• @CluckN@lemmy.world
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    1543 months ago

    Bad. This girl does more good to the cause than hurt. We need more of her and less silly people to change minds.

    • @rar@discuss.online
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      643 months ago

      Her being portrayed by the media or the memes as the “whiny girl seeking attention” is also worrying as well. It really distracts from the real issue and diminishes her work as well.

        • @arandomthought@sh.itjust.works
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          343 months ago

          I mean the scientists have been loud and clear. So have some politicians, but that’s not a special “story” for the media. So it just happened that a very vocal (at the time) little Girl got a lot of attention, because it seemed so special.

          But how does what she is saying distract from the real issue? That’s not an attack, I’m genuinely curious what you think the real issue is and how she distracts from it…

          • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de
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            23 months ago

            It’s not what she’s saying, it’s the messenger.

            Do you think she’s the type of person that a climate change laggard would respect, or want to engage with?

            • @arandomthought@sh.itjust.works
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              3 months ago

              Her argument for being vocal is that her and her generation will have to live with the consequences of our fuckups the longest and hardest. I think that’s pretty valid. Also, she wasn’t “elected by the central climate movement council to be their representative”, if anyone, the media “elected” her and gave her a platform. So maybe be mad at them for not choosing someone “better”?

              There are plenty of old white men with respectable titles saying the exact same thing as her. If a “climate change laggard” wants to hear the same message in a deeper voice, they certainly can. For those who can be moved to action at all (and there are definitely many who are “too far gone” in some conspiracy bullshit) she can be effective for many, especially younger people who have to be shaken from their stupor. So I think it’s a bit critical to “tell the girl to shut up”.

              • nitrolife
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                3 months ago

                Her argument for being vocal is that her and her generation will have to live with the consequences of our fuckups the longest and hardest.

                Surprise, but if you stop generate energy by oil you can’t have hard industry. It is quite difficult to cast steel without huge energy consumption. And aluminum is even more difficult. But for some reason, no one wants to ride horses and abandon airplanes. Them can stop buy industrial products. And problem will gone.

                And no, strangling heavy industry in your country until it is evacuated to China is not a fight for the global environment.

                It is convenient, of course, to tell what idiots everyone around is without having worked a single day in heavy industry. And in Greta’s case, without having worked a day at all, apparently. I suggest she work at the factory for a couple of years and then repeat her statements.

                And it is better to live for a couple of years in a country with a less mild climate. Let’s say where it is -30 in winter. Surely she doesn’t hope that all 9 billion people will fit into the warm bosom of the Gulf Stream? Pollution from heating is also very significant. We don’t even turn off cars here in some cities because then we just won’t start them.

              • @fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de
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                13 months ago

                Ok. She’s a vapid twenty year old with no life experience and nothing to say. She has no expertise, and she’s never suffered any inconvenience to prevent climate change.

                • @mmcintyre@lemmy.world
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                  43 months ago

                  Never suffered any inconvenience? Like, have you seen how she travels? But also…

                  What expertise do you need to say “stop adding carbon to the atmosphere” at this point? Everyone lives here, we all should have something to say about what is inevitably coming down the pike - especially the young. You just come across as someone who has everything to lose wanting those with nothing to lose to sit down, shut up, buckle up, and just be grateful for the ride to whatever hell we’re heading to.

  • @glitchdx@lemmy.world
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    1083 months ago

    Regardless of your opinions about her specifically, it’s a simple fact that positive societal change doesn’t happen by asking nicely. Look at every civil rights movement ever. Nothing got done until people were inconvenienced and companies lost money.

    • @kerrypacker@lemmy.world
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      23 months ago

      Yeah that’s bullshit. Society has been improving overall throughout history. Lots of positive change is brought about by people chasing bigger profits.

    • @arc@lemm.ee
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      13 months ago

      No change doesn’t happen by asking nicely, but I think some joined up thinking by these groups would get them further than performative protesting and getting arrested. If you want change then you lobby politicians on the positive benefits of change, and businesses on the potential profits to be had from implementing it.

