Greta Thunberg, the swedish teenager who has taken the world by storm with her School Strike for Climate Campaign has been a voice for the young people of the world and has created tremendous awareness about our need to clean up our environment. Greta became TIME’s youngest ever individual Person of the Year in 2019.
Recently though Greta has received some criticism for only highlighting problems and not coming up with any solutions or ideas.
The boss of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has hit out at Greta Thunberg, saying that climate activists like the Swedish teenager and Extinction Rebellion make “no contribution” and have “no ideas”.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Ralf Speth, JLR’s outgoing boss, described Thunberg’s campaigning as “doing wrong in many areas” by raising issues but not coming up with solutions on climate change.
Speth, whose decade-long tenure at the top of the luxury carmaker has seen the UK automotive industry battle the twin headwinds of Brexit and climate change, said her criticism was “not justified” because businesses had also created a better world.
In South Africa, a teenager is quietly making a difference
In contrast to Greta Thungberg, South African teenager Sahara Thagunna has started her own movement which is gaining momentum.
Focusing on Solutions
In the Garden Route a Knysna Teenager takes the lead against plastic pollution.
In the Western Cape, South Africa… Knysna specifically, there is a young person with vision, passion and drive, who is making a difference. Her name is Sahara, a 17 year old who lives in Rheenendal, just outside scenic Knysna.
Here is her inspiring story:-
I was homeschooled for all my schooling years and completed my high school matric in 2018 at the age of 16. I live and grew up with my whole extended family (mom, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, dogs, cats, chickens and now goats!) on a small holding in Rheenendal. I have always been surrounded by nature and my passion for the planet was sparked at a very early age when I made the connection that our actions could have severe negative consequences on the environment and I decided I wanted to create change in the way we live with nature.
At the age of 8 years I decided I wanted to be president, so that I could create that change, and in my very young mind I thought that was the only way people would ever listen to what I had to say. Now though, after going through quite a journey, discovering and learning so much and now creating my own initiatives, I realise that you really don’t need to be in a position of power, (you don’t even need to be an adult!) to stand up for what you believe and let your voice be heard.
Projects organised by Sahara Thagunna
Knysna Unlittered
The Unlittered project is a partnership between Sahara Thagunna, Knysna Basin Project, SANparks Honorary Rangers, The Strandloper Project, Ocean Odyssey and others.
On Friday 8 February a volunteer group of more than 20 people picked up more than 25 bags at the Island Adventure Cleanup.
Join the Unlittered Project on Facebook here
What the Bag?
“What the Bag?” is an initiative to inspire, motivate and create change with a focus on plastic, and single use plastic bags in particular. Reusable cloth shopping bags are sewn from donated, old, unused and unwanted fabric and then handed out for free. Recipients must pay it forward by telling others about the campaign and the message around plastic thus creating a mushroom effect of connected change.
The current project running is known as 2020 for 2020 – 2020 bags will be handed out for free in 2020. Generous donations have been received from Petco, Plastics SA, Rotary Club of Knysna, Rotary Anns as well as numerous individual donations.
Learn more about “What the Bag?” here
Earth Chats
Earth Chats is a new show that is published every week. Earth Chats is hosted by Sahara Thagunna, a teenage Environmental Activist, who will be chatting to inspiring guests who have a passion for anything earth related.
Earth chats is produced and distributed by BMDM Digital
Greenpop Ambassador
Sahara accepted Greenpop’s invitation to be their ambassador and crew member for the Annual Greenpop Eden Festival of Action which is planned for 29 June to 6 July 2020.
The Eden Festival of Action is a place of learning, (re)connecting with nature and yourself, and most of all, collaborated action for the planet.
Seriously, you guys, have to check out GreenPop and the work they do. Please come and join us at the Eden FOA this year, I’ve gone to both FOAs here in the Garden Route and its honestly the most incredible experience, I mean I’m returning for the 3rd year in a row, and this time as an ambassador and member of crew, so it’s gotta be good right! says Sahara
Sahara chats to Misha Teasdale, Founder and TreeEO of Greenpop – listen below
Earth chats is produced and distributed by BMDM Digital
The Plastic Pledge
We appeal to all our friends, families and organisations to join hands in taking the pledge against Plastic Pollution.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent.
Every day approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans. There may now be around 5.25 trillion macro and microplastic pieces floating in the open ocean. Weighing up to 269,000 tonnes. Plastics consistently make up 60 to 90% of all marine debris studied.
If we want to leave a healthy planet to our children then the time to take action is now! We appeal to everyone young, old and all organisation to support the #PlasticPledge.
Join Sahara Thagunna and take the PlasticPledge
The Lights Out Challenge takes action for our planet
In our modern world today we rely on electricity and fossil fuels for just about everything, from powering our cars to providing us with light, the discovery and harnessing of fossil fuels has allowed humanity to grow and achieve incredible feats.
But too much of anything can be detrimental and with research and studies now showing the harsh consequences of our fossil fuel use on the planet, it is time we begin changing our ways.
The Lights Out Challenge has been created to help us start shifting our mentalities, become more aware of our energy consumption, and ultimately to take action for our planet.
Join Sahara Thagunna, Earth Chats and others and do your bit for our planet. Join the Lights Out Challenge group here
