- Title: 'We're just trying to clean up' after adults - Thunberg
- Date: 28th August 2019
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 28, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, WALKING, SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AFTER SAILING INTO PORT TEEN CLIMATE ACTIVISTS HOLDING SIGN THUNBERG BEING INTERVIEWED BY REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: "The trip was much better than I think anyone expected. I didn't feel bad at all. I just felt good and enjoyed it. And even though it was a bit rough sometimes, it, it went incredibly well, and I didn't feel seasick. So, that was, I was extremely lucky. And of course it's different for everyone, but for me it was really good." VARIOUS OF THUNBERG SAILING IN, PEOPLE HEARD CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: "I think the best moment of the trip - it's so it's so hard to pick because they're so incredibly many - but I think leaving and just to see all these people waving and saying goodbye, and also to arrive to everyone who was so welcoming. And of course to, to just be there and sit (on the boat) and do nothing, it was incredible." VARIOUS OF MALIZIA II, ON WHICH THUNBERG WAS SAILING, GOING PAST STATUE OF LIBERTY THUNBERG WAVING TO FANS AND CLAPPING AS SHE CLIMBS DOWN FROM BOAT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: "Yes, I mean, of course I would love to, to just be, to not have to do anything of this, and to just go to school. But, I mean, as the situation looks like now, I want to do this because I want to make a difference. And of course I don't want this situation to be like this. And that is why I am trying to change. And, I mean, the older generations are the ones who have been causing this problem, and so I don't think, they, they should be saying to us you should just be a normal kid and do what normal kids do because they are the ones who have caused this. And we are just trying to clean up after them." VARIOUS OF MALIZIA II SAILING PAST THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, FLANKED BY UN SAILBOATS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: "Most scientific studies shows that it is physically impossible to do. Of course to avoid the worst consequences is to keep the global temperature rise below one-point-five degrees. I mean of course it's different, because every calculation uses different methods and includes different aspects. But I mean of course it depends on how you define turn the tide. But yes, I do believe we can still fix this." VARIOUS OF THUNBERG ON BOW OF MALIZIA II AS IT PASSES LOWER MANHATTAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING (ON WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO IN NEW YORK): "I'm going to just relax first, relax and walk around, and to just land a little bit, in a way. And, and, then also this Friday, I am going to join the strike outside the U.N. and then more events, of course, and to meet people, activists." VARIOUS OF MALIZIA II SAILING BY
- Embargoed: 11th September 2019 22:48
- Keywords: Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg arrival in New York sailing trip United Nations zero-carbon Team Malizia
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Environment,Editors' Choice,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AU4VK93
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said on Wednesday (August 28) she wished she could just be a regular kid, but she is compelled to effect change where adults have not in stemming rising global temperatures.
The 16-year-old Swedish schoolgirl, who set sail from Plymouth, England, on Aug. 14, was greeted by cheers, chants and singing as her silver sailboat, the Malizia II, cruised past the Statue of Liberty through choppy waves and rain to drop anchor in Manhattan's yacht harbor.
Thunberg made her trans-Atlantic journey carbon emission-free by traveling on 60-foot (18.30-meter) yacht, which is equipped with solar panels and underwater turbines that produce electricity onboard, along with a large black sail carrying the message: "Unite behind the science."
The boat has no shower or toilets, and those aboard including Thunberg's father and crew members ate cold canned food throughout the trip.
"I want to do this because I want to make a difference," Thunberg told Reuters after she disembarked from the Malizia II in lower Manhattan.
Thunberg, who first drew international attention last year when she started missing school on Fridays to protest against political inaction on climate change, said she planned to take part in a demonstration outside the United Nations in New York on Friday.
The teen sailed into New York Harbor on Wednesday in a zero-carbon emissions vessel, completing her nearly 14-day journey from England to take part in a United Nations climate summit.
In addition to the U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York, Thunberg intends to attend the COP 25 climate change conference in Santiago, Chile, in December, planning to make her way there without using air travel.
She said it was up to children to shine a light on climate change.
"The older generations are the ones who have been causing this problem, and so I don't think they they should be saying to us you should just be a normal kid and do what normal kids do because they are the ones who have caused this. And we are just trying to clean up after them."
(Production: Andrew Hofstetter / Catherine Koppel / Dan Fastenberg) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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