I was fortunate to see climate activist Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager, on the PBS NewsHour this past Friday. She arrived in the U.S. on a sailboat to avoid the carbon emissions that jet air travel creates. She is walking her talk.
Greta believes (as do many) that climate change is an emergency. For many, it is hard to believe that one of our major political parties–the Republican party–is in complete denial about climate change and therefore fights against efforts and initiatives that could help mitigate areas that exacerbate climate change.
They claim there is no proof of the existence of climate change or of mankind’s role in it. Some might claim that there’s no proof in the existence of God and they would be right.
Many scoffed at the mere notion of the Green New Deal which outlined steps that could be taken over a 12 year period to reverse the course of climate change and income inequality in the U.S. If one believes that climate change and income inequality is an emergency, why would we take a course of action over 50 or 100 years to tackle these issues if ever?
Greta Thunberg has a powerful message for those of us who inhabit the earth today. What is really required is action, not inaction. Dramatic action preferably.
Are those of us alive on the earth today going to put the earth on a path towards alleviating climate change and income inequality? How will history judge our actions or inactions?
Thought for the week:
“What we should do as individuals is to use the power of democracy to make our voices heard and to make sure that the people in power cannot continue to ignore this.” – Climate activist @GretaThunberg
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