Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Greta Thunberg - Crusader daring

Greta Thunberg, is the name on everyone's lips and her speech all over the news. Its truly remarkable that a sixteen year old has so much awareness of industrial pollution and concern about the environment and our collective future. Very few sixteen year olds can match that up indeed ! I hope her parents or other adults are not pushing her into this cause even though its such a Nobel noble cause.

But I feel her anger is mis-directed. Listening to her, doesn't it lead you into thinking that "If only the world leaders pay heed, we would all be saved" ? Is it just the obstinacy of presidents and prime ministers which is getting us into trouble ? Clearly, getting those leaders to sign on some document won't revert this deadly threat of environment destruction. And to solve this problem, a government dictat is definitely not the right way to go.

Greta is making an fervent, emotional appeal, alright. But governments make a move based on logical, scientific and popular appeals, not emotional ones. Industries make a move based on scientific and economic data, not emotional outbursts. So Greta's thoughts should really be re-directed to those who really need to listen - the people.

The unthinking people, really. Those jet-setting all over the world, the blind consumerist who generates enormous mounds of plastic waste, who can't stay indoors without air-conditioning, nor move outdoors without gas guzzling SUV's. Those who order Californian apples and almonds into India and then travel all the way to California to eat Idli-sambar in Indian restaurants ! When are they planning to reform ?