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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
I could have written defenses for her but I think she defends herself well enough against all the arguments raised against her. If people are unwilling to listen to her before judging her, I don't think they will care to read about her side here. And several reviewers here have already done that.
And I do not wish to talk about climate change problem here either which seems obvious enough. And again a job people like Greta are doing well enough.
There is though one thing I agree on with critics - she should be in school. But then it is because of inaction of grownups like me and you that all those students are out on strikes. It is us probably who should have been fighting for the planet. And, it seems to be only our own unwillingness to look at the darkness in future directly that seems to show in our unwillingness to listen to what she has to say.
I try avoiding use of polythenes rather carrying groceries in hands something getting ridiculed for it and avoid buying hard copies of books and newspapers - the paper of which would be wasted after once I have read them and I, both out of preferances and of lack of options, am entirely dependent upon public transportation. But I also don't at all think that it is enough. The very electricity I used (made out of combustion of coal) and mobile data I am dependent upon for my access to Internet (radatjons harmful to birds) ensure that my personal contribution to nature is a very negative one. A friend of mine, resourceless financially, ran a NGO charity that failed within a year of its operations. But within that one year it had planted 300 trees. Now he was no Greta Thunberg, but he was capable of that. What I do is dwarfed even by that. And I don't think people like me have any right of objecting to the actions of generation who is about to be forced to pick up the trash we continue to leave behind.
The argument of critics that she has no solution to offer is answered by her - listen to scientists, then. After all, ain't it is these very critics who keep claiming she is only a 15 year old. As for supposed destruction of economic system, I don't think present economic system has managed much - even in USA, the pole star of capitalism; there are people starving and not managing enough to meet the basic needs. And this is besides destruction of planet. Neither most of humans nor the environment has survived damanged done by capitalism. What then is so fabulous about our economic system? Humanity is the only nonh-zero waste species of the world - that is how intelligent we and our systems are.
Anyway, it all seems repeating same things that have already talked about several times before. The real reason for writing this piece is my admiration for author. It is admirable, her clarity of expressions - something not easily visible in our political-so-called-'leaders'. She is seeing things so clearly that if she be abnormal (another criticism she has been getting a lot, I mean seriously?); it is abnormal in admirable way. She kind of gets more of my followship than most popular leaders would get out of me (very few speeches ever move me and hers do). If she stubbornly refuses to entertain arguments defending present system and status quo; it is of clarity of vision - of seeing things clearly, she knows that present system is indefensible - an albatross around necks of older generations. I agree that we should seeeverything in terms of how it might help the planet, that we must panic - it is of clarity of vision she asks us to do so. And this clarity of vision is something that people like me won't be able to, being distracted by thousand minor trifals such as the next book. I truly admire such clarity of vision. People like me need people like her to tell what is most important. And if you really think that despite her good intentions, there are some points at which she is wrong (such as littering done by her folowers at her campaign) - than remind yourself she and her followers are still young and doing older people's job.
I do think she deserves a Nobel Prize but I hope they don't give it to her this time as I get the feeling that she has only started and is going to do far much more - things that, once again, really are responsiblity of mine and preceeding generations. And once we have given her Nobel Prize, we won't have much else to thank her with.
But again, may be they should. That should keep her in attention of media much longer. Because I am scared that the powerful are already treating her the way they treat such admirable idealists - as a sort of entertainment. They invite her, listen to her speeches, express their concern about issues raised by her, applause her efforts in patronising ways and then move on to next entertainment in charts. Their merely having listened to her and applauded her efforts is supposed to be seen as their having done their bit (and why should it not be so? How much more do most of us who truly believe in her cause are doing?).