      • @Crikeste@lemm.ee
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        313 months ago

        You: Hey government, here’s my vote!

        Giant Corporations: Hey government, here’s $1 trillion

        • @zbyte64
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          That’s unrealistic. A supreme court justice only costs an RV and some vacations. You only need a few billion to buy control, assuming your interests are aligned with the other billionaires and they don’t negate your spending.

          • @Crikeste@lemm.ee
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            3 months ago

            I’ve seen lobbying donations of $30,000. Our country is ABSOLUTELY fucked.

            Bye America 🇺🇸 (more like buy America amirite)

            • @Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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              3 months ago

              That’s not the real bribery. The real bribery is uncountable, sometimes literally bribes that are obscured, or more often positions in companies for them and their friend’s and family, consulting fees, etc. This can all add up to hundreds of millions.

              Heck… even one of those vacations that the person you responded to was referencing probably comes to over 50 - 100k per when you consider fully burdened cost.

      • TheHarpyEagle
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        103 months ago

        What civil rights advancements have been won with this strategy?

      • @Peddlephile@lemm.ee
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        83 months ago

        But all the lobbying has already happened - for decades - and nothing has changed. Fossil fuel companies have poured in billions over the course of decades, and still are, to counter lobby and spread misinformation to keep the status quo.

        You’re only seeing the ‘performative’ protesting in the media and not the lobbying because it’s easy to report on, but in reality this movement is on its last legs. It is THAT level of desperation now.

        Do you think they’d still be protesting if the government actually implemented the policies brought forward by climate scientists decades ago?

      • cum
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        13 months ago

        Why do you assume the two are exclusive?

        • @arc@lemm.ee
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          12 months ago

          Because they are. Groups like PETA, or Just Stop Oil are clowns who hurt their own cause. Performative protesting might win people a participation prize but to everyone else it’s just “look at meeeeee!”. At a certain point it actually becomes toxic to the cause. I know if I wanted to harm environmental campaigning then I’d invent Just Stop Oil.

          Meanwhile big business are sending lobbiests in to change politician’s minds, to make arguments that appeal to their rationality, or self-interest. THAT is what environmental campaigners should be doing - lobbying, extoling the benefits of environmental action, changing minds. Getting arrested in front of cameras over and over just becomes pathetic and performative.

  • @zbyte64
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    653 months ago

    Hell, I would support my kids doing exactly this.

  • @Eyck_of_denesle@lemmy.zip
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    573 months ago

    No offense. Just a genuine question. Where do activists like Greta get income or the money to travel or just for day to day living? Especially considering she has been doing this since a young age.

    Pls don’t take my comment as in a bad light. I’m the same age as her so I always wondered. The answer could be NGO’s collecting donations but I’m not sure.

    • @daltotron@lemmy.world
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      253 months ago

      What I think I’ve noticed about lemmy, I guess reddit as well, and maybe just the modern internet, is that people are very vulnerable to obvious bad faith bait. The classic strategy of “do not feed the troll” doesn’t really seem to be one that most people are familiar with. I can sort of get behind social shaming strategies, which might require engagement, but I think the sad truth is just that most people can’t help themselves when it comes to responding to a troll.

      • @eardon@lemmy.ca
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        143 months ago

        I think your problem is that you assume everyone who disagrees with you or the tribe is a troll.

        • @JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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          53 months ago

          I think everyone’s problem is that there are actually somehow still people that believe climate change is a hoax.

          Those people aren’t trolls or disagreeing with “the tribe”. These people are absolute idiots. They need to be shamed and called out.

      • idunnololz
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        43 months ago

        I have auto collapse comments based on score for this reason.

    • RBG
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      43 months ago

      Welcome to the internet.

  • Neuromancer
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    233 months ago

    Good. This girl does more harm to the cause than help. We need less of her and more serious people to change minds.

    • @Deestan@lemmy.world
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      1583 months ago

      We need more like her who take the threat as a threat and act like it’s a threat.

      Being “serious” or calm about it is not working, and catastrophically so.

        • gregorum
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          433 months ago

          Exactly. They’ve come here to troll and look for a fight. Don’t engage them.

