Podcasts

Why Is There Such A Backlash Against Greta Thunberg?

Greta Thunberg has become internationally famous for her climate change activism. The 16-year-old from Sweden is currently travelling to New York on a zero-emissions yacht for a UN summit on global warming, a journey that will take two weeks. Her actions have received considerable criticism online, with one of the more disturbing remarks coming from Brexit campaigner Arron Banks, who took to Twitter to make a joke about yachting accidents. Freak yachting accidents do happen in August ... https://t.co/6CPePHYLtu — Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) August 14, 2019 What is it about Greta Thunberg that has provoked such a backlash from certain people? Environmental journalist and commentator John Gibbons says that people like Arron Banks are "cynical people projecting their own ideology". "I think it's impossible for them to look at someone like Greta Thunberg and imagine that she's actually doing it for the common good." "These middle-aged men are melting down at the idea that a teenager is articulate, science-based and is making fools of them." "Greta Thunberg is not the oracle. All she's doing is saying listen to the science." Freelance journalist Larissa Nolan thinks that social media sensationalism is to blame: "I think children should not be thrust into that kind of limelight." "I have great respect and encouragement for any young person who wants to make a political point, but I don't think it's helpful to perpetrate this idea that the world is going to end in ten years, there's nothing we can do about it and it's all the previous generation's fault." "It's riddled with hypocrisy and elitism and it's just going to isolate people further." Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page. see more