Sixteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is coming to Alberta.
The teen announced the visit while in America on the weekend, although the location and dates of her itinerary are still not known.
Red Deer resident Deb Caddy said she is all for looking after the planet, but believes that sometimes, discussions get heated and become extreme on both sides.
“And I don’t think it needs to go to that extent, we need peace in those things,” she said while out on a walk.
As for Thunberg coming to Alberta, Caddy said everyone is entitled to their opinion, and so is the teenager.
She said there may be some people who will not like her coming here.
“But I would hate to think people would be cruel to her. She is coming here to talk, just to talk. Let her talk. Let her have her say, and I’m sure some of the things she has to say are true.
“I think she should come,” said Caddy.
If the teenager is reading what seems like a script, Thunberg is getting the facts from the research she is doing, said Caddy.
Several people took to The Advocate’s Facebook page to share their opinions about the teenager’s upcoming visit.
One poster said whether or not we see eye to eye on a specific issue, “I am thrilled when young people are actively involved in issues they believe in.
“If we attack her just because we disagree, we discourage other young people from speaking up. By doing so, we miss potential.
“Our current energy sources are non renewable, so at some point, we need passionate, creative young people to feel confident in thinking outside of the box to discover alternatives,” the commenter went on to say.
Other posters said the teenager is reading from a text, prewritten for her.
“She already has a script to follow. What we say won’t matter,” states one comment.
“Her agenda is already written, it’s just a photo-op with protesters to fill the visual component,” stated another comment.
The activist was in Montreal in September, when she marched with a crowd reported to be half a million strong. She has also met Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau while she was in Montreal, telling him Canada has not done enough to fight climate change.
Her climate emergency marches have taken place in several cities across the world, including in Red Deer on Sept. 27.
About 50 people marched to bring awareness to climate change and the impact it has on the globe at the rally hosted by the Red Deer chapter of the Council of Canadians.
At the rally, chairman Christopher D’Lima told The Advocate that Climate Justice Week was initiated by the Swedish teen and it’s important to keep a youth perspective in mind when it comes to the climate fight.
“They are inheriting this world. We are getting older and it’s the youth who are going to be taking over – it’s going to be their world,” D’Lima said.
Heading north again. Now follows a few days of well needed rest while enjoying the spectacular nature of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Then on to Alberta, Canada! #slowtravel pic.twitter.com/iTfyF9ROCb
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) October 13, 2019
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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