          • Neuromancer
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            13 months ago

            Your response is a troll response. In no way do you engage in the topic or the argument

            While you may think slacktivism is valuable. I don’t.

              • Neuromancer
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                13 months ago

                I don’t go out and protest. Not my thing. I have a job.

                I write my senators and I donate to politicians who share my values. Anyone who supports fracking. Doesn’t get a dollar for me. Anyone who is anti-abortion. Doesn’t get a dollar from me.

                Can you list how the world has changed since her protest? Doesn’t seem overly effective.

            • @pmmeyourtits@ani.social
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              I’d like to engage in discussion with you, what exactly is slacktivism as you define it?

              Update: 5 hours and no response to me but plenty of others in this post. Clearly not discussing in good faith.

          • MamboGator
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            413 months ago

            Eyyy, look at this guy. He openly supports the political ideology whose representatives worldwide have stonewalled every action to combat climate change, and he thinks we should give anything he says on the subject due consideration.

            What a jokester.

            • Neuromancer
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              23 months ago

              I’m part of the cause by driving electric and running solar? Please elaborate.

              • MamboGator
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                3 months ago

                You vote against your own self-proclaimed interests.

                You can’t vote conservative in the 21st century without being either a self-interested jackass trying to protect your own hoard of wealth, or an idiot who has been convinced by the wealth hoarders that conservatives are looking out for anyone but them.

                The people you vote for are the reason why this planet is on a collision course with fucked. The only reason Elon started bought an electric car company is because he saw a market ripe for exploitation and convinced idiots that he was a Stable Genius who wanted to save the world so they’d buy his shittily-made cars. He’s the richest person on the planet and could easily solve untold numbers of problems threatening humanity and Earth by himself, but he’ll only do the things that will make him even more money in the process.

                • Neuromancer
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                  33 months ago

                  I vote for my own interest but thanks for the advice.

                  Neither party has a viable solution for climate change. I think the democrats is worse than the republicans.

                  Also you don’t understand wealth. If Elon converted his wealth to cash, he’d no longer be at Tesla, space x, boring, etc. that wealth is the value of those companies.

                  Personally I’d like to see him take a step back from Tesla before he runs it into the ground but I doubt he will.

              • @almar_quigley@lemmy.world
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                83 months ago

                Oh well gee I stand corrected. You’re a paragon of climate conscientiousness. I will not take anyone who posts articles from Fox News seriously. Actually in any matter come to think of it.

      • Neuromancer
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        73 months ago

        She just babbles and has no solution to the problem. She’s addicted to the media attention.

        As voters we need to push politicians to make changes and in America that is through taxation and not bans.

        Biden has pushed stupid legislation that won’t accomplish anything.

        You want to reduce ice cars? Increase gasoline taxes and remove subsidies. Gas would double in price with would reduce the miles people drive and the size of their cars.

        The problem is it’s a global problem and everyone needs to pitch it.

        • lettruthout
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          423 months ago

          Hmm… seems like you should thank her.

          Because she participated in that protest, she got arrested, a news source wrote about it, and you got to bring up good points about how we need to take more action.

          Yeah she babbles speaks about the issues, but since she’s not (yet?) an elected official, what else would you have her do?

          • Neuromancer
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            13 months ago

            Personally I’d like to see her go away. She does nothing to help in my opinion and gives credit it’s a crazy conspiracy. She just comes off as an idiot.

            The way you make change is vote for people that want to make real changes. Not stupid crap like carbon credits. People that have real ideas.

            You talk to your friends about it. I’ve got several people to switch to teslas and solar power. It requires logic and facts.

            Just babbling like an idiot turns people off and they don’t think a thing but made up conspiracy.

            • @Plopp@lemmy.world
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              383 months ago

              Ah yes, the person who has rallied up more people (current and future voters) globally around the climate issue than anyone else as of late has done nothing to help. I think what you mean is that she annoys you.

              • Neuromancer
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                23 months ago

                She damages the vision.

                I don’t know anyone she’s rallied. She’s universally made fun of this country.

