Two amazing and inspiring young women — U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate advocate — recently had a conversation. Read what they said at the link after the short introductory information I wrote here:
The source of the following link had this headline
When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez met Greta Thunberg: ‘Hope is contagious’
The article linked below has this sub-headline: “One is America’s youngest-ever congresswoman, the other a Swedish schoolgirl. Two of the most powerful voices on the climate speak for the first time.”
I especially like this quotation from AOC: “[H]ope is not something that you have. Hope is something that you create, with your actions.”
Then Greta said this: “I know so many people who feel hopeless, and they ask me, “What should I do?” And I say: “Act. Do something.” Because that is the best medicine against sadness and depression.”
Later when AOC and Greta were discussing the strong concerns that young people have about the climate crisis, Greta said: “[I]t always reminds me a lot of the Emperor’s New Clothes. Everyone believes in this lie, that only a child dares to question.”
I encourage everyone to read this substantive conversation here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/29/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-met-greta-thunberg-hope-contagious-climate?CMP=share_btn_tw
When I shared this with some friends, one friend said that we “old farts” need to get out of the way. I responded to my friend with this:
Some “old farts” are actually doing good work and pushing boldly ahead. Age is not a barrier. The people who need to “get out of the way” are the entrenched economic and political power-holders who obstruct bold progress. Some of these are greedy corporations, and some are “centrist” and “liberal” politicians who want only tiny steps (“change your light bulbs” or “enact a modest cap-and-trade”) that fall far short of the radical consciousness-raising and bold institutional restructuring that we need. Instead of rejecting elders, let’s reject “business-as-usual” and “politics-as-usual.”