AOC and Greta Thunberg had this fascinating conversation

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.”

 

About GlenAnderson 1499 Articles
Since the late 1960s Glen Anderson has devoted his life to working as a volunteer for peace, nonviolence, social justice, and progressive political issues. He has worked through many existing organizations and started several. Over the years he has worked especially for such wide-ranging goals as making peace with Vietnam, eliminating nuclear weapons, converting from a military economy to a peacetime economy, abolishing the death penalty, promoting nonviolence at all levels throughout society, and helping people organize and strategize for grassroots movements to solve many kinds of problems. He writes, speaks, and conducts training workshops on a wide variety of topics. Since 1987 he has produced and hosted a one-hour cable TV interview program on many kinds of issues. Since 2017 he has blogged at https://parallaxperspectives.org He lives in Lacey near Olympia WA. You can reach him at (360) 491-9093 glen@parallaxperspectives.org