                What has changed since she’s been ranting? Nothing. She wants the focus on her and not the issue

                • @Plopp@lemmy.world
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                  283 months ago

                  Ah, Neuromancer doesn’t know anyone she’s rallied. My bad, case closed then! lmao

            • DarkThoughts
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              93 months ago

              She literally formed the largest climate protest movement in the world, while you sit here and spread dumbass conspiracy bullshit about her.

              • Neuromancer
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                13 months ago

                I never said anything about a conspiracy. I said she an idiot who really isn’t helping.

        • @thisorthatorwhatever@lemmy.world
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          203 months ago

          You’re still advocating individual car ownership as a sustainable future…buses, trams, trolleys, LRT, trains. 6000lbs (2200kilos) just to get a few groceries is over kill.

          • Neuromancer
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            53 months ago

            Maybe you don’t live in America but for the foreseeable future, that is the solution. The first step is a reduction in using fossil fuels. Public transportation would take decades to build out to a useable level in America.

              • @Minotaur@lemm.ee
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                73 months ago

                Not just in Lemmy, but I think there’s an increasing divide between the demographic I’m going to call “has only ever lived in a major city” and “everyone else”, especially online.

                A shocking amount of people (to me) have never once in their life lived in an area with less than like 500,000 people. To many of these people, it is incomprehensible to imagine that a lot of people have legitimate needs for cars. They have good intentions, and many of them are otherwise smart people, but they really struggle to imagine how and where many Americans live, and what all goes into things like the transportation of goods and services.

                Public transportation is great! But without what would be the largest investment in infrastructure in human history by several magnitudes there’s simply no way to just get rid of 90% of car ownership or whatever.

              • Neuromancer
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                63 months ago

                I would like to see more public options but at this time, that isn’t going to help much. California has been trying to build high speed rail since I was a kid. Still hasn’t done shit. I think hybrids are the gap technology until we can get electric cars more affordable. The 1% will always act like it’s everyone else and even if we increased fuel taxes. It won’t phase them.

              • @anon232@lemm.ee
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                43 months ago

                What do you mean you can’t come up with a transportation solution to transport millions of people around at any given moment that’s more convenient than them being able to travel to their destinations on their own without a long schedule?

                In case I need it, /s.

        • Kraiden
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          113 months ago

          Did you even read the article? That’s literally what they’re calling for. The removal of subsidies.

          As for everyone needing to pitch in, just no. The vast majority of emissions come from sources outside public control. The “everyone needs to pitch in” and “watch your personal carbon footprint” crap is just effective marketing from BP.

          Not saying cutting down personal emissions is bad, every little helps…

          but it’s not a solution. We need to be holding the big emmiters accountable.

          The only realistic way to doing that is through inconvenient protests like blocking roads and making sure we can’t be ignored. How else do you force governments to turn on their benefactors?

          It’s been over 50 years now, and we’ve seen very little real movement on this. it’s been mostly token and empty gestures, and pandering. It’s time we stepped up our game.

          Soooo she’s got the right idea imo

        • @theneverfox@pawb.social
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          53 months ago

          Addicted to the attention? I know nothing about her except her age and her stance on climate change

          She doesn’t go off topic, she doesn’t do talk shows. Maybe she loves the attention deep down, but she stays on mission…She doesn’t abuse the privilege. She’s allowed to enjoy the process, I hope she does.

          I challenge you to follow your convictions to that extent

          • Neuromancer
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            13 months ago

            She doesn’t abuse the privilege

            Like when she threw the fit that the train didn’t give her first class. Yep, doesn’t abuse her privilege at all.

    • @Olap@lemmy.world
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      283 months ago

      What is the most downvoted comment on lemmy? Would you like a sense of pride and accomplishment?

    • Endorkend
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      You need both.

      Some people won’t ever hear anything about the issues until they see some weird kid do these stunts or see that someone their age can have a word in the discussion too.

      Others are more likely to pay attention to scientists, the type that read more intellectual literature.

