Well, yes, I know she has not gone away, and was in London last week to promote her new book, and herself, of course – nothing wrong in that.
But this wasn't the old Greta; the awkward grump we've come to love and the courageous scold we rather admire in her speaking 'her truth' to the powerful, even if we think (as I do) that she was far too gloomy and was scaring young people.
It seemed to be a more savvy Greta; a more political one; someone who has moved from posing questions such as "How dare you!?" to providing analysis and solutions.
The analysis?
Well, if I hear her correctly, it's not people who are the problem, it's capitalism as it is based on colonialism, on imperialism, on oppression, on genocide, on racism, on oppressive extraction, and on the destructive forces of patriarchy, heteronormativity and militarism. Have I missed anything out, I wonder. Well, "meatism", perhaps.
And it's no use trying to become sustainable in the current system as only de-growth will do.
So we shall all be poorer, including the already poor.
She seems to have chosen a bed to lie on. But I wonder how many of her zillions of young fans will be persuaded to join her when they understand what she means.
I've not read her book (yet), but I've seen reviews. The Telegraph said: "Greta Thunberg’s Climate Book is a great scientific one-stop shop – despite its anti-capitalist bent." And the Times: "This anthology of essays by a mix of scientists, writers and campaigners is a useful guide to global warming."
Maybe for Christmas then ...
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