Evil is full of devilish charms but none of those that dark characters in novels show. The people we are talking about are not dragons but Prince Charmings! they are clean shaved, often handsome and well built men wearing suits, looking clean or equally charming empowered women- no blood stains visible anywhere in those tall office buildings - not even under the mattreses, no smoke coming out of factories anywhere in surroundings (the factories are tucked away herr in third world countries). These people commiting highest amount of evil (not giving enough wages to their customers, creating products harmful for environment) are capable of convincing themselves that they are really good people - because so often the sufferings they cause are so far away (both geographically and chronologically) from what they see in their daily lives. And even others might not see the evil in them, after all how many of us hold billionaire businessmen and most disgusting politicians in admiration?
Yes such evil people are really few; but than so are people who can really be called good (Martin Luther King Junior, Greta Thunberg etc). Most of us here (including yours truly) is just dummy, dull, banal people - who easily give into evil in power, look after their own ass by taking jobs that will help powerful keep thier kingdoms; while the dreams of good people rarely move us to only for a few moments of intense emotions. People who are capable of very little good action.
The very idea of 200 species dying every day would haunt a really good person - that is about one specie for time you might take to read this review. A life form that was there on planet for millions of years won't any longer be and might not ever be here again. It should make us loss sleep, haunt us all the time but it doesn't. I think it does haunt Greta though, I think it is kind of thing she can't get out of her mind (so feels compelled to repeat it) and that is kind of reasons why she (or really other activists like her) are better humans than we are or at least I am.
Greta says powerful are counting on technology not built yet. True that (unless conspiracy theory they are hiding those Technologies for personal profits) but also ... I have read and seen some examples of tricks and techniques that provide commendably better resource utilization and waste management (mostly in Japan, though a few are from others parts including India too) with very little effort, cost and not any inconveniences on part of users after they have been put to use but most people for whom such techniques are; won't be moved to make even those slight changes. Most people just resist change.
Unlike Greta, I really don't have hopes for humanity making it through this crisis. However, if my assessment of her is true, I don't think anything will stop her and some of her friends from trying.
And I do not wish to talk about climate change problem here either which seems obvious enough. And again a job people like Greta are doing well enough.
There is though one thing I agree on with critics - she should be in school. But then it is because of inaction of grownups like me and you that all those students are out on strikes. It is us probably who should have been fighting for the planet. And, it seems to be only our own unwillingness to look at the darkness in future directly that seems to show in our unwillingness to listen to what she has to say.
I try avoiding use of polythenes rather carrying groceries in hands something getting ridiculed for it and avoid buying hard copies of books and newspapers - the paper of which would be wasted after once I have read them and I, both out of preferances and of lack of options, am entirely dependent upon public transportation. But I also don't at all think that it is enough. The very electricity I used (made out of combustion of coal) and mobile data I am dependent upon for my access to Internet (radatjons harmful to birds) ensure that my personal contribution to nature is a very negative one. A friend of mine, resourceless financially, ran a NGO charity that failed within a year of its operations. But within that one year it had planted 300 trees. Now he was no Greta Thunberg, but he was capable of that. What I do is dwarfed even by that. And I don't think people like me have any right of objecting to the actions of generation who is about to be forced to pick up the trash we continue to leave behind.
The argument of critics that she has no solution to offer is answered by her - listen to scientists, then. After all, ain't it is these very critics who keep claiming she is only a 15 year old. As for supposed destruction of economic system, I don't think present economic system has managed much - even in USA, the pole star of capitalism; there are people starving and not managing enough to meet the basic needs. And this is besides destruction of planet. Neither most of humans nor the environment has survived damanged done by capitalism. What then is so fabulous about our economic system? Humanity is the only nonh-zero waste species of the world - that is how intelligent we and our systems are.