      And then there’s those who won’t ever change their mind because they’ve been spoonfed corporate propaganda and thanks to religion and just generally being dumbasses, are perfectly primed to be managed in this way.

    • @projectd@lemmy.world
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      173 months ago

      She’s a hero, she’s the reason why everyone is talking about climate change - even my kids are trying to make better choices and saying they’ve learned about it because of her, they’ve never heard of you.

      • Neuromancer
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        53 months ago

        Yeah people here make fun of her.

        So what changes did your kids make because of her? I’m curious because most her rants are just we are killing people. What actionable item came from her rants ?

        • @projectd@lemmy.world
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          203 months ago

          They are vegan, they get involved at their school on environmental improvements, they make sure they don’t waste etc. and they make sure to highlight the plight of the future to others.

          I honestly don’t know how you can look at Greta Thunberg and underestimate the impact she’s had on public discourse on climate change.

          In before trolls have a go at them for being vegan, this very respected recent meta analysis published in science clearly finds that going vegan is the number one thing you can do to help most climate change factors https://josephpoore.com/Science 360 6392 987 - Accepted Manuscript.pdf

          • Neuromancer
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            13 months ago

            Personally I’ll never go vegan. To each his own.

            I have seen zero impact due to her work. Zero.

            All I see if both sides making fun of her rants.

            She is the reason my kid stopped participating in climate events. She didn’t want to be associated with her.

            • @projectd@lemmy.world
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              33 months ago

              You have never seen any impact because you’re trying to mash your hands over your ears and close your eyes. I literally just told you the an impact she’s had on my family and you still don’t recognise an impact.

              Of course, I’m sure anecdotes mean nothing to you, so look further at the awards, media attention, speeches, international demonstrations that started with her. Zero impact? Jesus, we are having this conversation because of her.

              Honestly, if you can’t imagine that this particular household name, face of Time magazine and organiser of global protests has had any impact at all, you probably also believe that the moon landing was faked, the election was stolen, the earth is flat, and there’s no helping your unhealthy relationship with bad takes.

              • Neuromancer
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                13 months ago

                Jesus, we are having this conversation because of her.

                Yes, how damaging she is to the cause. Due to her it’s been hard to get any politician to listen because of her nutty behavior.

                While it seems to have swayed you, she has t swayed American discussion on the topic.

                • @projectd@lemmy.world
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                  33 months ago

                  Unfortunately, that says more about American discussion - America has moved beyond left Vs right to reality Vs “alternative facts”. For example, climate change denialism, large vaccines cause autism, the election fraud nonsense. Unfortunately, given that opportunistic morons like America’s republican party have politicised and denied climate change, I’m sure they’ll be a segment of the population that will blame anything, including Greta.

                  So yes, I do agree with you that the large anti science wing of America wouldn’t warm to her, but they never would have.

      • Neuromancer
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        43 months ago

        Work with legislatures or even boycott a business. You push for actual change that is reasonable and meaningful. Instead of trying to push electric down everyone’s throats, push hybrids. Push plug in hybrids. We have the ability to do that now.

        • @Minotaur@lemm.ee
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          123 months ago

          Well, those are two very different things. One is essentially for politicians and basically amounts to “just get Congress to do better” (a whole lot easier said than done) and one is an act that essentially has to be championed by a person or organization and then implemented by a masse of people. Greta has called for boycotts before, so under this definition she’s good under your boat.

          I’ve read other comments of yours, and many of them are reasonable (more reasonable than the average user at least) and not worthy of downvotes. But your solutions seem to be missing a few steps between “be where we are now” and “just get everyone to drive a hybrid”.

          • Neuromancer
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            23 months ago

            Greta calling for a boycott, just would make people buy the product.

            Bud light recently was boycotted and look how effective that was.

            I’m not missing a step, you increase fuel taxes, end subsidies, end fracking and make hybrids tax advantageous.

            The market will sort itself out very quickly.

            • @Minotaur@lemm.ee
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              83 months ago

              Okay, well you just added several steps right there, and you’re still missing some.

              Who increases fuel taxes and subsidies? How do we as a civilization get that done?

