“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security, and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” – Ban Ki-moon
If you haven’t heard, Greta Thunberg has started a phenomenon which is catching on all around the world. She protests every Friday night where-ever she travels. The last two weeks there have been Climate Strikes across the globe! I took to my principles and did what every good boy should do, I skipped class and attended. 😀
And it was worth it!
I can’t tell you how happy this made me, to see just how many people are taking this seriously now. This has been a bullshit issue that’s been plaguing humanity for way too long now, and it took a bunch of Children to light a match under our asses.
Huge respect to Greta Thunberg for being a 16-year-old pissed off badass of a young woman and anyone in the world who says disrespectful things about this her (as has been happening in some places), they really need to be ashamed of themselves.
This girl is a legend.
I’ve actually just written an essay for school about this young girl. I had the pleasure of watching a one hour interview with her on a news channel to get to know her story better. She’s really inspiring. She has Aspergers and she became transfixed with the Climate Crisis after she studied it with a ferocious intensity. So she quit school and started striking, spreading the science wherever she could. Some politicians have been complete assholes and calling her a “mentally ill” child on television to try and detract from her power. She’s been really letting the politicians have it too. I would be scared if I was crooked politician too!!!
This is what the world has needed for years! I started to just assume this world was a lost cause because it truly felt as if the power in the world didn’t give a fuck. Finally, people are waking up and realizing that we need to FORCE change in politics because the leading politicians are FAILING at protecting humanity from a coming catastrophe. The reason they don’t care is that the wealthiest people in the world won’t be hurt nearly as much as the average joe and the lesser developed nations.
The world is on fire right now and if we are able to completely neutralize emissions by 2030 that will still leave us with only a 50% chance of avoiding irreversible harm to all life on earth! After that, things will keep getting warmer and there will not be a damn thing that we can do about it! So if you’re against climate change, I hope you don’t have kids or grandchildren that you give a shit about. Also, feel free to unfollow me because you’re embarrassing and I don’t want you.
I hope that all of you will attend the next Global Climate Strike! This stuff is so important right now, causing some minor headaches to world leaders and showing our restlessness with our current predicament. We need to start costing our governments dollars and make them realize that we aren’t going to go away! Our political systems are also broken because it shouldn’t be the majority of the population that needs to press their government into taking action, it should be their job to review the science and to take care of us. This societal paradigm we’re living in needs a swift and sudden shift to something new. The poor majority of people, the working class need more power, because we are going to be most affected by the devastation that will come with inaction and an inability to take science seriously! Don’t ignore our world’s most brilliant minds.
These photographs were taken by myself today in Waterloo, Ontario. It’s a city in Southern Ontario with about 115,000 people so the turnout was quite impressive. There were talks about disrupting the system by walking the streets next time. That sounds like fun. Have a great weekend everyone!
Want to Learn More About the Climate Crisis?
If you visit a climate strike, write a post about it and let me know! Bloggers can make a difference, information is power! Now is the time to use your power.
Thoughts? Comments? Leave them down below!
Reblogged this on Scribblers Arena and commented:
Spread the word!
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I’m proud of you for going to this today.
I’m proud of everyone who attended these today across Canada and the world.
I was listening on the radio and they were saying ‘these damn kids need to go back to class’ and to me, it’s just… an older generation completely missing the mark and completely ignoring the scary truths right in front of us.
That’s a big turnout for Waterloo!
There was a small turnout here. I was at the hospital keeping my mom company, so I missed out. I’m in for this movement though. ‘I won’t be here for the earth’s destruction’ isn’t an acceptable answer anymore. I think that’s the message Greta’s sending and I think it’s resonating with people – which I really love.
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Greta’s amazing. I love that girl. I think these strikes will keep getting bigger! You should visit one some day and blog about it! You hold a lot of influence, I think you could make a difference ❤
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It is not just the younger generation doing this, there are some seniors and older adults who agree with you. But there are not enough of us, and I am glad to see there are lots of you. I live in Alberta (though I come from Manitoba) and I am all in favour of leaving the oil in the ground, what is left of it. But now we are back to a conservative govt here, and they want the oil out. In this federal election, if Canada elects a Tory govt, the oil will not be abandoned. Sheer not only wants it out of the ground, he wants to make sure it keeps coming out, no matter what it does to the environment.
