The young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has met with former US President Barack Obama. This was announced by Obama on Tuesday in the online service Twitter. He described the 16-year-old as "one of the greatest defenders of our planet".
The Foundation Obama Foundation published a video of the meeting. Thunberg explained, "No one is too small to influence and change the world." The former US President praised the Swede's commitment and said, "You and me, we are a team."
Our future will be shaped by the next generation-and @GetaThunberg is not waiting to get started. At 16, Greta is a leading voice in the fight to save our planet. Yesterday, she sat down with @BarackObama for a conversation about how to make a change. pic.twitter.com/7qnIXyUY8P
- The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) September 17, 2019Thunberg thanked Obama for taking his time. "Of course," Obama replied. "You're changing the world, so we're excited to have you with us."
Obama's statement states that Thunberg's weekly school strike on climate change has become "a worldwide movement of millions of young people". "This is the power of young people - they are not afraid to believe that change is possible." Thunberg therefore embodies the reasons why he and Michelle Obama founded their foundation.
Thunberg had started in the summer of 2018 with their school strike for climate protection. Since then, the Friday demonstrations spread around the world under the name "Fridays for Future."
The 16-year-old Swede announced at the end of May that she would spend a year with the school and attend the World Climate Summit in New York in September. On Monday, she and the Amnesty International protest movement Fridays for Future were honored with the most important award from the human rights organization.
In video: Important award for activist from Sweden
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
This Wednesday, she and other climate activists are expected to hear a House Subcommittee hearing. She was already in the US Senate and found clear words in front of the Climate Committee. Next Friday, Thunberg wants to take part in the global climate strike of the movement in New York.
In Obama, she has now found a fan and supporters. At the end of the video, the ex-president asks, "Do you know Fist Bumping?" Then both of them beat their fists against each other.
