Photo:(Left) © REUTERS/Juan Medina; (Right) © REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Famed climate activist Greta Thunberg has encouraged voters in the United States to vote for the candidate they think is most likely to protect the environment going forward. The tweet ended with #Biden, a clear endorsement of the Democratic nominee, which as polls currently show, is a likely successor to Donald Trump.
In the tweet, the 17-year-old activist said:
"I never engage in party politics. But the upcoming US elections is above and beyond all that. From a climate perspective it's very far from enough and many of you of course supported other candidates. But, I mean…you know…damn! Just get organized and get everyone to vote #Biden"
I never engage in party politics. But the upcoming US elections is above and beyond all that.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) October 10, 2020
From a climate perspective it’s very far from enough and many of you of course supported other candidates. But, I mean…you know…damn!
Just get organized and get everyone to vote #Biden https://t.co/gFttFBZK5O
Thunberg then went on to share a tweet from left-wing activist Naomi Klein which implied that Biden will be forced to ban fracking. It contained within it a much earlier tweet from Biden's now running mate Kamal Harris when she previously alleged that Biden would not ban fracking.
Actually we are going to make him do it, to borrow a phrase from FDR. Just like movements made Obama-Biden stop KXL and DAPL. It's too bad we have to waste energy on it when we should be focussed on a Green New Deal but we'll make them do both, because there is no choice. https://t.co/vDWgaXPceH
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) October 8, 2020
Thunberg became famous when she organised the global school strikes that saw millions of students go on strike to bring attention to global climate change. She then went on to travel the world (often by boat to reduce carbon emissions) and to meet many heads of state and others in positions of power.
She has long been a target for the US President who has continually denied man-made climate change exists and who pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement to the shock of other world leaders.
In a tweet in 2019 Trump attacked the teenager saying:
"So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!"
So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill! https://t.co/M8ZtS8okzE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2019
The tweet was one of tens of thousands of abusive messages Thunberg received, predominantly from middle-aged right-wing men who thought it was highly important to display their anger at a 17-year-old standing up against climate change and environmental destruction.
The Thunberg intervention on the side of Biden may be more important than some people realise. There is a Green party running in the US Presidential election and a small percentage of voters drifting away from the Democrats to the Green party could result in Trump being re-elected. This is not unheard of. In the 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, if the votes that went to the Green party candidate Ralph Nader had gone to Gore, then Bush would not have been elected.
Biden currently has a clear lead in the polls however, anything could happen before the final votes are cast on the 3rd of November.
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