Can One Person make a difference?
If you are a student taking part in the Fridays for Future climate change protest, then you are an individual who is taking action aimed at creating global, national and local change.
And you may have become aware that Greta Thunberg, an Asperger teen from Sweden believes that one person can work to create positive changes in our world.
What convinced her of that? Possibly her conviction came from the way in which her parents responded to her concern about climate change.
Greta asked her mom and dad to acknowledge that the earth is in a dangerous state due to many factors.
She pointed out that the quality of her future life was in jeopardy because of government and individual inaction. And she felt that if her parents shared her concerns and honestly cared about the world that she would grow up to live in, they would personally make lifestyle changes.
She wanted them to change some of their routines and eating habits so that their personal lives would reflect their acknowledged growing concern about the environment.
And they did. They made changes that were not easy for them. For instance, they agreed to give up air travel, which meant her mother had to forego some choice roles in her career as an opera singer.
Because her parents agreed to effect changes in their lives as a result of her discussions with them, she realized that she could be persuasive. Perhaps this ability to create change could reach others beyond her family.
At the age of 15, Greta decided to take her protest beyond her home, to the grounds of the Swedish parliament buildings. She did this on a school day.
She was protesting the lack of any real climate action on the part of the government and she felt it was important enough to miss school to make this happen. It was the first strike for climate change. It had an attendance of one!
Last week, almost four million students around the world protested with Greta.
On this coming Friday, the 27th of September, the Friday for Future strike will come to BC, to cities and towns such as Tofino, Victoria, Campbell River, Burnaby, Vancouver and Prince George, as well as Gabriola and Saltspring and other Islands. Check the map at the links given below to find out if your community is included.
Are you ready Aspies? Ready to Rock the World?
To find the locations for the Friday for Future Strike, including the one this Friday, September 27, 2019, check these websites:
https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/news
https://fridaysforfuture.ca/event-map/
Please be sure to read the information regarding security. Certain safeguards are suggested. Remember that at any large gathering, people who are more interested in making trouble than affecting political change could become involved. Know what action you need to take to protect yourself if such a situation should arise.
Margaret Jean 