GretaThunberg.pptx

Greta Thunberg
The “…Swedish teenager who skipped school and inspired an international movement to fight climate change” (“Greta Thunberg”, 28 Feb. 2020).

Biography (100 to 200 words)
Greta Thunberg (who has many middle names) was born in Stockholm, Sweden on January 3rd, 2003. At the age of 15 she won an essay writing contest in a local newspaper. The topic: climate change (“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021). 

Greta has been diagnosed with Asperger’s, and she sees this as one of the reasons she has become so driven to spread awareness about the issues facing the planet. Her dedication to the message of climate change can be, in part; linked to her ability to focus on an issue and to look at the facts without being carried away by other influences (“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021)

Biography (mine 235 with references)
Thunberg became interested in the issue of climate change while learning about it in school, around the age of 8. She became concerned enough to research, with the help of her parents, which led to a change in her own lifestyle. She became a vegan and refused to board planes, looking for other means of travel that had less effect on the planet (Alter, 1 Jan 2020)

In the summer after her essay contest win, Thunberg skipped school for three weeks and help a “sit in” in front of her parliament building, demanding politicians pay attention to climate change issues. This was called the “School Strike for Climate” and would eventually lead to what is now occurring weekly, all over the world – the “Fridays for Future” campaigns (“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021).

Resource Management Issue of Focus (100 – 200 words)
Thunberg has no one resources management focus; in fact, she is focussing on the biggest picture possible: she is trying to save the whole planet. There is no geographic region to focus on, there is no specific action, there is no one group. There is her message to any, and all, who will listen; “We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow,” (Alter, 1 Jan. 2020)
Although Thunberg does not have all the answers she knows change has to happen. The climate crisis will not wait. 

Resource Management Issue of Focus (mine is 179 words with references)
She has addressed governments and groups all over the world with this message that governments and banks need to stop investing in fossil fuels and invest in sustainable technologies that would renew the natural world. She also calls for countries all over the world to cut carbon emissions immediately. Most importantly, she has called upon adults all over the world to do better for the next generation; and for the next generation to hold the world accountable for their failings (“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021).

Involvement and Contributions (each should be about 100 words)
As mentioned previously, Thunberg started pursuing the climate crisis issue through school. In fact, she attributes her interest in a video her teacher showed the class, which dealt with the loss of habitat for polar bears and how the melting of ice flows in the Arctic, and the effects of global warming across the planet (Alter, 1 Jan. 2020).
Her first major contribution was to begin launching her own climate strike to expose the issue to politicians in Sweden. She did this for the three weeks leading up to the Swedish elections. The first day she posted about her strike using social media and a few papers came to talk to her. Day two, a stranger joined her. The next day there were 40 people, then a few hundred, then thousands outside the parliament buildings in Stockholm. This group shifted to “Fridays for Future” but her first climate strike in August of 2018 started it all (Alter, 1 Jan. 2020).

Involvement and Contributions (next practical example – you need between 3 and 5)
“Fridays for Future” has been a movement since September 2018 and the number of people has grown exponentially since Thunberg sat alone on the steps of Sweden’s national parliament buildings.

Today Fridays for Future has weekly demonstrations on all continents, and takes place in over 7,500 cities. There are currently over 14 million people participating in these events. The social media platforms show millions of followers, and Thunberg herself has over 5 million followers, including me (“Fridays For Future…”18 Apr. 2021). 

Involvement and Contributions (next practical example – you need between 3 and 5)
Thunberg’s popularity allowed her a chance to speak at a United Nations climate event. Because she is dedicated to keeping her ecological impact small, she sailed across the Atlantic on a zero carbon emissions yacht, She faces sea sickness, thunderstorms and the odd dangerous weather event. When she arrived she was met by 250,000 plus demonstrators who were set to march with her to speak for climate change. (Altar 1 Jan. 2020). While speaking at the UN she made her impassioned speech, saying “How dare you? I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? ((“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021)”.
Since then she has met with officials across the globe, marched around the world with demonstrators and talked with politicians, the Pope, and scientists about the need for change. She has sparked a movement that is not going away anytime soon.

Involvement and Contributions (next practical example – you need between 3 and 5)
An additional benefit of Thunberg’s demonstrations and protests is the positive attention that Asperger’s has received. Greta herself admits that at times it was difficult to fit into the norms of everyday life because of her unique way of looking at the world, but because of this she has been able to concentrate on this issue and bring attention to the very serious world threat.

Thunberg has referred to her Asperger’s, and accompanying OCD, as a “superpower” and those in the Autism world have looked to her as a hero. They see her as a spokesperson for what those who have Asperger’s are able to accomplish. She has been applauded (and ridiculed) around the world for using her “differences” to promote a worthy cause (DeSantis 11 Dec. 2019).

Nomination Pitch (2 paragraphs)
An eco-champion is someone who fights for the planet, not for glory or fame, but to save the world for future generations; not just humans but all species. Greta Thunberg is a shining example of an eco-champion. From an early age she has recognized that the activities of humans are destroying the planet; and she has acted upon them. In her personal life she has focussed on numerous ways to reduce her ecological footprint, and she has taken her fight to the world. In December she helped organize a “Fight for 1.5!” where people around the world came together to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the Paris Climate talks, and to called for a renewed promise from the leaders of the world to reduce carbon emissions immediately so that world climate increased can stop at, or below, a 1.5 degree C change (“Fight for 1.5!” 22 Dec 2020).

Nomination Pitch (2 paragraphs)
As well, Thunberg has had an impact on world leaders and that is something that sets activists and champions apart. Because of her direct approach to the issue of climate change, and her honesty and frankness, she has caught the eye of all generations. In a recent interview with Sir David Attenborough, a world renowned journalist and naturalist, he noted that Thunberg had “…achieved things many others have failed to do, adding: ‘you have aroused the world. I’m very grateful to you’ (“Greta Thunberg.” 1 Jan. 2021)”. This recognition is part of what is needed to be a champion: exposure and recognition so that the message can be heard by all. Great Thunberg has had her message heard, and she continues to deliver it with enthusiasm and extraordinary to behold.

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