The Nobel Peace Prize would be an insult to Greta Thunberg

[Soph0571]

As a bold, articulate and unapologetic young woman, as someone taking power to task for its catalogue of failures, she’s had a unique ability to crawl under the skin of shock jocks and controversialists for hire; of the wackier wings of the political right purpling at the insolence of a little girl who imagines she has the right to speak out.

But perhaps the more extraordinary reaction is how readily she’s been welcomed, praised and congratulated by the people with their hands on the levers of power – the very people she excoriates for steering our planet towards crisis. World leaders line up to smile indulgently at her, movers and shakers in top polluting countries pose for pictures to broadcast that they too, are open and listening. They care, you see. Honestly.
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We are watching a child walk onto the world stage to beg for her life, and have her words be smiled at like they were birdsong in the morning – beautiful, wholesome, ultimately meaningless.

We are careering towards obliteration, and our children know it. They do not need to be patronised with gold medals or prizes, they do not need to be insulted with reassuring handshakes or stale placebos for change. They need action. They need it now.

[link:https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/environment/2019/10/nobel-peace-prize-would-be-insult-greta-thunberg|]

Insult is too strong a word on this but Penny makes a good point - glittering prizes are not meaningful without action...

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Being philosophical, Greta has many years to develop her contribution.

Perhaps she belongs in the realm of Person of the Year (Time Magazine).

[rampartc]

2. trump wants this pretty badly

I think ms Thunberg has earned it, and an irritant for the orange con man would be perfect.

[Nitram]

3. I disagree. She deserves the prize. It is an honor, not an insult.