are powerless to the business as usual. There is no line we can see nor draw nor foreseen.
But yes, change is coming, starting with science, then with startups, then with big business, all towards global action. Let humanism and ethics teach us how.
There is no global action without global business, not in the present world. Maybe the future and modern world will teach us differently, but that is not the present state of things.
I hope you ease yourself and return to school, or wherever you can grow in peace, in a place where you can foster the power to change the world, because UN conventions are no such place.
