The climate change debate has hit the Eurovision stratosphere. In recent weeks Eurovision stars have taken to social media to defend teenage climate change activist and environmental warrior Greta Thunberg. As you’ll all be aware, the teenager has faced ugly words and harsh criticism from grown men, including American President Donald Trump.

Perhaps the strongest defence came from the most royal of all Eurovision royalty: ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. He recently threw his support behind his fellow Swede while chatting with The Irish Times.

“Greta is a blessing in the world of influencers and reality TV stars,” he said.

“The spin-off of the greater effect is that the patriarchy is pissing in their pants in fear of a 16-year-old girl with superpowers. She has become a populist nightmare. She says science and enlightenment are what we need right now — not stale old nationalism and conspiracy theories.”

Ulvaeus highlighted the global impact she has made in such a short time. “Even if you don’t think that everything Greta says or does is unquestionable, you have to admire her guts and her focus,” he says. “It’s a monumental achievement to create a global mass movement from scratch in such a short time.”

Thunberg has no shortage of fans from the Eurovision arena. The UK’s 2018 entrant SuRie included snippets of Thunberg’s emotionally-charged speech at the recent UN Climate Action Summit in her new music.

Moreso, Thunberg can turn to her mother — the opera star-cum-pop singer and Sweden’s 2009 Eurovision entrant Malena Ernman, who Thunberg credits for helping her navigate the media.

“That’s one of the pros of having a famous mother…I’m quite familiar with the media and how it works,” Thunberg told The New York Times earlier this year.

We could only dream of Ernman singing her daughter’s praises, turning Eurovision into Envirovision!

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ErikSWE
ErikSWE
4 years ago

somehow make me associate on multiple cliffhangers

Aris Odi
Aris Odi
4 years ago

We need a version of Da Da Dam (Finland 2011) that’s about Greta

helloagain
helloagain
4 years ago

I feel sorry for her, she is being used as propaganda. No child should be used like that and its disgusting to see how many people support it.. for shame

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

You know, I think it would be so lovely if we got one or two beautifully written songs encouraging us to care for our planet at Eurovision. However, i am dreading some poorly written stuff by unskilled songwriters who are just jumping on the bandwagon because they have no other ideas. I’m hoping we don’t get like 20 songs with lyrics taken from the world-wide protests. “There is no planet B” is an excellent statement and whoever originally came up with it can be proud. To me, it stops being good when it gets used for a song that just… Read more »

kuno
kuno
4 years ago

Eco friendly Cleo is always about going back to what is truth and purity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSLDox4tzxs

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

Don’t agree with the whole encouraging children to skip school but yeah, people reacting far too strongly on both sides at what a teenager is doing.

kuno
kuno
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Malena Ernman should not have as purpose to have a Nobel Prize winner child. Greta is a tool for adults. Nature should be protected with or without climate change, but leave children alone. Why isn’t Malena the one who talks about living in peace with nature?

PS Don’t you think that Iceland 2009 was about treating nature right?

kuno
kuno
4 years ago

With or without climate change, we need to protect nature anyway. Why do people need to be told that the end of the world is near, in order to act like decent beings?

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

It’s sad when adults starts to fear a 16 year old girl and calls her mentally challenged and what not simply because she’s not acting the way she is “supposed to act” according to them

Morning Glory
Morning Glory
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

This girl looks like she is coached and her angriness does not help. She gives the conspirationists what they want to hear. She seems to be “created” to make ecologists look bad.

Bart
Bart
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

It’s the first time I strongly agree with you, for once. Of course, if she would not be a Swede and from a Southern European country you bash her, as you always do.

Melissa A Kutcher
Melissa A Kutcher
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

In fact, when Greta was in Iowa City, Iowa, a now former teacher from Waterloo, Iowa, posted a tweet so bad, he had to resign. I won’t post the tweet here because it is so bad, but you can find it if you search for it.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago

This has nothing to do with Eurovision.

Also, if we are to fight nationalism, does this mean we should ban countries from entering ESC?