Trudeau is not worthy, but neither is Sheer. Please do your best to elect the NDP or the Greens. Talk to your parents, and insist they give someone else a try. The Liberals and the Conservatives are both parties of the rich. Kick them both out, please.
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Thank you for writing this! I will definitely try to write and spread the word about healthy change in Canada at the next election. I’m actually 30 years old, I’m an older student, and I have a young daughter, so I can feel the urgency!
I hope people keep waking up to change!
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I also think it’s important to note that, as individuals, there are some things we can do to make a difference. I wrote about that a few months back but the moral of the story is, we can all make a difference – at protests, in big industries and governments and in our own homes.
Sorry for rambling.
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No need to apologize. Get it all outl! 😁🙌
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Yes attending! And yes she’s fantastic, brave and so inspiring 💕. Great post.
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Thanks so much! 😁❤ She’s wonderful. One of my new heroes
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Reblogged this on Angels of light .
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❤❤❤
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We watched her videos. She is amazingly brave and bold. She inspired a lot include me. Nice Post Mathew. And you, it was worth it.👌 you did great by participating strike✨🤗✍️ Keep up!! Happy Weekend 🤗
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Thanks so much Simon. Have a great weekend! 😁 She is inspiring.
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Mentally ill or not, she is more honest and smarter than the rest of the world leaders. I wish they were as “mentally ill” as she is because she is simply not. I hate the fact that some parts of the media is pointing out her illness as a way to diminish what she is saying. She is inspiring and i believe everyone should take actions by being aware of our harmful way of life: plastic use, papers, consuming massively etc.. The list goes on and on. The solution is not in recycling only but in a change of our daily habits! Thank you for sharing this post!
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I know you mean no harm by it, but I actually find the term “mentally ill” as being completely dismissive of a person’s cognitive abilities all together and that’s why it’s wrong! Aspergers is in no way an “illness”! Its just a different way of viewing the world and these people usually have above average intelligence as well as having am affinity for knowledge and research!!! So illness is such a bullshit dismissive term. People with aspergers simply struggle socially because of whatever reason… they just don’t know how to “fit in” as easily but that can work to a person’s advantage when the rest of the world is fucking up. She is the PERFECT person to lead the campaign and she calls aspergers her super power. And I agree with her, that’s what it is! 😁❤
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Totally agree with you and maybe I expressed myself in a wrong way. To me she is a very normal person trying to change the world and she leads by example ❤
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Sometimes I’ve actually wondered if I have something similar to be honest, I have a strange mind and really struggle socially. Become fixated on topics and a whole host of other “symptoms”… I actually plan on checking that out. Anyways, thanks for your support 😁❤
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Check it anyway, it is always good to know. But don’t worry, you are so talented and who cares who thinks if you have a strange mind or not ❤
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Thanks 😎🙌
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So awesome to see everyone coming together! It scares me to death what could come of all this and it’s so long past time for action. Amazing voices being heard.
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Thanks so much! I hope you keep supporting climate efforts 😊
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This is an amazing young woman with a vital message. Thank you for sharing this with us! I look forward to attending an event.
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Woohoo 🥳🙏🏻 Go get em Brad! 😎 Thank you
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We had a rally in Regina, SK yesterday as well! Our SK government badly needs a wake up call, they might as well still live in the 80s. 🙄
Greta’s UN speech last week was powerful and it certainly choked me up.
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Yeeeaah I’m so glad it’s becoming a worldwide phenomenon! Keep on fighting the good fight! 😊🙏🏻
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Mat, I am soooooo proud of you for attending that rally!!! Greta Thunberg is, in my book, a hero and I am sickened and disgusted by the criticism that is being directed against her. Methinks the people dishing it out are scared that maybe, just maybe she’s making a difference, waking people up, and they see some of their profits going down the tubes. While a few women, notably the bimbos Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham, have jumped on the “criticize Greta” bandwagon, it has mostly been old white dudes … those with interests in such things like the fossil fuel industry, the airline industry, etc., that will lose money if we ever decide to take the science seriously. Great post, my friend, and I am re-blogging it!
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Woohoo! I knew you’d love this one 😁 I was so excited to attend it. The people there were so passionate and the organizers say that the sizes of their events have been growing exponentially which is a wonderful sign!
