The Joan of Arc of climate crisis

In front of the Swedish Parliament, all alone, she demonstrated holding a placard that read 'school strikes for climate'. The solitary movement she initiated later spread like wildfire around the world.

Young school goers like Greta, inspired by her, joined her in protest in their own communities. They organized the climate strike movement which later came to be known as Fridays for Future Movement.

Her efforts to protect the climate and the impacts she is leaving among thousands of young people brought her the nomination for Nobel Peace Prize this year.

The world recognizes Greta's endeavours. In May, the Time Magazine featured her in their cover page as the "next generation leader". Her influence over millions of young people has been portrayed in some media as the "Greta Thunberg Effect".

Greta has been giving speeches at various international platforms like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference in Poland and recently at the United Nations climate summit in New York.

At the 24th UNFCCC conference held in December last year, this phenomenal young woman said, "I speak on behalf of Climate Justice Now."

In the world of climate deniers, the emergence of climate warriors such as Greta Thunberg was important. Just like Joan of Arc, she too came out of her cocoon to combat climate crisis and save her people.

"Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few." Greta vowed, "We have come here to let all know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people."

Greta Thunberg's campaign came to its vigour on September 20, 2019 when tens of thousands of people gathered at her Friday for Future movement in New York.

She starred the day with her spirited words, "Right now we are the ones who are making a difference. If no one else will take action, then we will. There is no alternative to combating disasters united."

The world felt the "Greta Thunberg Effect" as tens of thousands of students all over the continents- from Europe to Australia and Latin America to Asia- took to the streets responding to this teenaged revolutionary's call.

Chanting slogans against the governments' shameless stance in favour of industrialists and money mongers, the demonstrators echoed their Joan of Arc's message.

Greta's movement had its immediate success after the German government promised to allocate some $54 billion to halt greenhouse gas emissions.

Although Friday for Future began from Sweden, it spread worldwide, crossing the border of Europe.

Greta's movement influenced Bangladesh too- as hundreds of children and young people gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka under the banner titled as "Climate Strike in Bangladesh" on September 20, 2019 in the morning.

One of the protesters, Faria Sifat Raina, an eighth-grader, told the BBC, "Thunberg has urged children globally to voice against climate change. We are gathered here to respond to her calls."

What made Greta Thunberg a climate warrior?

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth - how dare you?"

An emotional but strong Greta Thunberg uttered her fiery remarks at the UN climate action summit on September 23, 2019 in New York.

Standing for the cause of the planet for someone of her age takes a lot of courage and passion, all of which she possesses.

Her solitary movement at the Swedish parliament could have withered away as a futile attempt of a random, angry teenager but Greta was no random kid from the block. Her persistence and determination got the better of all odds around and ended up inspiring millions to fight.

Science warns of a catastrophic climate crisis

Glaciers are melting and sea levels are alarmingly rising. At the same time, forest fires are endangering billions of lives.

Scientists have been warning of catastrophic climate disasters if actions are not taken to curb global pollution and industrial greed. It would not be long before nature begins to retaliate to human cruelty.

Many studies show that human beings deliberately induce almost all environmental calamities, the recent one being the Amazon fire.

Research reports show that Asia and the United States have the highest percentages of bird extinctions. In the United States alone, almost 30 percent of birds have been lost from 1970 until now. Moreover, more than 200 species are getting extinct every day.

However, the right-wing state leaders of the developed world are ignoring repeated warnings by experts. They are claiming that global warming is a fiction not a fact- as the American President Donald Trump puts it "scientists have a big political agenda."

In the world of climate deniers, the emergence of climate warriors such as Greta Thunberg was important. Just like Joan of Arc, she too came out of her cocoon to combat climate crisis and save her people.