Greta Thunberg is the Saint We Need
To sail 3,000 miles across the Atlantic takes remarkable courage, but to traverse unpredictable seas on a zero-carbon yacht is a feat unlike many others. And for a teenager to make the epic journey? Is it possible? Yes. On August 28, 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who refuses to fly because of its enormous carbon footprint, made her triumphant arrival into New York Harbor aboard the Malizia II, a sailboat powered by wind only. The petite young girl, who often wears her hair in one or two signature braids, was accompanied by a United Nation’s welcome flotilla of racing boats, their sails wrapped in bright pops of primary colors, each heralding one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
At the dock, Greta was received by throngs of cheering supporters as she stepped ashore. Speaking at a press conference upon arrival, Greta addressed the crowd saying she was there to spread awareness. “The climate and ecological crisis is a global crisis,” she stated, “and the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. If we don’t manage to work together despite our differences, we will fail.”
Greta, who is in New York to participate in the United Nations climate talks in September, began protesting on her own last August: she skipped school to demonstrate outside the Swedish parliament with a sign that translated to “school strike for the climate.” Her…
