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Greta's innovation is bringing two important points into the discussion: 1. Why we talk about climate change being serious threat, yet we are acting as if noth

by js8 7y ago

Greta's innovation is bringing two important points into the discussion: 1. Why we talk about climate change being serious threat, yet we are acting as if nothing is going on? 2. What is the point of studying science, if politicians do not listen to science? That, and her determination to strike (based on the two above points). You can argue that neither argument is particularly difficult or complicated. They are rather obvious in hindsight. Well, there is a name for things like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_of_Columbus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_of_Columbus

pnako 7y ago
>2. What is the point of studying science, if politicians do not listen to science? That's not really what's happening. From day one, in the eighties, the ones who have been vocal about this have been politicians. Al Gore, the IPCC, etc. I mean, most people can't name a single scientist advocating this issue. In France, just like in the US, the number one advocate on this issue is a TV show host. And in fact, the most well-known French scientist (turned politician) who talked about global warming (Claude Allegre) is what people would call a skeptic or denier... What's happening today is that: 1. in western democracies, people predominantly vote to ignore it 2. in developing countries, leaders also choose to ignore it Greta is protesting against point 1. That's not going to achieve much more. At this point, people have made their mind about the issue and I don't think the balance is going to be tipped significantly. I don't even understand what she's trying to achieve. She can shout at politicians as much as she wants, ultimately the power is held by the people of those democracies.
- js8 7y ago
  By "politicians" she means people in power, and by "listening" she means taking actions (or at least refraining from doing the opposite). That's what your examples lack. > in western democracies, people predominantly vote to ignore it According to polls, it is considered to be very important issue, see e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/15/americans-climate-change-crisis-cbs-poll https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/15/americans-cl... There was another poll and in European countries the support is even higher.

by js8 7y ago

pnako 7y ago

>2. What is the point of studying science, if politicians do not listen to science? That's not really what's happening. From day one, in the eighties, the ones who have been vocal about this have been politicians. Al Gore, the IPCC, etc. I mean, most people can't name a single scientist advocating this issue. In France, just like in the US, the number one advocate on this issue is a TV show host. And in fact, the most well-known French scientist (turned politician) who talked about global warming (Claude Allegre) is what people would call a skeptic or denier... What's happening today is that: 1. in western democracies, people predominantly vote to ignore it 2. in developing countries, leaders also choose to ignore it Greta is protesting against point 1. That's not going to achieve much more. At this point, people have made their mind about the issue and I don't think the balance is going to be tipped significantly. I don't even understand what she's trying to achieve. She can shout at politicians as much as she wants, ultimately the power is held by the people of those democracies.

js8 7y ago
By "politicians" she means people in power, and by "listening" she means taking actions (or at least refraining from doing the opposite). That's what your examples lack. > in western democracies, people predominantly vote to ignore it According to polls, it is considered to be very important issue, see e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/15/americans-climate-change-crisis-cbs-poll https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/15/americans-cl... There was another poll and in European countries the support is even higher.