              • Neuromancer
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                Your state senators and state representatives at the local and federal level. Taxes are done by the government. Remove subsidies are the same people.

            • @IzzyScissor@lemmy.world
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              53 months ago

              Lmao, “People should boycott businesses, but if this one person does what I just said to do, then it’s actually bad because I say so.”

      • @BunkerBuster@lemmy.world
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        13 months ago

        He mods his own conservative echo chamber at Lemm.ee. He doesn’t get any votes there either. He absolutely doesn’t care that he’s alone, which is a good thing I suppose because he absolutely is alone. His fellow mods call him out all the time.

    • @eardon@lemmy.ca
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      53 months ago

      If you have to explain a joke, it’s probably not funny.

      I got it and it still wasn’t funny. Maybe you’re just not funny.

      • Goku
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        If you have to explain a joke, it’s probably not funny. I got it and it still wasn’t funny.

        That would be enough by itself, harsh but reasonable.

        Maybe you’re just not funny.

        Now that’s just mean and uncalled for.

        • @eardon@lemmy.ca
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          13 months ago

          I guess the only criticism you’re used to is praise.

          That would distort how you perceive your humor.

          • Goku
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            13 months ago

            Actually the fist statement you made is a criticism on the joke.

            The second statement is a generalized assumption on OPs character traits.

            To assume someone just isn’t funny (in general) by reading one of their comments reveals a lot about how dense you are.

  • Jessica
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    153 months ago

    A climate protester who is frequently arrested/detained due to protesting has been arrested/detained for protesting. This is the story every time she is arrested/detained.

    Maybe I’m jaded, but, who cares? How is this world news?

  • @werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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    123 months ago

    I hope governments pick up on this climate thing. A demonstration is always a great way to convince people.

    I’ve lived in places that have a climate and it’s great!

  • @computerscientistI@lemm.ee
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    33 months ago

    I always ridiculed her, although secretly I admired her determination and also agreed with her aims.

    Then she started her pro-Gaza ramblings. She clearly has no idea about history of the middle east and also can’t classifiy current events. To noone’s surprise as she has hardly visited school. She’s also 20 now, so a full adult, she does not have this young-innocent-girl Jeanne d’Arc bonus anymore.

  • @arc@lemm.ee
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    I think climate activists would just be better off doing what everyone else does - lobbying. Identify politicians who represent areas who would benefit from pollution controls, or green investment or whatever and push the message. Performative acts in front of cameras might feel good but it’s a blunt tool to change policy. Some protestors such as “just stop oil” campaigners are so stupid that they actually help the causes they supposedly oppose.

    • @Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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      163 months ago

      Yeah but here’s the problem

      They don’t own massive fossil fuel companies that make them trillions of dollars

    • @Schmoo@slrpnk.net
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      3 months ago

      Climate activists can lobby in person when available, taking time away from other things. Oil companies can hire armies of lobbyists - some of whom masquerading as “concerned citizens” - to overwhelm public hearings, buy out media companies to manipulate public opinion and engage in astroturfing campaigns, and directly sway politicians with legal bribery (deliberately being vague about the purpose of “gifts” to maintain the benefit of the doubt about there being any quid pro quo involved).

      Lobbying effectively requires resources - namely capital - which oil companies have in abundance and climate activists do not. To suggest that climate activists should simply fight on their terms is ignorant at best and malicious at worst.

    • @Ilovemyirishtemper@lemmy.world
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      13 months ago

      That’s probably true, but, at least in the US, nothing will really move forward without the populace backing it (or not knowing about it to begin with). Otherwise, those politicians will never get elected again, and whatever climate policy they created will be negated by the new politician.

      So it seems like she’s trying to go the route of getting the populace backing first, and then she’ll have that strength to draw on when dealing with politicians. A bunch more people at that point would be also calling for change, so she wouldn’t have to do much convincing. The fear of losing their political standing would be the impetus for change.

      In my particularly weird corner of the world, we are still trying to convince people that climate change is real. I can’t imagine how much the deniers would freak out if their elected official backed something that they think doesn’t exist.