GRETA THUNBERG
A BREATH OF LIFE
Greta was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which is now considered an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adding to her uniqueness. People with Asperger syndrome tend to focus deeply on one idea or interest, and Thunberg’s cause became this of climate change and the protection of our planet. She came across the issue when she was approximately eight years old, and within a few years she decided to change her own habits, becoming a vegan and refusing to travel by airplane.
Seeking to make a greater impact, Thunberg attempted to spur lawmakers into addressing climate change. For almost three weeks prior to the Swedish election in September 2018, she missed school to sit outside the country’s parliament with a sign that stated School Strike for Climate.
Although alone for the first day of the strike, she was joined each subsequent day by more and more people, and her story garnered international attention. A few days after the election Thunberg returned to school but continued to skip classes on Fridays to strike, and for that reason, these days were called Fridays for Future. This pure but powerful action inspired hundreds of thousands of students around the world to participate in their own Fridays for Future. A year later, she received the first of three Nobel Peace Prize nominations for climate activism.
Another one of her actions that shook the whole world, was sailing across the Atlantic on a yacht to attend the United Nations climate conference in New York where she challenged important world leaders with an amazing speech.
Thunberg has received support from climate activists, scientists, world leaders and the Pope, who told her to continue her work. Even Prince Harry praised Thunberg’s campaigning, saying that every country, every community, every school, every friendship group, every family needs their own Greta.
Let us all be inspired by her passion and love for life and our planet. Let us all be our own Gretas and follow her lead to sustainability & responsibility.
