Greta Thunberg: An Inspiration or an Attention Seeker?

Greta Thunberg. Viewed by many as an inspiration, yet also labelled as ‘mentally ill’ by many others who neglect the rising issues caused by climate change. This article will allow you to recognize the significant impacts Thunberg has made. Politicians and authorities alike believe that she is ill, and that the impact of the environment should be led by ‘scientists’ rather than by a “mentally ill Swedish child”.

Greta Thunberg has become a household name, with her devotion to help mitigate climate change, she has allowed others to take action themselves. Her success came from her empowering messages, and more importantly, Thunberg keeps her promises. Powerful institutions such as the US Congress and The United Nations have been challenged by her, and the world continues to see her words followed by her actions. Therefore, Thunberg’s influence inspires strength and courage within others like her, to fix crucial issues that have a dire impact on society.

Furthermore, Thunberg has shown her dedication by refusing to travel by airplane, as it emits large amounts of gases that contribute to global warming. Thunberg’s actions include skipping classes on Friday which is called Fridays for Future. This inspired many around the world to do the same, countries such as The United States, Finland, Denmark and The Netherlands joined her to make a stance on protecting the future of our world.

While she has been a true motivation to millions worldwide, she has also been proclaimed an “attention-seeker” by many. A recurring issue with Greta Thunberg is that she encourages demagoguery and scaremongering. Furthermore, she has been accused of spreading terrifying rumors, which lay fear in the minds of many. Some have even claimed her teachings to be “distorted” and “fanatical”. The issue highlighted in her methods isn’t the fact that she’s a 16-year-old, but rather that she is supposedly a clueless 16-year-old whose ideologies are impacting policies that affect billions every year.

While she may be a 16-year-old who’s criticized for her actions, she is a 16-year-old who’s taking action, and that must be applauded and appreciated.

Veda Varma (10A) & Nada Al Mosheky 13A