Anyway, it all seems repeating same things that have already talked about several times before. The real reason for writing this piece is my admiration for author. It is admirable, her clarity of expressions - something not easily visible in our political-so-called-'leaders'. She is seeing things so clearly that if she be abnormal (another criticism she has been getting a lot, I mean seriously?); it is abnormal in admirable way. She kind of gets more of my followship than most popular leaders would get out of me (very few speeches ever move me and hers do). If she stubbornly refuses to entertain arguments defending present system and status quo; it is of clarity of vision - of seeing things clearly, she knows that present system is indefensible - an albatross around necks of older generations. I agree that we should seeeverything in terms of how it might help the planet, that we must panic - it is of clarity of vision she asks us to do so. And this clarity of vision is something that people like me won't be able to, being distracted by thousand minor trifals such as the next book. I truly admire such clarity of vision. People like me need people like her to tell what is most important. And if you really think that despite her good intentions, there are some points at which she is wrong (such as littering done by her folowers at her campaign) - than remind yourself she and her followers are still young and doing older people's job.
I do think she deserves a Nobel Prize but I hope they don't give it to her this time as I get the feeling that she has only started and is going to do far much more - things that, once again, really are responsiblity of mine and preceeding generations. And once we have given her Nobel Prize, we won't have much else to thank her with.
But again, may be they should. That should keep her in attention of media much longer. Because I am scared that the powerful are already treating her the way they treat such admirable idealists - as a sort of entertainment. They invite her, listen to her speeches, express their concern about issues raised by her, applause her efforts in patronising ways and then move on to next entertainment in charts. Their merely having listened to her and applauded her efforts is supposed to be seen as their having done their bit (and why should it not be so? How much more do most of us who truly believe in her cause are doing?).
Evil is full of devilish charms but none of those that dark characters in novels show. The people we are talking about are not dragons but Prince Charmings! they are clean shaved, often handsome and well built men wearing suits, looking clean or equally charming empowered women- no blood stains visible anywhere in those tall office buildings - not even under the mattreses, no smoke coming out of factories anywhere in surroundings (the factories are tucked away herr in third world countries). These people commiting highest amount of evil (not giving enough wages to their customers, creating products harmful for environment) are capable of convincing themselves that they are really good people - because so often the sufferings they cause are so far away (both geographically and chronologically) from what they see in their daily lives. And even others might not see the evil in them, after all how many of us hold billionaire businessmen and most disgusting politicians in admiration?
Yes such evil people are really few; but than so are people who can really be called good (Martin Luther King Junior, Greta Thunberg etc). Most of us here (including yours truly) is just dummy, dull, banal people - who easily give into evil in power, look after their own ass by taking jobs that will help powerful keep thier kingdoms; while the dreams of good people rarely move us to only for a few moments of intense emotions. People who are capable of very little good action.
The very idea of 200 species dying every day would haunt a really good person - that is about one specie for time you might take to read this review. A life form that was there on planet for millions of years won't any longer be and might not ever be here again. It should make us loss sleep, haunt us all the time but it doesn't. I think it does haunt Greta though, I think it is kind of thing she can't get out of her mind (so feels compelled to repeat it) and that is kind of reasons why she (or really other activists like her) are better humans than we are or at least I am.
Greta says powerful are counting on technology not built yet. True that (unless conspiracy theory they are hiding those Technologies for personal profits) but also ... I have read and seen some examples of tricks and techniques that provide commendably better resource utilization and waste management (mostly in Japan, though a few are from others parts including India too) with very little effort, cost and not any inconveniences on part of users after they have been put to use but most people for whom such techniques are; won't be moved to make even those slight changes. Most people just resist change.
Unlike Greta, I really don't have hopes for humanity making it through this crisis. However, if my assessment of her is true, I don't think anything will stop her and some of her friends from trying.
mollyjones's review against another edition
3.0
(3 1/2) Listened to the audiobook, narrated by Greta.
mxjoebest's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
hayley_henderson22's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.0
hiimsera's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
frenchfrybri's review against another edition
4.0
short & sweet and makes you want to get off your ass and fix things. kind of wish she wrote stuff though too, and it wasn’t just a collection of speeches
drusmilford's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed reading the first 10 pages or so but many of her speeches are just basically repeats of her previous speeches. Short, fast read.
lkgannon's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
3.0
Speeches are all very similar