Sunday Reflection: Choose Wisely

"I know I am not the one who’s supposed to ask questions, but there’s something I really do wonder. How long do you honestly believe business as usual activists like you will get away with it? How long do you think you can continue ignoring the climate crisis without being held accountable?

You get away with it now, but sooner or later people are going to realise what you have been doing this time. That's inevitable. You still have time to do the right thing and to save your legacies, but that window of time is not going to last for long. What happens then?

We the young people are the ones who are going to write about you in the history books. We are the ones who get to decide how you will be remembered. So choose wisely."  -- Climate activist Greta Thunberg, in testimony to the House Oversight Committee on April 22 blasting the continuation of fossil fuel subsidies and policy makers' inadequate measures to reduce global temperature increases. She remains pessimistic that global leaders have the will to enact meaningful measures to wean themselves off of fossil fuels. If what's past is prologue, her pessimism is justifiable. 

Pic Of The Day: True "Gret"

International climate change activist Greta Thunberg has a new, affectionate honor. The charismatic activist has had a "gritting" truck named after her in Scotland: "Gritter Thunberg."

Naming trucks that clear snow and spread abrasives in Scotland is popular, with contests for the most clever name, and Greta's was chosen by school kids. Some previous winners include "Spreaddy Mercury," "Gritney Spears," "Sir Salter Scott," "Brad Grit," and "Gritty Gritty Bang Bang."

(photo: Getty Images/Twitter)

Pic Of The Day: The Power Of One

In August 2018, 15 year-old Greta Thunberg sat by herself outside of the Swedish Parliament to draw attention to the climate crisis.

Last January, she addressed world figures at Davos, Switzerland with an impassioned call to action:

"Adults keep saying: 'We owe it to the young people to give them hope.' But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act. 

I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is."

Yesterday, millions of people participated in Global Climate Strike Day, inspired by the young Swede who stepped forward alone over a year ago and eloquently voiced the urgency of stopping the reckless destruction of the planet.