As with most people able to
think for themselves, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not dote over the
16-year-old.
By Reuters
Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Wednesday took aim at teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, telling
an energy forum he did not share the excitement about her United Nations speech
last month.
The 16-year-old Swede
electrified the UN summit in New York when she denounced world leaders for
failing to tackle climate change, unleashing the outrage felt by millions of
her peers by demanding: "How dare you?" While
the schoolgirl has inspired Russia's nascent climate protest
movement, her UN speech sparked a fierce backlash among Russians.
Putin, chairing a session at an energy forum in
Moscow, said: "I may disappoint you but I don't share the common
excitement about the speech by Greta Thunberg."
"No one has explained to Greta that the modern world
is complex and different and ... people in Africa or in many Asian countries
want to live at the same wealth level as in Sweden."
U.S. President Donald Trump mocked Thunberg and
Canadian Member of Parliament Maxime Bernier called her alarmist and mentally
unstable. Thunberg said their mockery of children showed her message had become
"too loud to handle."
Putin said young people who paid attention to
environmental issues should be supported, adding: "But when someone is
using children and teenagers in personal interests, it only deserves to be
condemned."
"I'm sure that Greta is a kind and very sincere
girl. But adults must do everything not to bring teenagers and children into
some extreme situations."
The Reuters writer forgot one
of the first rules in reporting: Do not express an opinion in a news story. The
writer says, “The 16-year-old Swede electrified the
UN summit in New York…” Doubtful that Thunberg did nothing other than give UN
people an opportunity to posture before cameras, giving proper “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs”
for the so- called youth movement.
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