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

A lot of articles are stories with only a vague connection to the contest…why is this one such a big deal for you? I think it’s just this particular topic you have a problem with. I have no idea what your last sentence is about…are you trying to make a point? If so, it has certainly escaped me.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

The article states that her views are a breath of fresh air against stale old ideas of nationalism – so I was just pointing out the irony of such a post on an ESC website which celebrates the idea of nationhood.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

The article states no such thing, it merely reports the words of somebody else.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Oh come on, what is the point of the article if not to promote a certain viewpoint? I think it is ironic that the author would put that in the article when ESC arguably does more than most things to promote nationalism

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

I suggest looking into the subtle (but important) difference between nationalism and patriotism. From dictionary.com, “the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one’s own nation viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations”. This is the context in which Björn was speaking. I think you may be missing the point.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

No, I think the quote you’ve pulled out proves my point. In ESC, every nation is awarded points and there is a winner, therefore by definition the interests of nations are treated differently rather than “the common interest of all nations”. And you need to be blinkered if you don’t see the political voting in ESC, which is fundamentally due to nationalism, not patriotism.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

If you can’t see any difference between an annual song contest and Brazil letting the amazon burn…well, then…I give up.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Just pointing out the hypocrisy my friend. One day you might choose to open your mind to see it.

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

This has Malena Ernman and Sweden written all over it 😀

Ben
Ben
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Her mom was in Eurovision in 2009.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

the good sis gets so much hate for no apparent reason. she’s the face of an important movement that only has a positive message. give ha some respecT

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago

And there I was thinking Eurovision is a non-political contest….

Let’s not forget she is a 16 year old with some mental health needs – I feel uncomfortable at how she is being politicised, and it pretty much has nothing to do with Eurovision.

Also, I see a bit of a glaring contradiction in this post railing against nationalism when the ESC is a contest of nations….

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Actually, let’s not invalidate her because of her age and health status. What a strange thing to suggest.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I am not invalidating her opinion – I think it is a good one. I am making a point that people who should know better are using her as a political weapon when in fact I think she is a vulnerable young person

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

She has two parents already, sorry, there is no vacancy – your opinion has no bearing on how she chooses to live her life. Maybe report Malena to Swedish social services if you are that concerned.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I suppose you feel the same about grooming? I try to live my life by the best sense I can muster of what is right and wrong. And using Greta as a tool to bash large corporates and powerful governments feels wrong. There are better ways to achieve the aim.

keith mawson
keith mawson
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

That already happened

Denis
Denis
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

In what ways does she have mental health issues?

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

The font of all knowledge Wikipedia says she has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and OCD. These mental health issues lead to difficulties with social interaction and an intense focus on a very narrow subject. When I saw the U.N. speech, I didn’t see an impassioned young person, I saw someone struggling to cope with her mental health problems, and so I feel greatly uncomfortable with continuing to put her on a pedestal.
This is not to detract from the aim, just the method.

helloagain
helloagain
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

I love how someone who is pointing out facts is downvoted. Who cares about facts, feelings are more important anyway

Bart
Bart
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

It’s not autism it’s Aspergers Syndrome. From the name of your alias and your comments the autistic one is you

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Kudos to her for forcing more people to become aware of such a pressing issue- I’m surprised Eurovision has not had that many environmental message songs

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

environment song will be to the 2020s what peace songs were to the 00s-10s, bookmark me

Chessguy99
4 years ago

Just look at the JESC songs this year.

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago

I’m here just thinking what a small world it is that Malena is her mother xD

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

People like her are gonna keep us all going. She and her fellow environmentalists give me so much more hope for the future.

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago

Does it have anything to do with ESC? Other than that one person related to it adressed it .-. Feels like you simply wanted to write about Greta.

Jessika in Manchester
Jessika in Manchester
4 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

Mother = Eurovision star. SuRie = Eurovision star. Bjorn….Eurovision star. So clearly there is a connection. Eurovision isn’t a bubble. It’s a contest with personalities that touch on real world issues.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

I counted two in the article, and of course Greta herself has Eurovision connections through her mother. Sure, they wanted to write about Greta…so what? You may not be interested but some of us are.

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I come here for ESC news, I’m simply surprised that I see Greta even here. I’m interesed in bunch of things, but I don’t expect to see them on wiwibloggs xd

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

Look at JESC, many of the songs this year are about climate change etc.

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

And is that a good thing? I mean, adding some seasonal narration to love ballads/pop songs, just to get more attention?

Paul
Paul
4 years ago

Can’t wait to see her at Melodifestivalen 2020!! I’m
Guessing a song like Finland 2011

Fionn
Fionn
4 years ago

Well she is just a credit to human nature . She has done so much already and it’s great to hear that Eurovision stars are getting behind her inspiring mission . I’m in secondary school in Ireland and every month or so there is a protest in the city (cork where I’m from) and I can’t wait to go to the next one!

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

Don’t just attend the protests, demanding governments to change their ways. Make a difference in your own life too. Be careful what you eat, what you wear, how you travel, how you shop…ordinary people can make much more of a difference that dusty old politicians.

Fionn
Fionn
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Well I do that already