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Disinfo: Greta Thunberg “created” as a tool by cynical adults

Summary

Greta Thunberg was “created” as a tool by cynical adults, using a special methodology. [She] is a response for the request to panic. This panic has been intensified. But by whom? There is no answer yet. They have successfully found the image of the protest, “the girl with pigtails”, Greta, a fighter for the purity of nature on Earth. They have chosen a teenager with autism. You cannot criticise her since it would be “politically incorrect”, this is a never-failing means of exciting society.

Disproof

This claim is a conspiracy presented without any evidence. It is recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about climate change and international youth climate protests started by the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

In August 2018, the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg staged a "School Strike for Climate" in front of the Swedish parliament. Later, her strikes inspired youth from all over the world to join a global #FridaysForFuture campaign. The first international school strike was held on Friday, 15 March.

Ever since, Greta Thunberg has been the target of derogatory commentary from pro-Kremlin media. Read our analysis here.

Background:

The existence of anthropogenic climate change is a matter of scientific consensus. Only a tiny minority of scientists dispute this consensus: the Earth is warming through the greenhouse effect; human activities - including use of fossil fuels, cutting down rainforests, and farming livestock - are a major cause of the warming; and, unchecked, this rapid warming presents significant risks to human communities and natural systems.

No other environmental threat has been subjected to as much scientific research. The US government has spent billions of dollars on climate science across many agencies and universities. The UN has assembled thousands of scientists to compile and review the latest science and contribute to the publication of five reports since 1990 that have consistently made the consensus deeper and the warnings more urgent. Preventing the dangerous consequences of climate change is a key priority for the EU. 

See similar cases here.

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publication/media

fondsk.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 167
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/09/2019
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia
  • Keywords: Greta Thunberg, Climate

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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