Bon voyage Greta Thunberg

Just because we may want to consume all the same food, cars, holidays we are used to doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be challenged.

Gabriella, I'd like to stand up and be counted as NOT one of your sweeping generalisation "virtually everyone". From what I've read of the circumstances of other people on GN over the years, I don't believe I'm alone.

I don't drive a car. I've got a bike.

I dont drive ,haven't been on a plane in 15 years ,wouldn't dream of a cruise ,the very thoughtof a mobile tower block horrifies me .Am involved in local beach cleanups as are my GD's and am happy to support Greta in her actions .
Isn't it nice to see so many on GN supporting young people (not) moan if they dont do things and moan if they do ...no wonder older folk get a bad name !

GoneGirl
Oh for goodness sake!

OK. I'm stupid. Happy now? hmm

that was to janipat (who knows much more than the rest of the human race, obviously)

Do you get enjoyment from being nasty? I didn't name you, I just quoted what you'd said. It definitely seemed as if you thought the suggestion Greta was autistic was a slur? I know about autism because my grandson is autistic, I make no claim more than that.

Not remotely nasty, I have no personal animosity for this child, although I have deep reservations about those around her. I doubt this antic was her idea, although, at only 16, it must have appear to be very exciting, which is why she is so enthusiastic about it. I would have been just as excited about it at her age - and just as ignorant of what it involves..

I have since had more than enough experience on boats both powered and sail driven and memories of the number of adventures like this that have ended in disaster. We have recently been commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Fastnet race that ended with 19 dead. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Fastnet_race#Meteorological_history. Fastnet crews are all experienced sailors, who understand how capricious weather can be offshore.

The hurricane season in the US runs from June to November and as we know these hurricanes, starting out at sea and running up the US east coast, cross the Atlantic and give us very windy conditions. Think what they are like when they are only a quarter or half their way across the Atlantic.

As I understand it GT has little or no sailing experience and the skipper of the boat has said she faces two weeks of potentially rough seas. It is going to be very good publicity for the commercial companies involved with this boat and her professional skipper.

No way would I use anyone being autistic as a slur on them!

I did worry after I posted that I might have hurt your feelings, and I'm sorry if I did.

That was to janipat.

I give up on you Monica.

Thank you GoneGirl I hope we can put it behind us now. ( I may be sensitive on the subject because we do encounter negative reactions to GS from some people, because of his autistic behaviours)

She could come back on a Tall ship. If there were any coming our way .

After the recent power cuts, does anyone know, or have any ideas, how we will produce enough electricity to power transport in the future?
Not just cars - all transport.

That is why we need highly educated people to research what fuels we will be able to produce to keep society running smoothly without producing harmful emissions which damage the planet.

Meanwhile...

I've just seen a report on Beyond 100 Days on the BBC from what we like to think of as the "pristine Arctic".

The glistening snow contains micro plastics, rubber particles and fabric fibres. 10,000 man made fibres per litre of melted snow. These are carried from Europe, Asia and worldwide on air and sea currents which drive pollutants north. Plus the tourists who come to see the beautiful wilderness create pollution...

One question asked at the end of the report was whether persuasion or enforcement would be the better solution.

nuclear fusion is coming

Gonegirl with some knowledge of the seas and sailing, I would never have allowed either of my children, with as little experience as GT, undertake the voyage proposed when they were that age. I would even be doubtful if they had been ocean sailing since they were toddlers and had plenty of experience. This kind of sailing is not child's play.

As a result, I am appalled that anyone else should risk the life of their own or anybody else's child do this journey just for some cheap publicity (I mean the owners and the skipper not GT).

If you think this concern for the life and welfare of this girl makes you give up on me, you are very welcome to do so.

race between the US and the European projects

The links are in answer to Callistemon.

Godspeed Greta! You are an inspiration to millions of people who want a safe and peaceful future for their children and grandchildren. You are showing young people that they are not powerless in the face of environmental crisis. Go well!

Here's an interesting video on climate change if you're interested in facts rather than scaremongering.

www.livejournal.com/update.bml?url=https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DB1KYvz7FFrE%26feature%3Dshare&subject=Global%20Cooling

I'd better send it to Greta to watch after she's puked up over the yacht sides several times and wished she's gone by air!!

Don't think it's linked correctly, sorry. You can find it on You Tube under the heading 'Peter Temple, global cooling'.

‘That’s why we need highly educated people to research what fuels we will be able to produce to keep society running smoothly without producing harmful emissions which damage the planet.’

Absolutely correct Callistemon, my point exactly.

I agree with M0nica re the lack of experience. My brother and his family are all keen and experienced sailors, two of them recently being caught in the gale off the coast of Greece which meant ten hours of 'sheer terror'.

There will be a teenager, her father and a documentary maker on board all with no sailing experience in very cramped conditions and unpredictable weather.

I don't envy the skipper.

We know, Happiyogi, we know!

You are speaking to us as if we have no clue!
We've seen The Ganges full of plastic, the dumps of plastic carefully sent for recycling by conscientious UK householders now languishing in Asia - with the Councils' names emblazoned on the bags.
We've seen the turtles with plastic bags in their stomachs, the birds feeding their young on plastic.

We haven't travelled to these places, we've seen them thanks to informed presenters on our tvs.
We know.
We now need solutions.

....and also products and technologies that will enable us to to reduce energy consumption in every aspect of our lives.

An amazing an very committed young woman. I wish her well and hope she never sees some of the thoroughly nasty comments that sadly are being and will be made against her.

Thanks Gonegirl - interesting isn't it!