• A 15-year-old Swedish climate activist took delegates to task at a UN Climate Change conference.

• Young people are willing to take action when adults are failing to make changes.

• Greta Thunberg represents what can be called the Youthquake.

Greta Thunberg is a 15-year-old Swedish climate activist.

Greta scolded the attendees at the UN Climate Change COP24 Conference held in Poland earlier in December.

The delegates were taken to task by Greta.

Here are some examples of what she said.

”… you are too scared of being unpopular.”

“You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to us children.”

“You say you love your children above all else, and yet you’re stealing their future in front of their very eyes.

Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope.”

Greta’s concern about climate change started at a young age.

She started to gain much attention earlier this year when she protested outside the Swedish parliament.

Like Greta, youth in other countries are now organizing protests.

Greta also warned the delegates that changes are coming.

She made the following statements to end her short and powerful speech.

“We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again.

We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time.

We have come here to let you know that change is coming whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people.”

Greta reminds me of the students from Parkland Florida.

Earlier this year they organized national school walkouts.

This was to protest the gun laws and lack of political action after the Stoneman Douglas school shooting earlier this year.

This is another example of the Youthquake.

Youthquake was Word of the Year 2017 according to the Oxford Dictionaries.

The meaning of the word is, ‘a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people’.

Young people, such as Greta state that adults have messed up the world with their politics and greed.

They are finding their voices and demanding change.

You can view Greta’s short (3 min 29 sec) and powerful speech below.

You can find the previous post about the youthquake is coming below.

http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/blog/the-youthquake-is-coming/

We can assist our youth in gaining communication and leadership to build their confidence like Greta.

A PARENT’S GUIDE:

There is a guide available which assists parents and others working with youth.

The guide enables a person to be proactive in the success of a child’s future.

It contains activities to assist youth to gain critical soft skills.

They will become more resourceful and independent when they practice and gain these skills.

The guide is available from Our Future Leaders.

Request the Parent’s Guide here: http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/contact-us/