The power of youth: Time named man of the year

Time magazine named Swedish eco-activist Greta Thunberg the 2019 man of the year. Writes about this with the BBC.

Фото: Depositphotos

“She gave impetus to a worldwide movement. Thunberg has become the loudest voice on the most important issue facing humanity. It embodies the widespread growth of youth activity, which is an important cultural phenomenon of our time,” explained the reasons for the decision, Time magazine editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal.

Greta Tunberg turned out to be the youngest person of the year for almost 100-year history of awarding this title, beating shortlisted Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Mark Zuckerberg and protesters in Hong Kong this year.

Until the 16-year-old Thunberg, the youngest holder of this title was Charles Lindberg: the magazine named him the man of the year in 1927, when the 25-year-old pilot became the first to make a transatlantic flight alone, writes RBC.

The magazine's editors traditionally award the title "Person of the Year" in December and place a photo of the chosen one on the cover.

In August 2018, Thunberg first went to the Swedish Parliament to demand attention to the problem of global warming and to implement the Paris Agreement. Later, she began to hold protests on Fridays and urged everyone to follow her example. Other activists joined Thunberg, and her action “Friday for the Future” became the movement of the same name.

Time's Person of the Year is not an honor. This is not a sign of approval. And not recognition of popularity. This is a sober assessment of the world as it is, and the people who shape this world - for better or worse, says the editorial principle.

In the 1927 year, Charles Lindbergh, the American pilot who flew the Atlantic, became the first man of the year. In the future, this title was received by Stalin, Hitler, Churchill, Deng Xiaoping, Gorbachev, Putin, as well as the collective American Soldier and Internet User.

"Loopholes and crafty numbers"

Speaking at the UN Climate Summit in Madrid, the 16-year-old eco-activist said the next decade will be crucial for Earth.

She accused world leaders of using "loopholes, dodgy numbers and sophisticated PR" to avoid decisive action.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called Thunberg a “bad child.”

“The most dangerous thing is when politicians and top managers imitate activities, but in fact nothing happens,” Greta said from the rostrum of the summit in Madrid, drawing applause from the audience.

According to the activist, summits like this one came down to empty discussions and the search for excuses.

On the subject: Impossible to stop: irreversible climate change began on Earth

“In three weeks we will enter a new decade that will shape our future. There is not a single glimmer of hope yet, and we are in despair,” she said.

Greta Tunberg became the main star of the summit, overshadowing other celebrities present, including former US Vice President Al Gore.

Unlike the full emotion and anger of the September performance in New York, her current speech was more based on scientific evidence and sounded more balanced.

On the sidelines one could hear that the “Greta effect” was needed to breathe more life into sluggish discussions.

Meanwhile, the hall Greta was addressing was full of empty seats. Many national delegations ignored the morning session of the summit.

Were you busy with work meetings? Or in this way expressed the attitude of their countries, whose economy is based on the burning of hydrocarbons?

In any case, the mood of the diplomats is very far from the feelings of young fans of Greta Tunberg, who go out on demonstrations to save the climate.

Correspondence skirmish

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaru, known for his right-wing views, ridiculed Greta Tunberg's statement that the indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon are dying, protecting the rainforests from being cut down.

The activist, on another Twitter post, linked a recent crime in the state of Maranhão in northeastern Brazil to an environmental fight, where two leaders of a guajajara tribe were shot dead from a passing car.

Bolsonaru did not hesitate to respond.

“Greta said that the Indians died because they were defending the Amazon,” he told reporters in Maranhão, where he arrived due to the emergency. “It’s amazing that the press pays so much attention to something like this...” and used the Portuguese word “pirralha,” which can be translated as “tomboy,” “hooligan,” “enfant terrible.”

On the subject: UN: this decade will be the hottest climate observation ever

Bolsonaru added that he was worried about any deaths, and that his government was fighting illegal deforestation.

The eco-activist said in response that she will now follow Twitter with the word Pirralha.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called her "a kind but ill-informed girl" in October.

Greta Thunberg became famous in the 2018 year, when instead of studying at school every Friday she began to hold individual pickets with environmental requirements at the building of the Swedish Riksdag.

In the context of her school strike in Sweden, Thunberg said: “It’s like I’m dying inside if I don’t protest.”

At age 11, she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism characterized by a tendency toward a black-and-white perception of reality, categorical judgments, and concentration on a specific set of interests and activities.

The attitude towards Greta Tunberg in the world extends from ridicule to delight. Several left-wing deputies of the Swedish and Norwegian parliaments nominated her for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize of the year.

Along with Greta Thunberg, Time magazine named Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger as Entrepreneur of the Year, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team as Athletes of the Year, Guardians of the Year as Government Officials, and Lizzo as Entertainer of the Year.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Impossible to stop: irreversible climate change began on Earth

Growing at an alarming rate: carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has reached a record level

Global warming: severe hurricanes occur in the USA 3,3 times more often than 100 years ago

End of the world: what will happen if electricity is cut off worldwide

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