The school student from Sweden tweeted overnight, responding to Bolt’s column by calling out “hate and conspiracy campaigns” around climate change.
“I am indeed ‘deeply disturbed’ about the fact that these hate and conspiracy campaigns are allowed to go on,” she tweeted. “Just because we children communicate and act on the science. Where are the adults?”
I am indeed ”deeply disturbed” about the fact that these hate and conspiracy campaigns are allowed to go on and on and on just because we children communicate and act on the science. Where are the adults? pic.twitter.com/xDSlN0VgtZ
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) August 1, 2019
Bolt’s widely read column in The Herald Sun mocked Thunberg’s decision to sail across the Atlantic in a low emissions racing yacht to attend UN climate summits in the US and Chile. Thunberg has previously stated that she refuses to fly on aeroplanes in order to limit her personal carbon footprint.
“Thunberg has announced she’s finally going to the United States, the last bastion of the heathen, to preach the global warming faith to the Americans,” Bolt wrote in his column.
“Of course, she’s going by racing yacht, because she refuses to fly and heat the planet with an aeroplane’s global warming gasses.”
“I have never seen a girl so young and with so many mental disorders treated by so many adults as a guru,” Bolt continued.
“Far more interesting is why so many adults – including elected politicians, top business leaders, the Pope and journalists – treat a young and strange girl with such awe and even rapture.”
“Her intense fear of the climate is not surprising from someone with disorders which intensify fears.”
The columnist also called Thunberg “one of the most astonishing messianic figures in world history”. He then continued, “and I don’t mean that in a good way”.
Interesting that Andrew Bolt stepped up to defend the 13 Year-old girl who racially abused Adam Goodes …https://t.co/OMUgIoMu9R
Is the same cretin now labelling Greta Thunberg “strange” and “fragile”. pic.twitter.com/Oq0HTOJIXV
— 💧 Coalition Tea Lady (@ItsBouquet) August 1, 2019
Thunberg has previously talked about her experience living with Asperger syndrome, referring to it as a “gift” that allows her to think critically and see “out of the box”, especially when it comes to climate change. Last year, her solo climate protests outside the Swedish parliament sparked the global school strike movement, Fridays for Future.
“It makes me different, and being different is a gift, I would say,” she told BBC radio in April this year.
“It also makes me see things from outside the box. I don’t easily fall for lies, I can see through things.”