We need to keep them growing! You should go one day and blog about it 😁🐺
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You know me well! I did definitely love it … and I love your attitude toward the whole thing. I could tell there was a large crowd, and that encourages me. I would love to go to one … perhaps I can soon, and if I do, I will absolutely write about the experience! 🐺
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Well I would love to read about it. Certainly give me a heads up if you do! Woot woot 🐺🥳
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I surely will! I have to see if I can find one that I am able to attend … health and vehicle problems limit my ability to travel far. I’ll keep you posted!
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Oh, I’m sorry to hear that! I didn’t know you had health problems. 😦 Well I can do all the leg work for you if you need 😀 We can be a team
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Nothing too serious … I’m just old and have been a 3-4 pack-a-day smoker for 55 years now … gotta expect a few problems, yes? 😉 And, I would be happy to be a team! I do definitely want to attend at least one of these strikes, though … I just need to find one close enough for my old van to make the journey!
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Holy crap that’s a lot of smokes! Tsk tsk 😝 Well I just wish you the happiest of lives. I hope you get to see one in person.
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I will, no worries! I still want to be part of your team, though! You do good work, and I loved your passion on this topic!
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Well, I share a lot of Greta’s fears and concerns. I’ve always had them and she’s given me hope that we can do something. She’s starting a revolution.
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The biggest question now, I think, is how do we convince our heads of state … us more than you guys, for I think Trudeau is on board … to act in the best interest of the planet. Trump has literally done everything he could to expand the fossil fuel and logging industries, and supports Bolsonaro’s plan to use the Amazon rain forest for commercial development! The coal and oil barons have a larger voice, it would seem, than we the people. We can stop using single-use plastics, buy electric cars, drive less, use public transportation, turn our thermostats down … and all of those things help, but they are a drop in the bucket if only a small percentage of us are doing it. Many won’t make those ‘sacrifices’ until or unless they are forced. Sigh. Sorry … stepping down from my soapbox now 😉
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That is the ultimate question… 🤷♂️
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Reblogged this on Filosofa's Word and commented:
You all remember the interview I did with Wolf Boy a month or so ago? Well, today he has written a post that I simply must re-blog. It wasn’t too long ago that he was only vaguely aware of Greta Thunberg, but today she is a hero in his book, as she is in mine. Mat even attended a Climate Strike in Waterloo, Ontario this past Friday. Thumbs up to you, Wolf Boy! 👍
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Thanks so much ❤🙃
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My pleasure! It was a great post!
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I smiled when Greta told the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau he wasn’t doing enough.
This girl deserves a Nobel Prize! She is truly a very smart young lady!
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She’s been nominated, I was just reading about that earlier. She sure would deserve it!
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I hope she does receive the Nobel Prize.
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Bring down the airline industries, and the fossil fuel automotive industries. Those are two of the biggest polluters in the world. Don’t start at the bottom, start at the top.
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Thought provoking – thank you!
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Absolutely! Ramp it up!
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I’m sorry, but everyone is giving her so much credit, and it is getting under my skin. What about the others that came before her? Give credit where credit is due, but how about the other! Do they not matter?
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Absolutely no one is saying that other activists don’t matter, except for those who have disdain for all activists. Greta brings activism to the frontlines of every day life and that’s why she is so important bit every single person who FIGHTS for a better world matters!!! We need it now more than ever and we are inclusive. We are all in this together! There is no competition. We all need to stand United!
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Great is an amazing young woman, thanks for sharing some more info about her. And I’m thrilled to see that you went to one of the strikes – thanks for advocating for our planet!
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Thanks Jim! I’m glad you’re on board!
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Thank you for writing this. We have been at the Friday for Future rallies in our hometown in the last couple of months and it is uplifting to see how the numbers are growing – while the science reports are getting more worrisome.
I’ve also been to a number of Extinction Rebellion meetings and I wonder if this has reaches your part of the worls yet.
Just one minor point: Greta Thunberg did not quit school, she decided to go on strike every Friday when she sat in front of the Swedish government buildings in Stockholm instead of attending classes. On the other days she went to school and completed her mandatory school requirements (in Sweden up to age 16). She is now taking a sabbatical year.
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Oh okay thanks for catching my mistake! I’m glad she didnt give up on her schooling. ❤
It is uplifting! Where are you from? I’m not sure if these meetings have made it to Ontario yet!
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Check it out here: https://extinctionrebellion.ca/
We are Irish/German/NZ, currently all in Germany but not always.
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